How do you translate "sobremesa"? Laurie Taranowski

In Spain, meals are more than just food but are a sacred time to talk with family and friends. In my experience living with a host family, Spaniards tend to eat most meals with their family. In my host family, we all eat lunch and dinner together at the same time each day, and it is an important part of the day when you all are together and catch up on anything and everything. Another aspect of the meals I noticed is that the fact that the food is finished does not end the conversation, but rather the latter. Often my favorite conversations with my host mom would happen after we finished eating and all the plates were still left on the table so we had nothing to focus on other than the conversation. The other night, we talked on and on about supernatural occurrences in Sevilla, and my host mom shared with me many stories of ghost sightings in the hospital where she used to work. In Spain, this is called sobremesa. It is a sacred time in Spain when all the food is done and the plates are still dirty on the table but the conversation is still thriving because Spanish people place a high value on relationships. Beyond the household, you can see this concept in restaurants as well. It is common for people to stay at the restaurants talking with friends and family, even after the food is done and the waiters don’t pressure you to leave. Instead of immediately bringing you the check once you finish your food, the waiters let you take as much time as you would like and you need to ask for the check when you are ready to leave. This custom is very different in the United States. In the US, although people enjoy their conversations while they are eating, the end of the food generally signifies the end of the conversation as well. At restaurants, once the food is done, the waiters quickly clear off the plates and bring the check and you are pressured to leave as the US restaurants place a higher value on table turnover. Personally, I have really enjoyed experiencing the Spanish meals and sobremesa. I love the high emphasis on relationship building in Spain, it is a very beautiful life to live.

https://www.treehugger.com/sobremesa-an-untranslatable-spanish-delight-4868600

Vegan and vegetarian options into Seville's gastronomic landscape, by Sofia Rodríguez-Burno

Seville, renowned for its rich culinary tradition deeply rooted in Mediterranean flavors, might not be the first destination that comes to mind for vegans and vegetarians, as It definitely was not for me. However, wander through the winding streets of this historic Spanish city, and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the abundance of plant-based options waiting to be discovered. Just down the street from my house, Vib3 Burger can be found. The entire menu consists of burgers and fries, and one veggie burger sits at the bottom of the menu. Even going to small cafes, you can still find creamy almond milk lattes and traditional tapas bars offering tantalizing plates of patatas bravas with a vegan twist. Now, the most carnivorous food enthusiasts will be impressed by the creativity and flavors found in dishes like hearty chickpea stew and colorful, fresh salads bursting with local produce. What's truly interesting is the seamless integration of vegan and vegetarian options into Seville's gastronomic landscape, reflecting a growing global awareness of sustainable and ethical dining choices. Sevilla’s culinary scene truly emulates different subcultures, enculturation, and cross-cultural awareness. Within Sevilla's culinary landscape, subcultures such as the vegan and vegetarian communities emerge as distinct groups, each shaping its unique culinary identity informed by ethical, environmental, and health-related considerations. Despite existing within the broader framework of Mediterranean cuisine, these subcultures enrich Sevilla's food culture, contributing to its diversity and dynamism. Enculturation, the process through which individuals internalize cultural norms, is evident in Sevilla's deeply ingrained culinary traditions, influenced by centuries-old practices and local dynamics. However, the integration of vegan and vegetarian options reflects a shift in these traditions, driven by global trends toward sustainability and ethical consumption. This adaptation showcases the dynamic nature of culture, where traditional practices evolve in response to changing societal values. Moreover, Sevilla's embrace of vegan and vegetarian cuisine underscores the significance of cross-cultural awareness, fostering cultural exchange, challenging stereotypes, and promoting mutual understanding. Through appreciating culinary diversity, both visitors and locals transcend cultural boundaries, fostering a sense of unity amidst differences.

So, whether you're strolling along the picturesque banks of the Guadalquivir River or exploring the enchanting alleyways of the Santa Cruz neighborhood, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised by the diverse and delicious offerings awaiting you in this vibrant Spanish city.

 

A Gluten Free Life in Sevilla, by Olivia Upchurch

As a person with celiac disease, I was nervous to move to Spain to study abroad, not knowing if there would be enough gluten free options for me. I am sensitive to cross contamination, so even if restaurants have gluten free options, I often can not eat there because they use the same cooking equipment that is used for food with gluten. After arriving in Sevilla, I was pleasantly surprised with the wide access to safe restaurants. Within walking distance, I have access to two bakeries, two tapas restaurants, a Venezuelan restaurant, and a Mexican restaurant that are all fully gluten free establishments. In comparison, my city in the USA (Knoxville, Tennessee) only has one gluten free bakery that is a 30 minute drive away, and there are no fully gluten free restaurants within driving distance. According to an article about restaurants for celiacs in Sevilla, Vazquez wrote that 1 in 71 children in Spain have Celiac disease. These numbers are higher than in the USA and may explain the differences in access to fully gluten free restaurants. The article also mentions a challenge I have found to be true: it is extremely hard to find gluten free fried food that is safe for me to eat. Restaurants in Spain often use the same oil to fry all the food, and thus, it is often contaminated with wheat flour. Many of the traditional Spanish tapas such as patatas bravas, croquetas, and calamares fritos I am unable to try. This has limited my ability to try tapas. As we discussed in class, Spanish culture places an emphasis on relationships with others, and one of the main ways people spend time together is eating and drinking in restaurants and bars. This aspect of culture has been a barrier for me as I can only eat in a handful of restaurants, and if my friends go out, I often cannot eat and do not get to fully participate in the experience. I am experiencing the duality of the joy of having more restaurant options, and the sadness of not being able to always participate in an activity that is so central to Spanish culture. I am focusing on appreciating the increased food options available and feeling thankful that café con leche is always gluten free!

Grocery Store Experience, by Autumn Hlina

One big difference I noticed was the grocery stores. The grocery stores had a lot of different types of food but within that there was very little variety. This may be due to Spain having specialty stores like fish, meat, and bread which is not as common for people to go to in the US. The food in Spain looks much fresher, has less preservatives, and is more local. The eggs and milk were not in the fridge due to different processing methods. According to the Testing Table, milk is shelf stable because Spain applies a higher heat treatment. The eggs are shelf stable because they are not washed meaning they still have their cuticle which protects it from bacteria entering the egg. There were no signs on aisles but I feel like it is not really needed because the stores are smaller. Customers shop quicker in Spain and only come in for what they need. In the US, customers have a grocery list but also will walk down every aisle even if they do not need anything from that particular aisle. Shopping also may be quicker because it is much more convenient to pop into a store on the way home. In the US it is less convenient to pop into a store because people commute mostly by car rather than on foot. When checking out people often paid cash. The cashier was less delicate with the food and tossed it to the baggage area. The customer was required to bag their own groceries. I thought it was interesting how the cashier would start scanning the next person's items before the customer was finished bagging their groceries. Learning how Spanish grocery stores differ from American ones has shown me what each culture values for diet and the customer employee interaction.

https://www.tastingtable.com/942873/differences-between-american-and-european-supermarkets/

Collectivism and socialization in Spain, Sophie Danish

One of the most prominent differences I noticed in Spain was the perception of socializing. In the United States, people treat social interactions often as a chore. There are many introverts who dread socializing, doing anything they can to avoid social interaction. Today, many people in the United States work remotely, being able to go months without social interaction if they choose to. Americans treat their social health like their physical health, and feel like they need to interact in order to stay healthy similar to exercising, rather than because they want to be connected to others. In Spain, I was shocked to witness how much people interacted with each other, at the store, work, and school, taking time out of their day to spend time with those they loved. I first noticed this one day at UPO when I was eating lunch. Like most days, I elected to eat lunch alone in the cafe in order to get school work done. I always do this, as I like to multitask and get as much work done when I can. At my school in the United States, this is the norm; During lunch you will see most students eating alone doing schoolwork in public places. At UPO, I was shocked by the large groups of students drinking beers and eating lunch all together, as if they were almost at a party. I could never imagine devoting that much time to socializing with friends on the weekdays, as I am always thinking about what more work I can do when I am free. To emphasize this, it was found that Americans spend only 54 minutes a day socializing (2020), and while there was not a study done for Spain, I have noted Spanish people spend at least 2 hours a day socializing, specifically over coffee or a meal. At first I was overwhelmed and exhausted by the oversocialization, but at the end of these 4 months I find that is something I appreciate. I find myself seeking out more time with friends, and feeling lonely eating alone now. I do not rush everyday tasks as much as I did in the United States, and find myself choosing to be friendlier and electing to socialize more. I believe people in the United States would benefit from the Spanish lifestyle, and they would find one of the best parts of life is staying connected with others.

References 

“American Time Use Survey Summary.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 22 July 2021, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm.

Tips for Top Tapas

I am not lying when I say that I before coming to Sevilla, I had not tried eating tapas before. This was something that was foreign to me, and honestly thought that it was the name of a dish, not a way to eat a meal. During the class we talked a lot about cultural differences and the reasons why there are these cultural differences, and tapas for me is one that is big difference between Spanish and American meals. These meals are more meant to be shared than in America were everyone gets their owe plate for their own meal. Some of the history of tapas comes from the word “tapar” which was meant to be eaten between meal usually with some sort of alcohol beverage. Throughout history as well there was law and decrees made my kings that for example they would “tapar” or cap off drinks with a small portion of food to avoid drunkenness for soldiers or sailors. As for my experience in Seville and around Spain, there have been many instances that I have been able to share with my friend over tapas, were conversations would be had, that other wise would be much shorter over a larger meal that was meant as a sit down meal. The culture of tapas in Spain is something that I have learned to appreciate and will miss when I am gone, because a lot my socializing comes around eating and drinking, which is a great way to appreciate not only the company of others, but also the culture and food. Some of my favorite things to do with tapas is to try new foods as many times in restaurants they have the tapa portion of a meal, this was a great way for everyone at the table to also get what they wanted or had a craving for. Now I just want to see if deserts can also come in tapas portion!

Meals in Sevilla!

One of the first things I noticed when I came to Sevilla was the meal times. I was already a bit disoriented due to the time change and jet lag, however, I was not expecting the difference in the meal times. In the United States, the general lunchtime is around 1:00 pm and dinner tends to be around 6:00. After 20 years of living in America, I am very used to these general eating times. In Sevilla, lunch is normally around 4:00 and dinner can be anywhere from 8:00 to 10:30. There have been days during my time abroad when I have lunch around 5:00 and dinner at 11:00. It is ethnocentric of me to think that these late meal times are weird or different because it is a normal part of eating for Spaniards. Adjusting to the culture in Spain has been fun and exciting and the meals have been a large part of that for me. Another aspect of meals that I have grown to appreciate greatly is the pace of the meals. The Sevillanos take their time. Tapas and beers are shared with friends and family members over the course of hours. At any time of day, you can walk down the streets of Seville and find friends having a beer and spending time together. In America, there have been times where I find myself rushing through a meal or drinks very quickly. However, in Sevilla, they take meal times to socialize and converse with people they love. The relaxed pace and socialization of mealtimes is something that I love about this city and I will take this back to the United States with me, although I am excited to have dinner at 6:00 again!

The Beauty of Food, by Gloria Lee

I went to Spain with some knowledge about the country’s food. I’ve been to multiple Spanish restaurants, where I always ordered tapas and/or paella. I left for the country thinking about all the patatas bravas, sangria, paella, and jamon I would have. Little did I know that I was in for the best gastronomical surprise ever.

I was very lucky in the fact that my host mom was a great cook whose food tastes and interests matched so well with mine. We both shared a love for vegetables and all things healthy. She introduced me to so many different kinds of Spanish foods and always prefaced my first bite with a description of the ingredients that went into the dish and which region of Spain it was typical in.

What I loved the most about my experience with food in Spain, though, wasn’t just the delicious food I will always yearn for. It was the act of eating together. My host family had two young children, so I always ate dinner with them at around 8:30 PM. The dad was always there to watch us eat and talk to me about my day and about everything ranging from my classes to where I had to visit during my weekend vacations. My host mom and I almost always ate lunch together and it quickly became such a precious opportunity for us to learn more about each other and talk about anything and everything that came to our minds.

In America, family meals are just not as important. Granted, there are certain events that make for family dinners that everyone shows up for. However, on a daily basis, they just are not as common. The stereotypical American is constantly busy and on the go, so many foods are eaten outside of the restaurant or outside of the communal dining table. As a college student, I’ve had so many instances when I pushed off meals or ordered food for delivery and ate it in the library so as to not waste my time meant for working on assignments or studying. And I honestly never saw anything wrong with this sort of lifestyle until I lived in Spain for 2 months.

I love that Spaniards take time out of their days to sit down and eat. I love that they stay at restaurants for hours to casually drink their beer or wine and talk with their loved ones. I love that mealtimes are to be shared with those around you. I understand why this is not as much a part of American culture. However, I hope to make it a part of mine because it was such a beautiful and special experience for me.

How Does Snacking Reflect a Culture’s Norms?, by Paige Freyre

While spending two months in Sevilla, my understanding of the world and other cultures expanded extensively. Although it is a shame the spring 2020 abroad experience was cut short for so many students, it was so interesting to examine how we were able to assimilate into the culture in such a short amount of time, and then experience reverse culture shock when coming back home. I was shocked at the aspects of my habits or personality my family pointed out as being different when I returned home as I did not expect to experience so many changes in such a short period of time.

For example, my parents and I could not believe how my eating habits had shifted during my two months in Sevilla. Specifically, the culture of snacking was vastly different in Spain which I had not anticipated. I never realized how much of a “snacker” I was, until I went through an adjustment period in regard to mealtimes. In my homestay, the custom was to have a small breakfast, a large lunch, and a smaller dinner. At first, I found myself starving in between meal times, and I noticed my host mom did not keep any snacks in the house. At first I thought this was not “normal”, but then I realized that not snacking between meals was what was considered “normal” in Spain. This was different from my habits in America, where I typically snack various times throughout the day and rarely take the time to have a large, sit-down lunch.Therefore, I had to get adjusted to a “new normal” in regard to my eating habits during my time in Spain.

Pictured below is a meal my host mom gave me one night for dinner. It is an omelette, broccoli, and potato chips. I had taken a photo of it because I was so surprised to see potato chips on my plate. It was the first time I had seen anything that resembled the snacks I was used to at home on my plate in Sevilla, and I had thought it was hilarious that it was being served as a side dish to the meal rather than a casual snack. This experience made me question and reflect on the different norms in regard to snacking between America and Spain.

Since being back in America, I have noticed that snacking between meals has become a new norm for me again. As I have developed this habit, I also have fallen out of the habit of long, sit down lunches that I was accustomed to in Spain. As a result, I have reflected on the different ways I spend my time in each country. In Spain, I was more likely to slow down, and enjoy my meals; which resulted in not needing to snack throughout the day. At home, I have noticed the culture of my household is extremely fast paced and we rarely sit down to enjoy a long meal, so we snack throughout the day instead.

In conclusion, it is interesting to consider how social customs such as meal norms or snacking can reflect the way we spend our time in a given culture. In Spain, I loved how there was such an emphasis on meals (lunch in particular), and it was a special time to take a pause during the day and spend time with family while enjoying great food. Since assimilating back in America, I have noticed that my family rarely slows down during the day to stop what we are doing and have a meal together. This results in a culture where we eat more processed food or snacks throughout the day to keep us sustained to complete our agendas which mirrors our fast-paced society. I connected this to the “to-go coffee” or “to go food” culture we have in America, which so many students are amused to not experience in foreign countries. Although I love my life at home, I am grateful for my cultural experiences in Sevilla as I hope to adopt some of these habits in my future life as I believe they promote mindfulness and enjoyment!

Balance between working and relaxing, by Katie Steeves

While there is a plethora of cultural differences that exist between the United States and Spain, one that stood out to me revolved around our differing ideas of taking time for ourselves to relax. In the United States, we have a very competitive environment which stresses success and accomplishments. There is a high sense of urgency to get things done, a feeling that there is never enough time to get everything done, and a feeling that if you relax for too long then in some way you will be left behind. However, in Spain, I feel that I am able to have a healthier balance between working and relaxing. There seems to be less of an emphasis on this idea that ‘there isn’t enough time’, and a larger emphasis on spending time with friends and family.

There are many examples that highlight this cultural difference for me, one of which is through take-out. In the United States, any restaurant you go to, there is always a ‘to go’ option where, if you don’t finish your meal or don’t have enough time to, you can take it home with you. There are also more restaurants in the United States like Panera and Chipotle that are quick and easy to grab on the go if you are in a rush. However, there are hardly any places in Spain that offer ‘take away’. In the United States, when we finish our meal, the waiter or waitress brings over the check and you leave. However, in Spain, the waiter or waitress won’t bring over the check until you request it, and you are able to stay however long you want. This promotes people spending more time hanging out with friends and family while grabbing a tapa or a cup of coffee without feeling the urgency to rush through a meal.

Another example that highlighted this difference for me revolved around our differing activities on Sunday. In the United States, we tend to experience ‘Sunday scaries’ before the week begins and will oftentimes use this day to catch up on work or errands. However, in Spain when I walk around, I see that everyone seems to be out on the street or at a restaurant socializing, instead of working. Many stores are closed and everyone seems to be spending quality time with their friends and family.

While in the United States, I do believe there is some type of balance between working and relaxing, I believe it is easy to get too wrapped up in the competitive work hard environment. I think Spaniards are more relaxed about time and prioritize spending time with loved ones. I personally believe this is one cultural difference that Spaniards may do better than Americans and something that we can work on

The waiter doesn’t check up on you, by Mikayla Roybal

There are many differences when it comes to American culture and the culture in Spain. One that really stuck out to me is the customer service provided at restaurants by the waiters. In America, the waiter is consistently asking if you need anything and making sure that you’re okay. When you finish your meal they bring you the check and you pay whenever you please. Here in Spain, this isn’t the case. When you get to the restaurant the waiter will take down your order and bring you your food, the same as in America. The difference is that the waiter doesn’t check up on you unless you call him over. The same goes for the check, they won’t bring you the check until you call them over and ask for it. This can easily turn a 45-minute meal into a two-hour meal. I believe there are many reasons for this cultural difference. One is the fact that waiters in Spain don’t get tipped, and they don’t rely on tips as income. This could cause them to not feel the need to constantly make sure the customers are content. Another reason could be how much Spaniards value spending time with their loved ones. They often get together with their loved ones over food. The servers may value this and they don’t want to intrude or be rude. They want the customers to be able to visit freely without any interruptions. The differences in the service at restaurants definitely took some getting used to, but I appreciate some aspects of it

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.

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.