As a person from the United States who has made it a habit of moving abroad, every country surprises me with its uniqueness and differences. Moving to Spain is no exception. However, it is essential to note that within Spain, there are a lot of cultural differences depending on the region. For example, I am in the Galician area in the top left corner of Spain, which has its own traditions and even a different language. So, if you are like me and want to move abroad and teach in Spain, here are some culture shocks in Spain have encountered in my first month living here and what your life may be like if you decide to teach here.
Culture Shocks in Spain – Food
Food was one of the first things I noticed when I moved to Spain. The prices of food when grocery shopping were the first thing I noticed. I get my fruits and vegetables from the small fresh markets around my city where I can fill up an entire bag of fruits and vegetables without spending ten euros. Aside from grocery shopping, eating out is also very different.
For starters, meal times are much later than usual in the United States. Lunch starts around 2:00 p.m., and dinner at 9:00 p.m. at the earliest. However late, I can not avoid the delicious Spanish food. Tapas, one of my favorite dishes, are small portions of food that vary depending on the region of Spain. Sometimes even the occasional free tapa comes along with a drink or meal. The first time it happened to me, the waiter had to explain because I thought it was a mistake. Because tapas are a small portion of food, dinner becomes adventurous as I hop from restaurant to restaurant, filling my stomach with an array of tasteful treats.
Social
Like mealtime, getting together with friends is a late-night affair; the nights do not seem to end. While I tend to go home early, around 3:00 a.m., I have had friends stay out until the bus lines start running again at 6:00 am. Clubs and bars tend to fill up after midnight, and as a person who loves their total nine hours of sleep, social events can be tiring. Nonetheless, Spain has been one of the easiest countries I have lived in to make friends. One reason for this is that a lot of young people who are working or studying share flats. I was lucky to have flatmates that I connected with and who made this new country feel like home. I have also found sports groups, trivia groups, and even tapas groups to join, expanding my social bubble in the city. Even with the language barrier, I have made lasting friendships that I feel lucky to have. 
Language
Language Language can be one of the more complex cultural changes when moving to a new country. Every mundane task, whether I’m taking a taxi or ordering food, becomes more difficult. In Spain, it becomes more difficult because there are six different languages spoken in Spain aside from Spanish, which all stem from different cultures within Spain. Seemingly a barrier, I have looked at it as a way to connect. I am forcing myself to be around more people who speak Spanish in an attempt to learn it. Learning a new language is almost like entering another world. How I think and the number of people I can communicate with expands. The place I am most confronted with Spanish is, of course, my school.
Culture Shocks In Spain – Schools
The school I teach at is a plurilingual charter school. Just like Spain, it varies significantly from the school setting I am used to in my home country. The most noticeable thing to me, in the beginning, was the dress code; there is none (within reason). Jeans and sneakers are allowed, not to mention I’ve also seen teachers wearing T-shirts. This dress code is in stark contrast to the formal attire I am required to wear in the U.S.A., but I find it very enjoyable. Another difference is the working hours. I start anywhere from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., with a two-hour break around lunchtime. I am also not required to be on school grounds during my unscheduled work hours. With this free time, I exercise, eat, socialize, do chores, and even take naps. I enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere of the school. It perfectly reflects how I feel things are here in Spain.
Overall . . .
Within my first month of teaching here in Spain, these are some of the day-to-day differences I have experienced as a language assistant in Spain. I’ve enjoyed eating Spanish food, meeting welcoming people, and immersing myself in a new culture. When moving to a new country, changes can be daunting. I jumped into a world that functions differently than I’m used to, not to mention communication issues with language barriers. Nonetheless, it has introduced me to a different way of life that I would never have known I enjoyed had I not leaped to move across the world. Sometimes, however scary it may seem, positive changes can be brought on by living outside your comfort zone. Deciding if that is what’s best for you is a decision only you can make.
