Mon, 28 May 2012
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From siestas to time management, tapas to the heat and the hugging, here's our brief guide to help prepare you for understanding the Spanish culture. "Spain is different," is a typical phrase you hear from Spanish people when talking about their culture. Indeed, there is a lot to learn and understand for those arriving in Spain for the first time. Below are the main cultural habits for expats to understand, and the best ways to deal with Spanish time management, tapas, weather, and communication.
Time management and at the workplace
Are Spanish always late?
People usually get out of the office late, and to this extent it's quite cultural. The lack of productivity, the lack of organization, but also the good practice includes leaving the office later than the normal time. It is probably another inheritance of the over exploitation of employees from employers during the high unemployment period of the 1980s (which is actually coming back now).
Spaniards might not have the same "timing" as the rest of Europe, and it's not easy to explain why they often arrive late to appointments. This stereotype is not so true on a professional level, but with friends and family it still happens frequently. They just take their time.
However, another frustration is time management when working with Spanish people. The cliché is a lack of organization and late with projects deadlines. Sometimes this happens, but this weakness is compensated by being more flexible and responsive. The Spanish are highly skilled at finding solutions for last-minute problems.
Tapas and friendships
There is a real gastronomic culture, from the restaurants to hosting. The food, the taste, and sharing are important in daily life -- tapas and tapas bars are vivid examples of this.
Stéphanie Mazier is a globe-trotting connoisseur from France who has lived in Spain and the Netherlands long enough to know the special and unique customs in Spanish culture. She also runs a food blog, appetitvoyage.blogspot.com.
I think it's quite a good idea about us, spaniards, but we are not so bad managing our time. I know I can be more productive, and I'm capable of doing the same in less hours, but, I can't leave the office before 7pm, so it's better to control time to avoid overworking. And of course, I just can take a siesta in summer, no time during the year...
Thanks Steph, you have to come over in October, Carlos will change the menu and you'll love it...
XX
I think it's quite a good idea about us, spaniards, but we are not so bad managing our time. I know I can be more productive, and I'm capable of doing the same in less hours, but, I can't leave the office before 7pm, so it's better to control time to avoid overworking. And of course, I just can take a siesta in summer, no time during the year...
Thanks Steph, you have to come over in October, Carlos will change the menu and you'll love it...
XX
Expatica's Getting Started section will provide practical information on how you can open a bank account, exchange your driving licence, improve your Spanish, and more.
Here's a guide to an extensive list of groups and clubs in Madrid for expats, from sports groups to social and family gatherings.
A brief introduction to our Tax section for Spain, from help with inheritance tax to accounting advice.
Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in Spain, from what to ask the experts to opening a Spanish bank account.
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