Today I believe I fully understand what yesterday I said to my grandmother on the phone when she asked about the life in Spain and Sweden. I told her that now I see some things in the country I was born, Spain, that I don’t understand why they are the way they are compared to the Swedish manner.
However, this is not about how you do something, for instance, in terms of efficiency, but rather how you think about yourself and the people who surround you as you interact with them. That is, how the society is.
I got back home a few minutes ago from a walk to a shopping mall… pure consumerism 
but I didn’t buy anything as I couldn’t find what I was supposed to buy. On the way back home, I deviated from the route and ended up in the groceries store and bought some things to eat, nothing in particular special. I paid, and headed home.
Paradoxically, when I was passing by another shopping mall, I saw a woman who seemed to be walking in order to intercept my course, and somehow I prepared myself for it, but not enough (and I’m glad I didn’t).
The woman, who didn’t look like poor nor the aspect was bad, stopped me and did ask for money to buy food. At that moment I was quite shocked, because I wasn’t expecting that and I thought for a fraction of a second till I realize I could do something instead of giving her money (I do think that if you give money to someone asking for it, you should say no because no one can tell you if they will really spend it on what they say they need it).
I told the woman if it wouldn’t be better that I gave her food instead, as I just left the groceries store, and I asked what kind of food she would like as I might not have bought it…
She replied back that something soft, so she could it because she didn’t have enough teeth. I had some soft food she could eat, and lucky her, it was a 2-pack that I splitted and gave her one pack. After that, the woman thanked me, and I continued with my walk back home.
To be honest, I don’t know if this woman lied or not, but the fear and sadness her face had when she said that food (instead of money) was also right made me think how bad is the situation in Spain that is driving people to this kind of desperation.
Perhaps I was fooled, but the fact that she was in front of a shopping mall where there’s a supermarket and she accepting food make me think that she really needed something to eat.
I wonder how many people would have reacted the same way I did, because what I did was a reflex, I didn’t have much time to think because everything happened very fast. You see poor people in the streets asking for money and no one looks at them; yes, it’s not people’s fault neither their responsibility, but I think that society should help those who need it the most (and let’s face it… I’m also part of that society who ignores these situations, I am not any saviour).
I am very lucky to have the life I currently have thanks to mostly my parents, but not everyone has the same opportunities; besides, things happen and change your life in a fraction of a second, whether you deserve it or not, you want it or not, whether you like it or not,…
Be advised that I’m not looking for any kind of appreciation nor recognition, but I thought that this is something to think about as I believe my reaction is pretty much influenced by the Swedish society during all the time I’ve spent so far in Sweden.
Swedish society isn’t much different from the Spanish one, but there’s something quite related to respect of everyone and everything which is different, and makes the Swedish society to not only look like but actually be that advanced and respected by many people.
Have I a Swedish thinking? Perhaps… but at least I know that I’m very lucky of being a Spaniard influenced by Swedish society.
(que me supo a gloria todo hay que decirlo, y me acordé de cuando era pequeño y me pusieron una vacuna en los aposentos).
though it’s not being used for any “real” purpose. It it ever becomes available (and it’s not too expensive), I might buy it, but for now I’m very happy with