In just over one week of being here in Barcelona I will say it truly is like no other place I have ever been too. When we first got here we stayed at an air bnb in a different more local part of town. We got to walk around and see a lot of the city and its culture. I’ve noticed in general how friendly strangers and locals are here and willing to help us find our way around the city. Most restaurants and coffee shops are a lot smaller than in America and there are many more options to choose from. People in Barcelona are also never in a rush to do anything. Everyday tasks usually take a long time. For example, a three hour dinner has been very common since we have been here. My preconceived idea of Spain and Barcelona in general was that it was simply a nightlife city which is far from the truth. Yes it does have its nightlife however there are so many neat spots to go hangout and see. One thing I have noticed here is that everyone is active and does some sort of physical activity. The walking can definitely contribute to this however most mornings when you go out near the beach there are people doing all sorts of activities. Some include volleyball, running, body weight training, crossfit circuits and more. I believe that we are definitely taking steps into building an aggie community here in Barcelona, however it is still far from where it could be. I personally think the best way for locals and people here in Barcelona to really get to know us Aggies is when we venture off during the day and sit down at a lunch or coffee spot and spark up a conversation with our server or whomever is helping us. Oftentimes they like to ask us questions about A&M or Texas in general. All in all the community we have begun to build in Spain is a good start to something that could grow to be well known in the city of Barcelona.
