Um, What?

While I was doing some research for one of my final papers, I came across his quote:

¨How can this apparently greater degree of tolerane within Spanish society than is exhibited in the rest of countries of the European Union be interpreted? Leaing aside the commonplace stereotype of the "natural affability" of the Hispanic chaacter, two interpretations may be suggested."

Um, What natural affability???? I have never heard this streotype. After living here for about 7 months, I can tell you that I see no basis for this assumption. None whatsoever.

What I do know is that I have been confronted with more attitude than I ever have in my life. I have never met so many confrontational, dismissive, and unfriendly people before.

Here´s a good example of Spanish attitude: Last week I was hanging up my clothes to dry when Tamara (Spanish who is unaware of australia´s existence) asks me if Shannon is asleep. I tell her yes. She says in the snottiest way possible "por que?" meaning "why?" I was really taken aback at the force of her attitude. I told her that shannon was not feeling well but what I really wanted to say was ¨why does it matter? Can´t she sleep whenever she feels like it?" I resisted. Tamara only slightly tolerated word of Shannon´s ill health as an adequate reason.

Another example: There is a patio festival going on right now in Cordoba. Patios are popular fixtures of homes here and every spring there is a festival so people can show off how beautiful their patio is. The main feature is the selection and arrangement of beautiful flowers. Some people have sculptures or fountians. It´s really pretty and fun. Today while waiting in line to get into a popular patio, a middle aged Spanish woman attempted to push me out of her way several times. When I was inside a patio taking picture, another women literally shoved me out of her way so she could get to the other side of the patio and I nearly fell.

These little incidents add up and similiar occurrances happen quite frequently. It´s hard to get the impression of a national character of affability when people shove you out of their way or snottily demand explanations from you for simple things all the while making it clear that they are judging you negatively.