Monday, May 19, 2008

Differences in Spain from the USA

So I've compiled a list of things that are a bit different here for you own interest. In Spain....

  • you bag your own groceries - apparently they can't afford to hire a bagger boy...haha!
  • can't turn right on a red light
  • ALWAYS have to show your ID with credit/debit card purchase. Doesn't matter if it costs 2 euros
  • no carpet
  • no central heating or AC
  • light switch is typically on the outside of the bathroom
  • eat big meal during the day, not at dinnertime
  • only have to go to school until you are 16
  • instead of stray dogs (Mexico), you see stray cats
  • government pays for health care
  • you live at home pretty much until you get married
  • the tax is already included in the price
  • greet each other with dos besos
  • don't switch utensils in hands when you are eating
  • cannot be home-schooled
  • dress like they are going out for the night to go the grocery store (man, I miss my hoodie!)
  • typically go to bed later
  • grades are on a 10 point scale instead of 100 point scale
  • high schools don't have popularity contests, nor dances, nor cheerleaders, etc.
  • most cars are manual (my roommate has never even seen an automatic)
  • more smaller, privately owned shops instead of big businesses taking over the world
  • some people have never heard of Wal-Mart...now that's a shocker!!
  • no death penalty
  • have assigned seats at the movie theater
  • sell beer at McDonald´s
  • people say ¨goodbye¨in passing instead of ¨hello¨

1 comment:

Maranda said...

This one was really fun to read! I like hearing how things are different, like that our way isn't the ONLY way!