Why Southern Europe Shuts Down in August – A Culture Shock Story!
For many Erasmus+ students, culture shock does not happen when they arrive in their Southern European destination… It happens a few weeks’ later! Imagine, you walk to your favourite café and find a sign on the door, “Closed for holidays until 1 September.” The local bakery is closed too. So is the family-run restaurant around the corner. Even some small businesses seem to have disappeared overnight! For students arriving from countries where businesses operate almost continuously throughout the year, August in Southern Europe can be a surprising experience. At first, it may feel confusing. Soon, however, many discover that this annual slowdown is one of the most fascinating aspects of Mediterranean lifestyle.