Differences in customs:

1. Work and rest time

Spaniards are used to going to bed late and getting up late, and go to work later, around 9 or 10 in the morning Started work at 0 o'clock. Unlike many countries, Spanish people have the habit of taking a lunch break, and it is a very long lunch break, from 2 to 4 pm, or later. If time permits, many people are willing to go home for lunch. Because lunch time usually starts at 2 p.m., after a long lunch break, the afternoon shift usually starts at 4 p.m., so work ends at 7 or 8 p.m. Due to the impact of the lunch break, it is very long from lunch to get off work in the afternoon. Therefore, Spanish people have another habit of eating between lunch and dinner, which is called "merendar" in Spanish. ?

2. Diet

Spaniards don’t eat much for breakfast. Breakfast types include coffee, yogurt, fruits, cereals, bread, etc. Many people only drink a cup of coffee or milk in the morning. It's over. Spanish families usually eat dinner late, which may be the first thing foreign students are not used to when they first arrive in Spain. Dinner usually starts at 9 or 10 o'clock in the evening, and sometimes even later. Some people have dinner at 11 o'clock. The open-air dining bar in Salamanca is still full of people at 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning. If you live in a host family and can't control your meal time, you can buy some snacks first to satisfy your hungry belly.

3. Social etiquette

The Spanish meeting etiquette generally includes: shaking hands, kissing and hugging. If it is the first time someone introduces you to someone, a man or a woman should hug each other and perform a cheek-to-cheek ceremony. The cheek-to-cheek ceremony should be done on both sides of the face. Men and women just shake hands, exchange pleasantries, and introduce themselves. International students may not be comfortable with foreign customs at first, but at least we must respect the customs and habits of other countries. Doing as the locals do is also a great way to quickly integrate into Spain.

4. Habitual actions

I will tell you a story through the personal experience of a teacher from the Spanish Department of Caring for Study Abroad. When I first arrived in Spain, I was worried about an action of a Spanish man who passed by me in a hurry. Because he blinked once at me. This action may have more negative connotations in China, and is rarely used. Later I discovered that in Spain this action can mean greeting or approval, and it is a very complimentary gesture.

Spanish specialties:

1. Tapa

Tapa refers to appetizers before meals or snacks between two meals. Spanish food culture occupies a very important position. There are many types of tapas, including meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes, but they are all salty. They are divided into cold food and hot food. The cold food part is mainly bread sandwich, with various fillings mixed with olive oil, sprinkled with some chopped onion and egg yolk layer as toppings, it is very delicious.

2. Spanish air-dried ham

Its selection of materials is very particular. Iberian ham is made from pig breeds unique to the Extremadura Autonomous Region and is completely air-dried at high temperatures. Then it is sealed with wax. Almost all the fat turns into oil and flows out during the high-temperature air-drying process. It can be regarded as a low-cholesterol food.

3. Paella

There are many types of paella, most of which are yellow. This is prepared with special paella ingredients. This raw material is the most critical material, saffron, a yellow plant powder. It has a fragrance, which can not only remove the fishy smell of seafood, but also make the rice grainy.

4. Jamn Ibrico

The charm of Spanish ham is endless, and it has even appeared as a movie title. This kind of ham is made from raw pig legs that have been sun-dried for a long time, and only salt is added to prevent them from deteriorating. It has a very unique taste. Basically all Spaniards have one or two whole hams at home. When eating, they use special knives to cut them into thin, transparent slices and serve them to the table.

5. Churros con chocolate & Porras

Many churros shops have appeared in China for a while, but the real churros must be eaten fresh from the pot, and the chocolate is melted and put in Served like coffee in a cup. Then use churros or porras dipped in rich chocolate to eat, and finally drink all the chocolate. Porras resemble "giant" churros.

The way to eat them is similar, except that this "Spanish churro" is fatter.

6. Tortilla de patatas

This is a kind of egg potato cake. The preparation method is not difficult and mainly includes eggs, potatoes and onions. But making delicious egg and potato pancakes is still very particular. The taste is moderate, usually served as tapas.

7. Sangra

Wine, Fanta, Sprite, fruit wine, and fruit together are Sangra! This is basically how it is made, but looking at its formula, the Spanish know how to make it. Come on, whatever tastes good! This fruit wine is very common in summer and is as famous as Tinto de verano, but more people prefer this fruit wine. In fact, when it comes to the choice of red wine, the worse the wine, the better it tastes.