Before stepping foot into the beautiful Spanish city rich in architecture and history, I knew things would look quite different than the states. Things don’t just LOOK different, but also are TREATED and ACTED upon very differently. One prominent thing I have noticed throughout my first week here, is that people in Barcelona prefer the “you do it yourself” approach. Known to be as a very laid back country, Spanish people are responsible with basic things. Such as taking out your own trash, weighing your own grocery bag, and putting groceries into a bag yourself. I think this is a very cool mindset that trains people to be responsible of their own things, even though it seems so simple. I am not sure if this is only a Barcelona thing, or if all Spaniards across the country do this.
From a sustainable perspective, Spain is on the right track. There are designated huge trash cans on every corner of a street with colors that differentiate trash and recycle material. Green represents glass, blue for paper, brown for organic waste, gray for nonrecyclable material, and yellow for plastic. Spanish people are also not as materialistic as Americans. This is what I have noticed. People wear lots of neutral colors here, and buy staple pieces that wont go to waste. They don’t hold onto a lot of things they wont be needing. House and apartment spaces are of course much smaller here, so there is no need for too much stuff.
Spanish people are late eaters. Lunch is typically around 2:30 pm for them, and dinner around 10pm and even later sometimes! Due to Covid restrictions and the law being that curfew hits at 12am, dinner of course had been pushed a little earlier to accommodate. After lunch there is a time called “Siesta Time,” which means Spanish people take time to rest. Siesta time is from 2-5pm, and most shops, cafes, and malls all close during this time. It is a time to go home, catch up with family, and gain some energy before the late nights Spanish people tend to have. It is common to take a nap during this time as well. My initial impressions told me that Spanish people are relaxed and value family time, however they are also very responsible when it comes to getting work done.
Overall, I think the Mays Barcelona Program has been great. We had the chance to see many touristic places like Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, Cathedral of Barcelona, Day trip to Girona, and the Sitges village where the beautiful Mediterranean Sea was. Our discussion and tour at Celler Diaz, the Winery company, went very smoothly and I felt like I was in a comfortable environment to learn. The group meals that are scheduled are well chosen, tasted great, and have been in great locations. Mays has done an amazing job with choosing Christina as our ESA coordinator and tour guide. She is so kind, bubbly, helpful, and highly knowledgeable. I have injured my back when I was carrying my luggage during the beginning of the trip. For three days I have been in severe pain while going around our group trips. I am lucky to say that Christina and Dr. Pace, acted quickly and recommended me to see a doctor and have always been by my side. The international insurance which we had, covered me well and I saw a great doctor who fixed my back issues in less than a day. Christina was with me throughout the whole time, and Dr. Pace made sure I went around the city to go to the hospital with someone who can help out. Another thing I absolutely loved about the program schedule was, the discussions we have during our school time, reflecting on our experiences throughout the days. Writing in our journals helps a lot with this. There is also many free time to explore on our own and feel like a local. I think overall the program is going pretty well.