1. 1. 5 Reasons why Culture Shock wont be a Problem in MADRID!
2. 2. 1. Spaniards dont have dinner till 10pm, Im going to starve! YES! the Spanish do eat late! BUT hunger definitely wont be an issue in Spain! The Spanish never really stop eating! Expect two breakfasts (a small one first thing in the morning followed by a snack about 11am), a large lunch between 2 and 3, an afternoon snack (merienda) around 6, and then dinner or tapas between 9 and 10!
3. 3. 2. What about my marmite/tea/local bakery, I cant live without them! The Spanish might drink more coffee than tea, but all cafs serve tea, and theres an ample tea aisle in all supermarkets! Youre unlikely to miss marmite as much as you think, because who honestly needs marmite when you have churros con chocolate? Spain also has its very own incredible patisserie specialties Youll never feel far from home with the number of bakeries in Spain!
4. 4. 3. Ill never be able to stay up so late! If youre coming from a part of Europe where the clubs close at 2am, and youre tucked up in bed by 11pm during the week, the idea of clubbing till 7 in the morning might seem a concern! Energy levels wont be a problem though! With a late afternoon siesta and a more leisurely morning, youll adapt to the Spanish culture in no time! Life is so much more relaxed in Spain!
5. 5. 4. All the shops close in the afternoon, how inconvenient! In some parts of Spain maybe the shops are all closed from 2-5, so that everyone can enjoy a siesta! But Madrid is known as the city that never sleeps for a reason! Madrid is buzzing at nighttime, but the shops dont close in the day either! A few might close for 1 or 2 hours during the afternoon, but youll be eating lunch at that time, so it wont be a cause of culture shock!
6. 6. 5. Madrid is a capital city: itll be really expensive and I wont be able to afford to do anything! Madrid is very cheap! For example, the metro is about half the price of the London underground, and significantly cheaper than the Paris Metro: 10 journeys in Madrid cost just 12.20! Food is also much cheaper: you can get a small glass of beer or wine with tapas for 2 or 3 euros! Madrid has the best of both worlds: the excitement and buzz of a capital city, but at a low price!
7. 7. Finally although some people may experience culture shock very occasionally, the reality is its hard to feel homesick in Madrid, the land of sunshine, amazing food and some of the worlds friendliest and most welcoming people! Youre more likely to experience reverse culture shock when you go home!