Job Discussion Forums

OzBurn · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 199

...to foreigners? I know that's asking for a big generalization, but on these boards we have to deal in some generalizations.

I am attracted to the land, architecture, music, and food of Spain, but on my trip there (to Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, and Madrid), it seemed to me that the locals are not all that interested in or friendly to tourists. It seems to me quite likely that they have tourist fatigue, and I'm wondering if that accounted for it.

I read in my International Express course book (not recommended, but the school forces it upon us) a statement from an alleged expert in cross-cultural adaptation that Spanish, for example, typically do not and will not invite friends over. The author cited the example of a professional couple in Barcelona who had tried repeatedly to make friends in their building, inviting people over, etc., but who had never succeeded in making a new friend or wangling an invitation or even in getting anyone to visit them. The author explained this behavior via cultural differences -- he claimed that the locals in that area (and I believe he extended this to all of Spain) simply aren't receptive to foreigners or to a life of new friends. They would never invite a friend to their apartment; the apartment is a private place, only for family. Is this symptomatic of something larger, or rather a mere cultural anomaly?

Expat life is lonely enough without that kind of thing to deal with.

sevilla2005 · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Sevilla

I spent 9 months in Spain in 1998, 5 months in Madrid, and 4 months in a small town in the north. Madrid was a very exciting place, but I didn't make many friends outside of the family I was living with and my fellow American students in my study abroad program. In the small town, Aguilar de Camp�o, in Palenc�a, people acted like they had never met Americans before and I was treated like a rockstar. It was fabulous.

I think it depends very much on where you go and what kind of person you are. It also depends on your ability to communicate in Spanish. In any case, I wouldn't be discouraged by some report in a travelogue.

houston23texastech · Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 7 Location: Lubbock/houston ,tx

yes ive been to spain a couple of times for studying/work, people tend to be much more interested in smaller cities then large cities, but over all Spanish people are friendly.

mexicanita · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 10 Location: Los Angeles, CA

I had studied abroad in Madrid in the Spring of 2004 and I actually met a lot of spaniards. Yet, I am fluent in Spanish and when I introduced myself, I stated that I was Mexican (I am mexican/american), rather than American, and they seemed to like me (that) a lot more. They are just biased towards Americans, why I do not know. But, I had no troble meeting people, and, to this day, I continue to talk to my spanish friends. Very Happy

Russell Hadd · Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 181

In my experience they are particularly friendly. On the other hand, Ashley Cole, Sean Wright-Philips and Jermaine Defoe would probably disagree and who'd blame them. On the night that Madrid launched its Olympic bid Luis Aragones and the crowd scored a massive own goal and let Spain down badly.

Eric Paice · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 15

I was in Spain for about 18 months and found the Spanish somewhere between friendly and very friendly. Sure you get the odd exception but in general they're a good bunch.

I heard about the racist stuff as well and thought it was odd as the Spanish, in general, are quite a tolerant nation. What didn't surprise me was the stuff said by Luis Aragones. In my opinion he is a racist and has had problems in the past relating to footballers whose skin is not the same color as his.

In addition, there is a group of neo-nazis that sits in the southern part of the Bernabeu stadium called the "ultra sur". They are probably the morons who started the offensive chants. Certain famous players like Luis Fio and Ra�l are also associated with this bunch.

It's a shame that a few idiots do this because it puts Spain in a bad light that it really does not deserve.

Eric Paice · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 15

I was in Spain for about 18 months and found the Spanish somewhere between friendly and very friendly. Sure you get the odd exception but in general they're a good bunch.

I heard about the racist stuff as well and thought it was odd as the Spanish, in general, are quite a tolerant nation. What didn't surprise me was the stuff said by Luis Aragones. In my opinion he is a racist and has had problems in the past relating to footballers whose skin is not the same color as his.

In addition, there is a group of neo-nazis that sits in the southern part of the Bernabeu stadium called the "ultra sur". They are probably the morons who started the offensive chants. Certain famous players like Luis Fio and Ra�l are also associated with this bunch.

It's a shame that a few idiots do this because it puts Spain in a bad light that it really does not deserve.

Rubia · Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 5

Are Americans friendly to foreigners? Sometimes and sometimes not. It is the same in Spain.

I think the key to feel welcome in a society is not to have expectations. In America, you have certain norms that are considered rude and some that you consider friendly (especially of strangers/neighbors/employees/waiters). Let those expectations go and learn what they are in Spain. Speak the language and don�t listen to generalizations, they will only pollute your experience here. I find the Spanish to be very inviting and to treat friends like family. They are also very geniune and sincere, not always the same as what we think of as friendliness.

jr1965 · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 175

OZ,

I live in Madrid and find Spanish people to be genuinely friendly�if they know you and if you can communicate in Spanish. Back in the States (where I�m from; my husband is Spanish), it�s very unlikely that I would have expressed great interest in someone or invited them to my house simply because the person was from another country. On the other hand, if I knew (and liked) the person�perhaps because we worked together, or they were a friend of a friend�that would be different. And to be honest, most of the time, I rarely had friends over to my apartment in the States; my place was too small! We often preferred to go out somewhere (restaurant, bar, caf�, movie�) to meeting at home. I feel the same way now that I�m in Madrid. When my husband and I want to get together with friends, we meet them outside somewhere.