Family life in Spain

Answer 1

In general families stay together much longer than you may be used to. It is common for three generation of families to be living together under the same roof. It is a way to increase the household income and to help one another. In addition, most young people dont leave home until they marry and doing so is often interpreted as a lack of love for their parents.

Housing will probably be your first and main problem in Madrid. If you dont come with something arranged, you will find accommodation; although it may take awhile (one to two months in the winter) or cost you money ( hiring an agency to find you a place).

The cost for living in a Spanish family with 3 meals a day is around 540 ¬ (500 USD). Apartments can be found for around 350 ¬ a month.

There are legal protections to defend the family as an institution in Spain. Shops are closed on Sundays so that there is time to spend together, inheritance laws automatically assign one half of parents inheritance to their children and one forth to their spouse. Marriage licenses are complicated to obtain obliging the couple to think about about the step they are taking very carefully. Meals & Family life: helpful hints

* Sitting down for a family meal once a day is very common in Spanish homes. Please be courteous and notify if you change plans.

* Most Spanish people tend to eat meals much later than you may be used to. Lunch is the most important meal of the day and dinner is a lighter meal.

* Breakfast consists of coffee and cookies, or something similar.

8 Spaniards are proud of their culture, so unless you have a special diet, try out the food. Food is a big part of culture.

* Spain is the 2nd country in the world, after Japan, in fish consumption.

* Garlic, olive oil and wine are stables and not especially expensive.

* You will not see many Spanish people walking and eating, but there is the favorite pastime of going to have tapas. Often these are eaten standing up.