The differences between Spain and back in the United States have really taken me by surprise! I find myself in a unique situation were I'm not yet acclimated enough to consider myself blended into the culture, but I feel more comfortable than just your average tourist. Spending time here in Bilbao, day after day I have had plenty of time to take mental notes and make observations on their culture.
If I could take one thing back home to my American friends, I would share the European mentality on social life and drinking. Firstly, house parties are nonexistent here, people gather in the streets, restaurants, and bars. Having guests over for tea or dinner is not uncommon, but to host a party in someone's house is absolutely unheard of.
Another thing I've quickly picked up on is that when my friends and I are out on the weekends the Americans are the ones acting the most insane and making drunk fools of themselves. Spaniards definitely love dancing until the sun rises, but I've found leaving the clubs at 5 a.m. hardly anyone is overtly intoxicated. If anyone, I find it's the Americans who are the ones wasted and foolish at the odd hours of the morning.
In Europe friends get together for the sake of spending time with people they sincerely enjoy. Back in the States more often than not, friends get together with the common goal of "getting wasted" or "getting fucked up." In Spain and all over Europe getting drunk is never the goal, that is not to say people are not getting wasted in Europe, it's just not the original intent. The difference here is, getting drunk seems to be the consequence of a really good time with your friends, not the goal.
With that said, I wonder if the drinking age being 21 in America effects this type of mentality?
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