I chose the topic of lifestyle because the varying lifestyles of people of different countries or even different states within The United States has always intrigued me. Naturally, I am inclined to notice and observe the differences in lifestyle even of my own peers.
Before this adventure, I knew little to nothing of the country other than they spoke Spanish. And little did I know, that is not the only language the citizens of Spain speak! I have been taking Spanish language classes for as long as I can remember, and I do recall a chapter on the country of Spain, however the countries more emphasized in school were the Latin American countries. After some research, the Spanish culture began to take shape in my mind.
Through the classwork and personal studies, I learned the differences between my culture and Spain’s. Firstly, the overall Spanish theme takes place much later than America’s. After breakfast, their lunch is after two o’clock and their dinner is around 10 o’clock. When I was young, my bedtime was 8:30 for the longest time. And we had lunch every day precisely at noon. I feel this was one of the biggest culture shocks. And of course, if you get hungry between lunch and dinner, there are restaurants that serve “tapas,” and it is very popular among Spaniards. They also take short “siestas,” or naps, in between lunch and dinner. As for bathing, Spain is in a drought, and it is common to take 5-minute showers.
I also learned that they are close talkers and like to touch, and conversation insinuating topics such as sex are completely normal and accepted. This was somewhat of a surprise. Catholicism is the most popular religion in Spain, mostly because for a long time it was the one religion that the government allowed for. Now there is a separation of church and state, however for a majority of history, there was none.
Upon stepping on the warm Spanish soil, I have noticed even more different aspects of their lifestyle. At most restaurants, the customers are not waited on hand and foot. Therefore, no tip is given to the servers. It makes me think of how privileged Americans are even in restaurants. It was also apparent how while some servers were very kind, some were not. If they do not need to be nice for a good tip, then there is a good chance that they won’t be. Tapas restaurants were more common than regular sit-down restaurants, while I’m not sure that “appetizer” restaurants are a real thing in the states. I had also known that Spain is in a drought, and it was reiterated when I noticed that the water in restaurants were not in fact free. As for the bathrooms, the water in the toilet bowls were barely existent. You also had the choice of choosing how much water is needed to flush. In my opinion, these types of toilets should be used all over the world. Water is taken for granted. Other than the toilets, it was interesting to see the bidets and different shower layouts.
A lot of natives knew at least enough English to get by and communicate with us. I also rarely saw anyone in casual sweats; they seemed to care more about what they wore. While I was in the Czech Republic, I noticed that my host family wore the same outfit for a few days in a row. I wish I could have gotten that same experience to compare, but my guess is that Spaniards do the same. Along with this, I noticed that they generally don’t wear as much makeup as the majority of Americans, at least around my age, wear. It was refreshing to see.
In conclusion, the lifestyle of Spaniards seems to be classically European, with some Spanish tapa flair. It was amazing to experience a completely different country and way of life. I will never forget the beautiful, scenic views from my bus window. No wonder I was so exhausted by the end of the trip; I couldn’t fall asleep for fear of missing something on the way! I would not trade this experience for the world. I have already decided to return in my lifetime. <3
EL ESTILO DE VIDA DE ESPAÑA
Por Morgan Flynn
Elegí este tema porque los estilos variados de las personas de países diferentes siempre me han intrigado. Naturalmente, me fijo y observo los diferentes del estilo de vida entre mis amigos.
Antes este aventura, yo supe nada sobre el país, excepto que la lengua es español. Pero, en realidad, ¡español no es el lengua solo del país! Ha hablado el lengua de español por muchos años, y me recuerdo un capítulo de España, pero los países enfatizaron en escuela fue los países Latinos Americanos. Después de un poco de investigación, la cultura de España comenzó a dar forma a mi mente.
Por el trabajo, yo aprendí las cosas diferentes entre mi cultura y la cultura de España. Primero, el tema de España ocurre más tarde de Los Estados Unidos. Después de desayuno, el almuerzo es más tarde de las dos, y la cena es después de diez del noche. Cuando yo era una niña, me fui a dormir a las 8:30. Y cada día, almuerzo fue al mediodía, exactamente. Y por supuesto, si tienes hambre entre de las dos comidas, tienes “tapas,” y es muy popular con españoles. Ellos también duermen rápidamente con una siesta en este tiempo. También, yo aprendí que España tiene una sequía ahora, y personas tomar duchas rápidas de cinco minutos.
Españoles son habladores cercanos, y le gusta tocar el uno del otro cuando hablando. Conversaciones incluyendo el tema de sexo es también normal y aceptó. Este fue una sorpresa. Catolicismo es la religión más popular en España, porque durante un tiempo grande, fue la religión solo aceptó del gobierno. Ahora, la separación entre la iglesia y el estado es presente en el gobierno. Pero por una mayoridad de historia, no fue presente.
Al pisar el suelo español caliente, me he dado cuenta más aspectos diferentes del estilo de vida de España. En la mayoría de restaurantes, los clientes no digan una propina al camarero. También, fue aparente que cuando algunos camareros fue muy amable, algunos no fue amable. Si no necesitas ser amable por una propina buena, no necesitas ser amable. Restaurantes de Tapas fueron más frecuentes que restaurantes regulares. Había aprendido que España está en una sequía, y fue reiterado cuando yo vi que el agua en restaurantes no era gratis. En los baños, el agua en los inodoros fue muy pequeño. Usted tiene la opción de cuanto agua para enrojecer con. En mi opinión, estos tipos de inodoros necesitan ser en todos de los baños en el mundo. El agua se da por sentado. Fue interesante ver los bidets y baños diferentes.
En conclusión, el estilo de vida de los españoles es europeo, con influencias de España. Muchos nativos supieron un poco de inglés parar comunicar con nosotros. Fue asombroso experimentar un país y forma de vida completamente diferente. Nunca olvidaré las hermosas vistas desde mi ventana del autobús. Yo no cambiaría esta experiencia por nada del mundo. Ya he decidido regresar algún día.
To start off this “Spanish Reconquering” of my thoughts, I would like to begin with a Sancho Panza quote.
“They say one madman makes a hundred and love makes a thousand.” I don’t exactly understand what this means, nor does Sancho, but maybe its saying that now that Franco is gone the loving culture is back, full of Spanish love for all!!!!!! ..hahah maybe not...
SPANISH LIFESTYLE---- One can't truly understand Spanish lifestyle until actually living in it. Starting off the lifestyle observations were Austin Merschdorf and Will Mendez, who found out that the wine and beer were complimentary on the plane ride there! Yes, we were already in a new world filled with classy Spanish flight attendants and a drinking culture different from the usual trashy American alcoholics. (We would soon find out that Cervezas were cheaper than water and Spanish men were more attractive then “Boody Allen” himself! )
The first day in Madrid gave us a run for our money as we frantically tried to adjust to the time difference and fathom how we were suppose to consume ham sandwiches for breakfast! It was challenging to stay awake all day but the lifestyle was alive all around us. We couldn't miss it!
Spanish lifestyle begins with the saying, “The Spanish work to live.” These ideals are rampant in the streets. I hadn’t realized Spain to have such a visually stimulating culture. You see this in their dramatic facial expressions or robust hand gestures, their passionate displays of affection, their loving friendships, their colorful cuisine, their beautiful fashion palette, their expressive family values, and their aggressive and rowdy sporting events. Very contrary to the U.S The Spanish people in general have a more communal view on life steadfast on family. You see families together in public at all times of the day. I vividly remember seeing children out an about when I was going to the bars at night or while I was enjoying a late night snack at 1 am. Children and family make up a huge part of the city’s atmosphere at all times of the day. While remaining connected to their kin Spaniards also are very open with things around them. People watching was my favorite past time in Spain because of the interaction people have with one another. Several times, I remember seeing a father multitasking as he was walking down the street. Dog leash in left hand, daughter on his shoulders, snack in other hand while enjoying his wife’s company, kissing her and calling out to friend in the street. Their openness in public made me rethink my opinions on public displays of affection. You see couples confidently embrace one another in the moment even if its right in the middle of the plaza or during a fancy dinner. All to often in America public displays of affection become “groudy germ swapping displays,” that aren’t pleasant for anyone watching. It was enlightening to see these as they should.
Another lifestyle observation I appreciated was their daily routines, or lack of one. Nothing seemed to be rushed in Espana when it comes to daily life. The only thing that seemed to be finite was their siesta time. One thing I did notice is instead of being coped up inside watching Hispanic soap operas they are moving! Maybe because they know they’ll have siesta time to rest! Because of this the morning were always lively: whether it be going to a park, browsing through art museums, enjoying a family walk, dancing in the plazas, taking your moped out for a spin, working out in the park (I saw several parks made out of workout equipment!), or going out for breakfast pinxos (coffee and churros). Plus, any place is a fine place to walk your sweater stylin' Chihuahua! With all of this the streets were always moving and I loved seeing that. It was refreshing and I felt so excited to witness each new day. Next they had siesta time and if they weren’t napping they were having more family time or maybe another dog walk? Either way this was the time businesses close from 2-5 generally to provide for a work break or a good time to indulge in lunch. They considered this meal the most important meal of the day. It already seems like a pretty good day for a Spaniard but they were just beginning. Now starts the long wait for a later dinner. What better way to spend it then with beer and tapas? or maybe a game of handball in an Sebastian?
With any of their daily routines their openness these locals had with the people around them was something to admire. They have a “friendship” culture similar to the Asian customs where they have no shame in holding hands with a friend as they walk down the street. It fosters ideas of being open with the people around you and I could see the benefits as an observer.
Onto the nightlife or should I say 24/7 happy hour that begins at lunch and goes through to the wee hours of the morning. I found this Spanish nightlife very interesting especially in Barcelona. You see people in the streets very late. But after around 2 am there is a switch to a more limited crowd made up, mostly, of the "instigators." Rather than violent gangs that come out at night in larger cities their were smaller groups of pick-pockets that migrate through the streets. Generally these people are non-violent but they aren't shy to approach you and engage in conversation. "Come to this club, come back to my place, try this, try that, dance with me, come here," ect. I had never seen such a large amount of people still wandering the streets at those hours without being warded off by police.
With their different schedules, their family values and their Spanish way of life, 3 things still astound me. Never did I ever think smoked ham would become my breakfast, lunch and dinner by choice. Or that I would make a friend in the Basque country. But mostly shocked that I would be brought to tears from singing..... It was seeing the faces of the people who were so eager to share their country with an American choir. I will remember that forever.
Till next time Spain.....hopefully it will be for the Camino de Santiago! Chao.
John Kryl The reason I chose the topic of lifestyle is because I think it says a lot about a country and their overall philosophy on life; I don’t believe Spain to be any exception to that rule. Although it is not possible to group the entire philosophy of a country into one ideal, especially one with seventeen autonomous states, by learning the lifestyle and culture of a community we are able to better fit in and experience what can be considered traditional Spain and not a foreign land to which we go for only a brief glimpse.
At the beginning of our journey, while still in the classroom, I knew very little about the country of Spain and even less about the lifestyle lived by those who occupy it. My professor told me of a “work to live” mentality held by many of the citizens that juxtaposed one commonly held by Americans. I knew the country had a later eating schedule than many other countries and often continued even later into the night at the bars and night clubs. I was told a fact that on average, Spaniards get forty-five minutes less of sleep per night than the rest of the world, but would make up for it with a two hour break in the middle of their work day for lunch and a “siesta.” In short, I knew what I considered basic facts, however I also knew that these few bits of information meant nothing until I actually went and experienced this new take on time.
Most of the Information that I researched about Spain ended up actually being politics and history of the country. I thought that through knowing the past and how the present is governed, I could get a different look into why lifestyle took the shape that it did. This information helped me ask the tour guides more useful questions regarding the people’s opinion as a whole, along with finding out different sides of arguments and how modern opinions are effecting the way people live.
As I figured, lifestyle in Spain was completely different when I experienced it then when I read about it. The biggest difference between Spain and America was the times in which events took place. Yes, the food was later than I was used to and bars stayed open past the usual hours, but even things that I hadn't thought about, like the starting time of football games, was later than most Americans could stand.
Along with later meals comes larger amounts of average alcohol consumption. It is very common to partake in drinking alcoholic beverages with both lunch and dinner, but also very common to drink into the night at bars or night clubs. With beverages like soda and water being in the same price range as beer or cider, it seemed more cost-effective to have an alcoholic beverage with your meal.
One of the first things you notice though, before you even have a chance to experience the change of cuisine, is the massive amounts of motorized scooters and motorcycles that take over the street. Not only are they zooming in and out of traffic, but they are parked everywhere from parking lots to sidewalks. They seem to be used as a faster mode of transportation since it is easier to get around objects and people, but also as a more efficient way to get around since they have better gas milage.
Ways of cutting down costs are very important to most people in Spain. Talking to some natives, I found out that the average wages are slightly less than what is made in America. Although not as much money is made, there are other aspects of their culture that don’t cost as much. Things like cellphone bills and car prices aren’t as high, and money is also saved thorough choices to buy more efficient cars and pay less for things that aren’t necessities. I found out that not many people pay for texting, but instead download a phone application that you can use to text for free.
In conclusion, I love the Spanish lifestyle. Spaniard’s way of life is something unique to only Spain, and offers a fresh new look on life as a whole. Between the bustling crowds hurrying off to lunch at two, to the relaxed demeanor of pedestrians in the plazas, the mix between work and play is something that keeps the beauty of the Spanish lifestyle something to be admired and envied by all who don’t have it.
For me, choosing to study lifestyle was a sure choice. I've always had some interest in the differences not only in our culture, but also how I viewed Spanish citizens in my mind, with no knowledge on them before hand. Needless to say, the differences were more than I had anticipated and the people were unalike what I pictured this whole time.
The first point I'd like to make is meals. Breakfast was fairly similar, still serving eggs, meat, cereal, doughnuts. The only differences were really the amount of different hams there were and some of Spain's traditional things, like the toasted bread with olive oil and tomato. Lunch and dinner were also quite similar, unless you were going to a tapas bar. In Spain, tapas are quite popular. They are small dishes that consist of many different things, such as patatas bravas, tortillas de patatas, spring rolls, chorizo with bread, and many other things. From my experience, they are usually served when you purchase alcohol from a restraunt. Once they notice you've had whatever amount, they will start to bring them to you free of charge.
The next thing I noticed was travel. Even when we were out in what they considered "cold" weather, people were always walking. The streets were always busy, and people were walking everywhere you turned. Obviously we saw some cars and other vehicles, but for the most part it seemed that everyone just walked place to place. I feel as though unless you were in New York or a busy sight seeing place like that, then you wouldn't ever really see this amount of people traveling by foot. It's all vehicles in America.
Another point the goes hand in hand with the travel is the love for animals in their culture. I felt as though every block I was on had somebody walking a dog. They are always out accompanying them, on a leash or not. The dogs and other animals also seemed almost more friendly in general. Though every dog I saw seemed super happy, I noticed things like birds not flying away as they do here. If someone got to close to a bird it would fly forward a few feet and keep walking to get around. It was cool to see the differences in their nature and really notice these aspects without really trying.
Another big point would have to be the interaction with us tourists. Now this was a bit tougher, as people don't always take it the same way. To me personally, I felt like they either hated you, or wanted to help you and appreciated the effort in speaking some Spanish. I got both sides of this multiple times, so I can't say either way how the general people feels about tourists. I imagine now those that don't mind are more calm because it isn't really tourist season. This makes it easy for them to deal with, instead of an entire restaurant or street crowded with people that only speak English. The last point I'd like to come around to is the family bond in Spain. Just like with the animals, kids are always seen roaming the streets with their parents. Many little kids that looked like they should barely be able to even stand, were running by us and all over the place, or staying close to their Mom or Dad and just taking in everything surrounding them. It was cute and it was nice to see how close these parents and children were with one another, something that one might not see in America at all.
So through everything, I am extremely happy with my trip. I was able to meet great people not only there, but people in my class as well. It made me realize how wrong I was about the culture, and now I can only count down the days until I return. I will make sure that I come back whether it's with friends, family, or by myself. Spain created a spot in my heart that it will have forever.
Pilar Azmani Spain and America are very different when it comes to our lifestyles. From the clothes that wear, to the time of day that we eat, to what we eat, and how we drink. It is safe to say that though there are many differences there are still some universal similarities that connect us.
I think in general people in Spain dress to impress a little bit more. It might just be me though because most of the time I dress for comfort. I found it was very common for the Spanish people to wear fashionable scarves. They wear them a little bit differently than young Americans do though. In America it’s mostly young girls wearing scarves closer to their necks and what I noticed in Spain is that men and women of all ages wear scarves just around their shoulders and they let them dangle. It seems to be fashionable.
People in Spain also greet each other with kisses. First the left cheek and then the right, that is very important! They also stand a lot closer to you when they talk. In America we really like to have our own space. Couples of all ages can be seen holding each other or kissing basically on any street at anytime. Public display of affection seems like it does not bug anyone there, maybe just the single people.
I love how important family is to Spanish people. There were so many dads and their children doing activities and families together, it really made me happy. Here in America I think that family is not as much of a priority as it should be. They all seem very happy and in love with their families, such a great thing. I will strive to be this way with my family one day. Family is super important to me as well, being one of 8 children; they are my best friends.
In Spain people are less wasteful, both with food, but especially water. They really take their conservation seriously. I took for granted how fortunate we are in the U.S. to get free water at restaurants. We are spoiled.
Speaking of spoiled, Americans eat so much compared to Spaniards. In Spain the eating times are different. They wake up and have a small breakfast, usually something sweet with a coffee and an orange juice. It shocked me that they don’t eat again until about 2pm. At this time they have a break for lunch. Lunch is usually their biggest meal of the day, while I was in Spain I think every meal was the biggest of the day! After lunch, but before dinner it’s tapas time. This was one of my favorite times of day. Who doesn’t like snacks and beer? Then finally around 10pm, even on weekdays, they eat dinner. I thought this was crazy! When I am in the States I go to bed most of the time at 10pm. In Spain they eat a lot of bread. I think I underestimated how much, but my jeans quickly told me when I returned to the States two weeks later!
Finally, I will talk about the difference in the drinking culture. There is definite difference. Lots of Americans drink to get drunk. It is obvious to see when one has had too much. While I was in Spain, of course I saw some who had indulged in too many, but in comparison to what I see in the U.S. it was very few. I think that this has to do with how children are raised as well as the media. While in Spain I didn’t come across any magazines or even television, when I watched, that showed people being “cool” when they consumed too much. Here in the U.S. I think that we have a huge problem in our drinking culture and I don’t think that it can be pinned on just one thing, but rather it is a deep-rooted problem that will take many changes if we ever want to change it.
Spain was one of the best times of my life. I learned so much history, art, lifestyle, culture and much more. This trip is irreplaceable to me. I got to know my choir members better, learned so much, and I have met new friends that now I can not see my life going on with out. Let’s just say the men in Spain know how to treat and truly respect a lady. I’ll leave it at that. ;)
I picked Lifestyle because I am a people watcher by nature. I like just observing how people go about their days and how they live their lives.
Before I got to Spain, I really did not have any idea about the beautiful country other than stereotypical things like bull fighting and flamenco dancing. When I used to think of Spain, I thought of people who spoke Spanish and only Spanish. Well, Spain is so much more than those things.
In class, I researched more about political standpoints of the lifestyle, but in all honesty, I find that completely boring. Also I researched that Spain is leading the world in solar and wind powered electricity, which I saw more of while in the country.
When we were in Spain, I saw a protest happen while we were in Barcelona that had something to do with the unfairness of the banks. While I saw this happening, I wanted to ask around and see what was really happening. I saw many police officers, protesters standing in streets with large banners, and angry drivers trying to just make it across the street. It was hard to know what really happened since I'm not very good at Spanish and I'm pretty sure it was all in Catalan anyways, so there was a serious language barrier.
I loved every single second of my time in Spain and the minute we got back home, all I could think about is starting to save up so I can go back some day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and I bet it gets even better when Summer comes around. Spain became a place that I will always hold near and dear to me these past two weeks. Everything I experienced, the landmarks, culture, architecture, food, and night life, was amazing. I never thought that I would have this opportunity, and now I have a new appreciation for the language as well.
The topic I chose for this class project is lifestyle in Spain. The reason I chose this topic is because observing different cultural lifestyles is something I truly enjoy and find fascinating. I love learning about different daily routines in different cultures. The Spanish lifestyle is vastly different than the American lifestyle in that it is more family focused and less career competitive.
Before I started the class or traveled to the country, I knew very little about the Spanish cultural lifestyle. I knew that a daily siesta wasn’t uncommon and that family was a primary focus for each person.
In my research, I have discovered that Spanish people are very welcoming and warm people. Physical touch is a sign of friendly affection and always expected in greetings. Two kisses, one on each cheek, are a normality in greetings between family members, friends, and even new acquaintances. Aside from the physicality in greetings, close proximity when holding conversation is also very common.
When it comes to daily routines, the Spanish population is very relaxed. Mornings typically begin around 8am with breakfast and coffee with milk or orange juice. School and work days don’t typically begin till 9am. Many people, especially in urban areas, walk to school or work or choose public transportation. Spending time outdoors is a priority in Spanish culture as the weather is usually fair year round in most parts of the country. Lunch is the most important and largest meal of the day and occurs around 1:30pm in the afternoon. Lunches include lots of ham, bread, and beverages such as beer or wine. After lunch it is common to take a nap or siesta in the afternoon. This is to relax and conserve energy for the late nightlife. Dinner isn’t until late in the evening between 9:30pm and 11:00pm. Between lunch and dinner tapas are served at various bars and restaurants as pre-cursors to a late meal. After dinner, especially on the weekends, dancing and socializing at local bars happens until the early hours of the morning. This is why the Spanish daily routine doesn’t begin until at least 8am.
When I was in the country and making my observations, I noticed a lot of what I researched to be true. Our breakfasts were always fairly early and it was difficult to find lunch until at least 1pm. During siesta time, a lot of locations were empty or even closed. In Zaragoza, masses at El Pilar were on hold during certain hours of the afternoon to accommodate siesta time.
To say that the Spanish culture is family focused is an understatement. Family is everything to the Spanish people and I could see this in the affectionate ways that people communicated. I observed several public displays of affection between couples many times walking down the streets and eating at public restaurants. It seems to be a very romantic culture, and not just amongst the young. I saw several older couples still holding hands and kissing in public. This is a stark contrast from American older married couples that seem to barely acknowledge each other in a public setting, let alone in a romantic fashion.
I have concluded through my observations and daily notations that the Spanish lifestyle is one to be envied by the rest of the world. The laid back and affectionate lifestyle is a complete change of pace from the chaotic and sometimes cold American culture. The Spanish people are open and loving, always welcoming to visitors and those who want to learn more about Spanish culture.
Empty streets of Santiago de Compestela during Siesta time