Every culture has rituals. Before you automatically assume that I am saying that everyone in Madrid is in a cult, just know that that is not the sense I am using Rituals in. Rituals are simply cultural norms practiced on a wide scale that set a standard.

One such ritual would be the traditional Siesta. In Spain, it is commonplace to eat up to six meals a day! The biggest of which is usually El Almuerzo, or lunch. Historically, Spaniards would take a break in the middle of the work day to go home, eat food with family, and rest. This is a norm practiced frequently during the workweek, making it a cultural ritual. This practice has faded over the years, as Spaniards have moved to favor a traditional workday, but it is still accepted in some industries.

Another example of a ritual would be going out with friends. If you go out for dinner, usually you actually go out around 9 or 10 pm, and return around midnight or 1 am. There is much more prevalence to night life with friends in Madrid than in the US traditionally.

Given the different pace of Madrileño lifestyle, it is no surprise that they have various other rituals and norms compared to the US.

Corrigan, D. (2020, June 4). What you should know about the Spanish Siesta. Retrieved April 07, 2021, from https://www.tripsavvy.com/why-do-you-sleep-during-siesta-1644327 Family traditions in Spain. (2018, October 01). Retrieved April 07, 2021, from http://www.memoriesofthepacific.com/2018/12/spain-family-traditions.html

Everyone knows stereotypes about Parisians and their general dislike for tourists. It can make what would be a magical trip to Paris significantly less so. Obviously, the more effort you put into understanding their culture and following their norms, the less friction there will be. However, upon reading about Madrid, it becomes clear that there is significantly less stigma against tourists. It is always a great idea to learn a few simple phrases in the native language, but do not worry about an overbearing sense of hostility. It is fantastic you are going out of your comfort zone in the first place, and Madrid is a fantastic destination.

When travelling to any new country, there are cultural norms that will be different than things within the US. Spain is no exception, and there are a few dimensions that I would like to contrast between the countries.

As you can see on the chart above, individualism differences between the countries certainly stick out. The US, as one of the most individualistic countries in the world, promotes a sense of everyone fighting for themselves, attempting to get to the top. Spain is much lower in this metric, where social interactions can be much more protracted, less about “what can you do for me” exchanges, more focusing on superordinate goals and values.

Uncertainty avoidance is significantly higher in Spain than in the US. This is interesting to note, in one of the most individually focused countries in the world, we are still okay with personal uncertainty. I digress, however it is intersting to note this high level of avoiding uncertainty. If there is not a clear path for the future, Spaniards can spiral to an extent, which makes this something to keep in mind. Mexico similarly avoids uncertainty, and when talking with one of my friends who grew up there, he made it clear how true this was. Negative social stigma could even result from people who were not seen as having a clear goal for their future.

Finally, the dimension of timeliness must be discussed. Daily schedules in Spain can be much more relaxed than in the US, and it is not uncommon for Spaniards to be late for plans. Traffic, home issues, or any number of things are acceptable reasons to be late. This contrasts starkly with the US’ focus on punctuality, so be ready for this adjustment.

Keeping these dimensions and their differences abroad in mind can keep you from making cultural mistakes that may be detrimental to your trip abroad. Do learn and understand them!

Compare countries. (2020, June 08). Retrieved April 05, 2021, from https://www.hofstede-insights.com/product/compare-countries/

There are four recognized stages of culture shock. Do not worry if you feel the symptoms of these different stages during an elongated stay! It is common to go through all the phases, and come out the other side an adjusted individual.

The first stage is the honeymoon phase. During this time, many of the appealing aspects may be very apparent, and it can seem like a magical new culture to be a part of. This is followed by the hardest part, the actual culture shock. While initially things seemed incredible, you start to notice some differences between the new location and home, and start to miss the familiarity. Six meals a day in Madrid may initially sound great, but maybe after some time you’d begin to prefer the standard American 3.

After a time, however, you can begin to adjust and appreciate what the culture has to offer again. Maybe you aren’t eating cheeseburgers every night, but light tapas can make for fantastic conversation! The fourth and final stage is adjustment, where the new culture becomes routine and normal. It may be tough at first, but believe me, you will get there, and become a true Madrileño!

WANG, M. (2015). Culture shock-one of common problems in intercultural communication. Retrieved April 02, 2021, from http://www.cscanada.net/index.php/ccc/article/view/7399

McCluskey, L. (2020, January 20). Culture shock stages: Everything you need to know. Retrieved April 02, 2021, from https://www.now-health.com/en/blog/culture-shock-stages/