Welcome to Spain: How to Enjoy Spain
opinion Essay
1104 words
Welcome to Spain
We are going to take a journey to Spain and look at some of their customs. While doing research I have realized that the people in Spain believe it is important to show respect with proper manners. It is imperative that when going to Spain on business or vacation that you be familiar with some of their customs. To prepare you I will discuss some of the key points in your visit. First I will explain the different language used. Next let me demonstrate to you a proper greeting. Next I will describe the typical way to dress and dining etiquette. Finally I will be finishing with units of measure and currency. So let our journey begin with language!
Is Spanish the only language?
Spain is diverse when it comes to which language they speak. They have four beautiful languages that are considered official. It will just depend on what region you are in on what language they will be speaking. Please refer to the map at the top of the next page to see the different regions. I have had the privilege of having conversations with CCCC RRRR my friend from Barcelona, Spain whose official language is Catalan. He does recognize Spanish, but he prefers to speak Catalan. In Spain a majority of the people speaks “Spanish, also called Castilian. Some people speak Galician in Galicia and Basque region. In Catalonia and Balearic Islands the people speak Catalan. And in the Valencia region they speak Valencian.” (Kwintessential) It would be beneficial to know Spanish, however your trip might be just as enjoyable if you could speak and understand a few words in the other official language of the region you are in.
Is it Hola or Buenos Dias?
Depending on the type of setting you are in will depend on what verbal greeting you will say...
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...5 December 2006. 21 April 2014 .
eDiplomat. Spain. 2014. 21 April 2014 .
Estorach, Carles. Interview. Heather Carroll. 15 April 2014.
Kwintessential. Spain - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette . 2013. 21 April 2014 .
PlanetWare Inc. Language Areas of Spain Map . 1995-2014. 21 April 2014 .
Turisme de Barcelona. Barcelona in pictures. n.d. 21 April 2014 .
XE. XE Currency Converter. 2014. 21 April 2014 .
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the people in spain believe it is important to show respect with proper manners. they will explain the different language used, demonstrate a proper greeting, and describe the typical way to dress and dining etiquette.
- Explains that spain is diverse when it comes to which language they speak. it will depend on which region you are in.
- Explains that buenos dias or bon dia if you are from barcelona is a respectful and formal way to greet somebody.
- Opines that the people of spain greet people they know differently than those they do not know.
- Analyzes how rrr loves to use his hands when he talks. he only touches a person's shoulder if they are his friend and knows you well. women should be careful with eye contact.
- Advises that women should show pride and dress where they are not showing much skin, while men should wear woolen or linen suits and silk ties and white cotton shirts.
- Opines that americans expect the same manners at the table as they do here in the united states. they remember being yelled at by their grandma for resting their wrists.
- Explains the metric system used by crrr in spain, where the speed limit is 70 mph, and uses kilograms instead of pounds.
- Explains that rrrr's currency, euro, is more valuable than ours, but the exchange value of money is constantly changing.
- Opines that spain would be an impressive place to take a vacation, but it would take some getting used to.
- Concludes that it is important to show respect to the spaniards by learning to speak a few words in the official language that they recognize.
Related
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that sequel is a detention center that houses children ranging from the ages of 12-19 that are in the care of the department of human resources.
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- Opines that a day at sequel would not be complete without the daily containment of residents who engage in verbal or physical altercations with one another.
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564 wordsRead More - The History of Spainexplanatory essayThe History of Spain Spain's history can be traced back as far as 3000BC, where Paleolithic cave paintings were found in the region of the Bay of Biscay and the western Pyrenees. These paintings exhibited a remarkable degree of animation and skill. About 1000BC the southern region became the first invasion point for the Iberians, Iberians were originally North African people who became the most prominent ethnologic element in the peninsula and gave its name. The Celts, who migrated from France, also invaded the peninsula and completely absorbed the central region and the northern mountains. Together these two groups form the Celtiberians.
In this essay, the author
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- Explains how teutonic invaders crossed the pyrenees, alan, vandals, and suevi swept over the peninsula. the visigoths brought their armies in and became the dominant power.
- Describes how muslim armies invaded the iberian peninsula under the leadership of tariq-lbn-ziyad. after 717, abd-ar-rahamn founded the powerful and independent emirate of cordoba.
- Explains that spain was a union of crowns, not kingdoms. each region maintained its own leadership, government, traditions, and rules of succession.
- Narrates how fernando died in 1529, and charles i replaced him. charles waged war five times against the french, making spain a dominant power in northern and southern italy.
- Explains that spain's economic and political glory had declined drastically by the end of the 16th century, and the thirty years' war, between the hapsburg and french bourbon dynasties, weakened spain.
- Explains that spain's decline in subsequent years led to intervention by other powers, such as the french. napoleon bonaparte forced the king of spain, charles iv, to abdicate in favor of his own brother joseph
- Analyzes how internal conflicts led to the carlist war in 1833, sparking an era of turmoil.
- Explains that the second republic brought about increased political participation in spain, but creating problems. the tragic war cost spain hundreds of thousands of lives.
- Explains that spain became a monarchy in 1947, and in 1955 joined the united nations. in 1992, seville hosted the worlds fair.
- Explains that the plazas of spain have played an important role in spain's culture. the plaza mayor, located in madrid, was built in the 17th century.
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- Advises that one week prior to your first scheduled meeting, it is important to confirm the meeting by telephone or writing.
- Advises that guests should return the favor at a later date without making it known that they are inviting them only to return.
- Explains that spaniards are loyal to the company they represent, and expect them to continue to do business with you even if you move to another employer.
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In this essay, the author
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- Explains how alfonso xiii brought relative peace to spain on all fronts at home and abroad, as well as politically and economically. unfortunately, he died at the age of 27 leaving the throne to his unborn son.
- Explains that the spanish american war was fought between spain and the united states. the u.s. saw how cuba struggled for independence.
- Narrates how the uss maine exploded when it was sent to cuba to rescue u.s. citizens. the united states defeated spain and the spanish empire in the caribbean and pacific came to an end.
- Explains that spain remained neutral during the war and after until the spanish civil war. neutrality was an advantage for spain.
- Explains that while alfonso xiii was successful in world war i, he wasn't able to have that same success in morocco during his reign.
- Explains that the result of the popular elections in 1931 was not in favor of a monarchist government, but instead favors the republic, which forced the abdication of alfonso xiii.
- Explains that general francisco franco made a pact with hitler and mussolini to help him capture the deliberate port of bilbao in the basque country.
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- Explains that juan carlos was primed by franco, and was expected to carry on with what franco had created. carlos gained respect from the civilians in little time. the law of political reform ended dictatorship.
- Explains how juan's goal of becoming a parliamentary monarchy had now been achieved.
- Explains that spain became a part of the north atlantic treaty organization (nato) and the european community in the 1980s.
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- Explains that on march 11, 2004, a train bombing took place in madrid, spain, killing 191 citizens and injuring around 1,800. al-qaida was suspected of being responsible for the bombs, since osama had previously threatened spain for providing 1,300 soldiers in the iraqi war.
- Opines that people's feelings towards the bombing remain deep till this day. the government has donated millions of dollars to family members of the surviving victims and to organizations that provide specific attention to the victims.
- Explains spain's changes since 2005, including legalizing gay marriage and eta declaring a cease-fire. they also state that the recession has wiped billions off property prices and left banks reeling with bad debt.
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2510 wordsRead More - noneexplanatory essayPrior to describing the culture of Spain and going further into its history, definitions for terminology must be established. Neuliep (2009) describes the major cultural dimensions. These include individualism-collectivism, high/low context, time orientation, power distance and uncertainty avoidance. This analysis will focus primarily on the individualism-collectivism, time orientation and high/low context aspects of Castilian culture while briefly addressing values, power distance and uncertainty avoidance. Finally this paper will compare Castilian Spanish culture with the culture of the United States of America.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that spain is a large, predominantly catholic country located in western europe on the iberian peninsula. the people of spain speak spanish and in some regions they speak an additional language.
- Explains that spain is a constitutional monarchy, however this system of government is relatively recent. under franco many micro-cultures were repressed and not allowed to practice their distinct languages or cultural activities.
- Explains that prior to describing the culture of spain and going further into its history, definitions for terminology must be established. neuliep (2009) describes the major cultural dimensions.
- Explains how the sapir-whorf hypothesis helps explain the verbal code in relation to language and culture.
- Explains that microcultures coexist within mainstream society, especially in spain. most microcultural groups are subordinate to the culture.
- Explains that individualism-collectivism refers to the preference for self-independence or group advancement. individualistic cultures stress personal choice and the freedom to make decisions, while collectivist cultures assert the group's achievements.
- Explains the role of silence in both high and low context cultures.
- Explains that a culture's designation as either high context or low context is related to the language spoken in that culture.
- Explains that time orientation is classified as monochronic or polychronistic, with an emphasis on schedules and punctuality.
- Defines power distance as viewed from the subordinate rather than those in positions of power. the united states military is an example of an organization with a large power-distant culture.
- Explains that uncertainty avoidance measures a culture's feeling towards the uncertain or unknown. hofstede clarifies this concept by stating that it is not the same as risk-avoidance.
929 wordsRead More - Spain: Then and Nowexplanatory essayThe Mediterranean peoples were aware of Spain from very early times. Civilization in Spain actually dates back to the Stone Age. There were many people who inhabited Spain most notably the Basques. Later the Carthaginians settled on the east coast and in the Balearic Islands, where Greek colonies also sprang up. In the 3d century BC, the Carthaginians under Hamilcar Barca began to conquer most of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearics and established Cartagena as capital.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the mediterranean peoples were aware of spain from very early times. the carthaginians settled on the east coast and in the balearic islands, where greek colonies sprang up.
- Opines that rome brought peace and prosperity to many colonies, but christianity was the most lasting legacy of the romans in spain.
- Explains that the germanic tribes sweeping from the north began to invade spain in the 5th century. the visigoths were the rulers of spain for two hundred years.
- Explains that the strong christian following created a terrible clash with the moors who began invading in 756.
- Explains that in the 12th and 13th centuries the christian factions began regrouping and reorganizing through marriage, inheritance, and little force. the unification, at the expense of the muslims, was completed by isabella and ferdinand.
- Opines that the discovery by christopher columbus, an italian, with the financing of spain of the new world thrust spain into its golden age.
- Explains how charles the first succeeded ferdinand spain was still divided. charles centralized these individual cities and united them as spaniards.
- Analyzes how spain became involved in a conflict with france in 1618-48. the spanish empire had sapped spain's strength rather than fostering it.
- Narrates how napoleon bonaparte's defeat ended with the loss of the throne and the humiliation of foreign occupation. in 1814, wellington and spanish resistance forces finally freed themselves from spanish domination.
- Explains that monarchist and republican tensions threatened to tear spain apart. internal difficulties allowed the colonies abroad, the investment of the wealth of spain, to gain independence.
- Explains that ferdinand's daughter succeeded him at his death in 1833. her reign was fraught with turmoil and political controversies.
- Explains that in the early 19th century a socialist movement begins and gains widespread popularity, esp. among the lower classes. riots and protest followed, but were usually stamped out.
- Explains that during world war i, spain remains neutral. another attempt at a republic, however, remains unstable. the nationalist, under general franco, upheld the monarchy with the support of germany and italy.
- Explains that although spain under france financially aided the axis powers in wwii, they remained in this war, like the first inactive. they bought the us for a few bases and economic aid, and soon joined the united nations.
- Explains how the dictatorial government chafed the people in the 1950s and 1960s. in 1966, a constitution balancing power and enacting freedoms was drawn up. juan carlos i succeeded franco.
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- Opines that learning more about spanish language and culture is beneficial not only to our understanding of our own culture, but it also makes life easier for spanish americans living in the u.s.
996 wordsRead More