Assumptions and Thoughts

So two things came to mind this morning.   One, growing up in any society, we are taught lessons and come to assume that things are just the way that they are, and two; when we try to apply these lessons to another context, sometimes they work and sometimes they do not. 

First, so growing up in the U.S. in cities particularly, you learn that even addresses are on side of the street and odd addresses are on the other side of the street.   In addition, for the most part, thought not exclusively the numbers match each other; 140s opposite 140s, etc…. 

So I was out and about in the Nervion neighborhood earlier today looking for 130, Luis Montoto.  So I knew this address was on the other side of the street from when I live and to the right.  Easy enough….  I start walking down the street and see that the numbers are decreasing and even, so far so good.   I see 134, so I have a feeling that I am almost to my destination. Keep in mind that all businesses do not have street numbers at their entrances.  I see 130C, 130B and 130A, so I’m like I am almost there, then nothing.    There is a huge department store across the street and I doubt it is in there (though truth be told, it could be there, but I have no idea.)  

And it turns out the Google Maps is no use, as it wants me to cross the street to make it to 130, Luis Montoto.   So I am a little confused, so I walk into the grocery store and ask if they know where the delivery box is.    The helpful employee says that there is a little delivery kiosk “past” the regular kiosk (in Sevilla, kiosks are they little newspaper stands, mini convenience stores, not to be confused with the mini lottery stores.)  Anyway, after some walking back and forth, it turns out that the delivery location was in the kiosk not past it.  

First, the 130 (the kiosk) and 130A are across the street from one another, which doesn’t make sense to me, then again, I wasn’t raised here.  

Second, in Europe and I think other parts of the planet, the first floor of the building is Floor 0 and the second floor is Floor 1, etc….  So on an elevator, the first floor is 0, the second floor is 1, the third floor is 2, etc…  Now the interesting thing is that on each floor they have the floor number spelled out in the ordinal (I feel like I didn’t understand what an ordinal, was I understood the concept, but not the word.)   So the First floor is “Primo” the second is “Secundo,” etc… The fourth floor had a sign saying “Cuarto” which I thought was odd, because I was taught that “Cuarto” meant room.  

After some internet research, I discovered that there are several words for room; “Sala,” “Habitation,” and “Cuarto.”  So I learned several new words today.  

Also, I was wondering why the building has the ordinal names for the floor instead of just the number.  I am sure that there is a story to it, I hope to learn one day.