CULTURE
We have created this page to share some cultural differences that we have recognized in past grantees’ experiences in Spain. Of course, these are generalizations and may or may not be applicable to all of the regions or communities you encounter throughout your Fulbright grant. However, we hope that, in reading these, you can get an idea of what to expect before you arrive and that they help with your adjustment to your new environment. Some differences between cultures will be apparent to you from your first day in the country. Others may be more subtle or profound, and take time to grasp. In order to contextualize the culture of another country, it is important to understand its history, so we encourage you to read up on Spanish history before coming to Spain. Check out our suggested reading and media page for our recommendations.
CULTURE SHOCK
Although certainly an exciting endeavor, moving to a new country almost always brings about a series of adjustment stages. Past grantees have reported going through “down periods”, usually around the holidays in late November/early December and late January/early February. This is not only completely normal, but it is also a positive sign of cultural adaptation according to the Cultural Adjustment Curve:
Of course, moving to Spain is not all tapas and sangría, and there are real challenges involved. When going through a period of feeling discouraged (which we all do!), we recommend that you talk about these adjustments with family and friends, and that you connect with other grantees in your region to share experiences and adaptation strategies. You may also find that opening up to your coworkers and new Spanish friends about challenges and cultural differences may help you form a deeper connection with them. It may even help you find a new perspective!
Looking back, many past grantees have shared that overcoming challenges like finding housing, opening a bank account, and finding friends on their own have been the most gratifying parts of their experience — we certainly hope this can be the case for future grantees as well! That said, remember you can always reach out to your contact at the Commission and/or the mentors for resources and support during some of the “down” times. Feel free to reach out to your contact at the Commission to specifically ask about the mental health resources available to you as well, including ASPE ASSIST and therapy through your Sanitas insurance.
daily schedule
The daily schedule for eating, working, and studying in Spain is different from what you may be used to in the U.S. and is generally centered around mealtimes (see the Food culture section below). If someone in Spain refers to the ”mañana”, it means any time before lunch. “La tarde” usually refers to the time between morning and about 9pm, while “la noche” starts during or after dinnertime.
In general, the daily schedule begins at around 7am with a coffee before heading to work at 8 or 9am. At work, there is a designated ”breakfast” or ”almuerzo” mid-morning break, which refers to a snack between 10am-12pm. Lunch is usually eaten between 2pm and 4pm, which will either be after a school day or a 2-hour long break in the workday. Nowadays, lunch hours have been shortened in bigger cities so that people can head home on their commutes earlier. However, in smaller towns, you will find that Spanish people usually spend this time at home with their families, so business hours are generally between 9am-2pm and 5pm-8pm. Sports activities and clubs tend to also run later due to a longer work day. For example, you may join a soccer club and be surprised to find out they meet for practice at 9pm on a weekday.
Most people have dinner between 9-11pm. Keep in mind that many restaurants will either close or stop serving food outside of these designated ”eating times” (usually closing the kitchen between 4pm-8pm).
Coming from the United States, you may be surprised by the openness and directness of how many Spaniards communicate. The concept of using politically correct language doesn’t exist in the same way in Spain as it does in the U.S., and you may hear some surprising things that you would not hear in the States. Past grantees have shared that these things are almost always said with good intentions, although, of course, they may have a different impact. We hope that, in coming prepared, you are able to recognize the cultural context of these comments, while recognizing and validating the feelings that may arise as a result.
People are often described using their physical attributes in Spain, and a Spaniard might not consider it rude to refer to “esa profesora morena” or “el segurata bajito”. People often speak at a higher volume than people are used to in the U.S., so what might be “yelling” to an American is most likely a normal volume to a Spaniard. Swearing is more common as well, and you may hear this even in more formal settings like a classroom or a lab. Medical issues are often openly discussed, and if you are sick a colleague may ask you exactly what symptoms you have and give you their advice about how to treat them, or if you did not get a particularly good night’s sleep, a coworker might tell you “tienes mala cara,” with concern. Spaniards also tend to use more physical touch than many Americans are accustomed to, such as giving two kisses on the cheeks when meeting someone and giving light touches on the arm or shoulder during conversation (although with the pandemic this has changed).
Keep in mind that it is extremely important to saludar in Spain. In fact, when telling a story about an especially rude person, you might hear a Spaniard say with shock, “¡ni me saludó!”. So when you enter a school, shop, restaurant, or any other place, make sure to take out any earbuds or headphones and say “buenos días” or “buenas tardes/noches”. When you exit, you should make sure to say “hasta luego” or “adiós”.
Finally, in Spain, if someone is discussing plans in front of you, this is usually an implicit invitation to the event. So if two colleagues are speaking about getting drinks after work in front of you, you should feel free to autoinvitarte and add “¡me apunto!” to join.
eating
In Spain, meals and socializing go hand in hand and people are very proud of their local dishes, which can vary greatly depending on the region. Asking a Spaniard about local cuisine will take you far in building relationships while finding out more about the culture.
There are several meals throughout the day: desayuno, merienda and la cena, but you will find la comida (lunch) is typically the biggest and most important meal of all. During the week, especially in bigger cities, this is usually an hour-long and often takes place between 2-4pm. Meanwhile, during the weekend, this meal usually starts on the later side, is shared with family/friends and can easily go for 2-3 hours. La comida typically consists of a primer plato (soup, vegetable dish), segundo plato (main dish: meat/fish) and postre (fruit/yogurt or light dessert), often accompanied with wine.
La cena (dinner) usually begins around 9-10pm and is much lighter. If going out with friends, it consists of tapas, at times served along with your drink, or raciones which tend to be simpler dishes shared amongst the group, examples include: tortilla española, patatas bravas, pimientos rojos, and gambas al ajillo. When out, remember tipping is not required, but very much appreciated. A nice tip can range from a few coins to 5-10% depending on the venue.
Meals in Spain are taken very seriously and are generally served in abundance. Therefore, the culture around them is to sit, take your time, and enjoy. It is rare to see people eating while on the move on the subway, bus, or while walking/driving. We recommend you do the same. Additionally, you will find that jamón is a “national treasure” and a majority of dishes served will include meat/fish/seafood. Tuna is a common addition to salads, pizzas and “vegetable” sandwiches, so be careful if you are vegetarian or vegan. If you have any food sensitivities, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. That said, we encourage you to try as many new Spanish dishes as possible, as we are sure you will be pleasantly surprised!
drinking
The culture around drinking in Spain is centered around beer and wine, which are nearly ubiquitous. These and other alcoholic drinks are almost always accompanied by food, either with a meal or a tapa/pincho. You may be surprised to find that drinking is more common in professional settings, and you are likely to get asked to get a caña with your coworkers after work or at lunch. Remember that, although it is very likely that others will drink around you in social situations, it is common and completely acceptable to choose to get a soda or coffee instead. Additionally, be aware that commercial beers may have a slightly higher alcohol content than you are used to in the U.S. (a Coors Light has an alcohol content of 4.2%, while a Mahou Cinco Estrellas has 5.5%).
The drinking age in Spain is 18, and teens usually begin drinking with their friends around 16, so by their early twenties, many Spaniards are accustomed to drinking when going out. One notable difference in social drinking is that this is usually done publicly, either in a bar or in a plaza/park doing a botellón (buying alcohol from a corner store along with cups and ice); Spaniards rarely drink at home with their friends. Going out to a bar usually begins after dinner, around 11pm or midnight, and most discotecas don’t get busy until 2 or 3am, and a full “night out” may last until 5 or 6am — so ¡ojo! before you plan to begin a night of drinking at 8pm.
Regional pride
Regional language, gastronomy, music, dance, history, flags, etc. tend to be a great source of pride for most Spaniards, and many identify more with the local rather than the national: an individual is more likely to identify first as from their region, as sevillan@, let’s say, and then as español/a, not the other way around. Nationalism can manifest in a myriad of ways, from the preservation of a local language or dialect to an independence movement. In addition to Spain’s four co-official languages (castellano, catalán, euskera, and gallego), there are other regional languages or dialects that are spoken – and often taught – throughout Spain, including asturianu and valenciano.
religion
When the Spanish Constitution was ratified in 1978, it abolished Catholicism as the official religion of the state, but Catholicism maintains an important influence in Spain today. Two out of three Spaniards identify themselves as Catholic, and one in three regularly goes to Mass or confession. Most holidays are celebrated around the Catholic calendar (Christmas, semana santa), and each city and town has at least one patron saint with a fixed holiday (see the section on Festivals and Holidays below).
At the same time, there exists a wide variety of faiths and religious practices throughout Spain, especially in urban areas. However, these may not be as visible, so if you are looking for a religious community, depending on your region, you might need to search a bit to find one that fits with you. For more information on religious communities from past grantees, feel free to email your contact at the Commission as we work on compiling the information to add to the Online Guide.
festivals
Traditionally, most major holidays in Spain are religious in origin, according to the Catholic calendar. At the national level the most important of these are Holy Week/Easter and the Christmas season. The day on which children receive presents is Three Kings’ Day/the Epiphany (January 6). Spaniards also traditionally celebrate Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve with family, whereas Christmas Day does not have the same significance as it may for families in the U.S. who celebrate Christmas.
In addition to national holidays, each of the autonomous communities celebrates itself with a regional holiday. In addition, each city, village, and town has its own annual holiday fiesta, and these tend to be important holidays in the daily lives of Spanish people. These holidays are often religious in origin, honoring the local patron saint or the Virgin Mary, but the religious component is often much less important than the celebration that takes place. In addition, Sundays have traditionally been a day for religious observance. While this is no longer the case, especially in bigger cities, it is still a day typically spent with family and many stores are closed.
birthdays
You will notice another small cultural difference when someone’s birthday is coming up. In the U.S., the friends of the birthday person usually take them out, split the bill between friends, or prepare a small celebration in the workplace. In Spain, the cumpleañer@ usually brings some kind of sweet or food to share in the workplace, and is usually expected to pay for their friends when celebrating. For example, the cumpleañer@ might treat their friends to a dinner in their house or in a restaurant, or may treat colleagues to a coffee/breakfast or caña. So if your birthday is coming up, it may be a nice detalle to bring a treat for your colleagues or invite them out for a drink on your birthday. Among friends, people tend to all pool a bit of money together to buy one present for the cumpleañer@.
style
Style is quite diverse in the bigger cities around Spain, but overall you will find that people tend to dress in more formal streetwear than you may be used to in the U.S. In smaller villages, there is still a tendency to “see and be seen”, so the fashion is a bit more formal and traditional than what can be found in the cities. Dress codes are not common at the workplace, therefore it is best to get a feel for the general tendency in the first few days and then try to follow suit. You will notice that teachers and those working in academic settings tend to dress comfortably and more casually than in the U.S. wearing jeans, comfortable tops, and shoes that are easy for walking.
Spanish people also tend to dress very much according to seasons and will have a wardrobe dedicated to this. At times, they will be dressed for the season rather than the day’s weather. For example, in winter on a sunny warmer day, you may still find someone wearing a heavy jacket and boots which may seem “overdressed” according to U.S. standards. In the Spring and Fall, layers are very popular and recommended and rainwear is always a must in the northern regions, such as Asturias, Galicia and Pais Vasco. In summertime or in warmer areas, flip-flops are not typically worn on the street, but rather used solely when at the pool or beach.