Culture Shock in Spain
There are many places which still observe the siesta, which is a long break between 2pm and 5pm in which many people sleep or return home for lunch. For restaurants and other members of the service industry the siesta, if taken, runs at a different time. Sadly if one is working in the larger cities such as Madrid or Barcelona one will find that the siesta is disappearing as the Spanish businessmen cannot afford to take this time out of their days, and many workers find that a shorter lunch gives them more time to spend with their families in the evening.
Politeness in Spain often does not rely on the ‘pleases’ and ‘thank-you’s’ that the English world is used to. Expect instead to be spoken to with short and sharp requests for either action or information. For most purposes the please, ‘por favour’ is either overly formal or a sign of exasperation. Spanish shopkeepers will acknowledge one with little more than a quick “Si?’ and an expectant facial expression. The Spanish work on their own time, meaning that hurrying someone usually just irritates that person. Having asked for the bill in a Spanish restaurant, expect to wait for a few minutes. It will not be brought immediately. All this does not mean the Spanish are rude, they just do things differently.
Women may have a difficult time adjusting to Spanish culture, especially if they come from places where catcalling has fallen away. The cities are essentially modern, but rural Spain still holds onto some of its patriarchal thinking. Staring and commenting on passing women is something of a national past-time for many groups of men. While times are changing, it’s not for nothing that the word Machismo originated in the Spanish speaking world. However there are few legal, educational or even cultural impediments to female advancement in the work-place and the law protects female equality.
The Spanish are a Roman Catholic nation. While the church is not state backed, the evidence of its reach can be seen everywhere. In many towns the largest building is the church, and the cathedrals and shrines of Spain are not to be missed when site-seeing. Condoms can only be bought on request and are not sold openly as they are elsewhere in the world. Abortions can only be carried out for rapes and for maternal health concerns. That said, Spain has set a liberal standard for itself, legalising homosexual marriage in 2005. However, as much as seventy percent of the population identify with the Catholic Church, and as many as 20 percent are regular church goers.
Politeness in Spain often does not rely on the ‘pleases’ and ‘thank-you’s’ that the English world is used to. Expect instead to be spoken to with short and sharp requests for either action or information. For most purposes the please, ‘por favour’ is either overly formal or a sign of exasperation. Spanish shopkeepers will acknowledge one with little more than a quick “Si?’ and an expectant facial expression. The Spanish work on their own time, meaning that hurrying someone usually just irritates that person. Having asked for the bill in a Spanish restaurant, expect to wait for a few minutes. It will not be brought immediately. All this does not mean the Spanish are rude, they just do things differently.Women may have a difficult time adjusting to Spanish culture, especially if they come from places where catcalling has fallen away. The cities are essentially modern, but rural Spain still holds onto some of its patriarchal thinking. Staring and commenting on passing women is something of a national past-time for many groups of men. While times are changing, it’s not for nothing that the word Machismo originated in the Spanish speaking world. However there are few legal, educational or even cultural impediments to female advancement in the work-place and the law protects female equality.
The Spanish are a Roman Catholic nation. While the church is not state backed, the evidence of its reach can be seen everywhere. In many towns the largest building is the church, and the cathedrals and shrines of Spain are not to be missed when site-seeing. Condoms can only be bought on request and are not sold openly as they are elsewhere in the world. Abortions can only be carried out for rapes and for maternal health concerns. That said, Spain has set a liberal standard for itself, legalising homosexual marriage in 2005. However, as much as seventy percent of the population identify with the Catholic Church, and as many as 20 percent are regular church goers.
The structure of the Spanish government means that a high degree of autonomy is given to each of its 17 political regions. This means that both laws and culture can vary extensively from one part of Spain to another. The bureaucracy in Spain is particularly painful. This is a reflection of the Spanish attitudes to contracts. The Spanish will take a lot of time negotiating any deal, running over each section until it is clear that both sides understand what is required of them, and once signed it is expected that the contract is carried out to the letter.
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