Very interesting topic
The culture shock is always something to take into consideration. We are very different to americans, and our countries are quite different.
Anyway, take in mind that spanish society is far from being the perfect society. We have lots of problems, some in common with the States, and other just different.
You are that used to see good opinions about Spain in this board that sometimes we may forget the dark side of Spain.
I think that LostInMadrid is right and very objective pointing out some things in which spaniards and specificly madrileños are not goo. We must admit that this problems exist here, althought we don't have the same perception of them than an american. What we see as normal you may see as crazy, inappropiate or even disgusting.
Smoking: I fully agree with you. I'm a non-smoker and I really really detest how us spaniards deal with this problem.
But we must see things in perspective to be fair. In the past years in the USA the autorithies have driven an awesome campaign against smoking, to the point that the opinions of americans and their customes have changed. This has not happened in Spain. We see smoking as something we have the right to do almost everywhere.
If I could choose, I will choose something between the spanish "I don't mind to smoke at your face in an elevator" and the american "all-forbidden". You have the right to smoke and hurt your health, but you must have the courtesy not to do it near non-smokers (who have the right to not smoke).
Anyway, don't be offended if someone smokes near you, it is just they are not aware of how much americans detest it.
Sexism: Yes you are right. Women have normally less wages than men in the same position, and there exists discrimination in almost every face of normal life.
Again, keep thing in perspective. The incorporation of the women to the jobs has occured here much late than in the USA. We were a very traditional country in this matter, and the family has always have a great value, so we are just improving in this matter (althought there is a long path to walk yet). I think that my generation (I'm 23) is much less sexist than our elders, and we will soon see executive positions filled with women.
"And I can’t count the number of taxi-cab drivers I’ve had who’ll swear at women drivers for being innately inept (according to them) and then purposely cut them off and scream and gesture at them. Sooo macho."
That is sexist yes, but also a typical "joke". I don't think that women drive worse, but I sometimes tell my mother how bad she drives just to "anger" her
"Do you know it’s not illegal here to ask personal details in interviews? Wait until you’re asked how old you are in an interview – or in my wife’s case: “Are you pregnant?” (They won’t hire you if you are.) Mind-boggling."
Is it illegal in the US? I didn't know you were so sensitive about that...
In this I must disagree, personal data is as important to fit in a job as professional one. It is important your age (to value your experience, your career, and the knowledge and mentality you may have acquired), it is important your hobbies, your customes, ...
Racism: Again I agree with you. Spaniards are racist (in our way).
"Gosh, where do I start? It’s everywhere. The only time you’ll see a person of color is on the street or in the metro trying to sell you pirated CDs."
Ein? That has nothing to do with racism. Until 10 years ago we didn't have black people in Spain. In the last years we have had inmigration, but not significant yet. In the US the blacks are a huge minority, here they are a less percentage (much less). And you can bet that the inmigrants would not be in executive posts but selling pirated CDs in Metro, they wouldn't fleed their countries if they were rich...
There is no racism in not seeing great numbers of non-white people, it is just that we don't have big numbers of them yet!
"But more than that, there’s the constant jokes and general conversation like when my sister-in-law used to express how much she’s been working lately by saying she’s been “working like a black girl.” (It’s a common saying, but she’s since been enlightened by me.)"
Keep things in perspective: We don't have Political Correctness. We are not as sensitive to these matters as you. Though it may appear to have a bad signification, what it really means is to work hard, and that is not a bad characteristic...
"Or, my annual favorite – one of the Three Kings in the annual parade is a white guy in black-face – and all the little children on his float are in black face too! Joy! I can’t WAIT for my children to learn from that great example."
That comment is funny
It is very common in the US to find black people everywhere. It is not that easy to find black spaniards, nor it is easy to find black legal inmigrants, so the only way to dress the Baltasar King is to paint the face of a white guy. There is no racism in that (from my point of view).
"And talk to any person of any age here about anyone Arab or Muslim and you’ll get an earful. My Spanish teacher was selling her apartment and was asked earnestly by her neighbors not to sell to any Arabs because they’re dirty, etc., etc. There’s no excuse in the world for this type of ignorance."
Right. I fully agree. But again, give us time. We were a very poor country, now we are a first world one. The inmigration is one of the first world countries issues, and we are not yet used to it. My generation is not that xenophobic or racist.
Working: What can I say? We are a poor country with poor salaries. Our job environment is not as flexible as in the US. Still, this environment is normally confortable.
Shopping/Food: Hehehe. What you say is what is normal here. It is not worse (except the customer service, which is awful) or better than in other countries, it is just different. Shops are opened 8 hours a day (sometimes more) but in hours in which people normally go to buy (try to open a shop in the same hours as in the US and you won't sell nothing...).
"There is no such thing as a good pizza here, peanut-butter, roast-beef sandwiches, root beer, mountain-dew, bagels, etc."
Those are typical american goods, but you can still find them if you search.
"And tele-chino is the closest thing to poison I think anyone can possibly ingest without dying."
Hahahaha! You are very right!
"We ordered ADSL from Telefonica recently and after a month went by, without notice, we finally received a note in our mailbox that said that we needed to call Telefonica. The woman on the phone then said because they had stopped by both the day before and that same day, that our order had been cancelled and we had to start from scratch again (another month at least)."
Typical of Telefonica... we spaniards can't stand it, but is what we have. Don't think that other companies are better. No matter if they are french (as Uni2), american (as Aló) or from other countries. It is the same situation...
Spanish: Nothing can be done... It's a pitty but it's true. We have a great liguistical diversity, but when it comes to a daily conversation I feel that we may be somewhat intolerant. Again I think this should change with time...
Hospital Care: You are right. Our health system is almost third-world... But don't compare it with the american. The USA is richer than us, so it is normal to have a better health system (yet, ours is quite bad even by our standards).
All in all, Spain it is obviously not the USA, we are very different. Though the life here is great, it takes an american all his good effort to get used to this kind of life (same in the other way, it takes a great effort to a spaniard to get used to the american lifestyle). You are right LostInMadrid to warn MM.
Very insightful post, and quite objective.
Yet, don't get the impression life in Spain is bad.
Fernando
, so that is why I'm trying to find a way to live in Spain now 
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