Just a few days ago, I was studying in Salamanca, Spain, for six weeks. It was an amazing and unforgettable experience. During my time in Spain, I was introduced to their culture and mannerisms. Yes, I went through culture shock for the first few days. Saying Spain is a “little” different from the U.S. is an understatement. Having meals at unusual hours of the day, no personal space between people, and public places deserted during the afternoon are a few of the differences between Spain and the United States. Here are six new things that I learned while studying in Spain.
1. Siestas are real.
At least for Americans studying abroad in Spain. A siesta is a small nap after lunch, usually between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. During "siesta time," the shops are closed, the streets are deserted, and Spaniards take their break from work. Yes, I took my siestas seriously. Even if I slept for 15 minutes, it made a difference. However, not every Spaniard takes a siesta. It’s actually a misconception of Spain. Most don’t. If they take a siesta, it is only for about 20 minutes. Unlike me, who would take three-hour siestas.
2. Bulls, bulls, and bulls.
Spaniards love their bulls. It’s one of the symbols that represents Spain. Bull farms, bull fighting, and the running of the bulls. Some of my classmates partook in a run with bulls in a city nearby. Narrow streets, a white outfit with a red bandana, and bulls running after them. They were completely crazy. Thankfully, none of them got hurt. However, it is common for a runner to get hurt by piling up, and it is less common but life-threatening to get gored with their horns.
3. Ham (jamón) is everything.
Before coming to Spain, I wasn’t a big fan of ham. But that changed once I arrived in Spain. I ate it with everything. In and on top of omelets. In coquettes. On top of cheese and focaccia. With pasta. In a panini. On pizza. It is delicious. Every meat store I passed had legs of pigs and full carcasses hanging from the ceiling.
4. Spaniards are nocturnal creatures.
During the day in the summer in Spain, it’s hot. Because of this, most people stay inside during the day and spend their nights in the city. Whether it’s getting a drink in the Plaza Major at midnight or dancing at a dance club at 4 a.m., Spaniards are nocturnal creatures. These Spaniards use their siesta time to sleep!
5. Coca-Cola is better than water.
Coca-Cola is everywhere. I didn’t realize how much Coca-Cola Spaniards drank. If you want a soda at a restaurant, you have to choose between Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Coca-Cola Light, Coca-Cola Zero Zero and a few other brands. Whenever I told my host mom that I was dehydrated, she would tell me to drink some Coca-Cola. Not water. Coca-Cola. I guess, according to her, soda is better than water.
6. Lastly, I love tapas.
Tapas is a small (or large, depending on how many you get) snack. They are very cheap depending on the restaurant. Spaniards enjoy them throughout the day: after breakfast, lunch or dinner. One time my friends and I got three tapas in one afternoon! The picture above proves our feast.
Siestas, bulls, ham, Coca-Cola and tapas are many delicacies of Spain. However, I learned much more than could be written on paper. Spain is a beautiful and welcoming country that I will miss.
