Learning to Manage Cultural Expectations

Before I embarked on my study abroad experience, I had been operating under the assumption that Spanish cities would look similar to the ones I saw on my Instagram feed. The Spain I had imagined was lined with cobblestone streets and small crowded alleyways that lead to historic buildings filled with art and architecture dating back to the early centuries. However, now that I have traveled to a few of Spain's major cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, I've noticed that a lot of buildings in Spain are actually quite modern looking. This difference in architecture was a shock to me because it was so different from what I had assumed Spain would look like. As I began to learn more about the history of Spain, I also learned that the modern architecture within Spain is the result of many of the atrocities that occurred during the Spanish civl war.

The Spanish civil war lasted from 1936-1939 and completely tore apart Spain as a country. Thousands of innocent lives were lost in the frequent bombing strikes that occurred throughout many of Spain's major cities. In particular, my host city of Alicante was the last city in Spain to surrender to dictator Francisco Franco's army and was nearly destroyed by bombing during the civil war. The result of all these bombings on Alicante ended up being a huge loss for the city as not only did the majority of the city have to be rebuilt but the history and essence of the city was also lost during the bombings. The cities of Barcelona and Madrid also lost a large part of their charm during the Spanish Civil War, and the impact of all of this fighting is most evident in the modern architectural style of many of the buildings in Spain's major cities.

Another way my perception of Spain had been challenged during my study abroad experience has been the cultural difference in food. Before coming to Spain, I understood that people in Spain eat a Mediterranean diet consisting mostly of fish, nuts, cheese, fruits, olive oil, and the occasional glass of wine. However, while studying abroad, I was also surprised to learn of the variations Spain has on typical food and drinks from Latin America. For example, similar to Latin America, Spanish cooking relies heavily on tortillas. However, the Spanish tortilla is very different from the tortilla of Latin America as it is made form eggs and potatoes and has a similar shape and texture to that of an omelet. In addition, Spain also has its own version of horchata which in Latin America is a popular drink that is made out of rice, milk, and a little but of cinnamon. However, the horchata in Spain is made from a different ingredient entirely and uses the chufa seed as its main main ingredient which is a type of nut that is a close relative to peanuts.

In conclusion, although my cultural expectations surrounding the architecture and food of Spain have been challenged, I would still argue that these challenges have brought about a positive difference for me. As a result of these cultural differences, I have had the opportunity to do more research into Spain and learn more about my host country and its customs and history. My hope moving forward is that the differences I have experienced while studying abroad can help others to gain a more holistic and accurate understanding of Spanish culture and cuisine.