¡Venga!

Life is… different in Spain. More relaxed. I knew this before, but during orientation in Sevilla our teachers really spelled it out for us. One of our orientation coordinators, Helena, used meals to exemplify some differences. Not only do Spaniards eat at different hours of the day, but the way they eat is different. Breakfast consists of bread, bread, and strong coffee. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, and everything (shops, businesses, basically everything- as an American- that you might want to be open from 2 to 4) stops to cater to this meal. Dinner… small portions and late at night (and in Granada, free tapas with every drink! Dinner and drinks in one = win).

At restaurants in America, you don’t choose your table, you eat for about 20 minutes, get a free glass of water that keeps getting re-filled, and tip a good 20% at the end of the meal. Not in Spain. In Spain, you don’t tip… for anything. You don’t get free water (which I miss… I wonder how everyone here isn’t dehydrated). And the camarreros seem to forget that you’re there at all. People relax, sip on their cafés, beers, or tinto de veranos and take their time chatting and enjoying themselves. If you want another café: ¡¡Perdone!! If you want to take a look at the menu, you have to ask. And when you’re done, ask for the cuenta (check).

As Helena said, if you want anything in Spain you have to ask. From experience, this is true. No one will offer their help…except perhaps if look completely desperate. However, I still think I could stand in one spot for an hour with a map in my hand and no one would ask if I needed help. I suppose it’s the same with the waiters. I don’t think it’s a question of rudeness (I hope not), but just one of custom.

Plaza in Sevilla filled with people drinking- "Normal"

Useful phrases:

If you want to order something, just say it! Don’t say… “could I please have” or “can I trouble you for…”. “Una cerveza por favor” or “Quiero una cerveza por favor” will do. Spit it out!

If you’re a foreigner, like me: “Puede hablar más lento/despacio por favor” - comes in help when speaking on the phone, I've found. That and "Vale."

“Disculpe” or “Perdone” to get someone’s attention and ask them a question.

Words everyone says: “Vengaaaaa” (said to someone who is leaving), “Vale” (OK), “hasta luego” (pronounced “hahtaluego”), and "hasta ahora" (still not sure about that one- other than "ahora" is before "luego")

"Ir en marcha" - To go out to bars. Holler.