If you have moved to Spain or you are thinking about it, here are some culture shocks you might be experiencing. Some of them you might encounter even when simply visiting Spain. Of course, these highly depend on where you’re coming from, but I noticed these are some common culture shocks among expats.
Meal times are different
In Spain, the breakfast is usually very simple, such as pan con tomate y jamon (bread with crushed tomatos and the typical cured Spanish ham). You can find it until 8 or 9. There is also almuerzo (a meal between breakfast and lunch) around 11 a.m. But the shocking part starts now! Lunch is typically served between 2 p.m and 4 p.m., while dinner starts at 8 p.m. the earliest until late into the night. I would say it’s way later than most people are used to. Also, the majority of restaurants close between these times, so the kitchens are only open for these specific times. If you find a restaurant open all day, you might have found a tourist trap.
Social life is not limited to the weekends
This is something I have noticed and I think it’s amazing. You will see people enjoying the beach on weekdays, going out to terraces and restaurants. Kids are also welcome everywhere, which is so nice.
You can enjoy the beach almost year-round
So people not only enjoy the beach during the week, but also, during the whole year! I would say you can comfortably tan between April and late October and enjoy the water between May and early October. But besides that, the beach is a cool place to hang out and in big cities such as Valencia and Barcelona, you may find people on the beach almost everyday, even in winter. I would say enjoying the beach on a sunny day in winter can heal your soul :).
No shopping on Sundays!
Depending on where you come from, supermarkets may also be closed on Sundays, as it happens in Spain. But I find that only a few countries do this. So unfortunately you can’t do your “Sunday reset” and shop for the next week, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing! You can focus on other things, it’s like an invitation to relax.
Fruits and vegetables are very good quality
Somehow I expected to find the best oranges here, in Valencia, Spain, but the taste totally caught me off guard! They are sooo flavourful!! And you might find that true with other fruits, like strawberries. The vegetables, especially tomatoes, are to die for! Again, Valencian ones! But I am sure everywhere in Spain you can find great quality fruits and vegetables. But you don’t have to make any effort in that directon, most supermarkets carry Spanish fruits and vegetables. If you would like to support even more the local farmers, you can try shopping at a fruteria, a little shop dedicated to fruits and vegetables, with even more affordable prices (they have contracts with smaller farms/ huertas).
Eating out is affordable
Eating out is in Spain is not only a great experience because the meals are delicios, but also because it is affordable! You can find a menú del día (menu of the day) in a lot of restaurants with price points ranging from 10 to 20 euros. Usually, this type of menu includes a starter, a main and a desert or coffee. Rarely a drink is also included, depending on the restaurant.
Also, if you go out and choose something else besides menú del día, the minimun you could spend for a main and a beverage is around 15 euros, which I think it’s very affordable.
Rent is a nightmare to find
I believe the shortage of housing is a common problem in big cities. But in Spain the issue is not only resumed to that. You will need a lot of documents to rent an apartment as a foreigner in Spain, NIE (foreigner number), a work contract in Spain, the last 3 payslips, a Spanish bank account, your shoesize number. Just kidding with the last one (kind of). Of course you can’t really get all these when you first move here, which will limit your search exponentially. But not impossible.
Winters can get quite cold
I always thought the dream is to be in Spain in winter and escape the cold. It still partially is. Here is the catch. Living on the coast, there is always sunshine and the temperatures are more than decent. You don’t need thick winter jackets or boots. A thin coat or light puffy jacket and a pair of sneackers will be more than enough. But the cold is inside the houses! As they are built to keep all the heat outside, for the hot summers. I’m not even joking when I say it’s warmer outside than inside most of the time. You will be lukcy if you have AC, as there is no heating either, which was one of the biggest culture shocks!
There is always something going on!
You can never get bored in this country, there is something going on at all times! Festivals, events, concerts, fairs, the list can go on and on! This country has a culture so rich and people so passionate about celebrating it, that it makes my heart warm up. It’s definetly something I didn’t experience before.
Spain is incredibly diverse
Spain is not only beaches, sunshine and sangria. It’s also Pyrinees Mountains and skiing resorts. It’s also pink lakes and stunning waterfalls. Spain is also the rainy, green North and cliffs hit by the cold ocean. It’s also wineries and centuries of tradion. It’s culture and gastronomy. It’s tales and royal histories. All sewed together, coexisting in this lively, sensational country.
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Let me know if you experienced any of these culture shocks in Spain. Thanks!