Meet Morgan, an American who recently settled in Spain
The content creator has been covering the culture shocks she has experienced since making the transition
And they provide interesting insights for comparing the two countries
Spain has a lot to offer. From tapas and wine, to bullfighting flamenco, there's a lot to experience even outside the Mediterranean Beaches and stone castles.
"In general, Spain is a beautiful country overwhelmed by its rich history and culture," Morgan said. "The people, food, and traditions are unlike anything from any other country and it's been such an incredible experience so far."
In 2017, before the pandemic transformed the tourism industry, it was the second-most visited country in the world with 81.8 million international travelers, behind only France (86.9 million) but ahead of the US (75.9 million), China (60.7 million), and everyone else.
"The one 'culture shock' that has probably impacted me the most is the late dinner schedule," Morgan said. "It's insane!"
"In the US, it's normal to have dinner around 5-7 pm. In Spain, they don't even think of eating until it's after 8 pm (and that's considered early). It definitely took some time, but I'd say I'm pretty much adapted now and don't have dinner until at least 9:30-10 pm."
Currently, Morgan lives in Madrid, the capital and most populous city of Spain. In fact, it is the most popular choice among all American expats with over 11,500 calling it home.
That makes the capital one of the few places in the country where there are more Americans than Brits, which is quite something when you keep in mind that UK nationals outnumber US nationals in Spain by almost 7 to 1.
However, just because the two places are different, doesn't mean one of them is better than the other. "There are lots of things I miss about the US," Morgan said. "But there's also lots of things I don't miss."
"Regardless, it's where I'm from and it will always be my home and I'm grateful for that. I'm just fortunate enough that now I have the opportunity to experience a completely different world and am able to call Spain home as well."
