6 Unexpected and Surprising Things I Learned While Living in Spain

I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I moved to Spain for the first time. I was an open book, ready for anything. Or so I thought. When I finally arrived, I realized I had no idea what was awaiting me.

1. “Friendly” takes on a new meaning.

I thought I knew what “friendly” meant…until I moved to Spain. Everyone in Spain is always overly helpful and willing to go out of their way to help me. People see me walking down the street and stop to offer me a ride. Every person I meet gives me their phone number in case I ever need help. People even came to the grocery store with me in the beginning to help translate or explain new foods. My favorite is the retired people who stand outside their houses and always say “buenos dias” to me as I walk by.

2. My eyes experience a beauty overload.

Spain is beautiful! Southern Spain in particular has olive trees as far as the eye can see. Mountains create an incredible backdrop and offer fun for sports enthusiasts, from hiking to parachuting. The beaches have soft white sand and blue water with warm Mediterranean breezes. Old Moorish castles dot the horizons and offer a birds-eye view of Spain’s natural beauty. Spanish architecture is second to none, from white villages to Gothic-style churches to ancient palaces. It’s impossible to feel bored or lost in Spain with so much to explore. Spain’s picturesque landscape and man-made wonders are worth a thousand words!

3. Siestas do exist!

Siestas aren’t just a magical, fictional idea that sound amazing – they really do exist! Spanish cities tend to cater to tourists so you might be able to find something open in the middle of the day in a city, but smaller villages that don’t get as many tourists shut down between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Literally everything closes; restaurants close up after lunch, shopping markets take a three-hour break, and banks and other offices close for the day at 2:00. Everyone goes inside for a nap, and Spanish villages look like ghost towns for three hours every day. Then, around 5:00, everyone starts coming back outside. It’s not at all what I expected!

4. Cleaning takes on a new meaning.

Spanish people love to clean. This is a fact I never learned in school, but they admit it about themselves. At least twice a week, Spanish people wash every floor in their house. In fact, they also broom and wash the street in front of their house. I guess there’s no need for street sweepers because people clean their own streets. I never had to worry about something not being clean enough, whether it was at a restaurant, the gym, or a school. I actually had to tell my neighbor that no, she didn’t need to come clean my house!

5. Learning Spanish in Spain takes some practice.

Spain’s Spanish is much different from Latin American Spanish. I thought I had a good grasp on the Spanish language until I tried to thank some friends for driving me somewhere. Apparently I said it in Mexican Spanish, and there’s a different word for “drive” in Spain Spanish. Luckily, they understood what I meant and explained the difference to me very kindly. It wasn’t the last time I’d make that mistake either, although now I can say just about anything in Spain Spanish, with an Andalusian accent. If you’re thinking about moving or traveling to Spain and want to practice your Spanish before you go, visit TakeLessons.com for local and online Spanish lessons. Also check out their blog to see what 10 of us expats found surprising and unexpected after moving to Spain!

6. Meals are more than just eating.

Most Spanish people consider going to a restaurant a social event. Sometimes they don’t even eat, they just go to hang out and chat with friends. And most social outings end in flamenco dancing. My first social outing was new and surprising to me. Our group was the only group in the restaurant but the restaurant didn’t close until we left, which was around 1:00 in the morning. We asked for the check, but instead of a bill we got two bottles of alcohol. Apparently in Spain, it’s normal for restaurants to thank you for your business with free “chupitos,” or shots, right before they bring the bill. Who knew!

In my time in Spain, I learned that traveling is more than just about seeing new things; it’s also about experiencing new cultures. I would never have known such beautiful scenery could exist, people could be so welcoming, and social events could be so different from what I’m used to. Travel means experiencing wonder and doing something you’ve never done before, and in doing so you learn to appreciate and respect everything people have to offer.

An inspirational quote to leave you with: “I travel because there is so much to learn, more to discover, and more to understand about the wonders of the world.”

What unexpected and surprising things inspire you? What has traveling taught you? What have you experienced that changed the way you look at the world? Leave me some stories in the comments below!

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P.S. If you like this post, you might also love Someday I Will… (A Travel Bucket List) and 10 Reasons Why Living Overseas Makes You A Better Person