Jet Lag

Get ready to start your first day or two in Cádiz with a difficult case of jet lag. The six-hour time difference can really mess up your sleep schedule. Especially if you are anything like my group and have an eight-hour flight, and then a six-hour layover to get to Jerez. Just be prepared for a long adjustment period, and do not go to bed right after getting to the dorm on the first day! You need to get used to the Spain time zone and wait to fall asleep at night.

Food and Meal Times

Meal times are a lot different than those in the US. Breakfast is before classes, around 9am. It is small, consisting of toast with jam/ham/cheese, and coffee or juice. I normally never eat a big breakfast anyway, but it was still different for me here. In Spain, they don’t eat yogurt for breakfast; generally, I eat fruit and yogurt for breakfast, but at the dining hall at Colegio Mayor, they serve both at lunch and dinner. Generally, the toast is what ties you over until around 2pm. Some people, including me, would bring a little snack in between classes. We then eat a big lunch, and later we finally eat a decent-sized dinner around 8-10pm.

Siesta

During siesta time, most stores are closed, and most people are off the streets. This is around 2-6pm, but can vary. Not everything is closed, such as some convenience stores or some tourist shops. A lot of college kids will get back from class, eat, and then take a traditional siesta and nap for a little. Though it is a common misconception that all Spaniards sleep during the siesta, it is not always a nap time but a period of rest. After siesta, the streets are alive again, and everyone is out and about.

Walking

Be prepared to walk a lot! On a lazy day, I get at least 10,000 steps a day. Don’t be too nervous, though, because I never feel too tired, because I am always astonished by the beautiful views and new experiences. One of my favorite things to do here is to walk around and explore. I absolutely love the culture here and how everyone is always outside enjoying the fresh air. It is so different than America in the sense that the goal at the end of the work day is to go home and relax. Spaniards take their siesta and are good for the rest of the day! I am walking around all day, which is easy to do since the sun sets at 10pm. The days are extremely long here, and it is a very cool experience. Also, don’t worry, if you get tired, you can call a taxi or use your free bus pass!

I hope this information helped! This will be the best experience ever, and you will not regret your decision to come here. You will make some of the best memories in Spain!