Team USA or Team Spain?

Who doesn’t appreciate a solid, informative list? The answer is nobody! Because lists are so exhilarating, I will be sharing a few similarities and differences between America and Spain based off my own observations. I am no travel guru, but for the sake of this list, let’s pretend I am. I was taken back by how these countries could be so alike, yet remote. Without further ado, let’s begin with the parallels.

A Few Similarities of America and Spain

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Remember the Ads you automatically avoid like the plague? Well, you’re in luck because Spain also has the same tactics to consume your wallet! From restaurants to The Minions movie (that can’t be avoided even when in a different country), the set up and locations remain equal.

The Minions have taken over Madrid’s Metro Station.

Umbrellas

You won’t be singing in the rain in Madrid. Being from Pennsylvania, rain and my city are lovers. Here in Spain, rain is not very common, but what still can be seen is umbrellas. Portable shade and protection from the heat is needed because the heat would indeed make a dragon want to retire.

Music and Entertainment

A herd of Spanish students were singing “Shake It Off” By Taylor Swift the first day I arrived at my housing. Untranslated, a lot of American music can be jammed to in Spain. American movies even can be seen in its original form; I even had an hour conversation about Batman with one of the Spanish students.

Performers in the city of Madrid are like those spotted on an American boardwalk.

A Few Differences of America and Spain

Eating

Being humans, both Americans and Spanish must eat. How we eat, however, is slightly different. Food aside, in Spain, dinner is considered to be around 9 p.m.; 5 p.m. just won’t cut it, America. Drinking alcoholic beverages casually for lunch also is normal whereas in the USA, you’d probably be deemed an alcoholic.

Who needs sleep anyways?

Hotels and Common Buildings

Is that a well-known, significant building?! Perhaps a landmark in Spain? Surely it must be something important for how massive, detailed and extravagant it appears! …No? It’s just your average hotel like various others in Madrid?

Every building in Madrid has a historic, massive appearance to it.

Physical Interaction

No, I’m not talking about that kind of physical interaction. In Spain, it is popular to greet one another by kissing cheeks and embracing hugs. When I met the CEO of the company I’m interning for, he did just that. I repeat: the CEO. A handshake and a hello from important businessmen is more what Americans are used to.

When traveling, there will always be cultural changes, but also resemblances. One is not better than the other; rather, both elements make Spain and America worth discovering.