I first moved to Spain in December 2018, bright-eyed and able to dive into the tradition. Whereas I’ve beloved each minute of my life overseas, I positively acquired my share of tradition shocks in Spain. Some have been hilarious, some have been stunning, and regardless of what number of occasions I used to be warned about others, they have been nonetheless stunning!

Once I first arrived in Spain, I used to be so used to the American mode of fixed productiveness. It nearly induced me nervousness how relaxed most Spanish persons are about all the things.

In america, your profession defines you; all the things should be carried out appropriately the primary time and on time, and even your rest time ought to be productive. Spain is the alternative.

I discovered to embrace it as a result of in the event that they’re not freaking out about it, why ought to I? It was an prompt launch. Spanish individuals place worth on making time to calm down, having fun with good firm, and being outside within the sunshine. My psychological well being and skill to deal with setbacks in stride improved a ton in Spain.

In order I close to seven years residing overseas, listed here are the most important classes the Spanish taught me about chilling the fuck out.

Lesson No 1: “No pasa nada”

My first day working as an English Language Assistant in Spain couldn’t have gone extra fallacious if I attempted. The bus that took me to the city the place I labored by no means confirmed up. Once I lastly received to the city, hours later, I couldn’t discover the college. Once I lastly managed to make it to a category (after lacking my first three of the day), the presentation I had ready didn’t work.

I keep in mind trying up from the pc display to a category of keen college students and my enthusiastic co-teacher (who additionally occurred to be my boss). My coronary heart sank into my abdomen, “I can’t open the presentation, Mabel.”

“No pasa nada, just talk to the kids, let them ask you questions.” Similar to that? The youngsters have been so excited to fulfill somebody from the USA that the questions simply saved coming, and so they thanked me for a enjoyable class.

No pasa nada interprets to one thing like no worries, or it’s not a giant deal, and I need to’ve heard it at the least 10 occasions a day on daily basis in Spain. If one thing ever goes fallacious, “No pasa nada.”

You may’t management all the things on a regular basis. Is anybody bleeding, dying, or injured? No? Then it’s not price shedding your head over. Simply provide you with the very best answer you possibly can consider in the mean time and roll with it.

Lesson Quantity 2: “Teacher, Did You Not Have Time for Breakfast?”

Once I was working within the U.S., I usually had all kinds of meals at my desk. Breakfast, lunch, espresso breaks. It wasn’t unusual for me to take a seat in entrance of a display, clacking away on my keyboard whereas taking bites and sips in between ideas.

At some point, in Spain, I confirmed as much as faculty with a thermos of espresso and was sipping away whereas I led the category. One scholar raised his hand, “Yes Miguel?” “Uh, teacher, did you not have time for breakfast?”

Depend on kids to name you out! I believed he was simply being an 11-year-old till later that week, a instructor requested me to go get espresso in between courses. Once I went as much as the counter to ask for it to go, she checked out me like, “What are you doing?” I mentioned I used to be simply grabbing it to go so we may get again to work. She mentioned, “Yeah, we don’t do that here.” And in reality, they didn’t also have a solution to give me this espresso to go.

She later defined to me that it’s not regular for Spanish individuals to drink or eat whereas they stroll or work. “Certainly you have 10 minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee and relax.”

(ENJOY my espresso? Attention-grabbing idea. I used to be simply going to devour it for vitality.)

In one other occasion, a Spanish good friend of mine noticed somebody strolling whereas consuming a sandwich and mentioned, “How depressing that they don’t even have time to sit and eat a sandwich.”

And really, if you concentrate on it, that’s unhappy, however it’s not out of the abnormal within the U.S. However our our bodies want meals, and once we don’t even take these 10 minutes to get pleasure from a cup of espresso or really chew a sandwich, we’re saying work is extra vital than caring for our our bodies.

Even taking these 10 minutes to only focus in your espresso and be current might help you decelerate and calm down all through the day.

Lesson Quantity 3: “Y la sobremesa?”

I discovered through the years residing in Spain that meals and meal occasions are sacred. It’s not nearly getting one thing in to hold you all through the day. Meal occasions are a second to pause, calm down, and unwind, and it’s at all times on the desk!

Meals are additionally a time to assemble with household and associates and have rowdy conversations about any topic underneath the solar (besides work, as they take into account this stuffy dialog).

This custom of chatting after a meal is so vital, it even has a correct title ‘sobremesa’ (over desk). Lengthy after the plates are cleared, the sobremesa will proceed over drinks, espresso, or dessert. It might final a number of hours! (I as soon as had lunch for 5 hours, 4 of which have been simply the sobremesa.)

In the event you attempt to stand up with out it, somebody may ask, “Y la sobremesa?” like “What about the after-meal conversation?”

There’s a lot emphasis on connection in Spain, whereas American tradition is extra individualistic. Now, whereas I’m not suggesting all People have 5-hour lunches or do all the things in pairs, there’s something therapeutic about prioritizing your meals, not speeding, and being in good firm.

Lesson Quantity 4: Go have some sangria, stroll on the seashore, and take a look at once more.

In my second 12 months educating English in Spain, I moved to a distinct metropolis in Spain and had the unusual luck that my new boss was the strictest Spanish particular person I’ve ever met to at the present time.

Once I couldn’t get an appointment to resume my residency card in time, she informed me if I didn’t have it sorted by January 1, she wouldn’t have the ability to let me keep within the nation.

I made an appointment in a close-by city, however after I confirmed up for the appointment, the police officer informed me I needed to do it within the city I lived in. I began bawling. As a baby of people that had immigrated to the U.S., I used to be in panic mode.

He tried consoling me and begged me to relax, however I solely began shaking and crying extra, “My boss won’t let me stay if I don’t have my card renewed.”

And I’ll always remember his subsequent phrases, “It’s okay. It’s okay. This isn’t the U.S. We’re not going to come looking for you.” (Looking back, it’s sort of humorous.)

“Why don’t you go have some sangria, walk on the beach, and try again.” This didn’t really feel just like the time for this “no pasa nada” angle, however I took his phrases of recommendation.

I had the sangria. I walked on the seashore. And I went dwelling to strive once more, and guess what? I did in reality discover the appointment.

Lesson Quantity 5: Sundays are for absorbing the solar.

All the things in Spain closes on Sunday. All the things besides eating places. So that you couldn’t even run errands for those who needed to. That is often a day for household and associates to assemble on the seashore, within the park, at a restaurant, or out on the plazas beneath flowering bushes.

Sunday is nearly connecting with family members and having fun with the sunshine at your leisure. I’m certain you possibly can discover a theme right here: Spanish tradition is all about letting issues move.

One thing that struck me most about Spain was how a lot much less they complained about their psychological well being. It looks like nearly all of my associates within the U.S. are scuffling with nervousness or despair, and never with out good cause. American way of life can really feel like a strain cooker, however what I feel we are able to be taught from the Spanish is to decelerate, take life because it comes, have moments all through the day and all through the week the place we are able to simply be, and at all times find time for good firm.

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Featured picture courtesy of Ambar Mejia

Initially revealed on October 10, 2023