I have been in Barcelona for one week now, and I have truly enjoyed getting to see the city and a new culture away from home. I went into this study abroad wanting to experience a different culture, and I believe I am starting to do that. While we have been busy learning in class, I have observed some interesting cultural differences outside of the classroom:
1: Mealtimes in Spain are later than mealtimes in the U.S.
When I arrived in Spain, I was ready for lunch around noon. However, I noticed that the only dining places that were open were breakfast places. Typically, people in Spain tend to have lunch around 2pm and dinner around 9pm. This was an adjustment to get used to, as I am used to lunch around 12pm and dinner around 6pm in the U.S. However, I am enjoying the chance to eat a variety of breakfast foods and café foods for our 11:30am lunch break.
2: Slower Pace of Mealtimes
During my first week here, the students and faculty had a delicious tapas** meal. I had a preconceived notion that the meal would last about an hour. However, when the waitstaff were still bringing out tapas by the third hour, I realized this was not the case. Spaniards enjoy sitting down and taking their time with meals because it is a time to connect with family and friends. I noticed that the waitstaff in most restaurants follow this as well. They don’t check in on the tables as often as American waitstaff, so they don’t interrupt conversations at the table. This was one of the cultural differences I have enjoyed the most, as many people in the U.S. tend to rush through meals. It is common that people will eat lunch while working. I really enjoy that people in Spain put on emphasis on meals to connect with their friends and loved ones.
3: Use of Public Transportation
When I found out that my class building was an hour walk away from my housing, I was concerned because I had never been that far from a class without a car. However, using the metro, my commute to class is only 40 minutes. While people do drive in the city in Spain, it is not as common. In the U.S., it is normal to be dependent on a car. However, Barcelona is a much more walkable city. I was able to walk with friends to the grocery store and back without needing to use any transportation. If you need to go further, many people take the metro. I have taken the metro to class and to preplanned activities for the students, and it has been reliable and a quick way to get around.
I am sure that I will continue to learn new differences each day that I am here, and I am excited for the opportunity to experience the amazing culture in Spain!
* *Tapas are smaller meals, similar to appetizers or snacks, and they can be combined to make a full meal.
