Social situations: neighbours, meet-ups and associations

In Spanish residential buildings there is a comunidad de vecinos, that is the residents' association that manages the shared parts (entrance, lift and garden), and each resident pays a monthly fee, and annual meetings (junta) are held for decisions, and a president is elected.

• Read the building rules (estatutos) and attend meetings to know your neighbours and rights.
• Neighbours greet each other with Buenos días in the lift and entrance, and exchange help, and may exchange news.
• Introduce yourself on moving with a simple greeting.
• And respect quiet hours, waste rules and parking.
• And if you have a problem with a neighbour talk to him first kindly, then to the community president or the administrator (administrador), and finally legal channels.

Spaniards rely on quedar, that is arranging to meet: setting a time and place for a coffee or a caña or going out for tapas.

• Bars are social centres: people gather to eat tapas and drinks and talk for hours, and move between several places (tapeo or ir de tapas).
• Nightlife begins late, so dinner is after nine, and going out after eleven, and sometimes continues until morning at the weekend.
• You can take part and drink juice or a drink without alcohol (sin alcohol) without embarrassment.
• And conversation is the essence: people talk about everything and joke.
• When invited ask about the actual time since it may be late.
• And accounts are usually split or paid in rondas, that is rounds by turns.

In every neighbourhood there are many associations: neighbourhood associations (asociaciones de vecinos), parents' associations (AMPA), sports clubs (football, basketball, running, swimming and yoga), hobby clubs, cultural and music groups, brotherhoods and religious groups, and migrant associations.

• They are the best place to meet people and practise the language.
• Subscriptions are moderate, and town halls support sports centres and public facilities at symbolic fees.
• And volunteering (voluntariado) is widespread through Cruz Roja, Cáritas, food banks, schools, hospitals and social centres, and is an excellent gateway to work and language.
• Search through your city's volunteer centre or the sites Hacesfalta and Voluntariado.net.
• And join walking groups, shared kitchens or language groups.

Spaniards are friendly and talk easily with strangers, but inviting you home or to family occasions is a sign of deeper trust.

• Do not wait for others to invite you, take the initiative yourself to invite a colleague or neighbour to a coffee, a caña or a walk.
• And note that the phrase ya quedaremos meaning we will meet sometime may be a courtesy, so turn it kindly into a specific date.
• You find friends at work, neighbours, clubs, parents' groups, mosques and churches, hobby groups and apps such as Meetup and Facebook.
• Associations offer activities for migrants to build friendships.
• Remember that job mobility makes some leave, so keep in touch regularly.
• And express your interest in people's lives with kind questions, since this builds trust.

Spain is a secular country with a constitution that protects freedom of religion and expression, and has a strong Catholic heritage and Muslims, Jews, followers of other religions and non-religious people.

• You may be asked about your clothes, food or Ramadan, and you can answer calmly and simply if you wish.
• Frank discussion about religion and politics is usually accepted.
• But you may sometimes face offensive or racist comments or discriminatory practices at work, housing or daily life.
• Do not stay silent: document the incident and report it to the police or the anti-discrimination office in your town hall or the equality council (Consejo para la Eliminación de la Discriminación Racial o Étnica) or organisations such as the Movimiento contra la Intolerancia, SOS Racismo or Oberaxe (the Spanish observatory of racism).
• Associations provide free legal and psychological support.

What is a comunidad de vecinos?