Socialization in Spain, by Julia Kim-Matsuda

For such a small city Seville is, I did not expect to see so many people out as I do on a casual weekday. This goes for all times during the day (except for siesta time of course). I can be out at 11 am or 9 pm and there are always people out walking on the streets. As I traveled around other cities in Spain, I kept noticing the same trend. Everyone is always outside, just grabbing a drink and socializing. I can’t help but wonder how brutal it must have been during the COVID-19 pandemic in this country. I was having a difficult time in Canada, and I can count the number of times I go out with others in a month on one hand.

As I adjusted to the culture more, I learned that this is because it is much easier to go out to socialize with others than to invite them over to your home as houses here are much smaller compared to the US or Canada. Going out is also significantly cheaper here compared to Canada or America. Going out for drinks, especially as a university student, can be quite taxing on the wallet. Living here has made me more aware of the relationship between the civil design of cities and the economy of the country can play into the collectivistic, tight-knit nature of the culture here in Spain. But most importantly, I found that Spaniards rather prioritize nurturing social relationships. North American culture heavily revolves around productivity and being economical with time. You can see this in the demographic of people you would see at a bar in these countries. For example, there would be many people doing business over drinks, whereas in Spain people will go to bars with the sole intention of enjoying the company of others. The culture of focusing on human connection is something I came to appreciate and prefer during my time here and hope to implement in my life when I return home.

https://jetsettimes.com/countries/spain/barcelona/barcelona-diaries/because-time-passes-more-slowly-in-spain/