Blessed and Organized : Spain

Since my visit to Barcelona 3 years ago, Seville is the second time that I visited Spain. When I was visiting Barcelona, maybe it was because I was traveling for tourism and only went to tourism spots, I felt that Spanish people are free and relaxed. It was a short trip, and I had no knowledge of Spanish culture, so it seemed to me at the time that the stores that close spontaneously and people drinking on the streets all day meant that people are living unsystematic lives. But coming to Seville and learning how important rest is to Spanish people in their lifestyles, and learning Spain’s special food culture, I acknowledged that Spanish people are actually living a very organized and systematic life. Given that a person’s true understanding and perception of a culture can only be done when the person becomes a member and lives in it, the first week in Seville allowed me to understand Spanish people and their culture on a different level. Looking from inside, the Spanish people are very easygoing and relaxed, but they are not irresponsible. They prioritize the rules and order of the society, and take trust and relationship between families and friends seriously. Looking at Spain that used to be just another European country to me, it came to me as a new meaning and I was able to view it without prejudice. It was more similar to my home country, Korea, and characteristics of other Asian cultures. The characteristics of Spanish culture that values family as a core value seems to lead individuals to recognize oneself as a member of the family rather than an individual. This trait seems to expand itself and show itself in the society and organizations (Oyserman, 2017, p.442). The similarities were subtle things that can be found in various aspects of life, such as various demonstrative pronouns, honorifics, and the virtue of yielding seats to elderly in subways. Everyday in Seville was a time of breathing and feeling a new world to me, and it made me fall in love with Seville.

Oyserman, D. (2017). Culture Three Ways: Culture and Subcultures Within Countries. Annual Review of Psychology, 68(1), 435-463. doi: 10.1146/annurev-psych-122414-033617