Personal space, by Madi Beckley

In America, everyone loves his or her personal space. They feel as if there is a “bubble” around them into which others, especially strangers, should not enter. This is universally understood, and most people know to keep an appropriate distance between others. In Sevilla however, this idea of personal space in nonexistent.

While on the metro, someone can be pushed right up against you and think nothing of it. There is no putting your backpack on the seat next to you to create some distance. If you’re lucky enough to get a seat, your legs will most likely be touching the people’s legs who are sitting on either side of you. The people standing up will most likely be touching some part of your body as well, and sometimes if they’re holding a pole above you, their armpit will be pretty close your face. And if the metro takes a sharp jolt, others will definitely be rammed into you.

The lack of personal space is seen in all conversations as well. People tend to speak closer to each other, and talk louder to each other than is custom in the U.S. They also touch each other a lot more frequently. The first time meeting someone requires a kiss to each of his or her cheeks. This is much closer than a handshake. Sevillanos are known for touching arms or legs when trying to make a point during the conversation. One time, I was on a train sitting next to an older lady. I asked her, in Spanish, if she knew whether or not this train was direct or made stops. She leaned in, laid her hand on my arm, and answered my question. This still came as a surprise to me, even though I already knew about customary touching. Additionally, gesturing while speaking is more common, and Sevillanos are more expressive with their emotions both verbally and nonverbally.

To Sevillanos, having close proximity to someone, and using a lot of gestures and touch during conversations is the norm. For someone like me coming from the suburbs, this lack of personal space, especially on the metro, was at first extremely overwhelming. It took a while getting used to, and it is still something for me that will take some time to get fully adjusted to. My expected personal “bubble” has been popped and I’m still getting accustomed to the air out here.