Spanish Cultural Differences from Americans

"Culture Shock" is the term used to explain how people feel when they experience differences in the new culture they live in versus the culture they grew up in. Cultural differences are not good or bad-- they are just differences in what is 'normal' in a culture or society. Even in America, we experience different cultural norms when we joke about how people in the Midwest eat corn and beef every day, whereas people in the Southwest eat spicy Mexican dishes, and people in the South eat mostly fried comfort food. In some parts of the country, people say 'soda,' and in other areas it is 'pop'. So of course you can imagine that Americans experience some culture shock when they move to Southern Spain. If you know what to expect, the differences will make more sense and you will be better able to handle them. The following 20 differences are listed in my book as the main differences Americans notice in Spain(not necessarily in order of importance):

1.      The lifestyle is very relaxed. Some Americans love this, but for most it is a change from our always-busy American lives. The Spanish take the time to enjoy life: they enjoy long, slow meals, they enjoy family time, they enjoy going for walks with their children. The flip side of this is that timeliness is not a Spanish trait. Stores and restaurants do not open promptly on the hour. Orders and repairs do not always happen on a prompt timeline. Guests often arrive 15 minutes after an announced time.

2.      Family comes first. The Spanish are extremely family-oriented, often being born, growing up, and getting married in the same town. The younger generations take care of the older generations (or hire someone to care for them). Men are involved in family life, taking their children to the park and carrying them in public. Most holidays are celebrated with the entire extended family, in large gatherings with plenty of alcohol, music, and laughter. On Sundays, most stores are closed, because the Spanish spend the whole day with their families.

3.      Work comes second. The Spanish work for a living, but do not live for working. The work ethic is very laid back, and family or fiestas can take precedence to work. Spain can be an extremely relaxing environment for Americans who are used to the constant rush and stress of the States. However, the mañana (tomorrow) attitude of procrastinating can also be very frustrating for people who are waiting for a store to open, for a vehicle to be repaired, or for a landlord to mend something in the home. Things do not always happen in a timely manner, and usually take longer than estimated. The laid back work attitude has also contributed to the economic crisis that has gripped the country for the last few years. Unemployment is currently around 25%, so those who have jobs are very interested in keeping them.

4.      Life is a party. Or more accurately, one fiesta after another. There is almost always some kind of upcoming celebration to anticipate, whether it is one of the major annual events like Carnaval or Feria, a smaller local celebration like Andalusia Day, or a religious or culinary festival celebrated only in one town. Each town has their own schedule of fiestas, but they last most of the year, especially through the warmer weather from Easter until October. The Spanish take holidays and religious festivals seriously, so stores will be closed and people will be out in the streets for a parade or a fair near the town center. Americans usually have a 3-day weekend for holidays like Martin Luther King Day or President’s Day, observing the holiday on the closest Monday. The Spanish celebrate holy days on the calendar date, even if it is a Wednesday or Thursday. So it can be difficult to keep track of all the holidays and business closings. But it is also fun to get out and enjoy some unique celebrations! Look for the holiday schedule at www.aytorota.es. It is explained in depth later in this chapter.

5.      Restaurants are never open when you are hungry. Because the Spanish eat at such different times than Americans, it is difficult to find a place serving food around Noon or 6  pm. Restaurants don’t open for lunch until 1 pm, then close at 4, and don’t reopen until 8 pm! So you have to plan carefully, and maybe get a babysitter to go out for dinner.

6.      Meals are leisurely. It is completely normal to spend 2-3 hours at a restaurant for a meal. Eating in a rush is an American trait. So the first few times you go out, you will probably be appalled at the lack of service and the difficulty in locating a waiter. It isn’t bad service, it’s just different standards. In America, we expect a waiter to check on the table frequently. In Spain, that is considered almost rude. Instead the priority is to leave the guest alone to relax and enjoy their meal. If you want something, including the check, make eye contact or wave your waiter over.

7.      Alcohol is always available. Most Spanish drink frequently, and sometimes profusely. Beer and wine are available at every single public event, whether it is a sporting competition, a religious festival, or even a performance at your child’s school. The legal drinking age is 18. Beer, wine, and sangria are the most common beverages, although hard liquor and mixed drinks are sold at all bars and similar establishments. The drunk driving limit is much lower in Spain: only 0.01 blood alcohol is permitted while driving a vehicle. So if you have even one drink in town, it is best to catch a ride with a taxi or friend, or have plans to walk home, rather than taking the risk of driving.

8.      The Spanish adore children. If you have children, you will find it common for them to be greeted, touched, and cooed over in the streets with cries of ‘Que guapo/guapa!’ (how cute!). Children are included in all festivals and celebrations, even those occurring in the middle of the night. Many large stores and shopping centers have play areas where children can be dropped off while you shop, or play while you eat. In restaurants and other public settings, children are often seen AND heard, unless it is a formal event.

At the San Lucar horse race, children climb all over the starting gate in between races!

9.      Parking garages don’t have cashiers at the exits. To avoid getting trapped at the exit gate, make sure you pay your ticket at the machine—la cajero—BEFORE you get into your car. The machines are usually located in stairways or near the exit. You pay while on foot, the machine validates your ticket, and then you have about 10 minutes to get in your car and drive out. Swipe the validated ticket at the exit, and the gate will raise automatically.

10.   Spain is a Catholic country. Ever since the conquest of the Christian king and queen in the 15^th century, the country has been exclusively Catholic. This means that every small town has its own church or cathedral, and almost all public holidays are rooted in some religious tradition honoring Jesus, Mary, or a saint. Public schools almost always teach Catholic religion as part of the curriculum, because there is no separation of Church and State like there is in America (although parents can opt out of these classes). There are public processions of statues on holy days, and national holidays from work for important Catholic feasts. Not everyone attends church, and you will not find a strict or moralistic Catholic attitude in the culture. Religion is simply part of the Spanish history and mindset. There are very few Protestant groups represented, as Spain endeavored to preserve pure Catholicism with events such as the Inquisition. There is however a growing presence of Islam, mainly in immigrant communities.

11.   Andalusians (people living in Southern Spain) are extremely friendly and welcoming. The Southern United States is famous for its hospitality, and the same seems to be true in Southern Spain. People you barely know will offer to take you places, show you around, and invite you to cultural events. You will be invited to try new foods and drinks. Americans are sometimes surprised by this generosity and openness, and our natural reaction may be to decline the invitation and walk away quickly. Of course, use common sense and never go anywhere alone or with someone who makes you uncomfortable. But don’t pass up great opportunities simply because they are offered with great zeal.

12.   The sun stays up forever in the summer! Spain is in the wrong time zone. Currently, Spain is in the GMT+1 time zone, meaning it is in the same time zone as Italy and most of the Mediterranean—6 hours ahead of the East Coast of the United States. However, geographically, Spain is actually WEST of London. The time was changed during World War II, when dictator Francisco Franco sought to align Spain with the Nazis in Germany and Italy. It was never changed back. So in summer, the sun doesn’t set until after 10pm.

13.   Daylight Savings Time is still observed in Spain—spring forward one hour in March, fall back one hour in October. However, it is observed on a different date here than in America, usually a few weeks apart, so for a few weeks your family and friends in the States will be on a slightly different time than you.

14.   The “first floor” is upstairs. In Spain, as in most of Europe, what we call the first floor is referred to as the ground floor, planta baja. When you walk upstairs to what they call the first floor—primer piso—you are on what Americans typically call the 2nd floor. So if you’re looking for an office or apartment on the first floor, remember you’ll have to go upstairs.

15.   You will see a lot of skin. The Spanish concept of modesty is different from Americans. So, for example, all beaches in the area are topless beaches. It doesn’t matter if women are young or old, thin or fat—they frequently go topless at the beach. The bottoms that are worn are usually thongs. Men typically wear tight bathing suits with a short cut, whether they are young or old. And young children are often completely naked, up until age 8.

16.   Gender equality has not quite developed. While there are now more women in the workforce than in previous generations, household attitudes towards men’s and women’s roles have not changed much in the past hundred years. Cooking and cleaning are still almost exclusively women’s work, as are most child-related tasks. Athleticism is a male-dominated field, but women are now becoming more involved in sporting events.

17.   Europeans are much more energy-conscious than Americans. Spain makes excellent use of wind and solar power, yet energy costs are still much higher than in the States. Therefore, the Spanish are much better at conserving energy: central heat and air conditioning are not standard, many homes don’t use dryers, and hot water is not always available for showers. You can open or close windows and blinds to control temperature, and you should unplug anything not in use. Recycling is common, but not mandatory, in most places off base.

18.   Spanish plumbing is different. You will notice toilets are slightly different in a few ways. They use less water, so you will usually have an option to press one button for a partial flush (for liquids only) or a different button for a complete flush (for solids). In many public restrooms, it is typical to place toilet paper in a trash can instead of flushing it. Finally, many European toilets are designed with straight pipes instead of s-shaped pipes, so it can be common for sewage smells to come back out through toilets, sinks, or showers. This is a problem both on base and in town. Keep drains plugged when not in use.

19.   Gardens are important. Even the smallest house or apartment will have flowers hanging on the walls, crammed onto tiny balconies, and growing in a narrow courtyard. The Spanish take a lot of pride in their homes and their gardens. There are even town competitions in the summer for the most beautiful patio. Houses and streets are generally neat and clean, so please do your part to keep it that way.

20.   Girls always have pierced ears. The Spanish generally pierce a baby girl’s ears just after birth, while she is still in the hospital. So a child without pierced ears is assumed to be a boy, even if she is dressed all in pink! (And even more interestingly, newborn boys are not usually circumcised, so asking for this at a Spanish hospital is seen as a somewhat cruel request.) If you want to get your daughter’s ears pierced while stationed here, the safest place to go is the local Farmacia (Pharmacy) where they will use a sterile needle. You can also go to Claire’s in El Paseo Mall, but there they will use a punch gun.

After publishing the book, I realized there were several more big differences I have become so used to that I didn't even include them! So I will add them here:

21. The Spanish don't shake hands to greet each other. Instead, they kiss. No, it's not a romantic kiss on the lips. It's more like an air kiss next to each cheek. When greeting a Spainsh person, move your head first to the left, and make a kiss in the air next to their right cheek. They will simultaneously do the same to you. Then, quickly move your head to the right side, and kiss the air next to their left cheek. They will do the same. Then take a step back and continue the conversation. You will see everyone do this-- friends, family members, women greeting women, men greeting men, and even children greeting adults. It is just the standard way to say Hola, and doesn't mean anything romantic. American handshakes are too formal and cold for such a warm culture with little regard for personal space.

22. Spanish last names are different. It's not Mr. And Mrs. Garcia. When a Spanish woman gets married, she does not take her husband's last name. When they have children, the child usually has two last names-- one from their father, and one from their mother. The more important one (usually the father's) is listed first, and that is the one that wil be passed on to their own children. So, for example, if a man named José Alverez Peréz marries a woman named Maria Gonzolez Rodriguez, their children could be called Juan Alverez Gonzolez and Carlotta Alverez Gonzolez. The last name is sometimes hyphenated to show that the first of the last names- the paternal one- is the more important one.

23. Birthdays are not as important as Name Days. Traditionally, most Spanish babies are given Christian names, either after a favorite saint or a family member. The date the child is born is important for determining their age, and is sometimes celebrated by the family. However, the more important celebration is on the child's Name Day, which is the feast day of the saint with that name. For example, my birthday is in January. But my name is Elizabeth. If I were Spanish, my parents would have immediately determined whether I was named after St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, whose feast day is January 4, or after St. Elizabeth of Hungary, whose feast day is November 19... Or after any other saint Elizabeth. Whichever saint was selected, that is the day I would celebrate with cake and presents. However, as the Spanish become more familiar with American customs, it is not uncommon to see actual birth dates celebrated as well.