(Michael Scott Edition)
1. People aren’t afraid to stare
From their cars, from across the metro, or from the opposite side of the street, Spaniards aren’t afraid of intense eye contact. At first it has you wondering if there’s something wrong with you. Did you spill something on your shirt? Is there lettuce in your teeth? Nope, people are just curious and aren’t embarrassed to be caught peeping.
2. What is “hugging”?
In Spain, women are greeted with a double cheek kiss. On one occasion, I accidentally went in for a hug, and ended up with the most awkward cheek kiss of my life.
3. There’s no such thing as personal space
Apparently, it ‘s only an American thing to maintain a three-foot personal space bubble. The Spanish don’t have this problem. They like to get real close and personal, and this sometimes can get a bit uncomfortable.
4. Partying isn’t for the week of heart
If you want to go out to a “disocteca,” it doesn’t get lively until 2 a.m. That’s right, the peak time to get your boogie on is from 2-6 a.m. Some people stay up even longer than that!
5. Nobody spends time inside
My favorite part of Spain is how much people love being outdoors. Whether it’s going for walks in the afternoon or catching some rays in the local park, people are never caught indoors. Even at bars, most people stand outside.
6. People aren’t in a hurry
The pace of life in Spain is much more relaxed than in the U.S.A. Stores are closed everyday from 2-4 for “siesta,” which is when people go home to spend time with their family or just to chill.