The biggest cultural difference I have noticed between Spain and the United States regards the schedule of daily life. In general American lifestyle, we wake up early, eat a breakfast meal, work from nine to five with a small lunch break. We wind down and have dinner around seven in the evening. You could say we go-go-go all day and rest in the evening. This American lifestyle which I am accustomed to starkly contrasts with that of the Spaniards that I have encountered in Trujillo.

My host family wakes up around nine every morning, has a pastry or toast with coffee for breakfast, and heads into work around ten. Then we all come home at two in the afternoon to eat a large meal and relax on the couch, accompanied with coffee and a sweet of some sort. Oftentimes, my host mom will use this break to call a friend or take a small nap. Around five o’clock, the world in Trujillo wakes up again and work life resumes until nine or ten pm, when everyone goes home for a small dinner meal. To be candid, this schedule has been difficult to adjust to. I found that even after a small adjustment period, I couldn’t function well in class without a large protein-rich breakfast, and that my body doesn’t like having dinner right before bed.

While it may be a tough change, I am developing a sense of appreciation for the more relaxed Trujillo lifestyle. There doesn’t seem to be such a rush to get everywhere all the time,
and the peoples’ work lives seem more ingrained in their personal lives. While I feel initial rejection of this change, I am excited to become more accustomed to the schedule and function better in the way of the Spaniards. I am grateful that my host mom, Marta, has encouraged me to make whatever I need for breakfast in the mornings. This has improved my experience as I have been able to make an egg or two to add to my plate of toast and jam.

Attached is a photo of the “jamon iberico” ham legs hanging up in the grocerty store and a photo of our cafe time set up for students between classes.