People who study abroad absolutely love talking about it. Nostalgia strikes and nearly everything brings them back to that blessed time “when I was abroad.” I am one of these people. Living in Spain for four months was the most formative experience of my young life. I am now worldly, cultured—a global citizen if you will. It feels good.

A lot happened while I was abroad—a true potpourri. I missed my flight to from London to Spain, my boyfriend seemingly forgot I was his girlfriend, and a kid in my grammar class got stabbed by a gypsy. Yes, stabbed. So with this scare, I had a two-week nightly lock down. It was me and my senora Rosa, and it was time to bond.

Stuffing myself with Spanish tortilla and telling the woman all there was to know about my American family and friends got old fast. Finally we had to move onto a topic a bit more stimulating—politics. Much may have been lost in translation, mostly my poor translation, but during my two-week hiatus from all things street-culture, I learned a lot, and my hiatus just happened to be framed by the Spanish Prime Ministerial election. Ironic, I know.

Spain is a pretty outrageous place what with the bull fights, late nights, and all. But, if there is one thing these people mean business about, it’s elections. Once a viable candidate has been found, the King proposes him to Congress, and a two-day investiture debate takes place in which the candidate can explain his governmental objectives and priorities, followed by two rounds of debate with the parliamentary groups. The Congress of Deputies votes, he is appointed by the King—and they have themselves a Prime Minister. Que Bien!

Now don’t get me wrong, I love Barack Obama. Yes, of course, he received my NH absentee ballot vote. But, there was something about the resemblance of the Democratic National Convention to Yanni live at the Acropolis that disturbed me greatly. And, Urban Outfitters, do we really need to silkscreen the man’s face onto T-shirts? I think not.

America is in a funk right now. I know this because people take the McCain/Palin ticket seriously, and sitcoms like Will & Grace use the phrase “Barockin’ my World.” There is nothing right about this. I have serious Canadian post-graduation plans. Is not there something more riveting than this race to the White House for Americans to engage in?

I guess not.

This is where the Spanish have really got it together. What with their boy soccer wonders and world famous Mediterranean diet to focus on, who has time for an election that drags on for over a year? There are siestas to be had and tapas to be consumed. Life may not have always be so pleasant, what with Franco running the show for all those years, but times have changed and this cool attitude has paid off.

The Prime Minister of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, is an agnostic socialist. He probably practices yoga and enjoys good vegetarian food. How progressive! Zapatero calmly rules the country, rarely feeling the need to confine himself by wearing a necktie. He is bold and I love him.