Spanish bureaucracy is notorious, even among the Spanish. And getting a smile from the workers? Practically impossible.

But they’re just humans, doing a job and often running into unpleasant or unhappy people who don’t or won’t cooperate.

I’ve learned in the 1.5 years I’ve been in Spain that a little humility, kindness, and using what Spanish I know goes a long way toward a better bureaucratic experience.

Yesterday, it earned me a smile from a man who, I would venture to guess, doesn’t smile a lot at work.

I felt like I’d won the day. 😅