Late-Night Locos

Another night, with the guidance of our group of Spanish friends partnered with us for the program, we went to a discoteca after hanging out at a bar for a while. We got to the discoteca around 2, and there were a few people hanging out, a few dancing. It was then that I realized that people in Barcelona are crazy! Nobody goes out to discos until at least 3 IN THE MORNING. I tried going out like a Spaniard last weekend only to discover that siestas are a must if I want to survive the night. In general, timing for everything in Spain is later than the corresponding times in the U.S. For example, people eat a gigantic lunch at 3pm and then a smaller dinner at 10pm. Therefore, it would make perfect sense to go to a bar around 12am and stay there until around 3am when they would head to the discoteca for some drinks and dancing. Workdays are also constructed differently. Most workers have long breaks during the day for coffee, snacks, and lunch. They could even get a little siesta in if they wanted. The city restaurants are full of adults eating leisurely throughout the day every day of the week. This phenomenon does not exist in the United States. However, because of the prolonged breaks, Spaniards also work later, until 10 or 11pm, and then proceed to eat dinner afterwards. Too bad most days my classes at the University start at 8 or 8:30. At least we don’t have class on Fridays☺.