The allure of traveling overseas is by and large fueled by curiosity, and you probably want to head to as many destinations as possible so that you can discover how other people in the world go about their daily lives. With each stop on your study abroad journey, you will be able to explore a wide range of customs that differ greatly than those with which you are familiar. Even though surprises can be pleasant, you don't want to go into full-blown culture shock. To ease into your immersion experience, you should look into a share of common practices in the places on your itinerary beforehand. For instance, check out these Spanish customs so you can be prepared for this leg of your journey.
Stop – siesta time
Have you ever heard of people in some European countries taking a long lunch and nap break in the middle of the day? Well, siestas are a glorious invention of Spanish origin, and the natives of this nation continue to uphold this tradition – nap or not. As a result, stores are closed from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day, which means that you should plan around this window. Before shops shut down for the pause, you and your study abroad buddies may want to grab yourselves some things to snack on, taking off to a park or plaza for a picnic.
Prep for a sidewalk tussle
No matter which Spanish city you are in, there is nothing like strolling the streets in terms of discovering all that a culture has to offer. That being said, when you are navigating your way throughout the sidewalks, there is one thing you have to be ready to face: aggression. While some locales may boast aggressive drivers, Spain is filled with pedestrians who will push and shove to claim the pathways for themselves. This means that everyone – young and old – will be vying for sidewalk space and won't even flinch if you're coming towards them. Although you don't want to be running into people, you should try to hold your own or else you'll be pushed all over the place.
Clothing mandatory
Spain is known for its sunny beaches, and chances are that you are planning on hitting some of the more famous spots during your stint overseas – you should be aiming to do so, anyway. Even though there may be cases when you're pressed for time, squeezing a quick beach outing in between classes and dinner, you have to keep in mind that it is culturally unacceptable to wear your bathing suit in public. There is no denying that this country is a bit more colorful than most, but cities throughout the country are cracking down on people sporting their swimwear in places sans sand. You wouldn't head to a restaurant in the States without a shirt or shoes, so don't do it here.
Brace yourself for smoke
Generally speaking, smoking is still an integral part of the European way of life. While it is not recommended that you start to light up so you can look like a local, you will have to prepare yourself to just accept it. People are going to puff away, and you can do nothing about it, so get ready to breathe smoke in addition to smelling like cigarettes. Restaurants are required to have only a small fraction of their spaces reserved for nonsmokers, and the smell of cigarettes is bound to permeate to your eating area. If you don't want to enjoy a side order of cigs with your meal, look for an eatery with outdoor spaces. This won't stop people from smoking, but the ventilation will be better than inside, thanks to the fresh air.