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High School Lunch Culture

     One the most underrated culture shocks for me was high school lunch. Yes, lunch.  In Spain, lunch isn't really a "school thing". You either go home to eat and come back afterward, or stay at school and have the ridiculously expensive cafeteria food, which not many people choose to do. Lunch break in Spain is pretty long too, about 2 hours, so some people even squeeze in a little siesta. Then... lunch time in the US. I remember being so scared about who I was gonna sit with at lunch the first day. I had seen the movies where the new girl wanders around with a tray and nobody lets her sit down, and I was so scared that was gonna be me. But actually, I ended up being so lucky and by lunch time I already had a bunch of people offering me a spot at their lunch table. To be honest, I didn't even remember their faces or names, so I just sat with whoever waved at me first and I stuck with them all year. The cafeteria food's not good either, but at least in my high sc...
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What I learned about friendship in Alabama

     At first, I figured making friends would take time. I told myself not to expect too much too soon, that people had known each other forever and I’d probably just stick to a small circle. But it didn’t take long to realize that in Alabama, friendship works a little differently.

People there are quick to include you, they show up for each other, whether it’s a last minute ride or dropping off food when you’re sick, people are there for you. And it’s not weird to say “I love you” to your friends when you leave. It’s casual, genuine, and nobody thinks twice about it.

In Alabama,  strangers quickly become friends. You get invited to church and events even if you just met. They compliment your outfit in the school bathroom and suddenly you’re friends. In Spain, friendships grow slowly over time and people aren't as openly affectionate at first. You might stick with the same group forever; it isn’t a bad thing, it just made me notice how refreshing it was to be around people who treat newness with warmth, not hesitation.

If there is something that Alabama taught me about friendship, it’s that being open and kind from the beginning isn’t weird. I want to keep that with me. I want to be the person that starts conversations, who checks in, and invites people even if you’re not sure they’ll say yes. Because now I know what it feels like when someone does that for you.

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