So, my family and I, we upped and moved to Madrid from South Carolina a little over a year ago. It’s been a wild ride, a total immersion in Spanish life, and we’re loving it. Tapas, siestas, late dinners – we’re all in. But recently, we took a trip back to the States, and let me tell you, it was like stepping into an alternate universe. Not for us, mind you, but for our kids. They experienced a full-blown case of reverse culture shock, and it was all centered around three very specific things: pajama pants, portion sizes, and the sheer, unadulterated amount of ice in American drinks.
Let’s start with the pajama pants. I mean, seriously. Everywhere we went, from the grocery store to the pharmacy, people were rocking their PJs. My kids were bewildered. “Mom,” my youngest whispered, eyes wide, “are they still asleep?” It was hilarious and a little disconcerting. In Spain, you just don’t see that. People put on real clothes to go out, even if it’s just to pop down to the corner store. It’s a matter of respect, I suppose, for yourself and for others. This casual approach to attire was the first cultural hurdle my kids encountered.
Next up: food. Oh, the food. We went to a diner for breakfast, a classic American experience, right? Well, my kids were floored by the sheer size of the pancakes. “This is breakfast for a giant!” my eldest exclaimed. He wasn’t wrong. The pancakes were the size of his head. And the bacon? Don’t even get me started. Mountains of bacon. Everything was supersized. Coming from Spain, where meals are generally more moderate in size, this abundance was overwhelming. They picked at their food, completely overwhelmed by the volume. It highlighted a real difference between the two cultures – a different understanding of portion control and maybe even a different relationship with food.
Finally, we get to the ice. This one really threw them for a loop. In Spain, you get a few small ice cubes in your drink, if any. Here, in the US, it’s like the drinks are 80% ice. My kids couldn’t get over it. “Why so much ice?” they kept asking. “It’s watering down the drink!” They’re not wrong. It was a constant source of amusement and frustration. They’d carefully fish out ice cubes, trying to salvage their beverages from the icy depths of their glasses. It was a losing battle, of course. The ice always won.
A Table of Cultural Differences
| Feature | USA | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Attire | Pajama pants acceptable in public | Casual but presentable attire expected |
| Portion Sizes | Large to extra-large | Moderate |
| Ice in Drinks | Abundant | Sparse |
It’s funny how these small things, things we hardly notice in our day-to-day lives, can become so glaringly obvious when viewed through a different cultural lens. My kids’ reverse culture shock experience provided a fascinating insight into the subtle yet significant differences between life in Spain and life in the US. It was a reminder that “normal” is relative, and that what might seem perfectly acceptable in one place can be utterly baffling in another. And while they eventually adjusted and re-acclimated to American ways, the experience definitely left a lasting impression. Who knows, maybe they’ll even start wearing pajama pants to the supermarket when we’re back in Spain. (Just kidding…I hope!)
