The food in Spain isn’t anything too strange or different from what we eat. (Unlike France, for example. Eating in France was an adventure I don’t think I would want to have all semester). Here they eat a good mix of meat, vegetables, fruit and bread.

Spanish food is in some ways richer than ours but simpler at the same time. They cook all of their food with a good helping of olive oil, which is relatively healthy but when every dish is cooked in olive oil it can be a bit too much. At the same time the dishes are simple. Usually just meat or vegetables or a combination of the two with a broth or spices. And bread is only served with butter at breakfast, otherwise it’s eaten plain or with whatever is left on the plate.

In general I like it. I don’t think I could point out a favorite dish; I’ve liked just about everything Any has cooked for me.

I’ve tried a few of the Spanish specialties. Paella is one of the most “Spanish” foods, and I’ve had it a few times. It’s a rice dish, usually made with seafood and/or chicken and lots of spices. A “tortilla” in Spain isn’t like a Mexican tortilla, it’s more like an American omlette with cheese mixed in, but fluffy and bigger. I really want to learn how to make a tortilla and paella, I’m hoping Any will show me some day.

And jamón! (ham). It’s a big deal here, and a couple times as a snack or light meal Any has served about six or seven different types of ham with bread and cheese. Also chorizo (sausage), but much richer than our sausage. It’s usually red or black, I’ve never had sausage like it before.

“Dessert” is generally just fruit. We’ve only had sweets once in my house. I do kind of wish they had some specialty desserts and that we had them at home, but I don’t really eat dessert often in the States either so I don’t miss it, and if I’m craving something I’ll just buy it.

I don’t really miss anything. Spinach salad perhaps; for a while I was missing wheat bread but then I disclosed that I prefer it and we now have a mix. I do miss being able to eat what I want without feeling bad if I don’t want to finish something.

Also I should talk about the eating schedule, which is unique to Spain. Many spaniards barely eat breakfast, but fortunately Any does and always puts out plenty of food. Lunch isn’t until 2:30 in the afternoon, so I usually have to eat a snack to hold me over. And then dinner at my house is on the “earlier” side at 9 or 9:30. Some people have told me they dint eat dinner until 11 at night, when I’m thinking about getting to bed. I don’t really like the schedule but it works and it really doesn’t bother me as much as I thought it might.