My name is Margaret Horner, and I am a junior accounting major at Texas A&M University. I am from the great city of Houston, but I can honestly say after arriving in Barcelona, I have never related to the Beverly Hillbillies more. I have never traveled to Europe before and really have not traveled internationally. When I arrived in Barcelona, it was so interesting to see a place that was entirely different from where I have lived my entire life. Everything is so different: the architecture, the food, the culture, and the people.
The first day we arrived, we were already hopping on and off underground metros like professional New Yorkers. This was actually thanks to my roommates, as I am still utterly confused by the busy maze lying beneath the city. The next day we were able to hop on a metro and head to the beach where we had the chance to eat on a restaurant directly on sand. I ordered fried fish and was greatly surprised when I received an entire, intact fish on my plate. It was something very different from anything I had tried before. Meanwhile, my roommates and I were careful to avoid eye contact with the unclothed people on the beach as we ate our food. As we ate, we discussed our tour immediately prior to La Sagrada Familia. It is a beautiful basilica designed by the famous architect Gaud?. During that tour, we learned so much about the building and the genuine character of Gaud?. While I am sure that, eventually, I will forget some of the facts mentioned that day, I do not think I will ever forget the feeling of standing in the colorful light of the stained-glass windows and feeling so tiny, yet a part of something so much greater than I can fathom.
Another thing I have noticed and truly love about Barcelona is how passionate its people are about the city. As my roommates and I were later walking by La Sagrada Familia on the way back to the apartment, which is only a few steps away, an older local lady saw us admiring the gorgeous architecture of the building, she proudly came up to us, asked us what language we spoke, and then began telling us all the information you could possibly want to know about it. I think it was the passion in her eyes as she led us to see different angles of the historic landmark, that made this my all-time favorite interaction I have ever had with a complete stranger.
And while I know that this five-week journey has only yet begun, I cannot wait to see more and more of Barcelona. I look forward to practicing more Spanish with the locals. I often get very confused looks when I try to talk in Spanish using my limited, broken vocabulary from high school Spanish classes; but I have been inspired to begin truly studying Spanish even when I arrive back in Texas. In the coming weeks, I hope to learn more about Catalonia?s interesting history, talk to more locals, and grow as much in love with the city as the sweet local lady.