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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