social situations

Why Do Spaniards Eat Dinner So Late?

Why Do Spaniards Eat Dinner So Late?

Why do Spaniards eat dinner so late? Two years in Spain and I’ve gotten used to many things—but sitting down to a meal at 10 p.m. is not one of them. Here’s how a dictator, lunch times, siestas, work schedules and social habits shaped Spain’s late-dinner culture.

Adjusting to Life in Spain: I Can’t Understand Spoken Spanish (and What Helps)

Adjusting to Life in Spain: I Can’t Understand Spoken Spanish (and What Helps)

After living in Spain for a year and a half, I assumed I would be fluent by now. Not a chance! So why is it so difficult to understand spoken Spanish when I can read and write it fairly well? There’s actually a scientific reason why it’s much harder for learners to grasp spoken Spanish.