Although at first glance this may not seem like the case, Canada is a country that, in terms of lifestyle, is far from Spain. Not only do issues like the climate mark the difference in the routines between its inhabitants, but also other aspects like the type of food, meal times or forms of leisure. This was demonstrated by “April The Great”, the name given to a young Canadian living in Spain for several years.

On his TikTok account, @aprildgr8 recently shared his experience with cultural differences and lifestyle between their country of origin and Spain. The young woman compiled a list examining six points that, according to her, would “send Canadians into a coma”.

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Even though these are not very substantial things, April is surprised by these customs which, in her native country, they would be unthinkable. The first is something as laughable as taking off your shoes when entering the house. But that's not all, for April, the most serious thing is “not to take off your shoes when visiting a friend's house”, since in Canada we do it to avoid getting dirty.

THE differences in time organization They are also remarkable to the Canadian observer. In Spain, banks open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. So, “how can a normal human being who works 9 to 5 go to the bank?” April asks, visibly annoyed. These are not the only schedules to which the Canadian has difficulty adapting, since meal times They also pose a challenge. “A very typical thing in Spain is to eat between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. and dine between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. My family usually has dinner at 5 p.m. They had a bad time in Europe,” he jokes.

The next points he highlights relate to behavior in bars and restaurants. First, report the direct way in which Spaniards interact with service staff in establishments, describing an approach that seems less courteous and polite compared to what she is used to in her country. Consider that the way the Spanish ask is too direct: “give me a beer please”. On the other hand, the practice of choosing individual dishes versus the tradition of share meals, whether tapas, portions or plates for the table, is also an important point of cultural contrast. “Canada is similar to the United States in that they are both very individualistic countries, so normally in restaurants everyone orders their own dish.”

The Spanish are known to be affable people, without problems when it comes to show affection in public. This attitude is, however, somewhat annoying for nationals of other countries. This is what April notes at the end of her list. “PDAs (public displays of affection) make Canadians uncomfortable,” says the young woman.