[Life in Spain] What I've lost and gained from living in Spain

It's been almost a year since I moved here.
My life in Spain is so fulfilling that I don't usually think about it, but with my temporary return to Japan in October just around the corner, I've started to miss various things about Japan.

Living abroad is a valuable experience, and it's not like I've lost anything!
But let's dare to list a few things.

🙅‍♀️ Things I've lost from living in Spain

Smooth heels

This was the first thing that came to mind. Every day after my bath, I apply baby oil and body cream, but if I skip even one day, they immediately get rough.
When I lie down in bed, I get bothered by the roughness of my heels, which brings my mood down.
As a somewhat careless person, the extra effort of applying cream is quite a struggle.

Stylish clothes and accessories

Overseas, wearing expensive things is like telling pickpockets, "Hey, I have money!" In fact, my favorite wallet, which was a Japan-exclusive item, was stolen. *Sob* I lost it.
My Apple Watch, bangles, hair clips, and cute bags without zippers have all lost their chance to shine and are sleeping in my closet.
My favorite clothes get damaged by the hard water here, or their colors fade from the strong sunlight. I'm also a bit worried about dry cleaning. Maybe I should just leave them at my parents' house. *Sigh*

Relaxing bath time

My previous home had a bathtub, but this one doesn't. The bath salts I went out of my way to bring from Japan are staring at me sadly. Having lost my relaxing bath time, the bathroom has become just a place to get clean. To make up for it, when I travel, I aim for hotels with bathtubs in the room and enjoy them twice—once at night and once in the morning.
When I go back to Japan temporarily, I'm definitely going to a hot spring.

🙆‍♀️ Things I've gained from living in Spain

A life with delicious fruit

Spanish fruit is so delicious!!
And it's cheap!
In Japan, more and more fruits are becoming branded, giving them a somewhat luxurious impression, but here, they are a staple of the diet.
In spring, there are cherries, strawberries, and peaches; in summer, watermelon and melon; in autumn, figs and grapes; and in winter, oranges, mandarins, and persimmons, among others.
While the vegetables sold are similar throughout the year, the fruits are big and sweet when they are in season! Since the quality at the market is better than at the supermarket, I buy a lot.
Since there are no delicious sweet snacks like in Japan, I've started eating fruit for snacks. It's healthy and good.
Also, I often eat flat peaches (paraguayo), which are considered a luxury item in Japan, because they are cheap here.

It's difficult to judge when they are perfectly ripe, but I feel like I've gotten the hang of it since I ate so many this season.

In winter, it has to be mandarins and oranges!!
"Is Valencia famous for oranges?"
As many people have that first impression, they have a deliciousness that is hard to describe!
The texture and taste are like the best of both worlds: the juiciness of a Japanese orange and the easy-to-peel skin of a mandarin. You can eat them all year round, but in winter, the sweetness becomes much stronger. I really want you to try them!

A mentality that can let things slide

People in Spain are very loose with time. Even though I had an appointment to install the air conditioner in the morning, they might say, "I can't make it because of an emergency," and then a few hours later, they'll casually ask, "I can come now, are you home?"
If I lived with my Japanese sensibilities, I would just make myself miserable, so I wait with the mindset of, "If they come on time, they're super excellent!" or "If the contractor comes today, they're great!"

If a restaurant table is dirty, I ask them to wipe it. I'm not surprised if a bag of beans at the supermarket is open and beans are scattered everywhere. I check to make sure the clothes I want to try on aren't covered in foundation. The list goes on, but as someone who is probably on the more meticulous side even among Japanese people, life became easier once I gained this perspective.
I thought it would be hard to change the sensibilities I've had for over twenty years, but it seems surprisingly easy to drift toward the more relaxed side.

The concept of happiness: What is "richness"?

This is something I've gained as a new way of thinking.
In Japan, the efforts of companies and the diligent nature of the Japanese people match up, so waves of new products and trends constantly wash over us. There are advertisements created by companies for every season, and consumers chase after them. Perhaps it was because I was still young that I felt, more than a little, that I had to ride these waves or that I had to replace old things with new ones.

On the other hand, in Spain, not that many brand-new things come out, and trends that cater to every demographic don't really arrive. And the consumer consciousness of wanting to chase after them is also weak.
Therefore, people cherish things that have likely lasted for over three generations. They add what they need in moderation. Cherishing what you have is the same in Japan, but I feel it much more closely since coming to Spain.

Perhaps because of that, I think the way people spend their time and money is also different.
Spanish people place great importance on spending weekends with their families. Going to the beach to soak up the sun. Going to the mountains to connect with nature. These aren't activities, but part of daily life. And they enjoy conversations with their family, eating food brought from home to satisfy their hearts and bodies.
They aren't surrounded by many luxurious things, but they seem satisfied with their lives and happy.
"Happiness" might just be this way of spending time.
"Richness" is probably something money can't buy.
Being able to think more essentially about these things is also something I've gained from living in Spain.
I like the version of myself that wanted this and that, but...
I was drawn to the Spanish way of thinking; I think it's wonderful.

Things I've lost and gained from living in Spain.
I hope I can make both of these a part of my growth. (But I still want my heels to be smooth)
¡ Adios!

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