In most Spanish-speaking countries, adults who are meeting for the first time will usually offer a handshake. Sometimes they will even give a kiss on one or both cheeks, especially when they are introduced to someone they are meeting through a friend. For example, if your mom met one of your friend's moms for the first time, they would most likely kiss on one or both cheeks. Everyone is quite friendly and open to meeting new people.

Since a network of friends is very important to social life in Spanish-speaking countries, adults and families often go out together in big groups. That is why you don't see many couples going out for a quiet evening! It is very common to take children along regardless of their ages and stay out very late with them. Kids go almost everywhere with their parents, even to late-night parties and other social events. Since many people do not even eat dinner until very late-as late as 11 p.m. in Spain-on the weekends kids of all ages often go to bed after midnight! Do you think that sounds like fun?

When young people meet others their age, they do not shake hands but they sometimes will kiss on the cheek(s), mostly girls that is. Boys between the ages of eight and fourteen usually only have friends that are also boys. And girls also stick to having just girlfriends. However, it is common to see big groups of kids of both genders going out together to the movies, for pizza, or to the city center. Most kids do not date in couples until they are much older. Sometimes, though, older kids go on dates in large groups and hang out with friends at the same time.

What about you and your friends?