Misconceptions About Spain Persist Among Americans, TikTok Reveals
NEW YORK, NY - A spanish exchange student’s TikTok video highlighting bizarre questions he’s received in the U.S. has gone viral, revealing a startling level of geographical and cultural misunderstanding among some Americans. The student, who goes by @piedroleenusa on the platform, documented a series of inquiries suggesting some believe Spain lacks basic modern conveniences and is geographically confused with Mexico.
The TikTok, detailing ”the most historical questions” he’s faced in his first month in the U.S., includes being asked if Spain even has cars and if people ride bulls rather of driving them. Another commenter shared they were asked if they spoke Spanish after stating they were from Spain.The student recounted being asked, “Do you have fast food in Spain?” and, upon mentioning he was from Madrid, being told, “The capital of Mexico?” he initially faced a culinary query, being asked if he knew what spaghetti was and if it existed in Spain shortly after arriving at the airport.
The video has resonated with others who’ve experienced similar cultural blunders while traveling. One user commented, ”They asked me if I speak Spanish after saying that I am from Spain.” Another shared an experience from their honeymoon in Jamaica, where they were asked if Spain was located in Mexico. The trend highlights a broader issue of limited global awareness and reinforces the idea that, for some, Spain exists as a historical artifact rather than a contemporary European nation.
