How are Spanish families usually like?

Question

ill be living with a host family in spain.

anything they do not like?

are they strict?

Hmnmn.

Answer 1

Ok, weird question. As in all places, it depends on each family.

Generally, I would say families are maybe too lax. Meaning they should be more strict, but maybe as a reaction to their own young hood during the Franco days, they are generally not strict at all.

This said, try not too dress-let's say too provocative. People do judge based on your appearance, and it wouldn't look good to wear something too s**y or lot's of makeup. Especially if you're under-aged.

But again, it really depends on the family. My parents-especially my mum-are really open minded. And I was always pretty responsible, so there wasn't any trouble at all.

Again, it must be like England. I'm most families are normal but I will tell you-as briefly as I can-my experience in England with a host family when I was 13.

- My room was so small my suitcase didn't fit in and my bed table had to be closed if I wanted to enter the room. Then I found out they had an enormous empty room with a canopy bed -because the grandma was coming for a weekend. I was staying for a month, and my parents were paying for it.

- The mother asked me what three foods I didn't like to eat. I said boiled carrots, peas and cabbage. Next day she made peas for dinner and said: "What, did you expect me to do different dinner for you? You must learn to eat a bit of everything". Then why did you ask?

- I didn't eat there, but she kept all dirty plates from the day so  I had to wash them every night.

-  She decided I had to wear dresses and forced me to put on  one of hers from the 80's-even though I was in that age when you feel ugly and just want to wear your jeans. Certainly not show off your pale legs in a disgusting out of fashion flowered  dress.

- She didn't let me go out after 8 PM, even though it was a tiny village with nothing to do and all my Spanish friends could come back at 10.

- When one day 6 of my Spanish friends-who were staying with other families-came to visit, she let all of them in except one-I still haven't figure up why. Nor has he.

- One day I found her crying because her obese daughter had been ditched by her also obese boyfriend. She said she didn't expect her to find anyone else because of her looks-now, that's a really loving mother- and then told me she needed to be alone and said I had to eat out. She gave me a pound. Yes, one.

- They had a really ugly and smelly dog that was very old and kept doing his...things all over the place. Of course they had carpet even in the kitchen. One day I found the dog's f***s just in front of the cereal cupboard. The mother entered the kitchen and put some newspaper over the stained carpet and said that her husband would clean it when he woke up.

- The first day after I had arrived she asked if I had had my first period. Really. When she saw my face she said that I couldn't touch the subject because her 11 year's old daughter was really sensitive over the matter. Really healthy way of approaching the subject with the child. And did she really think I was going to talk about menstrual periods over dinner???

- The said 11 year old asked me questions like: in Spain do you live in houses made of palm trees? Do you have Barbies? Do you have Sky tv? (after I said I had already seen that X Files episode)I like your clothes, did you buy them in Spain? (gob smacked face, can't believe we have shops, especially nice ones)

- The day I was leaving, the mother gave me me a decorative egg (?) and cried saying she was going to miss me.

Is this the average English family??? I'm sure not. Especially because I ended up escaping to my friend's houses and all the other families where nicer. Every family is a world, you can't generalize.

NOTE: To Sue-I do remember it looking at the bright side-at least it was a source of jokes for many years to come. Not only me, but all the other Spaniards remember. It was also kind of my fault, because I felt I couldn't really say anything and when I finally did, it was almost time to leave. The English organizer felt awful, profusely apologized and talked to the family after I left. And I must add I'm half English myself :-) So yes, I know English families are not like that at all, I actually escaped for a weekend with my English family, who were bewildered when they heard what had been going on. I just went there to enjoy a summer with school friends, not really to learn English or about English culture. I really hope I haven't offended anyone, as do know most families are normal. I just had bad luck and was stupid not to do something about it. The good thing is that I survived and laugh about it now, and that it can't possibly be worse for the Asker ;-)

Answer 2

Well, I would have to say that every family is going to be slightly different and have it's own quirks. Just like families here in the US but of course there are some areas that seem to be more consistently the same.

1. Homes are kept very clean. No messes or things laid about.

2. Most people spend time out of the house, coffee shops, bars, parks etc. Not a lot of TV watching. Kids don't tend to hang out as home so much.

3. I think they arn't so much as strict as they have different standards of living. For example, school and school work is very important. Staying out late isn't as big an issue as dinner is late to begin with.

I think that depending on how old you are and where you will be staying can make a difference. Being in Madrid vs. being in a rural town will effect how the family goes about their day to day.

I stayed with a host family in Belgium once and while Belguim is quite different from a spanish family, I definelty had my own challenges to condend with. As will you staying anywhere that isn't "home". This said, make friends, practice your spanish and soak in as much culture and adventure that you can. Even if the family your with has funny quirks you will look back on the experience fondly after it is through. Best wishes to you. You can email me if you have any other questions. I'd be happy to help!

Answer 3

OK, I'm from Spain. It depends on every family, 'cause everyone is different. But most Spaniards have very good relation with relatives and friends. Social life is very important for us. So, we usually get on very well with parents, brothers and sisters, other relatives and friends.

Strict? It depends too. Most Spaniards are not strict, cause Spain is very liberal country, very up to date (open-minded) but it depends.

My family for example is very open-minded, we play a lot of jokes (even practical jokes). I'm on very close terms with my parents and my brother. They're not strict with our way of dressing, with when must we come back home when we go out (Nevertheless, me and my brother are more than 18 years old)... So, I mean, my family is open-minded, other are more conservative, but I think that Spain is open-minded overall. So, the only things we don't like is disrespect. Just that.

Answer 4

Poor Gabi!  What an awful experience!  Do you still look back fondly upon it?  Or do you think of it as the worst month of your life?  I don't know.  My own experience in Spain didn't invlove living with a family, but I must say, I loved every minute of it.

I would say, the one thing I noticed about the families was that they lived together much more closely than American families (and possibly British) do.  More generations in the same home, elders aren't shunted aside, or put into homes...younger generations had to stay in their parents' homes even after they got married, because there simply wasn't enough housing at the time.  Families, especially extended families, are much closer than many American ones (of course, mine's completely dysfunctional, so we tend to stay pretty apart :))

I second the part about staying out much later than American kids are allowed, just because of the dinner schedule, and that youngsters spend more time "en la calle" than at home.  That doesn't mean they are playing in the street, just that they are out and about, and don't always check in with their parents as you are expected to, here.

As for what they don't like?  Well, just don't insult anyone.  which, of course, goes without saying.

If you are interested in the food, offer to help Mamá cook, and learn from her.  I would take notes, keep recipes of hers.  It will make her feel important, and be a great bonding experience for you both.

Hope you don't wind up with a wierdo family like poor Gabi.  If you do, and are there long enough to make it worthwhile, most programs will re-place you with a better match.