Klepto Club

If you estimate that I've walked approximately 2 hours  a day (average in Nantes was 3, in England it was 1.5, and here it is just over 2), so far I've spent 16 full days walking in my gap year.


I wonder what I've done during that fortnight and a bit. A lot of absentminded ambling, open mouthed gawking, and deep thinking. I try to do little monologues in my head, and switch between French, Spanish, and English. I had three distinct narrators in my head for these different languages, and am looking for good names. Suggestions?


Moving on, some things Jacqueline and I have been chatting about...


I often felt lonely in France because of the lack of touching, hugs and "love" reminders. I had a wonderful, loving, caring family, so that wasn't the problem at all. However, culturally you maintain much more distance and only kiss on the cheeks. Here in Spain, my host mom gives me hugs and kisses dozens of times everyday. Nothing has made me feel so welcome before, and it is a lesson I will take to heart when I welcome people into my house and life. That is, while respecting people's boundaries, it is important to demonstrate that you appreciate someone, and are invested in them feeling comfortable. Also being aware of cultural differences in body language is SO. IMPORTANT. One wise thing my phonetics teacher said in France was that it is hard to have empathy for people who haven't "suffered" what you have. I have empathy now for struggling students, confused immigrants, homesick strangers, and people who don't do things "my way." And people who don't know whether to hug, kiss, shake hands or do some weird greeting ritual.


And then we also chatted about "traveling kleptomania", which she now understands with a vengeance (at first she thought I was weird for filching napkins, toilet paper, and tea bags). I gave her some tips, so now we can be in our "Klepto Club." Although, in all honestly we are not true kleptos, as kleptomaniacs are by definition those who steal regardless of value.


Toilet paper is VALUABLE. This is a classic example of an economics principle, whose name I forget (but I remember the material, which is more important!). That is, an object's worth changes based on the "demand." If you are drowning, you wouldn't pay a thing for a bottle of water. But if you are hella thirsty from your run, no water in sight for miles and miles, you'd pay $10, $15 for a bottle.


Same goes for TP. How much would you pay with your pants round your ankles, a hole in the ground and a case of food poisoning?


I rest my case, adding only that this problem is solved when you steal suitable materials.