‘It’s different!’ Expat in Spain shares what Britons ‘must check’ before moving to Europe
Moving to another country is daunting so taking heed of what other expats have to say can prove useful.
One woman who lived in Spain discussed the main differences surrounding meal times. She said checking when businesses are open is one of the most crucial things to do.
The expat Maia lived in Bilbao, Spain for one year, documenting her adventures on YouTube channel Tice Travel Time.
She explained mealtimes were notably different for her after she moved from the US.
The expat lived in Bilbao, Spain
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The expat detailed: “The meals are different, they eat at different times.
“Generally, they’ll have breakfast between 8am and 10am and, to them, breakfast is very simple [like] coffee and a pastry.
“It’s something light and small… It’s not necessarily a meal but a snack.”
Maia explained breakfast is often quick and light in Spain, but it is lunchtime when the culture differences become most obvious.
She continued: “Between 1pm and 3pm, that is known as your official siesta time.”
While siesta is traditionally a “short nap”, she added Spanish people are not usually asleep during this time, but instead they are having a slow lunch.
“It is the biggest meal that they have throughout the day,” the expat stated.
“Lunch is very important. In this meal, they generally have a lot of different stages in their meal.”
She said Spanish people will typically have a starter, main and dessert and it is a “leisurely” lunch.
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Spain is popular among expats
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This can be a huge culture shock for people coming from the UK or US, as lunch is often small and on-the-go, particularly for those who are working.
Another thing to know before travelling is that it is not just the food that is different a lunchtime.
Many shops will close during these hours so – unlike in the UK – it is not a time to run errands. The expat continued: “If you are visiting Spain, a lot of businesses are closed during that Siesta time or lunchtime.
“So if you are looking to go to the store between 1pm and 3pm, it is often closed. It is definitely something you need to check.”
