Embracing a New Way of Life While Studying in Barcelona, Spain
During my time studying abroad, I learned that understanding these five simple things will help you shift your mindset to adapt to local life in Barcelona.
1. "Where there is room for two, there is room for three." This is a popular local saying that means there is always room for one more person. Essentially, inclusivity is a vital part of daily life.
2. Sobremesa. This literally translates to "about the table." It’s an expression for sitting around the table and talking for an extra hour or two after you've finished eating or drinking. There's no such thing as awkward silence; just sitting in each other's company is enough.
Sobremesa: we sat at this table for two hours talking!
3. "Pasar tiempo con alguien." In Spanish, they say you "pass time with someone" instead of "spend time with someone" as we do in English. Spending implies that time is running out; passing implies that time moves more slowly. If you can start thinking of time as moving slower, you'll have an easier time adapting to life in Barcelona.
4. It's about the group, not the individual. In the US, a lot of the time, the goal is to stand out. In Spain, it's the opposite. The goal is to make sure the group is comfortable. If you learn to invest in the group dynamic during conversation, you will adapt seamlessly.
A trip meant for two turned into a trip of five. There's always room for one more!
5. Relationships come first, work comes second. Don't be surprised to see people sitting outside talking at all hours of the day. Life doesn't revolve around work here; it revolves around your relationships with others. Learning to prioritize people instead of accomplishments is a drastic shift from the typical US mindset, but it is essential to life in Barcelona.
This post was written by Eliza Thorne, a student at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor who studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain.
