hey, im trying to find out a little about the culture of Castilla, or spainish culture in general. Can anyone answer some of the following questions...

i've read that spain has a more relaxed pace than the rest of n.europe, would you say that the youth are more subdued?

what is the chorus to a popular song?

what are the burial customs in spain?

who do the spanish people "love to hate" (for example, the germans "love to hate" the french...

what are the different types of "in-groups"?

how would you characterize americans?

is spain bilingual? are you taught a second language throughout your schooling?

are your grandparents spanish? do they complain about the tendencies of the young people? what are the biggest differences from "now and then" according to your grandparents?

if any or all of these questions interest you, please respond soon...
thanks, jsue

i've read that spain has a more relaxed pace than the rest of n.europe, would you say that the youth are more subdued?

-I don't think so, but is just an opinion. In Spain we work too many hours.

what is the chorus to a popular song?

-"Aun quedan días de verano para pedirte perdón, para borrar del pasado"


what are the burial customs in spain?

-I don't want to know.

who do the spanish people "love to hate" (for example, the germans "love to hate" the french...

-The french (called "Gabachos" here) and the brits.

what are the different types of "in-groups"?

-I don't understand "in-group". ????

how would you characterize americans?

-Naive

is spain bilingual? are you taught a second language throughout your schooling?

-usually english, some french. But mid-age and older people speak only spanish and local languages like catalan and basque.

are your grandparents spanish? do they complain about the tendencies of the young people? what are the biggest differences from "now and then" according to your grandparents?

-Yes, they are. Of course they complain, they say youth is drunk and careless. According to everyone, the BIG difference is Franco.

Now why do I get the feeling that jsue managed to have Deibid do her schoolwork for her

Yeah, I know!

Who cares? Anyone who quotes Amaral is good in my book

What are the burial customs in Spain?
One custom that surprised me is how soon people are buried after they die. Sometimes it's the very next day, and rarely is it any later than two days after the death. Wakes are generally held in the funeral parlors "tanatorios". In some very small towns, they still carry the casket to the cemetary to the dull tolling of the church bell.

Murdy,
Have you ever seen the movie,"Fried Green Tomatoe's"? It's all in the sauce!!!

Oh, God, don't tell me that Carlos11! You haven't heard the famous urban legend here in Madrid about why there are so few registered deaths among the Chinese immigrants in Spain. The Spanish keep wondering "What do they do with all those bodies?". I know people who refuse to go to Chinese restaurants as a result.

But, as I said, it's an urban legend!!! I hope

Unless a forensic investigation is required, the bury always happens between 24 to 48 hours after the person died. So, all the corpses' handling usual in the States (as shown in Six Feet Under, for instance) like making it up or embalming, are totally foreign to Spaniards.

By the way, Six Feet Under, what a piece of art!

That's exactly what I'm talking about Torrales, you're right. I mean I guess over the years I've gotten used to it (it's not as if I go to a funeral every day, but I've been to enough), but still at first it was a big surprise. I guess it didn't fit with my erroneous preconception of Mediterranean culture where I figured people liked to agonize over death for as long as possible. Ignorant me!