From point A to point B - by Emily Bowman

 Moving to Spain for four months caused for an abundance of culture shock. Spain is traditional, and everything from food to social expectations can differ from the United States. There is an abundance of small differences in everyday life that make living abroad an eye-opening experience. One of these small differences in culture has to do with how people get around their respective cities.

Southern Spain is a very hot region, the summer months especially have people staying in the shade, slowing things down and drinking lots of cold beer. The hot temperature has several impacts on the culture including the slow pace of Spaniards. When walking down the street people tend to move at a very slow pace, casually walking and often socializing as they go. This I have been told is because of the heat, people do not want to speed up and expend excess energy, making them even warmer than the temperature allows for. In New England where I am from, the weather is quite the opposite of Seville. The winter is long and very cold, and snow covers the ground for at least 4 months of the year. When people do move outside they tend to hustle from place to place. Even when its warmer outside people in New England walk very quickly, on the street, in stores and wherever they go. This is in my opinion due to the usual frigid temperatures outside, making us run from building to building, or to our vehicles.

Coming to Spain there was instant annoyance when walking down the street, constantly bumping into the Spaniards walking at a much slower pace. This observation coupled with the extreme heat quickly made the Americans in my year abroad program learn to slow down and walk at a pace otherwise unthinkable to us. Moving a bit slower and sticking to the shade, made the extreme heat much more bearable. Moving slower allows for more socialization and enjoyment of the beautiful landscape. This accounts for the more laidback attitude of people living in Spain, often tardiness of a few minutes is accepted and even accepted. People take longer and are less hurried, while people in Boston are rushed and don't normally take time to walk at leisure, and schedules are earlier and more rigid.

Nightlife in Sevilla

Coming to Spain for the first time I had no idea about the nightlife here. The first night here I went out for some drinks with some friends and we went to a terrace. It was my first time going out for drinks and being able to legally order them because I was only 19 so it was a very new experience for me. It was only my first night out and I was out until 4 in the morning which was really crazy to think about but with the time change it was as if it was like 10 at night at home. It was crazy to see even as it got later into the night there were moms out with their kids past 11 which is really late for kids in America. The first weekend at my host mother’s house, my roommate and I didn’t even start to get ready until 11 at night because we were going out at 1 in the morning. When I told my mom and family back home I was going out at 1 they thought I meant 1 in the afternoon not the morning, they were really shocked that I was going out so late. When I got to the terrace I noticed that the night picked up around 3 in the morning, that was like the hour when the most people were out. My friends and I ended up staying out until 7 in the morning which was one of the first times I’ve ever been out that late. It came as a big shock to me to see how night life is here and how so many people are out as well as how common it is to come back home so late. It was a great experience for me as well as a culture shock but I enjoyed it very much during my time here in Spain.

Exploring Differences in Spanish and U.S Culture: Gun Violence, by Katy McDonald

When I was preparing to come to Spain I was constantly worried about liking the food, speaking the language, making new friends, and doing well in my classes. Although there were so many things that I expected would be just too different in this new culture, there was one thing about Spain that I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about: guns. In the United States, citizens have access to fully automatic weapons and gun violence is one of the leading causes of deaths each year. A lot of the controversy surrounding the debate on guns has to do with the Second Amendment in our Constitution which states that citizens have the right to bear arms, but more often than not this “right” leads to the deaths of thousands of people nationwide. In my home state, Colorado, there have been 7 mass shootings in common places like movie theaters, schools, and health centers. For many people, including myself, being in small or crowded spaces or hearing loud sounds can create a sense of fear or anxiety about the possibility of being a victim to gun violence. After spending almost four months in Spain (and traveling around Europe in general), I have noticed that I don’t have those same feelings of fear when walking on the street, entering a mall, seeing a movie, or going to a bar. Spain is much stricter about its gun policies and there is not the same perceived threat here of gun violence as there is in the U.S. Going to different places and even just walking down the street feels much safer because I know that the chance of being in a shooting is very low. Just knowing that the citizens of Spain cannot carry automatic weapons and most likely do not have guns in their homes or on their person is enough to create a safer feeling overall. When I return to the U.S I think that readjusting to that feeling of insecurity towards my safety and well-being will be one of the hardest aspects of leaving Spain. As a student of psychology and as someone living abroad, I think that exploring topics like safety and perceptions of violence are very interesting in how they differ from one country to another.

Tops off! by Katherine Vetrano

One of the most uncomfortable, but interesting experiences for me this semester was visiting the beach in Cadiz. I went with my boyfriend, his cousin, and a few of her friends for a trip during the weekend. Much to my surprise, when we were walking over absolutely beautiful bluffs and I looked down at the beach, I saw a few completely naked people in more secluded areas as we walked closer to the main beach area. I just assumed it might be okay because those areas were far more private and they may not have realized that other people could see them. Then as we walked down all the stairs to the beach that was our destination, I noticed a few women without their tops on. To which I thought – “Hey, it’s Europe, I should’ve expected that.” We walked along the beach looking for an open spot to set up our towels, and next thing I know, there is a fully nude older gentleman crossing my path. My eyes immediately went to the ground and I followed my boyfriend’s steps to our spot, and I nudged him in the back to check if he was seeing the same thing I saw. He explained to me that was normal here, but he himself felt uncomfortable doing the same and tried to avoid “people watching” while at these types of beaches. This continued to happen all day, including when some of the girls with us even took their tops off. I thought it was interesting that though I did feel slightly weird about that, I definitely felt most uncomfortable seeing people without bottoms on. The main concern I felt with having no bottoms on was that there were very young children running around and playing, with completely nude, typically much older, men and women in the on the same beach swimming and tanning, which although it was clearly not malicious, would technically be something criminal to expose young children to in the United States. I mean overall beautiful beaches, and I had a wonderful time, just a fair warning to those who may potentially end up at a similar beach to brace yourself for a few body parts you may not want to see.

Personality and sense of humor, by Samuel Henry

Of the many cultural differences, I have noticed between Spanish and American cultures, I want to focus on personality and sense of humor. When I arrived to Spain, it wasn't long before it became very clear that here in Sevilla, they do not hold back with what they are thinking or want to say. They are very outgoing and extroverted with their opinions. During discussions I have had with my host mom and "amigos espanoles," a fly on the wall listening in on the wall would summarize this "outgoingness" as a subtle disregard for sensitivity. Considering this, then therefore at the same time Spanish people have to be less sensitive themselves for it to be a cultural norm. A popular saying in the United States to describe this is that the Spanish do not "beat around the bush." An example of this is when one of my teachers here in Spain (I won't say names) teased someone in my class for standing very close to the urinal while going to the bathroom. It was extremely light-hearted and a hilarious joke. It is this type of sense of humor that I think Spanish people, especially sevillanos, resemble. On the contrary, in the United States, people are definitely more careful in what they choose to say and what to keep filtered to yourself. There is less of a teasing culture. I have to say that in comparison to Sevillanos teasing other people, with the American sense of humor or personality, as least speaking for myself and the relationship I have with my friends, the fun and laughing stems more from individuals teasing themselves embodying themselves as goofy. This could be explained by the tendency for people to share what is perceived as out of the ordinary. Within my friend group, we go back and forth sharing funny stories. It has been a magnificent experience to witness this first hand.

¿no das los gracias? by Caelan Spencer

I think that biggest difference I have noticed from my three months in Spain has been the directness of people when they talk and how little please and thank you is said. I have heard plenty of conversation in Spanish when translated to English sound very forceful and may be considered angry, such as “dame dos cervezas,” which directly translates is “give me two beers,” and this is rarely followed by a please. Where as in the United States we frequently say, “may I please have…” or “Could I get…” and then when it is brought to you, you generally will say thank you to the waiter or waitress. Thanking people is very different here in Spain, and I’m often given strange looks or the person I’m talking to will immediately switch to English when I say “gracias” for something. I still haven’t exactly figured out when to say thanks and when not to, because in the United States we say thank you for so many mundane things it feels impolite not to say it here. I think I have learned that the majority of English statements are passive, almost always asking if it’s possible that something can be done. Yet the Spanish I’ve learned and heard here is much more direct, almost like a command like this is what I want so bring it to me. An example of this is when I take the metro every morning to class, when the metro is full people will just say “paso paso” whereas generally in the United States people will say “Could I pass through here” or something along those lines. The passiveness of English has definitely made me stick out more when talking in Spanish, where some of my Spanish friends who I have met here have said “the way you speak Spanish is so strange.” I wonder why Americans are so passive in our conversations, while Spaniards are so direct. Is it just a cultural value that is different? What causes a language to be more direct vs passive?

Staring in Spain by Khadija Khan

Seville is a city that I have come to love because of its rich history, beautiful architecture and lively culture. When I first came to Seville, I had to get used to a number of things, for example, the intense summer heat, a new language and different food and mealtimes. However, something that I still have a hard time adjusting to is how undiverse Seville is, coupled with the culture of staring here in Spain.

During orientation, we learned that people here like to stare because they are curious and it is something cultural. As a South Asian woman, I stand out a lot in Seville. As a result, I feel like I am also stared at a lot. During my four months here, I've observed that when spaniards stare, they are not subtle about it. Additionally, they don't like to look away when you catch them staring, which is also new to me because I am used to people looking away when you catch them staring. Sometimes, people keep staring for minutes, or turn their heads to continue staring, even when they are on vehicles.

Moreover, it is not normal here to pass a smile to a random stranger when you make eye contact, something that is very common in the United States. When people do stare at me, I always feel a little awkward and uncomfortable. When people do stare, I try to feel a little less uncomfortable by passing a smile, but I end up feeling more uncomfortable because I don't usually get a smile back.

I grew up in Pakistan where majority of the people belong to the same ethnic group. I never stood out there and have not experienced such intense staring. Three years ago, I moved to the United states for college; while Washington DC is not that diverse either, it is not normal to stare at people.

So coming to Seville was the first time I experienced such intense staring. I do believe that it is a mixture of curiosity and just a part of the culture here, but for some reason I still have not gotten used to it.

Botellón: The Spanish pre-game in the streets, by Willa Jutzi

During the past few months in Sevilla, I have experienced many cultural differences among life in Spain and my own life back home in Portland, Oregon. One of my favorite examples of this was when I had the opportunity to attend a “Botellón” with my intercambio. A botellón is the Spanish version of what we call a “pre-game” back home. Usually before I go out to a bar or a party with my friends, we will meet at one of our houses and engage in drinking games in order to get ready for whatever event we are going to later that night. This is essentially a party before the party, and it gives us a chance to socialize while allowing us to save money on drinks later in the night. In comparison, the Spanish botellón usually takes place in a public place. Other than the event being held “en las calles”, the pre-game really was not that different than what I would experience back home. We socialized with friends and enjoyed a few drinks before heading to the disco club for our main event of the night. Before study abroad, I had previously been warned that most Spanish people do not engage in binge drinking the same way as Americans often do. From observing my new Spanish friends, I did notice this to be true as there did seem to be more of an emphasis on socializing and having a good time rather than just trying to get drunk as the end goal of the night; however, there also was not as drastic of a difference as I had originally thought there would be. Overall, I found this night to be a very interesting cultural experience and probably one of my favorite nights in Sevilla. This new atmosphere was a lot of fun to experience, especially in the warm summer nights of Sevilla and I look forward to experiencing another botellón in the future!

Spain and US Culture Differences by Logan Waterman

I have lived in Spain for 3 and a half months now and it has been a remarkable experience. I have learned so much about the Spanish culture, and the differences/similarities between the North American and Spanish cultures. I live in Nervion and I think this is part of the reason that I never experienced any real culture shock because the commercial look of this neighborhood is very similar to a typical American city and I found this to be somewhat comforting.

I felt a bit of culture shock though surrounding food and meals. The biggest shock came from the change in mealtimes, I found it difficult to eat breakfast so early (typically around 8) and then wait 7 hours (at 3) to eat lunch. Furthermore, it was challenging to eat dinner at such a late time. My host mom usually has dinner prepared between 10 and 11.Whereas at home I have breakfast at 9, lunch at 12 and dinner at 6. I realized that moving to a new country also meant more or less completely altering my daily routine in terms of meals, free time, commuting, etc.

Another significant cultural difference that I have noticed here is the way people who are strangers interact, and how in many ways they do not at all. Back in the states when eye contact is made with a stranger on the street is often followed by a stranger or a ‘hello.’ Here, however, smiling is far less common, and in the first couple months here when I flashed a smile at a stranger I was greeted in return with strange glances, or awkward forced smiles. I already feel that in many instances I obviously look American, or at least foreign in some regard. However, now that I have become aware of this I tend to smile at strangers a little less here in Spain, but in other countries across Europe, such as Italy, they smile all the time. It is these little differences in people here that I tend to notice the most I think.

Despite these cultural differences, I have come to appreciate the Spanish culture in many ways. The way that Spanish people take their time during meals to recount the events of the day and to spend time with family, or to focus on more than solely work. People in the United States are always in such a rush and in Spain things are more slowed down, and I feel that this has an imperative impact on stress levels and the wellbeing of individuals in each country.

Spanish Meal Times

Living in Spain for an entire semester and experiencing a different culture has been an amazing and unforgettable experience. While living in Spain there were many differences from my way of life in the United States. One of the biggest differences was getting used to the different times that meals are eaten. Back home I tended to eat a small breakfast and then eat lunch early around 11:00 am; however, in Spain I tend to eat lunch around 3:30pm. This was a huge adjustment for me as I really do not like having multiple snacks in the morning to hold me over until lunch. It also took some time to adjust to having a larger lunch rather than a larger dinner. For lunch back home, I usually had soup and salad so when I came to Spain and started having large meals for lunch it was a big change. After a few weeks of living in Spain it made sense to me why Spaniards have larger lunches than dinners. Most of the time people eat dinner around 10pm and then go to bed sometime after 11pm. If I had a huge dinner and went to bed right after eating, I would feel awful, so I now know why people eat a larger lunch than dinner. It has been a very eye-opening experience living in Spain for a semester and I am grateful for the experience to step out of my cultural viewpoint.

This is one of my favorite Spanish dishes: Chickpea Soup.

My experience in Seville by Alma Binxhiu

Before coming to Spain I only had a rough idea of what the culture was like and could not wait to experience it first hand. I have been in love with the language for many years now and really wanted to be in an environment were I could truly experience the culture first hand. Although I completely fell in love with Spanish culture there are some things that were a shock to me and I found very odd coming from a Canadian culture.
I remembered when I first arrived in Spain I was so eager to get settled in and get all of my classes organized and textbooks that I noticed people here really take their time when it comes to getting things done. For the first month I needed to pay my rent a few days later due to some issues I was having and my landlord did not mind at all, which is something that rarely happens in Canada. Walking the streets in Seville I notice people actually enjoy their days here and are not in a rush. Every time I am walking around the city I notice people gathered with their families or friends and they are simply having a beverage and tapas while laughing. I have also noticed that people in Seville really enjoy the simple things in life like walking around the city and enjoying an actual conversation with their spouses or children playing on the street with their friends. In general Seville seems like a very lively city with lots of life and people who take time out of their day to hang out with their families and friends. Coming from Canada, this is very rare because people are usually very busy and due to the cold weather 9/12 months of the year they do not usually walk around the city so it is quite empty during the day and night. The fact that Seville is so busy with people during most hours of the day and night is one of the reasons why I fell in love with it because in my opinion there is something special about cities that are full of happy and joy full people who are enjoying life at every chance they can.

I also still find it fascinating the hours that shops are opened in Spain and the meaning behind siesta. Even before coming to Spain, I had never heard of this and when I got here it was very shocking to me. I still forget at times and try to go shopping at the local shops in my neighborhood during siesta hours because I forget. I also forget the fact that most shops are closed on Sundays. Since in Canada Sundays are normal working hours for many shops I forget that here it is different and will try to go grocery shopping then because it is my day off. During the first month I had a rough time getting used to the hours that shops are opened due to Siesta, certain holidays and Sundays which was a pain but now that I am used to it, it is not so bad.

The food in Spain is one major problem that I have had since I got here and I am still struggling with. I have really enjoyed some of the tapas however in general I find that food tastes very different here and I am not used to it. I remember going to Burger King the first week I got here and even there the burger tastes very different. I also noticed that Burger King much like many other fast food restaurants that are worldwide has a much different and menu in Spain and offered a lot of other things that I have not seen in Canada or the United States.

I have tried my best to experience as much of the Spanish culture as I could while I was here. I have tried different foods, even the ones I did not like and have taken dancing lessons as well. I have tried to learn as much Spanish as I can and have tried to speak Spanish in public places. I truly love Seville and am very happy I chose to do my exchange here. Although there were some hard times and things that I had to get used to, overall it was the best semester abroad I could have asked for.

“mi Español es horrible!” by Liz DiLoreto

Studying in Spain has shown me many cultural differences between American and Spanish people such as the amount of English spoken. Compared to other touristic places in Spain, Sevilla has much less people who speak English. For example, my parents who visited a few weeks ago noticed how little the Sevillans spoke English with them especially in less touristy districts like my neighborhood, Triana. As American tourists, we are used to having people generally accommodate us and learn our language regardless of their language. Perhaps this is because America and its culture is seen as somewhat of an empire. Maybe this is perpetuated through media like film, tv and music or just a result of our own ethnocentrism. Something I find interesting is that in some parts of Sevilla, my friends and I will be speaking Spanish to somebody and they will respond in English or automatically give us the English menus. I consider this to be my own fault as “mi Español es horrible!” and maybe my Spanish is so bad and insulting that it’s easier for them to speak to me in English. Or maybe, they are seeking to improve their English. Many times, I find that the only language Sevillans know is Spanish which is something I really appreciate and respect. I’ve asked one of my professors before, doesn’t it bother you to see so many product labels, menus, songs and films in English or even translated from it? I know in America, people would be very irritated by this as we are generally intolerant of other languages. Through videos surfacing of people yelling at immigrants to speak English or get out of America and the general rhetoric of speaking English being absolutely necessary, it’s interesting to think about if the cultures were reversed. Could Americans handle it if they were the visitors or immigrants to a place and nobody was willing to speak English? Personally, I'm not so sure.

Walking in Spain by Meghan Stone

Before coming to Sevilla I knew from my sisters experience living here that I would be doing a lot of walking, but I didn’t really understand the reality of it until arriving here. It is surprising to me that people very rarely use cars in Sevilla unless they are traveling outside the city. Simple things, such as grocery shopping, are very different because cars are not used. Instead of going to the store and getting a cart full of groceries for the week like my family does at home, it seems to be much more common to make more trips to the store for smaller amounts. I have never lived in a city, so when I am at home I drive everywhere. Whether it is to a restaurant, a friends house, or to the grocery store, I need to drive. I have a family of five and we only have four cars. We are rarely all home at the same because my sisters are both older and have moved away from home, and I am away at school most of the year, but when we are all home it is a constant fight over who gets the cars. Even when I lived 0.5 miles from my Highschool, I would still drive to school every day. I lived in a very small town, and there were many other kids who did the same thing.

I live in an apartment here in Sevilla, so I do not have a host family to talk to about this part of the culture. This being said, my sister nannied for a family here for five months two years ago, so I have been to their house a handful of times for dinner. The mom of the family mentioned how shocked she was that when she visited the states she had to use a car to get almost everywhere. Cars are seen as a necessity instead of as a luxury in the states. I am going to miss being able to walk everywhere. It is nice to be able to be outside and enjoy the scenery of the streets.

Slowing down in Spain: The differences in walking, pacing, and strolling between Spain and the US by Amy Jeanneret

Prior to my study abroad experience, I had one of the most pivotal life experiences during the summer, interning for the United States Commission on Civil Rights in Washington D.C. What a profound and boasting feeling it was to be apart of a such a commission that’s fundamental concern is to eradicate inequality and discrimination of all Americans; everyday I put myself under immense pressure. Not only were my work days overstimulating and mentally taxing, but I vividly remember my commute to work being far from lax. After getting off the metro, I would walk a half mile to my office. My pace would be swift, my gaze locked on my destination, my heart would be racing, yet ironically mindless, and almost every Washingtonian around me paralleled my kind of walk. Constantly fixated on getting from ‘point A’ to “point B,’ I was completely unaware of my surroundings. Spaniards are quite dissimilar. My first few weeks trying to acclimate in Sevilla, the most vexing occurrence throughout my day would be getting caught behind slow walkers or dodging individuals due our unsynchronized paces. At first I was petulant, wondering why these people were moving at what I considered a glacial pace when they could get to wherever they were going much more quicker. As time went on, I became less concerned with trying to fight through the crowd and began to join their strolling pace and it totally altered my perspective. I started to become much more observant of the city around me, as I began taking in my surroundings and not rushing myself to wherever I was headed. American culture and its conventions are known to have very competitive and individualistic tendencies, which is why you will find more people than not walking alone, sometimes with headphones, at a much quicker pace. Spaniards live their day to day lives surrounded by their families and friends, and are enjoying the time they are spending with them. It makes incredible sense for them to stroll rather than not because they are not predominantly fixated on their destination because they are present in the moment with the people around them, that there is no urgency to get from ‘point A’ to ‘point B.’ It is very easy to miss the world around you and I hope that upon my return home to the states, I will not lose sight of that revelation.

Meals in Spain and meal times by Shaela Kilmartin

My experience in Spain has been wonderful and life changing. I’ve learned so much about myself, Spain, Spanish culture, Europe and the world. There are many many differences between Spanish and American culture. One of the most prominent things that I want to discuss is the meal times and the culture surrounding meals. This is something that was extremely hard for me to adjust to.
One of the first things that startled me about Spanish food was how much bread is eaten. The first few days, every time my host parents asked me “Tu quiere pan?” I answered an eager “Si!” because I did crave bread and I wanted to be nice and accept whatever they wanted to offer me. Over time, I figured out that this wasn’t very sustainable. For me, I needed to be aware of what I was eating and I needed to not agree to everything they offered me. After eating bread with every lunch and dinner for three days straight - I finally caught myself on this habit. I never eat this much bread in the U.S. The next time and since that day, whenever they ask me if I want bread I say no. After the first week of that, they got used to that and they rarely ask me now.
I think I went one day eating bread for every single meal….tostada with jamon for breakfast, then a bocadillo, and finally bread with sunny side up eggs and peas and carrots. For me, this is not healthy at all. If I kept up that habit, I would most definitely gain weight. Also, bread doesn't have much nutritional value - at 78% carbohydrates, 11% fats, and 11% protein (nutritonalvalue.self.com)
The second thing that was also hard for me to adjust to was mealtimes, especially dinner. Breakfast is on my own, so I’ve always been okay with that (besides the fact that it usually consists of white toast or cookies), and lunch time is fine as well, but the fact that I eat dinner around 9:30pm everyday was not great for me. I usually eat dinner sometime between 5 and 7pm in America, so this was a drastic difference.
When I finish dinner around 10 or 10:30pm (depending on starting either at 9:30 or 10pm) I try to head to bed…but with homework, and the primetime for face timing my parents in America being around 10pm, I often found myself going to bed around midnight. At home in America, I would be in bed by 11pm.. but with dinner here ending around 10:30pm, it would be really hard for me to do this. It’s crazy how much something as simple as a meal time would mess up your entire schedule and day. I am excited to get back home and be able to get back into my own routine.
As you can see, there are many reasons why meals and the culture surrounding meals was hard for me to adjust to this semester. This semester has been phenomenal and I’ve had learned and grown so much. Although some of the differences might have been hard to deal with, they have helped me learn what I truly value in life! I am looking forward to returning to the United States with this new mindset, and be able to have the freedom of what I’d like my meal to consist of as well as when I would like to eat the meal.

The dress code, by Walid Sabha

One interesting about Spain that I only understood partially before coming here was how they dress.  I understood that they dress nicer than us Americans, but witnessing it was a completely different thing.  Whether individuals are going to work, or relaxing at a local restaurant with friends, everyone dresses very nice here.  The lowest level that I have seen from Spain’s cultural dress code is when the locals dress business casual.  When I dress business casual it feels like I really am dressing up for an occasion or work, so it was a shock to me to see people at least dress that nice daily.  Another reason I picked this topic is because of the clothes I own.  I did not bring much nice clothes.  I am a simple man that likes comfortable things to wear.  So, whenever I wear my athletic clothes or sweatpants (which is at least 3 days a week) I feel out of place.  I can remember specific instances where it feels like I am getting dirty looks or people were looking down at me.  I wondered why that was the case until I realized they were looking down at me for my clothing.  I was out of the norm regarding dress code.  So, when I would wear not as nice of clothes, it was like I was breaking one of Sevilla’s cultural values held by the locals.  

Anxiety Acceptance Cross-Culturally by Aubrey Berghoff

From my personal experience in the United States, anxiety is becoming more and more accepted. There are many ways to relieve anxiety and stressors back home, especially at universities in the United States with counseling services, “stress-buster” activities like pet therapy and activities in dorms, and mental-health clubs. Coping with anxiety and seeking help at whatever level one may experience anxiety may be a daunting task wherever you are, but the negative stigma that revolves around anxiety has dramatically decreased in the United States with the increased awareness in the topic.

However, coping with my anxiety in Spain has been a completely different experience. I have found it to be a little less accepted to show signs of anxiety or express these feelings here in Spain. From experiences in the airport, to taxis around the city and ordering in restaurants, if I showed any signs that I was under stress they would look at me confused or unwelcoming. It appeared they were unsure what to do with me.

Being in Spain, I have had an increased amount of anxiety, mostly because I was in a new place and was out of my comfort zone, but also because I did not have a way to cope. My host mother appeared to be very judgmental about my stressors, and it was unacceptable for me to be in the house when I was experiencing anxiety and needed some space. My professor in the conversation class did not understand why I became so nervous talking and participating in class over little errors or possible things that may happen. Friends did not understand the phrase of “panic attacks” and why they affect my plans of going out later that day. I felt very misunderstood in this new culture.

I did some research to see how anxiety is treated in Spain and its prevalence, and I actually discovered that according to a 2014 study, Spain’s prevalence of anxiety is 7% over the European average. That means Spain is one of the European countries that has an above average diagnosis of anxiety. However, it could be higher. Also according to this study, people in Spain are very avoidant of their symptoms of anxiety and most do not seek treatment or are actually misdiagnosed. This could be because the negative stigma associated with anxiety and various other mental disorders. It is probably similar to the stigma in the United States, but with the growing awareness of counseling and its benefits, and how common anxiety actually is, this negative stigma appears to be decreasing in the states. As to why people in Spain suppress their feelings of anxiety and other negative feelings, I can not be completely sure as it is a different culture than what I know. What I do know is that western-cultures, and the world as a whole, should recognize that various mental disorders do not make a person weak or incapable.

Treatment and counseling plans change the lives of many of those who feel as if they are suffering, but the first step of getting that help is always the hardest because of the stigma. I hope that others studying abroad who are out of their comfort zone of a regular support system, and Spanish people who suppress their feelings, find effective coping strategies to better their lives and experiences here.

For reference: http://www.surinenglish.com/20140227/othersections/health-beauty/effects-stress-people-spain-201402271521.html"

Spanish vs Castellano? By Juan Sánchez

Growing up, I spoke two languages at home, English and Spanish. I am the son of a Mexican father and a Guatemalan mother. Before arriving here in Sevilla, I knew that there were going to be differences in the accent and the dialect, but I knew I was still going to be able to have a simple conversation with a resident, without any problems. However, the minute I arrived in Sevilla, I had a conversation with one of the airport receptionists, and I was in shock. She spoke so fast that I just barely understood what she said. As time went on I got used to the accent. Then little did I know I had another situation, the dialect. Spain and Latin America have such a significant difference in their dialect. The first time I noticed was when I went to the Setas. In Latin America, mushrooms is, "hongos". When I asked what are setas? They explained to me that they are mushrooms and I looked at them very weirdly. Of course to them it is completely normal, to me it is something strange and new. The time that was so challenging for me was when I would go to restaurants and would try to read their menu. Friends in my program would ask me what a certain meal was in English, but I couldn't do anything because I have never even seen or heard of these words in my life. I could easily read the stuff, but I wasn't able to tell you what it was. For example patatas fritas. In Latin America, it would be called "papas fritas". Looking at a menu was so shocking to me and it took a class of Spanish gastronomy and time to get used to.

To me, the most interesting thing I found about the differences between the same language was what they call Spanish here in Spain. I took a solo trip to Barcelona, and went to a typical Catalan restaurant. When they were seating me they asked me, "Do you speak Castellano?". I looked back at them for seconds without a response, because I was so confused. It took them a while, but then they asked me again, yet this time they asked "Do you speak Spanish?" I said yes and the night went on. Later that night I looked up Castellano on Google, and it said that it was just another word for Spanish. Yet I have never ever even heard of that word in my life. After knowing that and hearing that word, I have been hearing it more often that ever.

It amazes me how we can speak the same language yet, there are so many words that are different and strange, but to them it is their everyday way of talking.

Family Dynamic in Spain vs. United States (New York City Sub-Culture) By Scarlyn Cuevas

While all young people have dependence on their parents before they fully become adults, during my time in Spain I noticed a significant difference between my relationship with my parents back home and the relationship the people in my host family have with one another. My personal family dynamic is specific to my family and cannot represent the family dynamic of the all families the United States. In addition, I am a first-generation U.S citizen as my parents are originally from the Dominican Republic, and that too has influenced my family dynamic. However, some staple aspects of it do stem from my New York City U.S sub-culture.

My earliest memory of helping my mother around the house was at 10 years old when I had to help my go grocery shopping and then put them away when we got home. Around the age of 12, I was able to prepare my own meals and I even helped take care of my 4-year-old sister at the time. Not too long after, I remember doing laundry for my whole house. In contrast, I noticed that in my host home, my 18-year old and 20-year old sisters do not help around the house when the mother is cleaning, and they do not help prepare any meals. What really stood out to be was the day I heard my 18-year old host sister ask her mother to make her bed. I was surprised because even if she did not clean the home, I still thought she cleaned her own room. Additionally, my mother never helps me with my homework, and I see that my host parents are always at the dinner table with my hose sister who is in high school helping her with her homework. Another thing that stood out to me was when I overheard my host mother making doctor’s appointments for her daughters. Back home, by the age of 16 I was making and attending my doctor’s appointments alone. I also find it interesting how every meal, at least in my host home, is eaten together as a family. I guess it has to do with the collectivistic culture of Spain, and how Spanish people may have a higher appreciation for the family unit. In the U.S, I never eat a meal with my family at the table, partly because we all have different schedules, and even if we are all in the house we do not necessarily eat the same meals. I think for Spain, the thing promotes the collectivistic culture is Siesta. The fact that most people have a time of the day that they know they will be able to spend at home and around family, acts as an motivator to spend time together.

Overall, I feel like Spain has a higher focus on the unit, instead of the individual. Growing up in the U.S I felt like there is a less emphasizes and appreciation for spending time with others and enjoying life, as there is a very go-getter mentality, where people are constantly trying to achieve monetary and material things.

Getting fresh air and walking around, by Elena Grozdanova

While studying abroad in Spain, I have drastically opened my mind to different cultural norms and individuals. Coming into this experience, I believed that it would be very interesting and unique to interact with other people from a different culture and hoped to improve my Spanish. Overall, studying abroad has helped me achieve exactly that.

Even though there have been thousands of smaller moments during which I have ran into cultural differences between Spain and USA, one particular circumstance stands out the most in my mind. I had been living in Sevilla for about two weeks when I lost my iphone X headphones. I wasn’t too triggered by this, since I knew I could simply go to the nearest store to purchase a pair. I was very wrong.

I started searching for headphones in grocery stores, then a large department store called Corte Ingles, then visited about 7 different phone company stores. Not a single place had iphone headphones. Afterwards, I found an apple product carrier in a nearby mall and visited that place, which also didn’t have headphones. 6 hours later, I was extremely annoyed at the difficulty of purchasing something so easily accessible in the USA. I initially began judging Spain and thought “how could these people not sell headphones anywhere”? Later on, I began to realize that I was judging Spain and the culture over there by comparing it to the place I live back home. I eventually ended up purchasing a blututh pair of headphones, which broke a month later. I’ve provided a photo of them below. What typically would’ve taken less than half an hour back home took up half of my day in Spain.

Throughout my time studying abroad, I got used to the fact that everything takes much longer. Walking to and from the metro/bus station, riding the bus/metro, and walking to my destinations all added up to much more time than what I was used to spending back home with my car. A simple errand, such as buying groceries, going to the gym, or purchasing headphones takes much more time in Spain. I initially struggled with this a lot and didn’t like having to walk everywhere; however, I now love it. I appreciate getting fresh air and walking around everywhere. I value the fact that I have this opportunity instead of being stuck in a car. I truly think that I will miss being able to walk as much once I am back home in the USA.

Support for sports

If you follow soccer even a bit, you might have heard that the US failed to qualify for the World Cup this past Summer. Granted the United States’ team was not nearly as good as the majority of the rest of the worlds, but this was the first time the US has failed to qualify since 1990. A large part of this is that the culture of soccer in the US is not nearly as prevalent as it is in Spain. The culture of soccer, or as it’s known everywhere else in the world fútbol, has a massive following throughout Europe and especially in Spain. In fact, one of the first things our program mentioned to us when we arrived was that our host family will either have one of two opinions on soccer: that they were a Seville FC family or a Betis family. But either way, the family would have a hard-set opinion on a specific team they support.  

I’ve had the opportunity to watch several Seville F.C. games and Real Madrid games both live and in different bars. No matter the importance of the match, the bar is always packed with avid supporters of the teams. As someone who has played soccer their entire life, I have a great appreciation for the support these fans consistently show. In the United States, we see this support for sports like football and basketball, but, even in comparison to these sports, there is a greater community support for soccer in Seville than I have ever seen in the US.

This may not seem like a prevalent cultural shock, but as someone who has always loved soccer, it was shocking to see how many people support the sport here and how invested people are in their teams. In the US, it’s rare to see someone who's as prideful and supportive of soccer teams as you do here. 

Uber in Spain, by Hannah Ervey

One thing that I definitely did not expect to be different when I came to Spain is Uber. As an international company, I expected it to be standard no matter where you are. Although, as most of us have learned with KitKats or Coke, just because it comes from the same organization does not mean that it will be produced similarly everywhere. For Uber, the fundamentals are all the same, like the concept and the app’s function, but differences are seen in the superficial aspects.

The first time I used Uber here in Spain was when my mom came to visit and we used the service from the airport to her hotel. We found it interesting that our driver was wearing a suit and had a sleek black car. In the U.S., I’m used to being picked up by people in casual clothes and normal vehicles, so in this situation I felt like we were important arrivals getting a personal car service to our residence. However, as we took more Ubers throughout her stay, I began to notice that every driver was dressed to the nines, and even more surprisingly, everyone drove a black Fiat Tipo.

At first, I thought these differences were related to the fact that Spaniards generally take more pride in their appearances than Americans do. I did some research, and the vehicle requirements are pretty strict. All Uber vehicles must be black, less than 6 years old, and in perfect condition. These guidelines may exist to keep the taxi culture alive and help those drivers stay on their feet. This is a major difference than in the U.S., since taxi protests usually have no effect. Moreover, I’ve taken some pretty grungy Ubers at home, so we definitely do not have these same regulations and push to keep the taxi system thriving.

As for the suits, I could not find any requirement of this from Uber. This may well just be cultural. Perhaps they just believe that nice dress goes with a nice car. Maybe they want to feel more important. Whatever the reason, you will rarely see an Uber driver in the United States pull up in a BMW, sunglasses, and a sharp suit.

Bottoms Up by Grace Saban

The drinking culture in the United States is quite different than what it is in Spain. Both countries have certain stereotypes, but one is far better than the other. The first major difference is obviously the legal drinking age; in the United States you have to be 21-years-old, and in Spain you only have to be 18-years-old. This should be a major cultural shock for me because I'm only 20, but similar to most young adults in the United States, I've drank before. The main point I want to discuss is the stereotypes or assumptions that people have in regards to the countries differing drinking habits. In the United States, it is common for some young adults to drink with the intention of getting drunk. In the college culture, if you go to a party and blackout you probably won't be shamed for it for very long, some people may even applause you. In contrast, I've noticed that Spaniards drink much more casually and usually only in a social context. For instance, my host parents will have a glass of wine or Cruzcampo with lunch and dinner, and even offer one to a handyman coming over to fix a broken appliance. Then, when going out on the weekends and being in bars full of both Americans and Spaniards, it is easy to distinguish who is who due to how they are drinking. If the person is loud and excessive, they are most likely American. If the person is taking their time on their drink, not obsessing over it and enjoying their company, then they are most likely a Spaniard. Finding myself in situations where I can easily notice such things is disheartening to me. I wish that more of the people I've socialized with could respect their settings and try to fit in with the Spanish way-of-life. Although this topic may seem dull, it is probably the most shocking cultural aspect I've really had to accept. I also understand that since I am an American who chooses not to drink often, I may show a bias towards Spaniards.

Food and tapas in Spain by Jake Hopen

Coming to Spain, I knew I was going to expect a cultural shock. This does not surprise me as many students in Spain experience the same experience. I wanted to focus this post primarily on the aspect of tapas in Spain, and what I was not used to.

For me, I thought that the meal times and plates were the aspects that surprised me the most. In the United States, people eat at around 6 in the afternoon. While in Spain, people eat at around 10 at night. In addition, lunch time is later in Spain, while in the United States we eat at noon. This was a huge cultural shock to me, especially waiting for 2:00 PM to come when you are hungry at 11:00 AM or 12:00 PM. At the time that I was hungry, it was still time for breakfast. I had the option of eating bread with olive oil and tomatoes, rather than a typical American breakfast, such as bacon and eggs. Tapas are also common in Spain, where people eat mini savory snacks and share them with friends and family. I remember when I went to a restaurant for the first time with my friends, and tried so many different tapas. My favorite tapa is the patatas bravas. Everyone in Spain told me to try that dish, including my friends because of what they had heard. I was a fan of sharing small dishes and being happy rather than regretting what I had eaten. The good thing that I discovered is that if you are not a fan of one tapa, you can try another one without complaining. I absolutely loved how I could taste the authentic Spanish food instead of the huge portions typical of the United States.

Young Adult's Independence-A Contrast between the USA and Spain by Maria Mendez

 

Both Spain and the United States are considered to be WEIRD (Western, Industrialized, Educated, Rich, Democratic) countries, so it seems safe to assume that they share similar cultural values. However, even with countries that are considered on the same level, they differ drastically in terms of what they value and the societal expectations set by these values. During my time living in Spain, I have noticed that the expectations in terms of a young adult's level of independence are very different between these two countries. In the United States, young adults are expected to move out of their parent's homes the moment they have finished their educational endeavors, whether that be after high school at the age of 18 or after college at the age of 22. The level of independence expected from young adults seems to be much higher in the United States than in other WEIRD countries, such as Spain. In Spain, it is socially acceptable to live with your parents throughout your 20s given that it is the age in which most young adults are beginning to shape their career. The United States, however, has a strong stigma against adults who live with their parents. The stereotype views adults who live with their parents as lazy or regressed in the development of their life. I have found that Spanish households are much more understanding of the struggle of setting up a career and therefore try to help young adults by allowing them to stay at home as long as they need. Many college students in the United States pick a university that is far from home, beginning that transition of independence much earlier in their lives. Spaniards, on the other hand, tend to attend their local university making living at home a much more feasible and logical option. It also means that Spaniards tend to begin the transition of independence much later in their lives.

Social Interactions in Spain and the United States by Yovelys Alvarez Lara

During the few last months I have been in Spain, I have noticed differences when it comes to social life or social interactions in Spain in comparison with the United States. Spain is more of a social “going out” country while the United States is more of a conservative and “I need my space” country. One big factor for these differences besides culture could be the weather.

I have noticed how in Spain is trendy to always go out with friends and socialize outside the house. It is not likely for someone to go to a Spaniard house for a visit and spend time there. College students during their breaks get together with friend and go out to drink a beer and relax. They are even allowed to drink inside the institution as a casual interaction with friends. While in the United States this is not a common activity. People are more on their own and always on a rush and most of the time they just do not have time to socialize. The workforce plays a huge role in United States emphasizing how if someone is not running late for work, they are getting out of work, tired and wanting to go home to sleep after 8-15 hours shift or an overnight shift.

As well, culture is a big influence in these interactions. The European culture is more relaxing, everyone takes their time to places and just enjoy walking around, while in the American culture people are more on a hurry and always having to do many things at the same time. Most people are too busy to even interact with their neighbors. Finally, I would say that weather is also a big influence to these differences. Spain or Europe in general has a better weather than the United States. People are able to go for walks and hang outside the house more often because there is not snow or zero degrees’ temperature that can avoid it. Also, people are seen to be happier due to the amount of sunny days the country gets. I would say that snow, cloudy clouds and cold weather have a huge impact on Americans mood occasioning them to become less happy and preventing them from enjoying their outside or surroundings.

“The Chinos” by Taryn Peng

Within ten minutes of arriving to Spain for the first time, an older white man passed me in the street and put his hands together, bowed to me, and said “Ni hao.” “Ni hao” is “Hello” in Chinese, and despite not knowing whether I was Chinese or not, or if I understood the language he was trying to speak to me, he still felt the complete and necessary urge to greet me the way he did.

I didn’t know what to do, so I didn’t do anything. But after talking to several of my other Asian American friends who had studied abroad in Spain previously, all the advice I had gathered was “This happens daily” and “Get used to it.”

This set a pretty accurate tone for my experiences with racism in Spain. It is embedded in daily life and no one thinks twice about it. For example, the little corner stores, or “alimentación” stores, are commonly referred to as “Chinos” because the people who own the stores are often Asian. However, again, these stores are called “Chinos,” regardless of whether the Asians who run them are actually Chinese or not. They also do not sell anything Chinese or even Asian—just basic things that *even* white Spaniards need. Without any thought of whether the people who own these stores are Spanish citizens, maybe born and raised, equally Spanish as white Spaniards, using the word “Chinos” to prejudicially call these stores and people without getting to know them only serves to contribute to othering non-white peoples living in Spain and never allowing them to be as Spanish as white people.

Adjusting to ‘Siesta’ by Kate Murphy

One aspect of the spanish culture that shocked me most as I was adjusting was the hours of eating or even more specifically, siesta. In the United States, I usually eat my meals a lot earlier, especially lunch and dinner. Adjusting to eating lunch at 3pm instead of 12pm and eating dinner at 10pm instead or 6 or 7pm, was a major alteration in my daily routine. Not only was this hard for me to modify in my schedule, but, I also had to adjust to shops and restaurants closing during siesta until they reopen again around 5pm or later. In the United States, I was certainly not familiar with this occurring mid-day and it was strange at first for me. Eating with my host family for the first time was tough because originally, I participated in siesta and took advantage of resting. Sometimes, I still do because it is relaxing to rest when having a hectic day. Likewise, it was very difficult for me to train my body to eat dinner so much later than I do in the states. At times, it is still very difficult for me to wait that long for both lunch and dinner. However, overall, I really enjoy having siesta because it is a great time for the spanish culture to come together to eat, socialize, and take a break from work to relax and be able to have a social life. I think the United States could use siesta because we are known for working too hard that we stress ourselves out, overwork, and therefore, live shorter lives. Having lived here for three months now, I can confidently say that I am finally in a daily routine within the spanish culture and feel like I am familiar and comfortable with both Seville itself, and its beautiful culture.

What the Social Life is Like in Spain - by Michael Medina

       
While staying here in Spain I was able to notice a numerous amount of differences in the social life here (going out to eat, going to the club, etc.) versus the social life back in United States of America, specifically Massachusetts. Here in Spain I noticed that when people tend to go out for a quick bite to eat it is associated a lot more with being sociable with the people that you go out with. Back at my home city it is a lot more common to go out and grab the food quickly and head back to your home to enjoy it there instead of at the restaurant. While looking at the small bars around every corner in Los Remedios I saw that they were usually full of life later at night, with people of all types of ages there and it was really something that caught my eye. The reason that I say so is because usually back home there isn’t many younger kids or older people out anywhere past 10 on weekdays where here it seems to be very common. Even my parents who aren’t that old wouldn’t be caught going out that late on a weekday to have something to drink or something to eat. So going out and walking around during the night to see young kids running around still playing on the playground as well as elderly people walking to go find a seat at a small café was definitely a sight that I needed to get used to seeing while staying in Spain. That was one of my first impressions of the social life here in Seville, and I think it was definitely something that I liked a lot more versus the social life back home in the States. Another aspect of social life that differs drastically from back home would be whenever people go out to eat and socialize. Going out with some of my Spanish friends I noticed that there is rarely any phone usage at the table unless it was used to show another person something relating to the topic of conversation. Besides that, I never really noticed anyone texting at the table or seeming to be attached to their phone, even amongst the younger generations where this applies more. Visiting a restaurant in the states it would be almost the complete opposite where everywhere you look you will be bound to find someone on their phone, not socializing at all and this is a lot more common in the younger generations. Those were really the two things I noticed most about going out for food that were drastically different from the social life that follows within the United States.

Moving onto Nightlife I noticed a plethora of differences from the night life in the United States. The Night life here in Spain starts later than the night life back in the United States, in Spain I noticed that when people are going out to the club they do not go to the actual club until around 1 am which in the United States at that time the night would be coming to an end. This was one of the major differences I saw and then one of the other things I noticed was that when kids my age go out in the US people do not dress as nicely normally as people do here in Spain. These two social events were the first things that caught my eye when staying here in Spain due to how drastically different they were compared to the same events back in the US

Playing at night by Delphine Bolduc

When I came to Spain for the first time, it was in Madrid. I arrived there during the night so I went for a walk. What I saw while walking in that city at night shocked me. The Sun was already down for a long time and children of about five years old were still playing at the park. I could not understand how. In Quebec, the french province of Canada, young folks of that age go to bed early. When one is around that age, he usually goes to bed at seven pm or so, because if a kid stays up later, he is way too tired to go to school, learn well, and do his homework properly. So eleven! For me, it was something inacceptable. But then, I came back to Spain to study. And after having lived here a few months, I now completely understand. I understand that I was being ethnocentric. The rhythm of life here is really different than the rhythm of life in Quebec. Here, you can take your time. Napping is not seen as laziness. Young people here seem to have so much more energy than the kids in Quebec, even at eleven pm. I now feel that it is completely correct to go play at the park at that time of the day. If they have the energy to stay awake later, why would they restrain themselves?

Smoking habits Spain vs. US by Lizzie Henninger

 Immediately after getting out of the cab that took me to my host stay once arriving in Sevilla, I was greeted with a gigantic puff of cigarette smoke to my face. As I assume anyone would be, I was shocked and quite frankly a little grossed out. Although, after spending around 3 months in Sevilla, I have come to realize that smoking in public spaces, homes and school grounds is more than common and accepted. This has been one aspect of Spanish and European life in general, that has been hard for me to adjust to. I can typically expect to breathe in large amounts of cigarette smoke walking to and from class, the store or even in the park. While smoking habits are also quite common in the United States as well, I feel as if it is more common for people of all ages to smoke even though they have been educated on the potential threats and harms to ones health. I have even realized that the bags that most of the nicotine is sold in has graphic pictures of lung cancer patients in the hospital on it. While my time in Sevilla is slowly winding down, I can say that I have gotten fairly used to the smoking habits of those around me, but am eager to return back to areas where smoking is not as widely accepted.

Schools in Spain by Julie Fitzpatrick

As an education major, I was very excited when the international center announced that there would be an opportunity to teach in schools here. I knew that they would be different than the schools/daycares that I had taught at in the United States, but the one difference I noticed the most was how much more freedom the children have here in Spain. Every day, I arrive at the school while the children are at recess. I often notice many kids climbing on things and doing things that would be corrected at schools in the United States. When there are kids climbing on the fence, I feel that I should tell them to get down because it seems dangerous, but the teachers are not concerned, and I have noticed that the kids don’t get hurt like I think they will. Another act of freedom that I have noticed is with the bathroom. In the daycare that I worked at in the US this summer, the bathrooms were in the classroom, and often kids had to be supervised in there, or have their diaper changed. At the school I teach at, all of the classrooms open up to a courtyard and the bathroom is across the courtyard from the classrooms. The children, although they are 3-years-old, are allowed to leave the classroom (with permission) on their own and come back when they are done. I think teachers in the United States need to trust their students more and give them more freedom within reason. It is interesting to see the degree to which the teachers trust their students and how different the classroom experience can be in another culture.

Up Close and Personal, by Cora Thibeault

One of the first things I noticed when interacting with Sevillians was the way in which they held conversations. One of the first conversations I had with someone from Seville was with the leader of our program who has lived in Seville for many years. At first I was confused as to why she was standing so close to me and every time I stepped away she would move closer. I found out later that this was a part of the Sevillian and Spanish culture. This is something we are not used to as an American, as this is not necessarily part of our culture. When we have conversations, especially with someone we do not know well, we keep some distance known as personal space. When I was having this conversation with a Sevillian, originally I felt that my personal space was being invaded and I was confused, but now I know it’s just a part of their culture. This shows that they are interested and care about the conversation they are having. One of my professors explained to me that they thought it was strange that we were so far apart when we were conversating, and I found this interesting. It really shows how something so small can be different between cultures.

Dining Experiences, by Cassandra Delacey

Before coming to Sevilla, I had learned that it is customary in the Spanish culture for everything to run more slowly, however I have realized the extent to which everything runs slowly was more than I had anticipated. The biggest difference between the US and Spain in this respect is the customer service in restaurants. Because waiters are not working for tips, along with the inherent slowness of this culture, going out to eat can become an hours-long ordeal. Waiters take a long time to greet you, give you menus, take your order, bring out the food, and later the check. I have been used to waiters constantly checking up on me throughout a meal, and wondering what else they can bring in a timely manner. However here, I find myself having to try to flag down any waiter to get another bottle of water (that we have to pay for), or for the check. The slowness of eating out is sometimes preferable, in order to facilitate longer meals full of good conversation, however other times I would like to be able to eat and leave in a shorter amount of time in order to get on with my day. This has especially been difficult during lunches while visiting a new place, because my friends and I will want to grab a quick bite to eat before moving on and continuing with sight-seeing or other activities. We have been trying to fit so much history and culture into each of our trips, and we are often stuck sitting in the restaurant waiting until we can see a waiter that will be able to help us get the check.

I do appreciate how waiters here are paid enough to live off of that salary, because I don't think that people in the US should have to rely on tips in order to survive. I do believe that the customer service could be better in Spain, even if they are not working for tips. I don't think I can say which way is better, but it is a bit of a shock when you expect a restaurant experience to go one specific way, and it ends up being very different from what you had been expecting.

"Meaningful Mealtimes" by Ava Vanhelfteren

One cultural and psychological difference I have noticed in Spain is the meal time and meaning. Though at home I always have a sit-down dinner with my family, it is nothing compared to the Sevillano host family evening meals encountered. While it makes little sense to me to eat so late into the night (22:00) when you've been hungry already for hours and while you don't need much sustenance to sleep, la cena here is more of an event or excuse for socializing. Dinner here is smaller, logically, and the timing provides ample conversation opportunities. There is a long sobre-mesa, speaking after having finished eating. In the US, of course, people go out to eat and chat for hours, but it is typically at an earlier time, and more so with friends or colleagues than with family at home. I have become extremely fond of this habit in my homestay, as it is a chance to laugh and communicate with my "siblings" and it comes at an hour when many are giggly and slightly tired but still willing and able to share the entirety of their day. As with the longer lunch, dinner provides a way to discuss the highlights of your daily experiences and end each day with a lively conversation and a jubilant state of mind before bed.

¿Hablas inglés? By Finya Swai

Being a native speaker of a language consisting of over 1.5 billion speakers (360 million of them being native speakers), I have never felt the urgency to learn a second language. There is no expectation for Americans to master any language other than English, as it is considered to be a universal language and the most important language to know. An English speaker could point to nearly any place on Earth and he or she would most likely be able to find at least a few people there with at least a conversational knowledge of English. It is very rare to find anyone in the United States who has mastered a second language purely from studying the language in school. Most Americans who speak a second language fluently are simply taught at home by speaking regularly with family members.

When telling my friends and family that I would be studying abroad in Spain, most responded with excitement for my decision to explore a new country. Few jokingly asked if I could even speak Spanish (which I cannot), but no one had any genuine concern about my ability to live in a new place where I did not speak the language. This is because English speakers have the inherent expectation that anywhere we go, we could probably find an English speaker, so we’ll probably be alright. It was not until my arrival in Spain that I realized that there was a large amount of hypocrisy in that expectation—why was it that it was okay to assume that Spanish people could probably speak English, but it is not normal to assume that Americans can speak any language other than English? When speaking to my host parents on this topic (both of whom speak English), they told me that it is because English is considered an important language to learn, and that the Spanish school system prioritizes English language learning much more than, say, the American school system prioritizes Spanish language learning.

When asking someone on the streets of Seville for directions, or ordering from my waiter, when I don’t feel comfortable speaking Spanish I often ask “¿Hablas inglés?” to which most Spaniards respond, “a little.” However, if I were to ask Americans if they spoke Spanish (assuming they are not Hispanic), the answer would most likely be “uh… no?”

Burger King in the USA vs. Burger King in Seville by Mateo Rueda

Before coming to Spain, I promised myself that I would do my best to experience the culture here; this means doing whatever I can to immerse myself in the people, history, cuisine, and other aspects of the quotidian life in Seville. However, even though I resisted the pull of fast food chain options easily found in the U.S. for a few weeks, I eventually caved and went into a Burger King that is only a few blocks away from my residence.

When I entered there was a familiar feeling of being in any Burger King in the U.S.. Even though I don’t frequent Burger King, it is still my go to late at night or on road trips if there is nothing else around. What I immediately noticed was that the prices were higher and that the menu options were a bit different. For example, in the U.S. you can’t get an egg on your burger anywhere if you’re at a fast food place. Even more surprising is the ability to get a beer on tap to go along with your Whopper. However, for the most part the vibe was the same and these small deviances in what I expected didn’t make it much different than one of these restaurants back home. I thought to myself, maybe Burger King has been able to break the paradigm of slow service etc. that is characteristic of the Spanish.

Although I may have been fooled initially, the well-oiled fast food machine that I’m used to at home seemed to have not been taken care of in Spain. When I got in line I immediately noticed that the five people in front of me were incredibly frustrated with how long they’d been waiting given their snarky comments and body language. This was exacerbated by having only one man on a register who kept running into the kitchen, where nobody even used gloves, to exchange jokes with one of his coworkers. In fact, the process of ordering alone felt even longer to me than going to a regular restaurant for tapas. While I understand that people aren’t rushing around as much it felt almost like a practical joke was being played on me. I honestly couldn’t tell that if the start juxtaposition was what had me thinking everything was taking so long of if I was in fact waiting an inordinate amount of time.

What I still can’t understand about Spanish culture is the incredible slow pace everyone moves at. While I can appreciate that back home people may say everyone is too stressed out or moving too quickly, in Spain it feels like the bottom line must get impacted by the general ambivalence people seem to have in doing their jobs. The good thing about fast food here is that you pay up front, the bad thing is that you get less food than at home and the prices are twice as much. In a culture where everyone is set on moving slowly and relaxing, I don’t understand the place that “fast food” has in the culture, especially when it is not even more economical than going to a local bar or restaurant for drinks and tapas.

Lazy Sundays by Nelle Allen

I have always thought of Sunday's as a day of errands. They were the one day a week that my family would all be together. As a result, we often would spend much of the afternoon shopping for groceries or whatever else our house needed, and occasionally, going on other outings in our town such as getting a haircut or going out to dinner and the movies. Regardless of what we did not have time for that week, we knew we could rely on Sundays to get it done. I quickly realize I would have to reevaluate my ideas of Sundays when I got to Seville, Spain.

My first Sunday I woke up with a list of tasks I hoped to accomplish before my first day of class. I planned to buy notebooks, fix my phone plan, and have the opportunity to explore the streets of Seville. To my surprise, everything was closed. It was almost as if the whole city was deserted for the day. At first I wasn't sure if it was a holiday I didn't know about, but as more Sundays passed by, I realized that this was the norm. It continues to surprise me that every store, even the large ones such as El Corte Ingles, close. However, I have started to enjoy my lazy Sundays and appreciate Spaniards focus on family time and the ability to rest for one day a week.

Racism in Spain: Alive and Well, By Patrick O'Brien

Upon having my dinner one night I turned on my Spanish television hoping to gain a little insight into the culture that surrounds me. Aside from the usual cooking or talk shows I typically come to see, I kept on searching for something different. All of a sudden my remote stopped when I came upon a channel showing several men in typical “African” garb, dawning faces painted much darker than the rest of their bodies. I was left mouth agape as I saw the show unfold, a bunch of men in blackface moving in stereotypical “African” tribal dances.

Being such a liberal minded society at times, I expected the mindset of Spain’s people to reflect that same political ideology. However, the more I look around me in Seville the more I see blatant racism pouring out from every street corner. One of the biggest fashion trends apparently for these Spaniards is Native American headdresses and outfits. Even on nationwide commercials for supermarket behemoths, you see children and often times adults frolicking around in this stereotypical wear. It’s also interesting to note how the Spaniards were one of the first people to come into contact with these same people who they’re impersonating (And also interesting to note how they quite literally were the cause for the demise of most of the population, but that’s a story for another time).

Even some of my personal companions who were born and raised in Morocco have come into contact with some of the snobbier attitudes of the Spanish people. It’s important to note that from 1912 to 1955, Morocco was occupied by both Spanish and French Imperialists, holding in and repressing the national identities of the proud, African people. My close companion, دوا (Douaa), has told me that in several instances, she has been victimized by Spanish people who seem to be stuck in the past, still seeing the Moroccan people as lesser, inferior to them, rather than equals within the first world.

Even though I cannot be one to criticize knowing that my own country is not exactly the safest haven for race relations, I still do my part to make sure that I bridge the gap between cultures to better my understanding and relationships between people of all different races. I’ve always seen Europe, even Spain too, as a more free-thinking society, free from constraints in the past of race and superiority within the Imperialist mindset, but clearly there is still some ingrained distain towards people who Spain once used to control and exploit. I pray that movements in the future with the new generation take place in order to negate this terrible mindset that lingers within the mindsets of the Spanish people.

Sharing a bottle of wine, by Emi Gomez

The first weekend of April, four of my friends and I decided to take a trip to Paris. Paris is one of the largest cities that attracts millions of tourists every year and my friends and I definitely took advantage of all the tourist hotspots. On our last night there we decided to go have dinner by the Eiffel tower so that we could see the pretty lights. Afterward, we sat behind the Eiffel tower on some grass to relax for a while and as soon as we did these two guys approached us with a bottle of wine and at first, we thought that they were trying to sell it to us since there were many street vendors selling alcohol. We were wrong, these two guys genuinely wanted to sit with us and share a bottle of wine. It took a while for us to get comfortable because we didn’t know what their intentions were but as soon as we started talking with them we were able to enjoy a good conversation about sharing culture. Our new friends were shocked to discover that in the United States we are not used to sharing our food with strangers especially in a public setting. It is not “normal” for one to approach a group of people and share food with them without expecting something in return. One of the guys even said that the difference in our sharing culture deterred him from wanting to visit the U.S because he loves being able to meet new people.

I never thought about the culture of sharing until I traveled abroad because in the U.S everyone can be selfish with their belongings. We reserve our sharing to family and friends and usually, we tend to expect something back from this interaction. Here in Spain and in France sharing seems to be very big especially around food. In Spain, tapas are small appetizers that people tend to share with a group of friends and no one ever really orders a plate for themselves. In France, I was able to share a bottle of wine with two strangers without them expecting anything in return. I have never had a picnic in the U.S but so far I have had three in the past four months. This experience of sharing has really helped me realize how selfish we can be as Americans, we work hard for our belongings and sometimes I think that we get caught up in our own social bubbles and don’t attempt to branch out. Sharing contributes to the building of relationships, to new conversations, and to new and unexpected friends.