Another important food custom in Spain involves pinchos. Pinchos are small little snacks that people eat during the day. Usually, they are small sandwiches or an empanada. An empanada is like a really good hot-pocket filled with chicken, chorizo, or tuna. Pinchos are also what we call the snack the waiter gives you when you order a drink. For example, when you go out to have a coffee or a soda the waiter brings you your drink and a small pincho. The pincho does not cost you anything extra and the more coffees, sodas, etc. that you have, the more pinchos they give you. With coffees you usually get a small cookie or cake on the side, and with sodas you may get a small piece of an empanada or some olives.
I've also found it very interesting to observe the way people go grocery shopping. In the United States, there are big stores like Walmart and Sam´s Club where you can buy a large amount of food that will last you for a while. It does not work like that in Spain. Yes, there are bigger stores in some of the bigger cities, but the portions they sell are small. For example, a packet of cheese only has about five slices in it. I often either need to buy multiple packs or only buy one that day and return to the store when I have run out of cheese. Some people buy their groceries each day.
