El Salvador Culture... what to expect when you get there

El Salvador culture can be seen in virtually every aspect of people's lives. Even those of us who live abroad still have many aspects of the Salvadorean culture deeply rooted in us.

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I grew up in El Salvador so I'm very familiar with our culture, and I want to share with you a few things you can expect to see and to keep in mind when travelling to El Salvador.

Music

One of the first things you might notice is that Salvadoreans love music, loud music. So as you drive from the airport to your destination, you might see a car driving by that will make your car rattle from the high volume!

So don't be surprised or annoyed if you are woken up the next morning by the loud music coming from the surrounding homes. This is one of the customs of El Salvador that I used to hate when I was little (I liked sleeping in), but now I don't really mind, it is one of the things that make Salvadoreans, Salvadoreans!

Want to listen to some El Salvador radio stations online? check out the list of El Salvador radios I have prepared for you.

Warm, friendly people

You know, I think loud music keeps people happy so it could have something to do with Salvadoreans being friendly, warm and hospitable. Every time we go to visit we are so impressed by the hospitality and warmth of the people.

And this is not just me saying this (you might think I'm biased) but I've read the same comments over and over again in travel blogs and forums - so I'm not alone on this one!

I think this is one of the aspects of El Salvador culture that are most attractive to tourists, the saying "mi casa es su casa" (my house is your house) takes on real meaning here!

So what can you expect?

Don't be surprised if, as you meet people and make friends, you get invited for lunch, which is the main meal of the day, and get treated as one of the family. And if you get a chance to sit outside on the porch or sidewalk, you might soon be surrounded by the neighbourhood kids who want to talk to the "gringo" in town :-)

In El Salvador, the term "gringo" is used to refer to all people of Caucasian descent, so please don't be offended by it (it does not have a derogatory meaning in El Salvador). And if they really like you, they might even call you "gringuito".

Food

El Salvador culture also has a strong influence on the food we eat. Some of the main crops grown there are corn, red beans, coffee and sugar cane. So a typical meal in El Salvador will most likely include corn tortillas, beans and coffee. I'm not crazy about tortillas myself but I love red beans and coffee!

Red beans are cooked in so many different ways. My favourite way is in pupusas made from rice flour - yum! I think I always gain a few pounds when we go back to El Salvador - there's so much food to try. So I hope you like beans because you will for sure get a chance to taste them either for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Among my favourite "food" customs of El Salvador is having the afternoon coffee with some type of pastry like Maria Luisa or Semita (no wonder I eat too much there!)

Other things to keep in mind

• Always use "gracias" and "por favor" when you are given something or ask for something
• When greeting people, use their proper academic title followed by their surname, like doctor Lopez, for example
• If there is no title, use señor, señora or señorita (for a young single lady)
• A formal greeting usually consists of a handshake followed by "mi nombre es..., mucho gusto", this applies to both men and women
• if you are invited to a meal, accept the offer if possible. A meal rejection is not well received
• If you are in a big group of people don't whisper to someone in their ear. This is seen as very impolite, if you do this, you might hear someone saying "secretos en reunión son de mala educación" (secrecy in a meeting is ill-mannered)

• The familiar pronoun "VOS" is used among family members and close friends only. Speak to all others using "USTED" unless asked to do differently

The El Salvador culture is so rich and interesting, you have to learn some popular words and phrases from El Salvador to enjoy your visit more. Check out this list words and phrases YOU SHOULD know before travelling to El Salvador.

There is so much to talk about, El Salvador culture is very evident as soon as you come off the plane, it affects people's daily lives.

But I think I'll stop telling you about the culture now. I want to let you discover some other aspects of El Salvador culture on your own.

I would like you to experience that "surprised" feeling which adds to the whole experience of travelling.

If you have found an aspect of the culture of El Salvador that you would like to share with me and other readers of this page, please do so.

We would like to hear your thoughts and own experiences.

Now that you are a little familiar with the El Salvador culture, you can start planning and preparing your time there - have fun and enjoy our culture!

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