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Stereotype… some tips to live in Spain

Posted by AIESECMadrid On September - 20 - 2010

This is a list of “tips” I created for interns, students…that either are coming soon or are already staying in Spain. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it! icon smile Stereotype... some tips to live in Spain

  • Don’t get panicked if you get kissed by everyone, sorry but WE LOVE KISSING and we assure you will end up liking it too.
  • If someone touches you too much, just enjoy the moment! Spanish love all around!
  • Don’t be afraid if someone shouts in the street. It’s not shouting it is just speaking.
  • Don’t get surprised if suddenly you see someone calling for someone who is just in the other corner of the street. They are just greeting.
  • Don’t get shocked if the waiter says heyyy! when you enter a bar, it sincerely means GOOD MORNING LADY / GENTLEMEN (but it’s shorter).
  • However, if a workman does the same thing don’t get too excited… He didn’t mean that.
  • Don’t think you will ever meet a TORERO in the street, sorry that’s not the costume they use to go out with.
  • If you ever see a MARIACHI group singing, allow me to assure you that they are not Spanish, they are Mexican!
  • And no: we don’t have paella and sangria for lunch everyday (we normally have a rest on Sunday):P.
  • When we are seducing someone there are no guitar sounds behind!
  • We are sorry to tell you that our lives are not like TELENOVELAS.
  • We are not used to drinking tea; we drink tons of coffee instead.
  • If you see someone having dinner at 5 pm in summer, they are not having   dinner, it’s a late lunch J
  • I’m Spanish and I don’t know how to dance flamenco…
  • Spanish food is not equal as tapas.
  • We are not lazy we are just easy going.
  • Please don’t wear shocks and sandals, they will never match!
  • Don’t try to look for Penelope Cruz or Antonio Banderas in a night club, they will never show up.

By writing this article I did not mean to hurt anyone’s feelings. I just wanted to let people know in a funny way that stereotypes are not always true and one should not judge a person only by where she/he comes from.

“A pattern of stereotypes is not neutral. It is not merely a way of substituting order for the great blooming, buzzing confusion of reality. It is not merely a short cut. It is all these things and something more. It is the guarantee of our self-respect; it is the project upon the world of our own sense of our own value, our own position and our own rights. The stereotypes are therefore, highly charged with the feelings that are attached to them.  They are the fortress of our tradition, and behind its defenses we can continue to feel ourselves safe in the position we occupy’’.

-Walter Lippmann

Alba Luna

Stereotypes …

clip image002 Stereotype... some tips to live in Spain

some tips to live in Spain

This is a list of “tips” I created for interns, students…that either are coming soon or are already staying in Spain. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it! J

- Don’t get panicked if you get kissed by everyone, sorry but WE LOVE KISSING and we assure you will end up liking it too.

- If someone touches you too much, just enjoy the moment! Spanish love all around!

- Don’t be afraid if someone shouts in the street. It’s not shouting it is just speaking.

- Don’t get surprised if suddenly you see someone calling for someone who is just in the other corner of the street. They are just greeting.

- Don’t get shocked if the waiter says heyyy! when you enter a bar, it sincerely means GOOD MORNING LADY / GENTLEMEN (but it’s shorter).

- However, if a workman does the same thing don’t get too excited… He didn’t mean that.

- Don’t think you will ever meet a TORERO in the street, sorry that’s not the costume they use to go out with.

- If you ever see a MARIACHI group singing, allow me to assure you that they are not Spanish, they are Mexican!

- And no: we don’t have paella and sangria for lunch everyday (we normally have a rest on Sunday):P.

- When we are seducing someone there are no guitar sounds behind!

- We are sorry to tell you that our lives are not like TELENOVELAS.

- We are not used to drinking tea; we drink tons of coffee instead.

- If you see someone having dinner at 5 pm in summer, they are not having dinner, it’s a late lunch J

- I’m Spanish and I don’t know how to dance flamenco…

- Spanish food is not equal as tapas.

- We are not lazy we are just easy going.

- Please don’t wear shocks and sandals, they will never match!

- Don’t try to look for Penelope Cruz or Antonio Banderas in a night club, they will never show up.

By writing this article I did not mean to hurt anyone’s feelings. I just wanted to let people know in a funny way that stereotypes are not always true and one should not judge a person only by where she/he comes from.

“A pattern of stereotypes is not neutral. It is not merely a way of substituting order for the great blooming, buzzing confusion of reality. It is not merely a short cut. It is all these things and something more. It is the guarantee of our self-respect; it is the project upon the world of our own sense of our own value, our own position and our own rights. The stereotypes are therefore, highly charged with the feelings that are attached to them.  They are the fortress of our tradition, and behind its defenses we can continue to feel ourselves safe in the position we occupy’’.

-Walter Lippmann

clip image004 Stereotype... some tips to live in Spain

Alba Luna