Despite my preparation and knowledge that this was normal, I can't deny that it still felt weird and unprofessional at first!
Months later, I'm now much more accustomed to greeting people with a kiss on the cheek - whether it's my landlord, a friend, a co-worker or someone I'm being introduced to for the first time. There have still been some awkward moments where I reach out my hand for a handshake, but usually I'll laugh it off and explain that "Soy Americana" (I am American).
Adjusting to this form of greeting took a little while because our society in the U.S. tends to be more of a low-contact culture. Studying communication in college helped me understand this. I remember learning about proxemics and haptics, which are the studies of communication through the use of touch and space. Professionally, for example, we typically don't touch other people at work unless it's with a handshake. In Spain, however, it's completely normal to greet your boss or coworkers with a kiss on the cheek, pat on the back, hug, etc. Putting a hand on someone's shoulder isn't always perceived as a power move, condescending, or creepy, as it might be in the U.S. Americans also have a pretty wide circumference when it comes to our bubble of personal space. Keeping in mind my own cultural background and the expectations I've come to learn has helped me see how the use of touch in Spain isn't always creepy or bad; it's just a different set of norms and perspectives.
I think communicating more often through touch and space with others has changed the way I see the classroom and the workplace, among other things. In Spain, I feel like the classroom is much more friendly and less quiet.
