This is my final project for HP/AN345: Catalan Cultural Studies. The assignment was to create a city journal based upon personal research reguarding the city of Barcelona and Catalan culture. I needed to include a certain amount of news stories, leisure activities, cultural experiences, field trips and restaurants. Four months ago I hopped off a plane from Chicago and was completely submerged into Catalan Culture. These are some of the experiences I have had in Catalunya. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed experiencing them. Feel free to leave comments if you'd like.
Thanks for reading!
Rebecca Taylor
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
What does Marilyn Manson and Catalunya have in common?
Local News Story
Marilyn Manson had a concert here in Barcelona this past weekend. I know, it doesn’t sound like breaking news at all. But it was a pretty big deal. He came on December 4th and played at the Olympic Stadium at Montjuic. This was the stadium originally created for the 1929 International Exposition that never happened but was rebuilt for the 1992 Olympic games. This stadium is HUGE! It has a capacity of 55,926 (70,000 during the 1992 Olympics). It hosts many athletic events as well as concerts today. The outside of the structure looks like a cathedral or palace, but the inside is a huge field and stadium. When I first saw the Stadium, I didn’t know it was a stadium but rather a huge castle or cathedral. I find this very intriguing. What seems peaceful and church-like on the outside was hosting Marilyn Manson’s tour on the inside.
Believe it or not, Marilyn Manson and Catalunya have a lot in common. He has been known to make extremely controversial comments that upsets a lot of people. Some people hate him for his extreme ideas, but some people support his “out of the box ideology.” Catalunya would never do that! (insert sarcastic smirk here) Catalans have always been chastised for their radical ideas of being different from the rest of Spain. There have been wars and countless people dead because traditional Catalans have a different perception of government and culture than the rest of Spain. Historically Catalunya has always wanted to be an independent country from Spain, and this can be observed in almost any aspect of Catalan life today. People in Madrid don’t have a lot of nice things to say about Catalan ideas, while those in the Basque region look to them for inspiration. The point is that both Marilyn Manson and traditional Catalans have radical ideas that have never been supported by higher authority, but neither give in and submit to social normalcy’s. Marilyn Manson could be describing Catalunya when he claims “They can’t destroy me just because I have a different opinion.” Some have tried, but the radical ideals still live on in Catalan tongue.
Siesta: A Fading Tradition
Local News Story
Spain is not exactly known for it’s efficiency. I was really looking forward to the lazy Spanish lifestyle when I came abroad. Although Barcelona and Catalunya are don’t exhibit the traditional Spanish lifestyle, it is still pretty prevalent. A typical day is arriving at work around 9, getting a coffee and donut or croissant for a 45 minute break around 11, going home for lunch from around 2-5, and working until around 8 or 9.
An article just came out that claims the “average Catalan workday is 35.8 hours, the longest since 1999.” Although that is a mere average of 7.16 hours every day, this is significantly more than what Catalans are used to. Part of Catalan culture is to take one’s time and get things done at a pace that is comfortable. The article did state that companies with less than 250 employees usually work less hours. This makes sense because large global companies are no longer tolerating the lack of efficiency that is conducive with Spanish culture.
Personally, I do not have any classes from 2-4, the typical siesta time here in Catalunya. When I was down in Andalucia, the siesta was from around 2-7. That’s a long siesta! Banks, grocery stores, restaurants, basically any retail store is completely closed at the time. It is impossible to purchase anything during a siesta. Even though Barcelona is a metropolitan city and needs to be more efficient than cultural norms allow, it still does demonstrate a small siesta. The whole concept of the siesta is to have a break from school or work in the middle of the day and spend time with one’s family over a long lunch. I love this concept! I think that families would be much closer and happier if they could all get together in the middle of the day for a stress-free lunch. However, I do understand the demands of having a global economy. Time zones and our fast-paced global work force does not allow for long breaks in the middle of the day. It does make me sad that Spanish culture is slowly being erased with the new technological era. I think many Americans can learn from the Spanish values of family time and relaxing. It may even make everyone more efficient when they are at work. However this is just one of many ways that traditional Spanish and Catalan culture are being Americanized.
"Every Life Matters"
National News
I was visiting my friend in Madrid last week. She was taking me all around the city to see all the sites and so were in Puerta del Sol. The whole placa was packed with people. We couldn’t move or get anywhere. I knew Madrid was more populated than Barcelona, but I didn’t think there was THAT many people in the city. After noticing the red capes, red shirts, picket signs and chanting, I realized I was right in the middle of a demonstration. In Spain, a demonstration is like a rally or a strike. There over a million people all coming together to fight in what they thought was right. I’ve never been to a rally or anything even remotely similar to the anti-abortion demonstration in Madrid. Currently, abortion is illegal except in particular situations: rape, endangerment to the mother, ect. There was a law proposed to make abortion legal to anyone 16 and older, and this was the some of public’s response to it.
I consider myself really lucky to have stumbled upon this huge national rally. I have never even heard of a situation where that many people come from all over the country to show their support (or anti-support) for something as simple as a law proposal. Although personally, I disagree with the mass of people, I couldn’t help but be inspired by them. They truly believe in something and are fighting to encourage it. How incredible! In the States, we do not do things like this. If we disagree with something, we sit at a bar amongst our friends and complain about it. These people must have spent lots of time, money, and effort to get over a million people to band together in Madrid. It made me want to stand up for what I believe in, too. This is just one of the ways that I have experienced other cultures, mindsets, and customs, and it will truly affect me when I return to the States.
A Windy World
Local News Story
It was a normal night: My roommate, Senora, and I were eating cena and watching the television. The news came on and was talking about some corrupt politicians in the Catalan government. As someone who is from Chicago (named “The Windy City” for it’s “windy” politicians), this did not phase me at all. But Senora was freaking out. It turns out that she grew up with the politician that was currently being investigated. She couldn’t believe that the “nice guy” from all her classes was now in jail. She said that she purchased the book he wrote last year and was waiting to get together with him to sign it. Now, she didn’t want anybody to know she was associated with him. Macia Alavedra has been, since 1989, minister of Economy of the Generalitat de Catalunya, president of the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca (Catalan Research Foundation) and president of CESCA from its foundation until July 1997. However, he is now known for his shady political deals when holding a position in the Catalan Governement.
This is one of the things I have learned in my experiences abroad: people are not all that different. Although the United States and Spain are completely different countries with very different governments, they are both equally corrupt. Some American students in my program have made ignorant comments about all the corruption on the news here in Spain, saying that Spain itself is just a really crooked country. I can’t believe this! The governmental officials are just as corrupt (or probably even more) in the States. However, it is just not on the news as much. Just because it’s not on the news every day like it is in Spain, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen. It is pathetically comforting for me to know that all countries are shady in their own way. I realize that Spanish culture and values couldn’t be any different than American, but we all do have things in common: everybody has a price.
When you point one finger, three are pointing back at you
National News Story
This week is the huge Copenhagen Summit. It is essentially a meeting of over 200 world leaders to create a plan to reduce carbon emissions on a global scale. I am extremely interested in this because ideally I will be working in an environmental sector after I graduate. I also think it is necessary for there to be a global agreement in order to realistically reduce carbon emissions. This is a follow-up from the Kyoto Protocol back in the ’90’s. At the Kyoto meeting, many countries vowed to reduce (in increase) their carbon emissions by a certain percent depending on their wealth and development as a country. They believed it was not fair to not allow some undeveloped countries to develop because they cannot put carbon into the atmosphere. Each country was analyzed and given a certain percent to increase or decrease their carbon emissions. The United States is by far the highest producer of carbon emissions per person. This means that my home country has the majority of the responsibility for this issue and needs to address it. However, until recently, President Obama was not stating whether or not he would even come to the Copenhagen meeting. Currently he has announced that he will attend the meeting, but may not attend the last few days to create a solution. As a concerned American, this is just embarrassing. How is it that the country that is leading the issue (and also sets examples for many other countries) does not believe it is a priority to fix it’s mistakes and literally help the world? The goal was to reduce overall carbon emissions by 50% by 2050. This would be the amount of sustainable carbon emissions.
In the last 4 months in Spain, I have noticed a lack of interest and concern in environmental issues. For example, my host mother does not recycle at all, and neither does any of my friend’s host families. There are some recycle bins next to dumpsters for recycling so it is available, however it is just not a main concern. I have told my host mom that I can take out the plastic bottles of water to recycle them and she said, “This is how we do it. We put everything in the trash and throw it away all at once.” I have also noticed a similar situation at my school, IES. The school systems should be the most concerned about environmental efforts because schools influence children who influence their families. However, there is one recycling location at IES, an establishment spread out across three floors. Also, since the Kyoto Protocol, Spain overall has increased it’s emissions by 40%. I do recognize some things the government has been doing to help. The Catalan Government has a really cool idea to make schools “eco-friendly” so that children are always aware of environmental issues. However, the main producers of waste are adults. The adults in Spain seem to have the same outlook as President Obama: there are more important issues to deal with right now.
I'd Like to Order a Bikini???
Catalan Cuisine
It didn’t take long for me to realize the Spanish are completely obsessed with ham. Granted, I love ham and consider myself a ham snob (I raised pigs growing up) but it is nothing like the Spanish. I have seen ham flavored potato chips, bacon flavored crackers, ham legs hanging in every window, and even ham flavored ice cream. Yep, ham ice cream. Ham Serrano seems to be the ham of choice for most menu items. It is the cured and dried ham that is typically seen on tapas or in a bocadillo. Bocadillos are pretty popular too. They are typical American sandwiches but are usually prepared on a white crispy baguette. Naturally it is very common to combine these two hometown favorites into a typical lunch item.
The first time I was at a small Spanish restaurant/bar for lunch I was looking over the menu deciding what kind of bocadillo I wanted. I saw one called a “bikini.” I asked the waiter about it and he said that it is a typical ham and melted cheese sandwich. I asked him why it wasn’t called just a ham and cheese sandwich and he said it was only called a biking in Barcelona. If I went to any other place and asked for it, I would receive a bathing suit. HA! It was the first of many things I would learn that happen only in Catalunya or Barcelona. Regardless, I decided to order the Bikini and give it a try. I was not disappointed. It was warm and the cheese was perfectly melted and the sandwich bread was toasted and crispy. Needless to say the tiny bar with only 5 stools became a local favorite place to go for lunch.
Churros con Chocolate: Ideal Breakfast Food
Spanish/Catalan Cuisine One of my friends studying in Madrid came to visit me in Barcelona. She is in graduate school in Madrid and has spent a few years living in Spain. I told her there was a legendary Churros con Chocolate place in Barcelona and she decided she needed to investigate this place further. All of my information books and guide books on Barcelona say that La Café de La Opera on La Rambla has the best chocolate (and churros) around. I was very apprehensive when I read this because I think all the food on La Rambla is terrible and should be avoided like the Plague. I was also skeptical because the restaurant serves Churros con Chocolate all day, and it is only a Spanish breakfast food. This screams tourist trap to me. But I thought I’d still give it a try. We ordered some of my favorite tapas: pan con tomate, patatas bravas, meatballs, and croquettes. They were not bad at all. They weren’t the best tapas I have ever had, but they exceeded my very low expectations.
Finally it was time for dessert and we ordered two orders of Churros con Chocolate. They looked just like the ones I had in Madrid. I tried the chocolate and was blown away. In Madrid, I had to add sugar to the chocolate because it was so dark and rich. At Café de la Opera I didn’t add sugar or anything and the chocolate was perfect for me. The churros were piping hot and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. MMMMmmm. I was in bliss eating them. They also met my friend’s expectations. If these churros con chocolate can be compared with the best in Spain, I would say they are pretty darn good.
Thanksgiving Dinner in Spain
Catalan Restaurant
In the States, November is Thanksgiving month. The whole month is characterized by that one day: Thanksgiving. The premise behind thanksgiving is to have a huge meal (with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, ect.) and give thanks for the things we all have and treasure but don’t normally say anything about. Usually American football makes an appearance sometime during the day too. So naturally I was feeling a little left out of this traditional American holiday here in Spain. I wanted to be with my family and friends on the one day of the year that is meant to be spent with the people closest to me. I knew I was thankful for being in Spain, but I felt like I was missing something back home. My roommate, Chelsea, had her dad come to visit for Thanksgiving. Our mutual friend, Doug, had both his parents and his brother and sister all come for Thanksgiving. They both invited me to have a Spanish-style Thanksgiving dinner to substitue the emptiness they were sure I was going to feel on Thanksgiving. Of course I accepted.
We went to Cerveceria Catalan, a traditional Catalan Restaurant on Gran Via. When we got there we were informed it was going to be a 45 minute wait. Doug’s family had heard about the restaurant and was told the wait is part of the fun of going. So we ordered a pitcher of white sangria and got to know each other better. (I have never heard of white sangria before but I highly recommend it) While we were talking I noticed the speedy waiters running back and forth with huge plates of shrimp and meat. I could tell tapas was this restaurant’s speciality. When we were finally seated they dubbed me to be the translator. They asked for veal steaks, shrimp, cheese dips, bacon-wrapped dates, and dessert. OH MY WORD! The veal steaks were perfectly cooked: tender and juicy. The shrimp were seasoned perfectly. The cheese dip was much better than I could describe. And who knew deep friend bacon-wrapped dates would be so delicious? It was tapas style so for the big items we ordered one for each and for the smaller items we just took what we wanted and put it on our plate. Tapas are like traditional Thanksgiving dinners: family style. So we took what we wanted and passed it to the next person. Our dinner was well over 2 hours, a typical Spanish meal. We talked, laughed, enjoyed excellent food, and took in the Catalan ambiance. It was honestly my favorite meal in Barcelona. The restaurant and the company was excellent. I will never forget the Thanksgiving dinner I had at Cerveceria Catalana.
Un Noche con Catalanes...
Leisure ActivityOne night, two friends and I decided to head to a bar to hang out, talk, and simply relax after a stressful week. We went into Barrio Gothic, where we knew we would be able to find a quiet, small bar to hang out. We found just that. The bar had wicker chairs around a few tables and even cushions on the ground to sit and relax. The three of us were sitting around a table, just talking (in English) about the upcoming weeks and trips. A group of Spaniards around our age sat at the table nearest to us. After a while they asked us (in Castellano) if we spoke Spanish. All of us were super excited to respond that we in fact did. We exchanged pleasantries and general information about each other as they were very interested to hear our perceptions of Spain from an extranjera point of view, just as we kept asking them about the United States.
We were thrilled to be practicing our Spanish with Spaniards. They did speak a little bit of English, but our Spanish was a lot better than their English, so Spanish was the language of choice. They asked us all about what we thought of Catalans and their ways of life. They were very curious to know what we thought of Spanish culture. We were eager to know more about the culture that we were so rapidly submersed in. It was very interesting to hear what they thought of things like bullfights, siestas, drinking, ect. After we discussed cultural aspects of Spain and the United States, one of the guys wanted to talk politics. He wanted to know all bout Obama and what we thought of him compared to the Spanish president and king. It turns out, he is studying political science and breathes politics. It also came out that another one of the guys was an anarchist, who wanted nothing more but than to have no political system at all. He had some very radical ideas. He was convinced that almost all political issues are a government ploy. He even said that Sep. 11th, 2001 never happened, but rather was digitally created and shown to the American people on television so that going to war was justified. Although we did not agree with him, we did appreciate having a different perspective on political matters that we were familiar with.
We spent pretty much the whole night sitting at the small bar with our new Catalan friends discussing politics. I knew that politics in Spain (especially Catalunya) were very controversial, but I had no idea how interested the youth was in these matters. In the States, usually politics are for older, more sophisticated people to discuss over a fancy dinner. Here, we were talking about complicated issues with countries all over the world in a tiny bar, with cushions on the floors! This was one of my most memorable cultural experiences because I was able to really compare and discuss all aspects of culture with real Spanish people. It gave me a completely new perception of Catalans, politics, and Spanish Catalan culture as a whole.
Vamos a la Playa!
Leisure Activity
Honestly, one of the main reasons I chose Barcelona over other cities in Spain was the fact that it is a costal city. I’ve never been to a beach other than at Lake Michigan before and was really looking forward to having the Sea be a part of my everyday life. The first week I was here I went to the beach every day. Most of the people from IES went to Barceloneta, the main beach that is easily accessed by public transportation. It is also the main beach for tourists. In Barceloneta was impossible to be calm and relaxed at the beach because every minute or two people came up to me and asked “masanje?” or “Cerveza, Refrescos?” These people were trying to get me to buy a massage for 5 euros or a beer or soft drink. One of my Spanish friends later told me that these venders are usually immigrants that are trying to make a living off of the tourism industry. This is not uncommon at all in Barcelona. In fact, the majority of vendors on the street or beaches are immigrants attempting to make a living off of the huge amounts of tourists. Also theft at Barceloneta is terrible, as people are robbed when they go into the water every single day.
After being harassed by both Spanairds and Americans, I decided to explore other stretches of the beautiful beach. I found a small area that I would soon dub “my beach.” It was the beach that was across the street from the huge golden whale structure that was on top of the hotel/casino. My roommate and I were the only Americans in the area. It was calm and relaxing and everything I wanted in a beach. Although it was quite a walk to find showers and something to snack on, the solitude was worth it.
One of the main cultural differences of the beach in Spain compared to the united States is sheer sense of shamelessness. Women do not wear tops at Spanish beaches. All women. Even Senoras that were much older than my grandmas did not tan with a top on. At first this really bothered me. I kept trying to find a spot on the area of beach that I wanted to be on without being too close to the topless women. After about a day or two I was totally used to it. Although I did not participate in the trend, I just accepted it and eventually it did not bother me. Women weren’t the only ones at the beach that had no shame. The men did wear bottoms, but barely. Men in the States usually wear baggy swim trunks at the beach or in the water. Here the Speedo is a common part of their wardrobe. Both genders were never afraid to show their bodies. They did not flaunt them either. Everyone was just very accepting and non-judgmental in what is usually a judgmental environment. Nobody seemed to have a care in the world. I don’t really blame them. We were all on the beach in Spain in beautiful weather.
Barca! Barca! BARCAAAA!
Leisure Activity For the record, I have been a huge soccer fan for years. I have been playing competitively for 10 years now. Soccer is by far my favorite sport. I was super excited to come to Spain and be with people who share this passion with me, unlike in the States. I knew soccer was a huge part of life here in Spain so I was very excited to share this asset of culture with them. In Barcelona, soccer is life. As I learned in Xavi’s class, there is so much more to soccer than rooting for your hometown’s team. It is extremely political and cultural and defines who a person is. Barca fans have a different attitude towards the game than Real Madrid fans. It is similar to comparing Chicago Cubs fans and Chicago White Sox fans. Simply by someone wearing a t-shirt supporting their team, I know where they live in the city and what kind of person they are. I did not know about this aspect of soccer. I thought I was supporting my city of Barcelona when I bought my Barca shirt. I had no idea that I was inadvertently supporting one of the extremist political parties in Catalunya. This is a major reason why soccer is such a big cultural aspect in Spain.
Tickets to see FC Barcelona play in at their home stadium, Camp Nu, are priced depending on their competition. When Real Madrid came to play Barcelona, if I could find a ticket, the cheapest one would be around 200 euros. For this reason my friends and I went to the home game against Cultural Leonesa. The tickets were 7 euros for the top sections. There was NOBODY at the stadium. Seriously, nobody. My friends and I were the only people in my entire section. But it was still really fun. We got to see Barca play at home and won 5-0. For me, watching them play together was an inspiration. Their skill level makes the game completely different from what I know as soccer. I could not keep my eyes off the quick feet of Messi and Xavi. I felt truly lucky to be in the presence of some of the best players in the world. Barca is an incredible team with an incredible following.
Catalan History Museum
Cultural Activity 
I loved the Catalan History Museum. It scored it’s first point when I didn’t have to pay an entrance fee because I’m a student. To me, it was already worth the bus trip. Secondly the building itself is a piece of history. It is located right in the port and had a great feeling to it. I know the building was previously used for something, but I can’t remember what! When they say “Catalan History” they really mean it. They had exhibits about the first man that walked on Catalan soil all the way to current day. I epically loved the ancient exhibits. It was incredible to see how smart people were with limited skills and tools. Some of the houses that early man lived in are better than some of the sketchy hostels I have stayed in! The museum discussed how Catalunya developed into the agricultural area it is now. There was a whole room showing how previous Catalans were able to harvest the land without any technology.
Another part of the museum that stuck out to me was the relatively modern part, beginning around 1900. This had a totally different vibe than the rest of the museum. There were “modern” inventions all over the place, with soothing blues music playing in the background. There was also an exhibit on the Spanish Civil War. Every time I hear about the Spanish Civil War I get emotional. One reason is that I never learned about it before in school. It was so crucial for Spain and what would happen to it in the future, and so many people died, but I never even heard of it. The Spanish Civil War was a war between the soon-t0-be dictator of Spain, Franco, and his troops with the Spanish who didn’t support him. It ended terribly with concentration camps and a 40 year reign with a fascist dictator that would forever define Spain. Yet I had no idea about it.
I went to this museum over Thanksgiving weekend. At that point it had been almost three months since I have lived in Spain. When I saw the pictures of the Spanish fighting against each other and the terrible things in the concentration camps, my heart went out to any and all Spaniards. It just felt like I was seeing my own families going to war to fight against something they didn’t believe in and loose. It didn’t sit well with me at all. But it did show me that I am very much connected with Spain and it’s inhabitants. This was my first of many true indications that I have been changed by my time in Spain.
Flamenco Friday
Cultural Activity My R.A. took a group of us to see a flamenco show in Placa Mayor in Barrio Gothic. I had no idea what flamenco was so I had no expectations. The venue was a small place, just enough room for a stage, a bar, and a few tiny bar tables. The rest of the room was filled wit chairs and people standing. The tiny room was packed with people. All the people looked and spoke Spanish or Catalan so I figured it was going to be a good show. A small band of 4 people came out and started music. The music was very different, and hard to explain. But it would get louder and quieter and made me anticipate something happening. All of a sudden a women came out dressed in a traditional flamenco dress. It was angled all the way down with layers after layer until it hit the floor. She started moving her feet and arms like crazy. She was stomping and jumping and swinging with the rhythm of the band. She also had clappers in her hand. This added to the suspense of the dance. It was impossible for me to take my eyes off her! She moved so swiftly yet so gracefully. I couldn’t believe how fast her feet were moving.
A man came out dressed in all black. He did a solo dance and then beckoned the female dancer to dance with him. The dance was pretty sexual so it was very interesting to watch. Both dancers had so much energy. Sometimes people in the crowd would shout things out to egg them on. I have no idea how they moved their feet that fast for so long. But they did and when she show was over the crowd loved it. I loved it. I loved seeing a dance that wasn’t slow or calm, but rather fierce with tons of energy. Watching the dance got me really interested in the history of the flamenco dance. I asked my R.A. about it and he said that it isn’t really that popular here in Catalunya, but much more in southern Spain. The Sardinia is the Catalan dace, which I also love. Both are extremely different and can be appreciated as key cultural aspects of Spain.
Livin' La Vida...Merce
Cultural Activity I was lucky enough to be in Barcelona during the biggest celebration of the year: La Merce. Merce is the patron saint of Barcelona and so she is celebrated by the entire city. Years ago, it was more of a Catholic festival than a cultural festival. However today it is celebrated by anyone who feels passionate about Barcelona and it’s rich culture and history. The first festivities were concerts on Wednesday night. There were a whole bunch of bands playing at various stages. It was similar to Summerfest in Wisconsin (the largest music festival in the country). I hopped on the metro with some of the people from IES not exactly knowing what I was getting in to. What should have been a short 15 minute metra ride ended up being about 45 minutes of craziness. The metra was packed. I mean packed like sardines. The Metra was an indicator of the huge amount of people that were there too. It was so crowded! The band I saw was a techno-rock band that was like nothing I have heard back in the States. I really enjoyed the whole concert scene because it reminded me of the county fair back home.
The next day was the main festival in the city. My roommate and I found a place to stand on La Rambla to see the parade. The parade was not at all like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade one bit. First of all it was a much smaller scale and not as organized. There were small kids playing instruments and random people walking in the parade. But the main difference was the gigantes. The were at least 30 of these giants that were all part of the parade. They “danced” and were usually in pairs. Some were people with bird heads while others were just giant people. Some were normal sized people with huge heads. It was very animated and silly to me. I know they hold a cultural significance but I am not sure what.
We followed the parade back to the main placa where we saw castellers! It was so cool! These are huge human pyramids that have a base of a whole crowd of people and are topped off by a small child. There have been children that have fallen to their deaths making the top part of the castellers so today they were wearing helmets. All the random people were helping out to make the castelle even stronger. It was incredible to see such a unity among strangers just to make a human pyramid. It was interesting because I know it is sort of a competition amongst other groups to see who can make the best one. I wonder how much they practice or if they have tryouts for it. I thought it was incredible to be a part of the most important cultural event of my new city, Barcelona. I am very lucky I got to see it.
Museu Maritim Barcelona
Field Trip I was really excited for this field trip. Not only do I love history, but I love boats! I knew Barcelona was a huge port city, but I didn’t know how long it had been one. Some of the boats we saw in the museum were just that: boats. Some were not bigger than the rowboat at the lake in Wisconsin. These boats were in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean fighting storms and huge waves. It was super interesting to me to see the evolution of the boats and ships and how they changed the city. The bigger the boats, the bigger the port, the bigger the city, the bigger the income. At the end of the museum we saw a “modern” Spanish ship replica. It was bright red with tons of gold trim on it. It was the Spanish was to show all the other countries that they were a force to be reckoned with. The boat was powered by slaves in the cabin that would row the long paddles back and forth together. The conditions on the ship must have been terrible! I can’t even imagine all the diseases and problems the people on the ship must have encountered every day. I had blisters on my hands from kayaking for 3 days! I can’t imagine working for weeks on end under those conditions.
We also saw the maps that the Spanish had drawn throughout the years. It was so interesting to see the “evolution” of the world and see the changes of the maps every time something new was discovered. The first map was pretty much all of Europe. This was the only thing they knew existed and so it was supposedly the whole world. Then Asia and Africa were discovered. At this point Columbus was certain the world was round and was going to sail across the Atlantic to reach Asia. Of course he didn’t get there, but rather “discovered” America. In all the maps you could almost see the changes of perception and ideology with the evolution of geography. Overall, the building, the exhibits, and the information was really interesting and showed me how Barcelona has transformed as a port city.
Medievel Barcelona
Field Trip 
I have been in this area plenty of times. My favorite church, Santa Maria del Mar is in this area. So for me it was very interesting to learn about and see the history of the place that I hang out in. Santa Maria del Mar was a symbol of the middle class that was uprising in Barcelona. It was a place for everyone who was being oppressed to gather and illustrate how they are coming together. It was a physical structure that showed they were a force to be reckoned with. I had no idea there was so much behind the church that I go to mass in. The middle class was so repressed at the time. There were invasions and people trying to take them over from all angles. At one point the city was burned down!
It was the same for the Born area. I wander around the barrio and go window shopping there all the time. I think some of the best food is In that area. We learned all about the tiny streets and how they all used to be specialized. There used to be plaques outside of each store showing what kind of store it was. Also, the storeowners lived on the bottom floor. In terms of living spaces, the higher the floor, the lower the income. It was easier to do laundry and such when you don’t have to climb stairs. I thought this was extremely interesting because today the most expensive apartments are at the top and the cheapest are at the bottom. It is just another way priorities and changed with technology. Overall, I really enjoyed the field trip. I loved hearing how the history of the place affects the cultural attitudes of the Catalans as well as the middle class in general.
Roman Barcino
Field Trip
I had no idea what to expect when I went to the Roman Barcino. I knew that the Romans were the first to create cities, but I had no idea how complex they would be or what they would be like. The first thing we did before we went to the museum was see the remnants of a Roman wall. It was just in the middle of a neighborhood, while people’s clothing was draped around it for drying. I thought this was so strange! This ancient pieces of history with clothes around it, completely unnoticed by the people around it. To me, this is unfathomable. In Illinois, I found a fossil of a plant in my yard and thought I hit the jackpot. Here, it is an entire civilization that is outside someone’s kitchen! I guess this is how all of Europe is and people are just used to it. But anyways, the wall was very much in tact and does not look like anything I have ever seen before.
When we got to the museum we saw some pictures and descriptions of events in Spanish history. It was in Catalan and I couldn’t really understand what the words were saying. Then my entire class packed into one elevator and went back in time like 2500 years. What I mean was instead of the elevator saying we were going down three flights, it said how many years were were going back. I thought that’s was very fun and also conditioned me for when I would get out of the elevator. When the doors open I see this vast maze-like area of glass floors and railing. It was the ancient city of Barcelona when the Romans built it. Although it was only one small area of the city, I could get the feeling that I was in the middle of it. The Roman ruins were all in the ground and there were glass floors on top of it for us to walk on. The ruins were all made out of stone and looked like rocky concrete. There were various rooms that were all for different purposes. Some had an oven and you could tell it was used as a kitchen. Others had shelves and barrels that were for storage of food and grain. There were even ancient freezers! Some cod was salted and dried and put in a room to keep it fresh. Another room was a winery. There were barrels for the grapes and an area for them to be smashed and fermented. Wine was a huge part of their culture and so they took it very seriously. Overall, it was really cool to see some of the work the Romans did and to see how it has lasted throughout the years. Now I am able to identify other Roman aspects of the city.
My Epilogue
I came to Spain with limited Spanish, no travel experience, no experience with cultural differences, and no idea what to expect. I honestly thought that Catalan was just a subset dialect of Castellano! I have learned more and changed more than I will ever be able to iterate. I know a completely different person is going to return in Chicago. How do I begin to describe living in a foreign country for four months and being completely submerged in a different culture? I truly can’t. I can simply note significant events that have changed my perceptions and my understanding of Spanish culture.
This farm-raised girl who has never traveled outside of the Midwest has seen more and experienced more cultures than everyone in my town combined! I believe the fact that I have never experienced anything other than the Midwest make me truly appreciate every little detail. I have never seen saltwater before, or even seen a real mountain. Within my first week in Barcelona, I saw them both at the same time. I remember soaking up every smell, every cloud, every taste, every single thing. Because I have only known one culture, it was fairly easy for me to be introduced into a new environment. I didn’t have any “cultural baggage” that I felt particularly attached to.
I came to Spain with the intentions to keep the essence of myself, but also allow the new culture to mold me into a more understanding, cultural woman. Upon reflection, just days before I leave this beautiful country, I believe I have achieved everything I wanted to do. I now fully understand and appreciate other cultures, especially Catalan. When I flew back to Barcelona from my last weekend travel, I realized that I AM home. Barcelona is my new home. And it is here that I have developed into the person that I will be for the rest of my life. Gràcies per tot, Barcelona.
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