But in Granada, I’ve found the opposite. The people here are even warmer and more open than those back home!
In Granada, “Hola guapa” (meaning “Hello, beautiful”) is a common greeting from store attendants, waiters, and service workers when addressing women. Small talk is welcomed, and while my Spanish is not yet fluent, many people are eager to strike up a conversation about anything. There is a lot of touching and much more kissing in the street compared to back home. People are really affectionate and get in your bubble more when talking, laughing and greeting. When you meet someone new or see your friend, it’s not a wave or a handshake but rather a kiss on both cheeks.
One cultural difference that confused me at first was the way people order food here in Spain. In English, we typically say, “Could I please have...?” but in Spanish, the direct translations are “Put me this,” “Bring me this,” or “I want this.” Initially, this felt incredibly rude to me, as such bluntness would be impolite in English. However, despite the directness of ordering, the service here is incredible. Waiters move swiftly, weaving between tables while memorizing orders shouted from a distance. If mistakes happen due to the chaos, I’ve often received items on the house or an extra dish as an apology. On top of that, there’s no tipping culture—servers are said to earn a living wage, though I don’t know the exact amount. It’s made me reflect on how, in the U.S., the burden of a living wage has been placed on the customer rather than the employer.
Here in Granada, I live with a host family in a beautiful part of the city, next to one of my favorite cafés and a river where I try to run next to several times a week.
