Aug. 14, 2007

Name: Allison Barthold
Hometown: Manheim, PA
Graduation Year: 2008
Major(s): Sociology
Minor(s): Public Policy
Country of Study: Spain
Institution or Program: IES Barcelona

Q: Everyone walks into a new situation with some preconceived notions about what's to come. Which of your preconceptions was the most accurate? Which was entirely inaccurate?

AB: Initially I expected a culture that moved slowly and arrived late to everything. For the most part this was very accurate. Everyone is much more relaxed and concerned with enjoying the day rather than rushing through it to accomplish extensive laundry lists.

Arriving late was one of my favorite preconceived notions that proved true. At UPF a two hour class routinely began 25 minutes late when the professor decided to arrive and was succeeded by a 10 minute break which was actually at least another 20-25 minutes of waiting for his return.

I believed that Barcelona would be like most of Western Europe where the majority of people speak English. This could not have been more false as Barcelona is located in the region of Cataluyna where citizens first speak Catalan, then Castilian (our "Spanish"), and maybe a little English. This isolation and my total illiteracy was like a slap in the face; I realized that the world does not revolve around America or the English language.

Q: Describe the defining moment of your experience thus far.

AB: The most defining moment was during the first week when I took the wrong metro lines and quickly became lost. I looked around and realized I had no clue where I was, had no one to call, did not know how to communicate with anyone to ask, did not know which direction my apartment was, and honestly could not even read a map. It was quite clear then that I was literally on my own as an adult and no one in Spain was going to hold my hand until I learned how to take care of myself.

Q: What difficulties have you encountered in your day-to-day life abroad? What strategies have you developed to overcome them?

AB: The language barrier remained a continuous difficulty throughout the entire semester, even as my comprehension and speech improved. Waking up in the morning became a big problem because everything begins later, for example dinner from 9:30-11. With early classes and little time for sleep, I received wake-up calls from the states (6 hours behind Barcelona) to ensure I did not miss class...

Q: What one aspect of life in your country of study would you most like to bring back to the United States? Why?

AB: The Spanish lifestyle is much more relaxed and maintains a strong focus on family, friends and enjoying life. At first it was strange to see everyone, including professionals, hanging out in cafes slowly drinking coffee and talking for at least one hour before noon.

Q: What was the best and the worst of the local cuisine you have had so far?

AB: Tapas! Small portions of deliciousness shared by everyone for dinner. Patatas bravas, tortilla de patata, queso de manchego, pan el tomate are just a few favorites.

Ham is a huge part of Spanish meals in addition to countless varieties of seafood because of Barcelona's Mediterranean location. For me, this was the worst because I am a vegetarian and many times locals took offense to my refusal or just did not understand.

Q: What one place have you been in your country that others must see?

AB: I spent a significant portion of my semester traveling around Spain; each region is drastically different, twisted around its unique political history. Andalusia is the southern region of Spain that borders the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and meets Morocco through the Straight of Gibraltar; its major regions include Sevilla, Cordoba, Cadiz, and Granada. My favorite aspect is its representation of la convivencia between Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Iberian history and its traditions of all things "Spanish", i.e. flamenco, bull fighting

Q: How have you been received by the local population?

AB: It depends on the day or the place... Cataluyna is an exception because the Catalan population do not even consider themselves part of Spain, therefore, it depends which locals you are referring to. Also many Europeans for some strange reason do not like Americans that much... To ensure a better reception upon introduction I frequently said I was from Canada. It worked. In general though, I believe I was well received, but not without a large effort of assimilation.

Q: What do you miss most about life back on campus?

AB: I did not miss the weather, but I did miss my teammates because they makeup my main friendship circle and being away from the familiar faces whom I am already bonded with. Academically, I also missed professors who expected the most out of me and that cared if I attended class or not.

Q: Be honest, how much time do you spend a week instant messaging?

AB: Until my computer crashed, I spent at least one hour each day on IM.

Q: Have you played or have you seen any field hockey played over there? If so, what differences do you see in the local approach to the game?

AB: Unfortunately, no. A high school friend who plays at St. Joe's studied in Barcelona this semester and played on a Spanish national team where games were played at the 1992 Olympic Stadium. However all she told me was that Europeans are much better than Americans, something I already knew!

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