The past few days I’ve been thinking a lot about my “role” here; how I am an outsider to this culture, language, way of life. While this is not a totally brand new feeling (to say the least), it is one that has been continuously on my mind lately.
The last time I spent an extended amount of time alone here was last summer. My trip in 2009 offered me an inside view of what life is like for Catalan people, because I found myself spending a lot of time with them. Also, I did more touristy things, like day trips to beach towns, spending time at the beach near my apartment, and traveling around Catalonia. All of those things were amazing, and really helped make that such a memorable trip.
This time however, it’s different. Now I am in Barcelona full time, and it’s a different way of life here. Platja d’Aro, my “home” last summer, is a beach town that people vacation to. Barcelona, on the other hand, is a bustling city that is busy with everyday life. Of course, there are plenty of tourists, but there is also a very real sense that people are working here, living their day-to-day existence.
In turn, that is the kind of experience I’m having. Volunteering during the day, resting after, and then doing things around the city in the evenings – that has been my routine. It has been fulfilling in a different way, giving me a view of what my “real life” here could potentially be like. For that I am very grateful. Though it has been uncomfortable, as most of my time abroad has been to a certain extent, it has been an opportunity for me to face the anxieties and fears that will come with living in a new country/culture/city (should that be my path.) Read the rest of this entry »