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.