(In Switzerland its 3 kisses, left-right-left, in France its 2, right-left) Now this goes for greetings between girls, and girls and boys, but between guys its more of a handshakes unless they are really close or family. Sometimes if you are really excited to see someone you give 3 or 4 kisses. You usually kiss your friends when you meet up with them or when you say goodbye.
Just your average cheek kiss greeting in Europe ( source) Also, be aware that people here don’t understand the concept of personal space and will talk to you with their faces right in front of yours. Spaniards (and Europens in general) are more friendly and relaxed, and touchy, so when you meet someone here, you give two kisses on the cheek, first the left then the right (trust me this could lead to some awkward mishaps, so remember-left to right), and you say your name and nice to meet you as you kiss too. If you try to do that here, more often than not the person you are meeting will laugh at you and stare at your hand. So let’s start with the basics! Introductions! In the States when you meet someone for the first time, you shake hands formally with about two feet of space between you. I am planning to include more short posts on cultural differences and mishaps, something I am very good at!
It is an attitude like this that makes me both love Spain so much and be super frustrated with it at the same time. Who cares if there is crippling unemployment and widespread economic collapse when you are alive and in a beautiful place with wonderful people? If you understand this, then you can understand why things are the way they are here. The words “stress” and “worry” don’t really seem to exist in the average Spaniards vocabulary. Spain is a thoroughly easygoing, friendly, relaxed Mediterranean country. In fact, I like to think they are at opposite ends of the spectrum, in terms of culture, politics, religion, food, motivation, time and above all, in ways of thinking. There is a huge difference in almost everything between America and Spain. So I realized the other day that I have been making assumptions about what people know about Spain and Spanish culture.
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