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The Spanish school system tends to foster an attitude of mutual success, but the Spanish also have a reputation for "living in the moment." This means that they prefer immediate results for something and not working over a period of time to reach a certain goal. This is one of the reasons many go right into the work force. There is also no strict time in Spanish classrooms. They are fairly informal. The student can show up and leave as they please.

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In Spain, structure in the classroom is held in the highest regards. Spanish classrooms have to be very structured. Structure is key in Spain. Spanish schools also include a lack of competition between students and other schools. Students are taught to seek "harmony" and avoid confrontation. Disagreeing with your teacher is considered rude and is not recommended. This ties into the important family values that Spain includes in curriculum, making sure each student has a support system.

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In Spain, high school is one cycle over two years long for ages sixteen to eighteen. High school consists of common classes and elective classes similar to America, but it also includes specialization classes, known as modalidades, which concentrate specifically on a certain discipline. If the path the student chooses is college, they must specialize in something to move on to a university. All colleges require an entrance exam called Preuba de Accesso a la Universidad or the PAU.

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In Spain, middle school is from ages twelve to sixteen. There are two cycles in middle school, both lasting for two years. After middle school, the students can enter high school, vocational school, or the work force.

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Preschool in Spain is separated into two cycles. The first cycle is for ages zero to three and is not free, but the second cycle, for ages three to six, is free, and located in primary schools. Primary schools are for ages six to twelves. There are three cycles of primary school. The first cycle is from ages six to seven, the second is from ages eight to nine and the third is from ages ten to eleven. Required courses in primary school cycles include art education, physical education, Spanish language, math, and social studies.

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There are public colleges, Colegios Publics, or state-funded private colleges, Colegios Concertados. These are usually four years long, just like America, except for medical school. Some of the more well-known universities are Complutense University of Madrid, the University of Barcelona, the University of Seville, the University of Granada, and the University of Valencia.

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The education system in Spain is state funded and is mandatory for ages six to sixteen. All school before college is free but parents are required to pay for the books, school supplies, and on occasion: a school uniform. Once a student turns sixteen years old, they can either continue on in high school or go into vocational school. One cannot go on to college with graduating from High School.

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Some symbols that are well known for representing Spain culturally are the bull, or an outline of a bull, the Spanish flag, and windmills.

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In Spain, spanish is spoken all over the country. There are also languages such as Catalonia, Galician, and Valencian, that are also spoken in their respective counties.

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In Spain, all kinds of music is celebrated. Flamenco, rock, jazz, and classical are all enormously popular in Spain. You will not show up at a festival in Spain and not hear one of these genres, especially flamenco when it is time to dance!

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In Spain, it is traditional to eat a late lunch, a snack, and then dinner around 9 pm. Spanish Tapas are very popular, and are spilling over into American culture as well. Tapas are appetizers, and are small portioned. Tortillas, tortilla esponaloa, paella, gazpacho, and quest manchego are also very popular in Spain.

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In Spain, freedom of religion is promised by the Spanish constitution. The majority of people are practicing Catholics, but there are also those who practice Protestantism, Judaism, Islamic culture, and Hinduism. There are places of worship for all of these religions. Freedom of religion is a wonderful thing that Spain has provided for their citizens!

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Gender roles now are much different than they were 100 years ago. This bodes true for Spain as well. Spain had strict rules when it came to women in the workforce, and what they would do in a marriage. The wives were not allowed to work, own property, or even travel if they did not have permission from their husband. Women were required to take a six month long preparation class in order to be a mother. In this day, marriages had to be sanctioned by the Catholic church, or else it was not recognized as real. Nowadays, women are working more, and becoming more independent with less gender conforming rules. They want to be employed, but Spain has a lack of child care services, which is in turn affecting women having more children, even if they would like them.

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pain has a rare form of healthcare. In Spain, healthcare is free statewide. It is paid partially by social security payments, which come out of wages of citizens. The healthcare system in Spain is known as one of the world's best. Universal coverage is guaranteed and no upfront spending from patients is necessary. In total, 98.7 percent of citizens in Spain are insured for Spanish healthcare!

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A Spanish wedding has qualities similar and different to an American wedding. A wedding in Spain will not include best man, a maid of honor, or bridesmaids, as it is not customary in Spain. Traditionally, the groom will present the bride with 13 coins. These coins are known as "arras" and are meant to symbolize the groom's commitment to the bride for the rest of eternity. Rice and flower petals are thrown afterwards. At the reception, the bride and the groom are required to go around from table to table delivering party favors know as "detalles."

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In Spain, a baby being born is celebrated similarly to the way we celebrate here in America. Before the baby is expected to be born, a group of the pregnant woman's friends and family will throw a baby shower. Once the baby is born, it is the fathers job to call family members and tell them about the birth! The father will then go out for a round of drinks at the bar after arriving home. The mother will invite over people for a "merienda" which is just an afternoon snack to celebrate the baby being born and coming home. In Spain, it is considered very rude to make any comments on the child's height, weight, or appearance.

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The Fiesta de San Fermin occurs every year in the middle of July. This is where the famous "running of the bulls" takes place every year! It is located in Pamplona, Spain. It is usually a week long.

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Semana Santa and La Feria de Abril is a week of feasting and Roman Catholic processions leading up to Easter. It is also now a sort of "tribute" to the beginning of Spring. It is held in Seville, Spain, and includes a large parade, a lot of food, and a long week of partying.

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Las Falles is a celebration in Valencia, Spain where the citizens celebrate Saint Joseph. It is usually held for five consecutive days, and is one of the most popular and craziest celebrations in Spain. This includes a parade, various street foods, costumes, light shows, and one allover "fiesta."

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This Art museum, located in Madrid, Spain, has one of the world's largest collections of Spanish Art. It is known for its works from Spain's "golden age" by artists such as Velazquez, Goya, and El Greco!

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Another Mosque in Spain that is one of the largest in the world and one of the most popular works of "Moorish" architecture in all of Spain.

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The Alhambra complex is another popular sight seeing destination located in Granda Spain. It has several buildings, a mosque, and gardens, but what it is best known for are the stone carvings in the mosque located inside.

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The Sagrada Familia is a place of worship and a popular sight seeing stop in Spain. It is a very large Roman Catholic church located in Barcelona. It was designed by a popular Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. It is currently still being worked on.

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Madrid is the capital city of Spain, and a beautiful place with a lot of culture, celebrations, art, and history. Other cities of note include Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Zaragoza.