Stay Thirsty? by Kaitlin Lewin

One thing I have noticed since I came to Seville, is how much water I drink. Going to school, I carry a personal water bottle that I refill 2-3 times throughout the day. I didn’t think anything different about it until I realized that during meals with my Spanish host family, I was refilling my glass 5-6 times and they weren’t even refilling theirs twice. In America, people are constantly reminded to “drink water” as it is considered a sign of health. At most American restaurants, you are given a free glass of water as soon as you sit down that is continuously refilled throughout your meal. In Spain, I noticed that if you want water you must ask for it, and even then you get at most a small bottle. I noticed another instance of this in one of my classes taught by a Spanish professor. He commented that all American students carry their own big personal water bottles. He made a joke, saying that we couldn’t go 10 minutes without drinking water. This struck me as odd as drinking water is supposedly good for your body, especially during the warmer summer months. However, I joined a gym here in Spain and they have a special scale that tells you the percentages in your body. According to the scale, the percentage of water in my body was over what the suggested level was. In other words, I drink too much water.

In the Seville shops, they have the huge water bottles that I have purchased for myself before. However, I’ve received weird looks from Spanish families who watch me drink it by myself, whereas they are sharing the same size water bottle amongst 4 people. I do not know where the idea that one must constantly be drinking water throughout the day originated in America, but I assumed it was a culturally universal idea. In America, there has been an increasing push towards “living healthy”, and perhaps constantly drinking water is the easiest way to live up to the American expectation. It was interesting for me that something I considered so innate such as drinking water changes from one culture to another.

A Spanish “Run” by Linsey Santos

There is a lot of new food to try here in Spain. I came to Spain to fully immerse myself in the culture so I have to try all of it, obviously. Also, we can’t leave out drinks. There are endless wines to try and each glass of sangria is a little different, so I also must try all of those. While I am doing more walking here in Sevilla than I was doing at home, I wanted to make sure I was working out here in Spain so I stay in the habit, and so all the bread my host mom serves doesn’t add up too much. As a solution my friends and I began to workout in Maria Luisa park a couple days a week. While in the park we would often see people running, biking, and even a few group exercise classes. After observing these individuals exercising I assumed that Spanish people engage in more physical activity than Americans, on average.

Well, this past weekend I participated in The Color Run with four of my friends. We were excited going into the 5k, as it seemed like a fun event that promoted healthy habits. When we arrived at the start around 8:30am the first thing I noticed was the age of the participants around us. Most seemed to be in high school, probably less than 15% of university age, and less than 5% above university age. In the U.S. the majority of organized run participants are over university age. Now, while I did not expect this to be a competitive event in any way it is called The Color “Run”, so I expected people to be running.

All the participants gathered in a crowd at the starting gate, the announcer counted down from five and everyone took off running. They took off running for about 50 meters. Then with exception of maybe 20 people, the entire crowd began walking. I was so confused. We had gone less than a half kilometer. This “run” was something we all paid to participate in so why were people walking? I had assumed, because of what I had observed in Maria Luisa park, that in general people here were rather active.

After returning home from the race I thought further about the run and my assumptions. When I originally made my assumption about Spanish cultural exercise habits I was in a park. This is probably a location that is very common for exercise. Therefore, basing my assumption of all Spanish people’s exercise habits on the people in Maria Luisa park was not an accurate sample. After reading some research online I found that studies show that approximately 44% of Spanish people do not engage in any form of exercise, while 36% of Americans do not engage in any form of exercise. So, in fact Americans are more likely to be active than Spanish people, contradicting what I originally thought. Although, this does not mean that Americans are healthier than Spaniards overall.


It was interesting to reflect on how quickly I made assumptions about Spanish exercise habits without realizing it. I wonder what other wrong assumptions I have made about the Spanish culture.

Nearly half of Spaniards never do any exercise

1 in 3 Americans Never Exercise: Study

Self Service? by Victoria Brown

On the first day of school, my friends and I decided to meander around the campus of UPO during our lunch break. We ventured through the many buildings that all looked identical inside, specifically the bookstore and copisteria, and ultimately we landed in the outdoor cafe. It was here that my observations of unusual behavior began.

After my friends and I got our coffees, we looked for seats. It was extremely busy and most all of the tables appeared to be in use. However, while scanning the seating area, I was stunned by the tables left with piles of trash on them, as well as by the disheveled placement of the chairs. I pointed at one of the trash covered tables and said, “I guess we can sit there.” We sat down and I recycled the beer bottles, soda cans, and pizza boxes. We immediately looked at eat other with a “WTF” type of face, one you give your friends when you’re all thinking the same thing. We all thought it was so odd that the students weren’t throwing their trash away because it would not be proper at our university. As time passed by, we kept noticing the tables next to us being left in the same manner. To add to the oddness, there was a lady who was cleaning up after everyone. We have people who clean tables at our school, but not who have a job of throwing everyone’s trash out. At my university, it is a student’s responsibility to throw away their trash and leave the table clean. If you don’t, it is considered rude.

The more I became aware of this habit, the more I’ve noticed it, not only in Sevilla, but also in other parts of Spain; I have a keen eye for such behavior everywhere I go. This past weekend at the Sevilla airport, for instance, I was looking for a seat at the café and I had the same experience—90% od the tables had trash left on them.

Why Are you Touching Me? by Jehanzeb W. Khan

I remember my first time sitting on a Metro in Sevilla, and I couldn't help but be amazed as to how closely people would sit and stand next to each other. I mean, obviously when the Metro is busy, it is busy, what are you going to do...but even when it isn't that busy? Goodness!

I use the metro twice a week, and each time I get on in the morning (at around 7:30am) I probably feel at least 20 other people's hands, bodies, and even their breathing against my own body. That's kind of gross huh?

I can imagine seeing someone back in my home state of Colorado, riding the light rail, and seeing something similar happen to them...and they would probably have a very adverse reaction...and with good reason, right? I mean, especially when it comes to going from point A to point B...you aren't really wanting no asking for someone to interact with you, let alone get all up in your business! Not in Spain.

I don't find it a matter of a lack of privacy, but more so about a more open sense of comfortability with a fellow human. I think a lot about my interactions with other Spanish folks, whether that be my host family or even total strangers...and how close they like to get when they talk to me. Especially when I interact with women from Spain, they never fail to offer me besos. Even things as simple as a touch on my shoulder or on my arm during conversation, which is VERY abnormal in the States, is not only normal here, but kind of comforting!

I have some friends who do not like getting touched by other people or receiving hugs at ALL...and to each their own. As I see it, not even a hug, but a simple touch, maybe even by a complete stranger on a Metro, is a warm reminder of the humanity that we have the pleasure of experiencing each and everyday. In my time here in Spain, I have come to appreciate those little moments and interactions I have with others. And to be quite honest, it makes being here feel a little bit more like a home. 

 

Who Drinks More?

One thing I realized as soon as I arrived to Spain, is how different the drinking culture is here as opposed to the United States. Here, you see people having a beer or a glass of wine at anytime during the day, as early as eleven in the morning. While it is most common to drink coffee in the morning, I have seen Spaniards having a beer with breakfast on multiple occasions. Walking around at two or three in the afternoon, you will see many people out enjoying a “bocadillo” and beers during their late morning break. At first, from an outside perspective it is easy to say the Spanish drink too much or maybe they show alcoholic tendencies. After spending some time in Sevilla and observing what it is actually like here, I realized Spaniards drink much more responsibly than Americans. In the States, younger people live inn such a “pregame” culture where you drink to get drunk. People will make drinking into a competition, and push each other to their limits. Here, locals will slowly enjoy a beer with their meal, rather than guzzling down drinks to feel a buzz. It makes me wonder if our drinking culture would change if our drinking age was lowered to 18 in the US. I think the younger generation would approach drinking in a different way and there would be less binge drinking. However, I do not think it would completely change what drinking is like in the US. Our time orientation in the US is completely different from Spain, that I do not see a time where it will be common to see many people drinking beers in the morning and afternoon. 

There is no such thing as siesta time, or a break in the afternoon in the US. It is also just more of an open, and accepting practice here. Along with laws against open containers in the US, there is also this sense of judgment towards drinking at certain hours of the day that are deemed “too early” by cultural norms. The biggest thing I have learned being abroad is that it is important to recognize the differences between Spain and the United States, not to deem one better than the other, but rather to begin to understand the people from each culture.

“Eating Healthy” in Spain by Morgan Zueger

Before I arrived in Spain, I had high expectations for their gastronomy. I thought I would get these four months to eat super healthy every day, with home cooked meals made by my host family. On the first night, I was so overwhelmed. Our host mom made croquettes, Spanish tortilla, fried potatoes, chicken legs and mussels. The only source of vegetable came from the “salad” – aka, iceberg lettuce and a few carrots, drenched in olive oil. I told myself that she made this assortment only because it was the first meal, and that we would be eating healthier the next day. Unfortunately, I was wrong! My daily diet consists of bread, fried eggs soaked with olive oil, a fatty meat and that same salad, most days.

Now, what I find interesting is that my host mom thinks that she’s serving us healthy foods and balanced meals. I believe that Spaniards have different ideas about health, and what it means to eat healthily. Therefore, when I don’t eat all of the oily, fried potatoes on my plate, my host mom gets upset and tells me to “eat my vegetables”. I believe that Spaniards genuinely think that they are healthy eaters, which stems from their long gastronomic history. But trust me, eating two loaves of bread per day, 10 servings of olive oil and and unappetizing amount of pork is not quite satisfying the food pyramid. I don’t wait to stereotype the entire country based off my single experience with my host family, these are just merely my observations. As a matter of fact, I’m sure that the health practices of each Spanish generation and family is different, because health ideals are constantly changing and are not consistent throughout one country.

Every restaurant that I have visited serves the classic tapas: tortilla, croquetas, patatas bravas, paella, jamón ibérico y queso etc. It is hard to come across some healthy options, in my opinion, but if I told that to a Spaniard I am sure that they would disagree completely. Even in my cooking class, we cook classic Spanish recipes that are so unhealthy. We even dedicated an entire class to cooking traditional and popular fried food (see photo).

On the topic of health, I recently returned from a trip to Morocco, and have been experiencing intense stomach problems. I told my host mom that I wanted to go to a doctor, and she laughed at me! She said that stomach issues were completely normal after a trip to Morocco, and she offered me a huge 600 mg paracetamol pill (which is an extremely high dosage to take in the first place, not to mention that it couldn’t possibly help intestinal issues). In my case, antibiotics were required to treat my illness. Paracetamol is their wonder drug, their “fix all” magic pill, when in reality it should only be used to treat specific symptoms.

My experience of health has been very different while in Spain, food wise and medication wise. Obviously there are many aspects of culture that affect the food choices and eating habits of people, and I am not trying to criticize the entire gastronomy of Spain. There are just many differences between our ideals and practices of health. To say the least, I am excited to get back to the US and splurge on a huge salad (and drink free water)!

Aren’t You Hot in That??? by Stefany M. Soltesz

After being in Sevilla for nearly two and a half months now, it still does not make sense to me how men and women travel to their professional jobs on a motorcycle while wearing suits, dress shoes, heels, and dresses. When I first arrived to Sevilla in August, I could not bear being in 100-degree weather even in shorts and a tank top. Each and every day, I would drink at least 6 bottles of water trying desperately to feel some type of cold. I was very impressed by these men and women in suits and dresses who would step off of their motorcycles still looking intact and ready for the day. I couldn’t help but imagine myself on the motorcycle with helmet hair, sweat dripping down my body, bugs flying in my face, and my nice dress flying in the wind and getting wrinkled. Seeing these men and women in the United States would be quite odd. Usually men on motorcycles wear casual attire such as jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt with sneakers. Typically, people going to work in a nice suit or dress would drive a car. Oftentimes, I do not see many women on motorcycles, especially alone. Usually if I do see a woman on a motorcycle, she is accompanied by a man. It is refreshing to see women riving motorcycles here. This is one aspect of the culture that I am still confused and intrigued by every day.

Crowded cervecerías

One of the most obvious aspects of Spanish culture that I have noticed is how late people of all ages stay out eating dinner on Thursday-Sunday nights. This doesn’t surprise me, but what does surprise me is how the young parents bring their children along with them and how dogs are common guests at the dinner table. Often times when I go out with my friends in Spain, I pass by cervecerías crowded with people. Here, I have noticed children kicking soccer balls, new born babies sitting along their parents in strollers, and dogs patiently waiting for spare crumbs to fall on the ground.

In the U.S, it is very uncommon to bring children out to dinner when young parents make plans to meet up with their friends. It is especially uncommon for children under the age of 5 to be allowed to stay awake past 8 pm. Typically you will find parents in the U.S calling a babysitter to watch the kids until they return. This makes me wonder if people in Spain do not rely on babysitters or if they have more tolerance for young children. In the U.S., a night out away from the kids is a stress reliever, but it does not seem like Spanish parents like to be away from their kids for very long. I am not sure if I agree or disagree with parents taking their kids to places like cevecerías late at night. On one hand, it gives them early exposure to seeing people drink which may make the idea of drinking less tempting, but on the other hand seeing it could make the children think that since their parents drink so casually, it is ok if they do the same at a young age.

What shocked me even more than the young children staying out late with their parents is the fact that pets are allowed at restaurants. In the U.S. , this is strictly prohibited. In fact, if you show up with your pet at a restaurant, even an outdoor restaurant, it is considered to be rude. This, I have noticed, is a very common practice in Spain. I like this idea personally because I do not think pets should be kept alone in a house all day by themselves. The pets are also extremely well behaved to the point where some of them do not even wear leashes. In the U.S. you will never see a pet owner walking their dog without a leash. Overall, the more I see these practices in the streets, the more used to it I get, and the more that I understand Spanish culture.