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Setting Sail : A Closer Look at the Cultural & Social Mechanics of Tenerife,
Spain
Why Spain? • International field experience– Final component of MAIS degree• International field experience component• Spanish-speaking country
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Why the Canary Islands?
• Numerous work industries– University– Government; municipalities– Local papers, magazines– Year-round diving
• Climate• Versatile landscape
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History of Tenerife
• Originally three different islands– Single island formed by volcanic activity
• Guanche people – original inhabitants– Striking Scandinavian resemblance– Hypothesized they sailed from African tip
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History of Tenerife
• Spanish empire arrives in 1493– Guanches conquered and enslaved in 1494– Colonization and immigration
• Failed British attack in 1797
• Spanish Civil War 1936-1939– Installed dictator Francisco Franco – Ruled until 1975
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Tenerife Today
• King Juan Carlos – Head of State
• Mariano Rajoy Brey – President
• Biggest of Canary Islands
• 908, 555 registered inhabitants
• Biggest industry - tourism
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King Juan Carlos & Queen Reina Sofia
President Mariano Rajoy Brey
Major ReligionsT
ener
ife
• Predominantly Roman Catholic
• High numbers of tourists and immigration brought other religions– Islam– Hinduiusm– Evangelism– Judaism– Afro-American religions
Culture & Traditions
• Known for carnivals and festivals– Carnival of Santa Cruz– Romerías ( religious pilgrimages) – Corpus Christi
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Carnival de Santa Cruz
Corpus ChristiPilgrimages of Patron Saints
Culture & Traditions
• Highly respectful of Guanche people– History– Culture– Present-day descendants
• Social classes dived by wealth
• Culture and education highly revered
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Culture & Traditions
• Family as focal point of life– Nuclear and extended
• Changing society– Gender equalities– Minority presence
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Language & Communication
• Predominantly Spanish speaking
• Customary greetings– Men: hug or handshake– Women: kiss on both cheeks– Small tokens at private residences
• Decreased personal space– Decreases as relationship grows
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Language & Communication
• PDA widely accepted
• Workplace confirmation
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Lifestyles & Pace
• Laid back, easy going
• Typical work day– 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.– Siesta– 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
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Lifestyles & Pace
• Collectivistic– Little need for motivation from superiors– Teamwork natural
• Masculine vs. Feminine– Children taught harmony– Little appreciation for competition– Recent strides in gender equality
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Lifestyles & Pace
• Uncertainty avoidance– “people like rules for everything”– Change causes stress– Concern for changing, ambiguous, undefined
situations
• Long-term orientation– “live in the moment”– Prefer quick results
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Business Etiquette
• Cornerstone of business – relationships – Trust
• Face-to-face contact preferred
• Interruptions common
• Saving Face
• Sharing meals
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Stereotypes of Spain towards Americans
• Loud, noisy
• Arrogant
• Wealthy, materialistic
• Job efficiency
• Little time for family and living
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Stereotypes towards Spain
• Lazy– Siestas– Party lovers
• Spanish is the only language– 3 co-official languages• Euskera (also known as Baque)• Catalan• Galego
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What to Expect Upon my Journey?
• Stereotypes
• Language barriers
• Culture shock
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