I have now been studying in Alcalá de Henares, Spain through the Pitt in Spain summer program for almost 2 weeks, and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here thus far. I have tried new foods, visited new places, and spoken more Spanish than ever before. However, it has definitely been a big jump from what I’m accustomed to in the United States. The day-to-day lifestyle of Spaniards varies greatly from Americans, and I needed to make some adjustments to my schedule, behaviors, and attitude to fully immerse myself in the culture of Spain.

Culture shock is something I have heard so much about when discussing foreign travel, but I never experienced this feeling for myself until I arrived in the airport in Madrid. It was immediately clear that any form of English was off the table, so I was able to put my Spanish skills to use to ask for directions. While it was sometimes stressful to converse fully in Spanish when I forgot the word for something or used the wrong conjugation of a verb, people were very understanding and could usually figure out what I was trying to say. It was also reassuring to know that all of the other study abroad students were feeling a similar way, and we were able to discuss our airport travel struggles together while waiting for the bus to the University of Alcalá.

One major difference between Spain and the United States are meals; both the times of the day that people eat and the portions of food vary between the two countries. Spaniards tend to eat at times considered “late” for Americans, with lunch service not starting until 2:00 PM and dinner service not starting until 8:00PM. I was definitely starving on my first day while waiting for dinner to be served in the school cafeteria! Furthermore, lunch in Spain is usually the heaviest meal and typical dinners consist of small plates of food called “tapas” that are often shared. Spending mealtimes with family and friends is an important aspect of the Spanish culture, whereas Americans are very work-focused and often prioritize their careers over socialization.

While encountering these differences was difficult to begin with, I am now embracing these customs and believe that I am getting a truly authentic Spanish experience. I’m no longer afraid of speaking to taxi drivers or waiters in Spanish, and I enjoy having a big lunch with my friends after finishing our classes for the day. Although it saddens me how fast time is passing here, I look forward to finishing out my program and enjoying the remaining experiences as much as I can.