Os cuento

Plaza San Salvador on a Friday afternoon

The cultural norms and quirks of southern Spain are fascinating to me. I am forever attempting discuss the cultural differences between here and home. So far, I have found Spaniards themselves to be the best at describing their unique ways. Spaniards who have traveled elsewhere are acutely aware of how special their home is. (Andaluces, or folks from Andalucía, are especially proud of home – and few ever leave.) Below, I recount two cultural experience stories from Spaniards.

Las Pipas

Pipas, or sunflower seeds, are extremely popular in Sevilla, and everyone spits the shells on the ground while eating. (Littering – even inorganic material – is standard in Spain.) The pipa consumption during Semana Santa was mind-blowing. Every plaza had a carpet of shells.

A Sevillana was studying abroad in England one summer. One day, she was eating pipas. Gradually she realized that everyone standing around was staring at her. Then she realized that maybe they don’t spit the shells into the street in England. She noted that it was noticeably clean in their country, but they’re just pipas! What’s the big deal?

The Waitress

Dining in Spain is an exercise in patience and assertiveness training. In order to be served, it is necessary to flag down a waiter (usually takes several attempts) and yell out your order before he angrily storms off. Wait staff in Spain do not rely on tips because they have a decent salary. I tip 20% in the US, and here I usually leave a few cents or nothing.

Two Spanish women walk into a restaurant in the U.S. As they are being seated, their waitress walks by and says something like, “Hi there! How are y’all doing tonight? I’m Jessica and I’ll be taking care of y’all. If you need anything, just give me a holler!”

One of the Spaniards, thinking Jessica must be a good friend (after such a warm introduction), stood up and gave her a kiss on both cheeks – the proper way to greet any acquaintance. The other Spanish woman, having some experience with American wait staff, was so embarrassed that she immediately stood up and left the restaurant.