Cultural Differences

The Spanish have a rich and historical culture. They are well known for Miguel Cervantes´s great modern novels and for financing Columbus´s voyage to the Americas. The Spanish are warm, outgoing and fun-loving. When greeting or meeting someone, it is customary to give “dos besos” (two kisses). The Spanish have a distinct accent from Latin Americans—They use the “theta” to pronounce “c” (before i or e) or “z”

Just like any other country, different parts of Spain think and act differently. There are seventeen autonomous communities, each of which are passionate and proud of their own cuisine, history, and culture. Similar to the U.S.A, there is a friendly rivalry between many of the regions, such as the Catalans and Castilians.

Time

Time doesn´t dictate their schedules. They focus on enjoying the moment and living life to the fullest. You may find that being late is acceptable in most social circumstances. The Spanish tend to eat late lunches and dinners and go to bed around midnight. They manage to get by on little sleep, siestas after lunch, and sleeping in on weekends.

Food and Meals

The Spanish meal times are later than most Americans are used to. A Spanish breakfast is very small, usually consisting of only coffee and bread or a small pastry. Lunch is the main meal of the day for most Spaniards, it is very hearty and is eaten between 2 and 4 p.m. Unlike in the U.S.A, dinner is a fairly light meal. Since it is eaten quite late between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., the Spanish dinner usually consists of a tortilla (a potato omelette), some “jamón” (cured ham), a salad, or a sandwich. There are only a few places that will serve food outside of these times, so adapting to the Spanish rhythm and schedule is important when immersing yourself. We recommend you eat lunch after 1p.m and snack on tapas if you get hungry! While studying at Mester you will definitely have to try Spain´s traditional and delicious cuisine—tapas, paella, tortilla and sangria.

Spanish Bureaucracy

Non-natives tend to find Spanish bureaucracy a bit stressful and somewhat inefficient. Spain, like other European countries, is in a state of political change due to its integration into the European Union. Rules for people who are from the EU and for people from outside the EU are different. Changes take time to come into full effect and this could lead to misunderstandings. It is important to understand that offices in different areas may be following different policies.

Pedestrian Crossings

Spaniards have different tendencies for driving and traffic. Although the laws and signs may be recognizable to you, it is always advisable to be extra cautious when crossing the street. Always use pedestrian crossings and wait for the green man! You will notice the Spanish are never in a rush and always wait before crossing.
Unwanted Attention
A little advice for the ladies; Spanish men are renowned for catcalling and paying slightly too much attention to women, especially those from outside of Spain. This is usually nothing to worry about, but if the best approach is to ignore it. Following the example of Spanish women is your best bet— keep your head down and continue walking. A confrontational attitude is not advisable.

Customer Service &Tipping

Spanish serving staff receive regular salaries and tipping is not common practice in Spain, although they will always appreciate a tip in return for good service– around 10% in a restaurant and 1€ or so if you are in a bar or café. There is no need to tip per drink when in a bar. Taxi fares should be rounded up to the nearest Euro. Hairdressers are appreciative of a couple of Euros. Due to the fact that tipping is not customary, the level of customer service in Spain is very different to US standard practices. The most valuable piece of advice is to be polite, smile, and be direct in asking for what you need.

Smoking

Almost 40% of the population smokes so it’s considered a cultural norm. Since January 1, 2006, smoking has been banned in public places. Unfortunately some bars and restaurants have merely put a sign up warning people of the dangers, but yet still permit smoking inside. Many bars in Salamanca do however adhere to the fairly new anti-smoking laws. Local law enforcements will surely become stricter as the population adjusts to the changes.