Spanish etiquette and important phrases

Old Mar 16th, 2006, 10:00 AM
  #41  
 
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That's an interesting note about personal space, I think I noticed that, but in some other countries also. I really don't like people crowding me at all, it makes me nervous and uncomfortable when people come to close, so I notice.

I think artlover probably means to use the Spanish word intentar. perhaps? (yo intento...) which means to try.

I think Spanish is the same as any language, the most important phrases for politeness are the same as in any language (please, thank you etc.). If one wants to be polite and try to learn basic Spanish, you really need to get a phrasebook instead of depending on what people say on this thread, so you have things correctly, and can look things up as you wish. There are plenty of Spanish phrasebooks for travelers.

I have used French a little in Spain as some people I met could speak French better than English, and I can speak French better than Spanish. So it was a middle ground.
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Old Mar 16th, 2006, 12:40 PM
  #42  
 
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Gracias, Claire y Christina,
Estudio mucho pero aprendar muy despacio.

Actually, I meant trato from tratar, but this is the way it seems to go and I really plan to speak it well someday. I think it would help if I could go and live in Spain for a year and that certainly is one of my dreams.

The personal space comment is interesting. I noticed that in Italy too. Maybe that's one of the reasons I feel so comfortable--I like that kind of closeness.
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Old Mar 17th, 2006, 05:59 AM
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This is a A note from a come-along business spouse.
Several, maybe 10+ years ago I went through Spain for a few days with my husband on a business trip. It was necessary for me to shop alone and eat several meals alone, which presented problems for me. The eating schedules are very different so you need to pay attention to them, as food was completely unavailable during those times. Add a little jet lag and rhe need to shop and there were times mid day when there was little to do. Also when I went to the hotel restaurant for dinner, I was discouraged, shall I say, from eating there and I had to speak to the manager to finally get a way back in the depths table. Room service was unavailable and not an option. I was stared at and treated rudely by the wait staff. It was later explained that women eating alone are considered less than "acceptable" shall we say, which I wish I knew beforehand.
I did have an uneapected need to see the hotel doctor on call because of a bout with traveler's gut (related to the ice I forgot to skip). He spoke no English, nor did his nurse, and I spoke no Spanish but with copious and almost indecent gestures I was able convey the problem and receive effective treatment.
We found Spain to be a beautiful country, rich in culture and history with warm and reservedly friendly people. The closer personal spacing is very noticible at first if you don't expect it and very different from the Boston area conversations we knew. It felt not so much invasive but more like a very personal conversation with a close friend, one you just met. It also keeps the noise level down. Things may be different now. Go and enjoy. I would definitely go again.
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Old Apr 18th, 2006, 08:04 AM
  #44  
 
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Maryboo-- you mentioned stomach problems in Spain "related to the ice I forgot to skip". I thought this popular advice is applied mostly to travels in Mexico, never heard of it applied to Spain. ???
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Old Apr 18th, 2006, 09:20 AM
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My friend had stomach problems related to water in Italy. It's a normal thing , regardless of the country. In each place, water has different bacteria, and our body gets used to them..when we change of country (and even of location inside the same country) our body gets new bacteria and some bodies just react to them. Another ones don't or at least not enough to be ill.
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