Cultural Norms for Friendships and Dating
Norms of friendship and dating for relationships for people of any sexual orientation may be quite different than the norms at Earlham. It is important to realize that behavioral cues that mean one thing in the US may mean something completely different in Spain. Both men and women need to be mindful of different societal norms when interacting in a new culture. Ask questions of the program leader or staff or other trusted Spanish friends if you are unsure of any situation.
If you become involved in an intimate relationship with a Spanish person,
please take the time to learn as much as you can about expected behavioral
norms for sexual relationships. Also be advised that Spain has the highest
percentage AIDS rate of any country in Western Europe. Additionally, access
to medical procedures such as abortion is different than in the US. Please
protect yourself.
