My Experience in Sevilla, Spain

There are so many things that are culturally different in Spain than in the United States. First, meal times. Compared to the United States, where a typical lunch time is usually between 12pm and 2pm and a typical dinner time is anywhere from 6pm to 10pm, the meal times in Spain are super late. When I first arrived in Spain, not having lunch until 2pm or later and not having dinner until 9pm or later was a huge shock. Second, etiquette during a meal at a restaurant differs greatly between the United States and Spain. In contrast to the United States, one has to flag down waiters to order and get the check in Spain. Meals could last anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours because the wait staff does not rush you out in order to get more customers into the restaurant (which I think is very nice and enjoyable). Third, and what I found most different to my life at home in the States, is that there are almost no Jews in Spain (or at least Sevilla). I have always been surrounded by a Jewish community my whole life and finding out that there are around 100 Jews who live in Sevilla was crazy to me. It took me a while, but I did find the small community and was welcomed with open arms. I definitely have gained a lot of perspective that I did not have before when it comes to food and religious culture in Spain and I am grateful for everything that I have learned because it has made me grow as a person.