Things Spanish People Do That Nobody Else Understands

Alex Redmond and Kitty Sparks

As anyone who’s ever lived abroad will tell you, every town, city and country has its
own quirks and oddities which largely make up its charm. Some local behaviours can
be given a historic or practical explanation, while other customs are just downright
eccentric. Spain, with its very distinctive regions and provinces, is clearly no exception.
There are a couple things to look out for that are likely to raise an eyebrow or two, so
read on to learn more about some of Spain’s unique cultural traditions.

Eating bread with every meal

The first thing to be laid out on the table in Spain after the cutlery is the bread. It
doesn’t matter if your food is already carb-heavy (pasta, paella, you name it), having
bread on the table is a necessary requirement for any meal. An average Spaniard will get
through at least a couple small slices of bread with every meal, eaten alongside starters
and mains, typically in between mouthfuls of whatever else you’re eating. Bread is
considered a staple of every diet and does not have the negative image it has in other
countries, where it’s seen as an unhealthy dietary choice, or something poorer people
eat as a way of stretching out a meal. Remember, you buy the bread at the bakery
shop!

Never wanting to do anything alone

Sure, you could go for a walk on your own, or go shopping on your own (by yourself),
but why would you when you can go with a friend or relative instead? Spain is an
incredibly sociable country, where people generally enjoy spending time with others as
much as possible. In case you were supposed to have a date with your Spanish partner,
don’t be shocked if you suddenly cross their friends, so that they join you and ruin your
romantic meeting. As the Spanish saying goes: “where two people fit, three people
will”. Also, the idea of having a meal on your own is not one that sits well here in
Spain, and colleagues usually all eat together at lunch times. And, in the age of modern
technology, avoiding alone-time has become even easier, so it’s not uncommon to see
someone jogging, while simultaneously having a friendly chat on their cell phone. Just
remember, using your cell phone while spending time with your friends is simply
forbidden, as Spaniards consider it extremely disrespectful. They simply love to talk,
even with strangers, even the younger generations, which may be pretty weird for some
foreigners. If they see you with your phone in front of them, don’t be surprised if you’re
told something like “hey, if you want to spend time with the person you’re chatting
with, why the hell did you meet us?”

If you have something to say, well, say it!

Ah, conversations, they love conversations. A major difference I’ve found between
Spanish and British people is that the former speak very freely about pretty much
everything. The thing is that they speak more openly about things that a Brit might be
thinking but would never dare say out loud. For example, imagine that you’re a
conservative person: if a left-wing Spaniard learns about this, they will probably tell
you “your ideology sucks and here’s why…” Due to political and historical reasons,
this is a very politicised society, where you’re expected to hold some thoughts on
politics and, of course, some other fields, namely languages, jobs, money, party… but
somehow they always end up going back to speaking about politics. In fact, you’re
supposed to have some knowledge concerning the political and economic situation, as
you will be probably asked about your opinion. By the way, things can get very intense
to the point where you could think they’re about to fistfight; never mind, it’s just the
way they talk.

Syllable stress: POlitics, politician, political