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.