Facts about Spain Essay Example

constitutional monarchy and democracy. This eventually leads to its current membership in the European Community.

Spain is a Constitutional Monarchy with the king serving as the chief of state. The country's legislative power resides in parliament, which consists of two chambers: the Congress of Deputies and the Senate. Despite ongoing political violence in the Basque region where some Basques desire complete independence from Spain, Spanish remains the official language spoken throughout the country. Additionally, English has become increasingly important and is taught as a standard subject in schools.

It is worth mentioning that in northern regions like the Basques,

Spain is made up of different regions, such as Galatians and the Catalane, each with their own language and culture. Although Roman Catholicism is the main religion in Spain, it is not officially recognized as the national religion due to the presence of other religions and cultures in northern regions. About 94% of Spain's population identifies as Roman Catholic, and around 97% speak Spanish. Therefore, if there were an official religion and language, they would likely be Roman Catholicism and Spanish respectively. With a population of 46,754,784 people, Spain mostly consists of urban areas where approximately 78% of Spaniards live despite some dispersion around major cities.

The capital of Spain is Madrid and it possesses a diverse population that combines Mediterranean and Nordic cultures. The people in Spain have comparable practices in cooking, farming, and religion (Source: http://www.monopolies.com/pip/A0107987.HTML). Nevertheless, greetings customs vary globally. While certain places have intricate greetings, others like the U.S. have more similar customs. In Spain, a typical greeting involves a handshake, but close friends may also include a pat on

the back or a hug. Women in Spain frequently lightly embrace and touch cheeks while kissing in the air.

When communicating with individuals, it is customary to use first names only among friends and young people. However, it is more appropriate to address most people with a title and their surname. If they do not have a professional title, it is customary to address them as Mr., Mrs., or Miss.

The majority of Spaniards have two surnames, one from their father and one from their mother. When addressing someone, it is common to use the father's surname. However, when a woman gets married, she takes her husband's surname and uses that.

When speaking to a Spaniard, only one surname should be used; however when writing to them, both surnames should be included.

When speaking to Carols Rodriguez Enameled, it is appropriate to address him as Mr. Enameled. However, if you are writing to him, the letter should be addressed to Mr. Carols Rodriguez Enameled. Gestures have a significant role in daily conversations and may vary across regions. Hence, it is important to pay attention in unfamiliar areas and use the appropriate gestures. To signal or call someone, turn your palm down and wave your fingers or hand. When emphasizing a point, snapping your hand downward is commonly done.

When traveling to other countries, it is essential to be mindful of gestures that may be offensive or disrespectful. In Spain, the A-O.K. Gesture is viewed as lazy and impolite. Moreover, clothing plays a significant role in Spanish culture as it indicates social standing. It is recommended to wear high-quality attire from renowned brands and choose subtle

colors to garner favorable attention. While men generally dress modestly and casually, women are expected to dress fashionably; nonetheless, women cannot wear hats in public.

Clients and colleagues often judge women wearing shorts or men dressed less formally as low status. While gift-giving is generally considered thoughtful, it can be seen as impolite or offensive in different cultures. For instance, in Spain, it is customary to open presents immediately and avoid giving bouquets with thirteen flowers due to their association with bad luck. In the professional arena, gift-giving holds significance, but it is advised to refrain from presenting gifts during initial business meetings.

When traveling to Spain, it is recommended to bring local crafts or illustrated books that represent your region as appropriate gifts. For younger individuals, merchandise and caps from university or sports teams are highly prized. It should be noted that while being punctual for business appointments is important, Spaniards may not always arrive on time themselves. Therefore, it is advisable to be prepared to wait as social events often start late. When scheduling meetings, it is advised to arrange them well in advance and confirm through written communication. Government offices are open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 1 pm. Additionally, conducting business during meals is common in Spain. However, do not be surprised if your lunch invitation is politely declined as Spaniards often prefer going home for lunch.

In Spain, negotiating is similar to the U.S. It is crucial to build personal relationships for business success. It is hard to change representatives once selected. While negotiating, maintain warmth and personal attitude while being dignified, courteous, and diplomatic.

Initially, your Spanish counterparts may seem reserved and indirect, but this changes after establishing a relationship. Create business cards in Spain with English on one side and Spanish on the other. Present your card with the Spanish side facing your Spanish colleague.

When participating in meetings in Spain, it is important to come prepared for long negotiations and avoid discussing business right away. In Spain, socializing for business purposes is seen as enjoyable. To make a positive impression on Spanish clients, it is recommended to always invite them to high-quality restaurants because many Spaniards have knowledge about gourmet cuisine and fine wines. It should be noted that dinner is typically served quite late in Spain, usually around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. If Spanish hosts invite you to their home, it is acceptable to initially decline and only accept when urged since initial invitations are often considered polite gestures. Alternatively, if your potential client accepts your lunch invitation, it can provide a good opportunity to discuss business matters.

Before discussing business matters, it is essential to wait until coffee is served after the meal (http://www.Guardian.Co.UK/world/Spain). Our company, named Medical Equipment of the United States or M.E.U.S., would be introduced in Spain. In Spanish, it would be known as Equipment Medico De Los Estates Unwinds. The specific location for our company would be On 65 Called De Flora, Barcelona, Spain. Our product range includes various medical equipment such as ultrasound and MR machines, PET and CT scanners, x-ray machines, infusion pumps, medical lasers, ALIAS surgical machines, medical ventilators, anesthetic machines and heart-lung machines.

The business, M. E. U. S., focuses on selling medical equipment like ECMA and

dialysis machines. The reason for establishing this business is the huge imports of medical equipment in Spain, which is the second largest import in the country but is declining rapidly. Being located on the same street as the largest hospital in Spain, M. E. U. S. would attract attention from doctors and patients. To expand internationally, M. E. U. S. plans to promote its company in both Spain and the U.S., utilizing advertising mediums such as newspapers, billboards, Spanish television, and the internet.

S. Elevation. We are seeking assistance from the Spanish people to promote our product in a manner that will capture their country's attention. This approach would greatly benefit our company as the Spaniards possess deep knowledge of their own nation and its preferences. Additionally, promoting our product in two distinct countries is an effective way to increase awareness. The product we have selected for sale is Gray machines; however, some adjustments are necessary, specifically modifying the language used in both the product and its packaging. Specifically, we would change the acronym from M.E.U.S. to E.M.E.U.

It is required that all printed information, such as names, instructions, mailing addresses, and labels, be in both English and Spanish. The cost of a Gray machine is typically $125,000 or 96 in Spain. Our company must modify advertising strategies for billboards, signs, and tag lines due to the ban on roadside advertising which aims to prevent distractions while driving. Additionally, it is disrespectful and against the rules to post signs in neighborhoods.