Thinking about going to Spain? You're not the only one. In the '08/'09 school year, Spain was the third most popular study abroad location for college students. Although I'm sure you'll meet plenty of study abroad students just like you, you'll be more prepared to fully immerse yourself in another country if you know a little bit about its culture. That's where I come in.
Let me start out by stating the obvious; in Spain, the people speak Spanish. Although Spain isn't the only Spanish speaking country, it is historically the predominant one. Learning, or refining, your Spanish in Spain could be very positive. Castilian (classic) Spanish is spoken, like in most Spanish classes, as opposed to Latin American Spanish, but there are many dialects around the country which might make communication a little difficult, depending on where you choose to study. In general, you'll most likely pick up the unique accent of wherever you choose to go.
Besides the language, there are some things you need to know about the culture. Spain, like most Spanish speaking countries, places a lot of value on family and tradition. This means that a lot of people end up staying in the place where their family is and that they stay in touch with their families, which can be large. This has led the culture to adopt a culture where work is important, as long as there is still time to relax (siesta anyone?). You should keep this in mind when you decide whether or not to stay with a host family. If you do, they could end up becoming like your real family.
Another aspect of the culture is its religion. You probably know that Spain has historically been a predominantly Catholic country. This has effected a lot of its history (cough, Spanish Inquisition, cough), as well as its architecture. Spain is full of beautiful cathedrals and Roman architecture, that you should go see. But although 75% of Spaniards still classify themselves as being Catholic, the influence of Catholicism has decreased in recent years. Now only 15% of Spanish people regularly go to mass, and the church has lost its power over social issues, such as
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| Santiago de Compostela Cathedral |
divorce and contraception. The Catholic church is not as powerful as it was, which means that, while you should respect it, you don't have to follow every rule posed by it while you're in Spain.
And now for the fun stuff. From 1938-1975, Spain was ruled by an authoritarian dictator, Generalissimo Francisco Franco, who controlled all of the culture in Spain for that period of time. After his rule, the Spanish people wanted to express their new freedoms, entering a period where creative and sexual liberation were encouraged. Spain soon became a leisure capital of Europe. Most Europeans know this, but a lot of American's don't. While you're in Spain, you're likely to meet a lot of people from various other European countries just looking to have a little fun. There are beautiful beaches, great nightlife, and a general desire to have a good time.
This is what makes Spain such a great country to travel to. There is tons of history everywhere you look, but there are also many ways to have a really good time, while learning the culture and the language.
If you want some more tips for studying abroad in Spain, check out some of these sites:
And for the ladies: College Gloss
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