Submitted by Olivia Merced the 2024 Spring program in Barcelona, Spain…
While living in Barcelona for about 2 months now, there are a few culture shocks I have experienced. Firstly, meals in Spain are a lot different than in the USA. Here, Spaniards eat a small breakfast, a big lunch, and a small dinner. Dinner here is served earliest at 8 pm which was an adjustment. As lunch is the biggest meal of the day, during lunchtime lots of places are closed. This is called a siesta. This is a time for people to rest and eat before entering the long night ahead. Another culture shock was the metro system. I do not use the public transportation system where I’m from, Delaware. The only public transportation I had previously used was the NYC subway which is difficult to figure out. I was very nervous about using the metro in Spain before coming. However, the metro system is extremely easy to use, as it’s color-coded for each line. Even young children use the metro by themselves. It only took a few rides until I figured out the system and felt comfortable traveling alone. Lastly, the biggest adjustment was grocery shopping. In Spain, people do not shop for 2 weeks of food like we do in the USA. Spaniards like to shop at specific stores or markets for their food. Like, Carnisseria for meat, Fruit, and Vegetable stands, and Bakeries for bread and other baked goods. This was a pleasant experience and adjustment as I’m now eating better quality food and my groceries aren’t being as wasted as they were in the US. Overall, there are many cultural differences between the USA and Spain. Nevertheless, these culture shocks have not impacted my experience negatively, only making it more of an adventure. (Submitted on November 5, 2024)