(In)dependent Cultures by Madison McCormick

Being from the United States gives a certain pressure on questions such as: what I will be when I grow up, who will I marry, or how am I going to afford to live on my own? The culture in the United States puts pride in independence which I truly realized once I stepped foot into spanish culture. Rarely do students in the United States after graduating college move back in with their parents for more than a couple of years or so. People frown upon young adults, averaging the age of 25 and older, if they are still living at home with mom and dad. Americans see this as lazy, unproductive, or even embarrassing. I have found one of the greatest culture shocks to be that a spaniard in his or her 20’s to 30’s that lives outside of his or her parent’s home is extremely rare. Spaniards remain very dependent on their parents until an age far later than in the United States. Many american students often go to a university outside of their hometown and even out of their own state. I have learned that in most cases, spaniards go to a university in their own town that they usually have lived their entire lifetime. American students who live on campus usually do not go home for weeks at a time whilst spanish students see and speak to their parents at least once a day. Every day I learn more and more how many aspects of american culture which I thought to be “normal” are actually just a part of the culture I live in. Understanding other cultural values and ideas gives me a broader understanding of the diverse world we live in, and a better appreciation for other cultures.