Reflections about Spain

5 March 2012

For a while now, I've been thinking about making a list to summarize what I know and have learned about Spain and Spanish culture. Here is the unranked list!

1. Spanish yayos (older people) LOVE giving unsolicited advice. If you aren't doing something "right," they will definitely tell you to... lay off the sugar or inform you that you should study proper Spanish at the Cervantes Institute. 
2. Anything containing the word gallego (as in from Galicia) is automatically good. Some of the best Spanish food I've had has been from Galicia in the north.
3. Though some Spaniards will contest this, Spanish food isn't spicy at all--just sayin'. 
4. Spaniards seem to have a love/hate relationship with Madrid. To them, Madrid is a cool city with a lot of culture, but "Madrid no tiene playa. Madrid doesn't have a beach." 
5. Spaniards are more direct than Americans. In the US, you might say, "Could you maybe possibly bring me a coke when you get the chance? Please." Here, you are more likely to hear, "Ponme un café. Por favor. Bring me a coffee. Please." This doesn't mean that Spaniards aren't polite. It just means that they are more likely to be blunt. 
6. Personal space doesn't really exist as much here. When you are conversing with someone, they will stand right in front of you--10 inches from your face. They might put a hand on your shoulder. My kids at school hug and kiss me all the time. 
7. Spaniards are obsessed with scarves--as well as their use in the prevention of colds. 
8. In relation to #6, I think there must be a specific day of the year when you can start wearing short sleeves--like May 1st. Even though it is 70 degrees, I'm still getting strange looks every time I wear short sleeves. 
9. For as much as Spaniards talk about how much Americans eat, Spaniards easily eat as much as Americans. A typical day includes 5 different meals--breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, snack, and dinner. 
10. Spanish bureaucracy is a nightmare. Enough said. 
11. The Spanish language has some awesome, very specific verbs like tapear: "to go eat tapas" 
12. Spanish offices and shops are open at some rather odd hours. Government offices and banks close around 2 PM. Everything else closes from 2 PM to 5 PM but is open until 9 PM. 

I'll continue to add to this list as I think of things.