The end. Or is it the beginning?

Today's "theme" was closure. I feel very closed, if that was really the goal of the day. But today's amazing boat ride really did help close an outstanding study abroad experience. It was a little frustrating that the we spent so much time trying to fix the rig, that we could not kayak or go see a waterfall, but being on a boat at all was a huge blessing. I noticed that everyone seemed to get along better, and despite the seasickness, everyone enjoyed the trip. This class was definitely the best I have ever taken. I loved getting to apply classroom knowledge to the real world. Everyone should go on a trip like this. Not only will it bring an understanding of different cultures and promote empathy, it also teaches you so much about yourself. I've learned how I react in situations that I never imagined I would be in. I have learned the feeling of being discriminated against because of the color of my skin and where I was born. I've learned to not put stock in first impressions, because they were all very wrong about these wonderful people I have met and worked with. Most of all, I've learned that I cannot run away from my problems. But, I am strong enough to face them. It's interesting to watch people that grew up in vastly different worlds than you take on challenges that seem so impossible for you to take. I truly feel changed by this trip. Not necessarily in a monumental way, but definitely an internal perspective shift. The world seems smaller now. There are still so many people to meet and learn from. Being afraid of these experiences will not get me anywhere in this world, and I would live a lonely, unfulfilled life it I was. Thanks for the ride, Spain, it's been spectacular.

Occupation of Gibraltar

Today's theme was occupation.  Gibraltar taught me a lot about it. I did not expect there to be much of a difference between Gibraltar and the rest of Spain. I thought that since Gibraltar was so small, so close to Spain, and so very far away from any other part of the United Kingdom, that the culture would be very Spanish and no different than any other small town in the area. I was very much mistaken.

As soon as we drove across the border, there was a shift. Part of it was tangible, such as signs in English, and red telephone boxes everywhere. However, there were many things that were more subtle. The general attitude of the English is starkly different than that of the Spanish. There were mannerisms that I have never seen before I stepped foot in Gibraltar. The English are very direct and seem to have an answer for everything.
Whereas the Spanish are content with sitting in casual conversation. I noticed a lot of English people talking quickly and with a short tonality. I have no idea if that really even makes sense. I noticed a lot of the English stereotypes coming out in a lot of people.
 Most of them had good posture, and met quite a number of people with crooked teeth. The accent was very fun to listen to, and they talked with their hands quite a bit more than I am now used to. I was very surprised that there was such a culture shift between a difference of maybe a mile of land. I wonder how that could have happened. Since the United Kingdom took over that section of Spain for strategic reasons, I expected that the only English culture present would be produced from ancestors of the soldiers who fought for it so long ago. I wonder if the ruler of the United Kingdom at the time ordered English people to move there.
Regardless of the circumstances, the English culture is vital there, with Spanish trying to seep in. I image the Spanish who live on the other side of the border are very frustrated with the situation and want the land back that geographically should belong to them. The United Kingdom is so far from Gibraltar. From my perspective, it's very stubborn to keep this land, even with the strategic placement of the entrance to the sea. Since I highly doubt anyone but Spain will ever want such a big rock again, it seems like keeping the United Kingdom's culture undiluted would be the smartest plan. Looking at the current Ukraine situation, I would be worried about Spanish revolting against the occupation of Gibraltar. There is much tension near that border.
Visiting The Rock was neat. Monkeys roam free all over it, and I was able to get close to quite a few of them. They tend to grab at backpacks and food, so the keepers recommended not opening food while on the rock. I guess Jessica forgot, and I was standing too close to here when that happened. A monkey grabbed at my backpack because it smelled food. I wasn't scared, but very excited to have the opportunity of getting so close to such an intriguing creature.

Discrimination

Today's theme was "eat, sleep, pray". I excelled at this theme. The day started out with a trip to church. There are very few members here, and the nearest ward met about thirty minutes away in a different town. The journey to the town was incredibly beautiful. The coastline is something that I could stare at for days on end. Church itself was also a beautiful expereince.
I was truly humbled, sitting in this little apartment they use for a chapel, watching these faithful saints. I had no idea how skewed my preception of other countries was. Although, when I compare my spiritual experience with theirs, I almost envy theirs. Maybe that's kind of weird to say. However, I don't mean it in a covetous way. I think I just really enjoyed seeing the church and its member's outside the Utah bubble. People are so different in culture, but so similar in their faith. It was very neat to meet those who were frum England on vacation. It just proved to me that the past and where you come from does not matter in terms of testimony. It was also a nice testimony moment that God doesn't care where or when you meet as a congregation, He only cares that you're trying to.

The rest of my day was spent mostly on the beach. Unfortunately, when I returned from church, I was left behind while everyone ate lunch. By the time I found everyone, they had already eaten. However, when I asked a waitress at a beach restaurant for a menu, I was told the kitchen was closed. I had a hard time believing that, as several people came in after me and were allowed to order. I just decided to leave and hung out on the beach instead. I have never been subjected to racism before. Maybe it sounds snobby, but it was never something I ever expected to happen to me. Later that day, I went back with a bigger group of girls and the bar tender said that the kitchen was open and handed us menus. We sat outside at a table and were ready to order within five minutes. However, the waitress that was rude to me earlier completely ignored any attempt of ours to get her to take our order. She did come over and take the pizza menu and said we couldn't order that. I don't understand why she gave us the menu in the first place! After we tried to flag the waitress for about twenty five more minutes, she came over and told us that the kitchen closed twenty minutes ago, and that we could not order. I was kind of upset. She was glaring at us as we walked away. I wanted to glare back actually. I don't get mad very often, but her rude attitude really bothered me. I am certainly going to be nicer to foreigners as a consequence of this "learning experience".

Almunecar

Today was the big travel day from Madrid to Almunecar. Although it was a struggle with car sickness for me, the city we are in now was worth the pain. The cities down here are small, white-washed, and full of little surprises everywhere. The people here are very friendly and are actually very similar to the American culture. This is most likely due to the large amounts of tourists that visit the town every summer. I can't believe we are so lucky to be a stone's throw away from the beach in a four and a half star hotel! The view from my balcony can simply not be beat. I could absolutely live here.

We went out to dinner at a little seaside restaurant right on the beach tonight. The waiter was very friendly and accommodating. In Spain, the waiters usually give you large amounts of time to choose the food you would like and to socialize after you are finished eating. This was very apparent when we waited twenty minutes for him to come back so we could order. But this food was the best I have had here. I had fish, and it was heaven. It was incredibly fresh and I was finally full after a meal! They served us warm, freshly baked bread and some delicious apple drinks after the meal.

This place is somewhere out of a dream. I walked around the town to get some gelato, and noticed how laid back everyone is here. There is no such thing as rushing anywhere, as the pace of life is extremely slow compared to America or other parts of Spain. I know this is due to the proximity of the ocean and the nature of having so many tourists on holiday here. The ocean brings a calm that you can't find anywhere but near it. Sitting on the beach tonight, getting a chance to reflect, I realized that I have come a long way from where I was a year ago. I still have my troubled days, but I am getting better. Almunecar is teaching me how to slow down.

Spanian Birthday Party

Today is my birthday! It was, by far, the most eventful birthday I have had since birth. We started off the day in Sagovia, about an hour's drive from our hotel. This town was full of things and people to analyze. We stopped at a cathedral that was more on the reverent side, and I really enjoyed listening to the rhythm of the priest's prayer. We then headed to a much larger cathedral that was not being used to worship in at the time. The art was spectacular, and the history behind the building was incredibly romantic. We spent hours walking around, soaking up the environment and symbolism.

My one complaint was that the building was very cold inside. Being made of mostly marble, it was both symbolically and literally cold. However, despite the cold, watching the nuns here was a very peculiar experience. Comparing the nuns I came into contact here with the ones in Zaragoza, there were obvious differences. These ladies treated the building like any tourist would. They took pictures, despite the obvious signs that disallowed it, and spoke to one another more openly. I don't know the reasons behind this, but I would be interested to know where these nuns come from and if their day to day lives are different than others. Up until now, I have grouped nuns into one general category and never stopped to wonder if there were huge differences between convents.

The main attraction in this city is the ancient Roman aqueducts that surround the walled part of it. They are huge, and pictures do not do them justice. I am awed by the determination and ingenuity it must have taken to build them in order to have water flow int their city on a hill. I did stop and question if I would have been able to do come up with something similar in the same circumstances. Obviously, I like to think that I would. It's hard to play around with "what ifs" though.

After some down time, we were off to the bull fight. We made a party out of it and dressed up with previously purchased traditional Spanish attire. We had shawls and fans, and had placed red flowers in our hair. We received several compliments both on our way there and while in the arena. It seems that this type of dress is what is considered beautiful here, while in America; it would have seemed too much like a costume. The fight was the most intriguing thing I have ever witnessed. I came into it with the expectation of loving every second of it, and to some degree, it came to pass exactly how I prepared for it. My travel companions, on the other hand, discussed how worried they were about it for days before. Proper preparation on my end was incredibly helpful when they time came. I did not struggle with the idea of a dead animal until there was a brown one that came in. It had such big eyes and it looked so scared. But in the end, even though it was killed, I believe that it won the fight. It refused to play the matadors' game, and died standing up and proud.

There are three stages to the fight. In the beginning, the bull enters the arena and there are a few people in the arena with large capes. Their job is to tease the bull for a short period of time until the trumpets signal the next stage. This stage must not be very popular, because few audience members paid very much attention, and it did not last long. In the second stage, two horseman come out with spears. They then entice the bull to attack the horse, who is heavily padded, so that the horseman can spear it. These men must spear the bull twice before the next stage can begin. Then, two matadors attempt to stab the bull with two flag spears. This is done by running towards the bull and throwing their body to the side to avoid the horns at the last second. It's really scary to watch. After either three of four sets of these flags are placed in the bull's back, the the trumpets signal the final stage. The matador whose bull it is steps to the middle of the arena with a smaller cape and a sword. The goal for the matador is to tire the bull and then stab a sword into its back by running towards it and avoiding the horns. There is quite a bit of dramatics in this stage, as this is when the matador will be judged. If the sword does not stick, the dance must be redone until it does. As soon as this is over, all the other matadors come out and run the bull over and over again to tire it. This is done in an attempt to get the bull to kneel at the feet of the matador. This seems to be the final moment where the matador is appraised as good enough. After the bull kneels, one of the other matadors stab a small knife into the brain stem to fully kill it. Some horse then ride out and drag the body around and out of the arena to start the next fight. There were six fights, two for each matador.
It was informative to watch and listen to the natives around me while watching the sport. It was eye-opening to me to see that they treated it like Americans treat basketball or football. They were passing around plates of food, smoking cigars, and occasionally yelling something out to the arena. I felt like I was at some bizarre Superbowl party. Those around us were very kind though, and offered us their pastry plate.
I very much enjoyed the whole experience. I was very easily able to leave my views on the matter of animal cruelty at the door, and step into the Spanish paradigm. I would go back if I could. I am glad that this unique part of Spanish culture is still alive.

The Psychology of Art

Today's theme was obviously art. The Prado museum was incredibly enriching. I learned a ton about expression and about myself while exploring the millions of rooms. I love art, but I have never had such an eye-opening experience with it before. I learned quite a bit a bout the significance of little details in a painting. These masterpieces were full of beautiful metaphors and hidden symbols. My favorite piece was entitled "Descent from the Cross" by Weyden. I'm not sure I could really explain why it moved me the way that it did. The work had so much obvious technique and emotion put into into it, that I probably spent fifteen minutes just staring at it. I was awed by the way the artist played with the lighting and the skin texture. Mary was portrayed passed out next to Christ, who was being liften from the cross. But even if I did not understand the background story, I could see the differences in skin tone of someone who had lost consciousness as opposed to someone who had died. It was quite a feat, I thought. My other favorite piece was the veiled queen statue. It was incredible the way the artist was able to make stone looke see through! I can see why these pieces of art are adored and so cautiously perserved. It's a built-in frontal lobe thing that humans alone have. We seem to have a drive to create new and interesting things. It's manifested in different ways and mediums (construction, art, music), but every culture has some form of art they treasure.

The Botanical Gardens were quite beautiful as well. It's been very apparent to me that flowers are a integral part of Spain's culture. The gardens were huge and very pretty with so many different kinds of plants in full bloom. It was wonderful to see so many elderly people enjoying the weather by strolling through the park with their spouses. I have noticed more of an emphasis on the family in this country. There seems to be more traditional families walking together. I noticed while we were out to lunch today that there was a lot of involvement of the father with the children. I get the sense in the United States that it "it isn't a man's job to raise the children". It appears that this country is conservative in this way compared to the States.
The festival tonight involved a firework show that I had the chance to attend. I thought it was spectacular! The show itself was comparable to Disneyland's. The music was great and the atmosphere was invigorating. The more time I spend in this beautiful country, the more I come to realize that people everywhere share more commonalities than differences. People are people. They all have the same basic desires and needs, they are just met in unique ways. I am so grateful to be experiencing life through Spain's eyes.

Becoming Spanish

Today's theme was appreciation for culture. I saw some amazing examples of this theme today. The Roman ruins were very thought-provoking. When we were visiting the ruins and discussing how the ancient hierarchy was set up, I couldn't help but notice significant similarities between our culture and theirs. It seems to boil down to the decisions of the upper class. It seems that those decisions dictate the social protocol within society. The exception to this is revolution, but the standard is to conform to the majority and that laws that have been made "by the people". Unfortunately, this stifles opposite minority opinions. It's amazing how much significance could be found in a pile of strategically placed crumbling rock. I very much enjoyed the little cathedral that was empty at the time. Although it was not as intricate or as ornate, it was beautiful. The lack of hustle and bustle, the fewer number of people, and the quiet reverence really appealed to me. There is importance to quiet moments of reflection in a sacred place. There is value to having a devotion to a higher cause, and to better yourself. I love that this need to connect to a higher power is a common theme throughout the world I've visited so far.

The festival that we serendipitously came across was definitely the best part of the day. Madrid is an amazing place. The people here are more friendly than Barcelona and the pace of life is much slower. I have seen quite a few more families here than anywhere I have been in Spain. I love all of the traditional Spanish clothing at the festival! We had the chance to see some very good opera performers and listen to a fantastic orchestra. I was in love with the way it emphasized Spanish culture.
I forgot to mention the amazing little town that we had the pleasure of stopping in on the way to Madrid. Santa Maria was its name. The stereotypical Spanish town. When I thought about what Spain would look like, Santa Maria is what I pictured. It was exciting that we stopped in town right in the middle of the siesta period of the day. This town actually participates in the custom, unlike Barcelona. I may have seen four other people the entire time we were in the town. After perusing a local cemetery, we drove into the countryside behind the town. I can definitely understand why the original settlers chose that spot. This country is beautiful in a way I have never seen. The people are fascinating to watch in their day to day interactions, the culture is new and exciting, and the landscape is breathtaking. Plus, chocolate and churros are an amazing combination!

Respect

Today's theme was respect. I witnessed the extremes of the spectrum. I am noticing a significant lack of respect from several members of our group towards others in our group and locals. Today was much more noticable due to the long car ride and the frustration of not being able to get to the hotel very quickly. Tempers were running higher than normal and I believe feelings were hurt in many ways.
When we arrived in Zaragoza, we had the opportunity to visit the Basilica there. This was, by far, my favorite Catholic building we have visited so far. The building defies description. There was so many layers of symbols, and the art work on the walls and domes were masterpieces. I could have stayed there for days discovering meaning within its walls. The structure was filled with reverence and sacredness that the previously visited Basilicas lacked. I got to see a nun for the first time. It was a neat experience. All of my previous nun experienced originates from Sister Act and is apparently not very accurate. These nuns were amazing examples to me. While watching them interact within the Basilica, I noticed the extreme respect and care they took towards the building. When they touched the walls, it was more of a caress. When they looked around at the paintings and sculptures, I saw affection and fondness in their eyes. I realize that this building is their home, but I really believe they see every inch as the miraculous blessing it is. I sincerely look up to these women who dedicate everything they have to a cause they believe in. Those who attended the Basilica for a service also showed a lot of respect towards both the nuns and the building. When walking into the Basilica, most dipped their fingers into holy water and made the symbol of the cross. There was a very strong devotion in these worshipers.
While we were there, there was a little girl that was having her first communion. There were two different guys taking pictures, and the mother was on the verge of tears. It was interesting to observe the respect someone else shows for something that I have had no experience in or knowledge of. There are so many ways to show respect. Not every way involves such outward expressions. Just valuing someone else as another human being doing their best in this messed up world is enough most of the time. The ancient Roman ruins were interesting to glimpse at, and I look forward to more exposure to them tomorrow. There must be a lot of dedication in someone to have these walls protected for thousands of years.

Significance

Today's theme was recognizing biases in myself and in others. There is no way that I did not hit this theme on the head. At the beginning of the day, I was asked what one of biases was. I realized that my biases have a lot to do with my pet peeves. The first one that came to mind was arrogant people. I have known that I struggle with this type of person for most of my life. However, when interacting with our group today, I have found my biases extended far beyond what I realized. I have found that my bias against arrogant people is overshadowed by my bias against people that are apathetic to the struggles of others. Certain events in my life have brought me to a level of empathy for everyone around me. I am very aware of how my actions affect the people that I associate with. As a consequence, I expect others to be the same way.
When we had to wait for a couple girls this morning and we missed our train as a result, I realized that this may be my biggest bias of all. I struggle with those who go through life without considering their actions as an influence on other people's lives. Montserrat was an amazing place to visit and reflect on my weaknesses. The buildings were impeccable, but the landscape that it was built into was incredible! The rain enveloped the mountain in mist and created a very unique atmosphere.
My only complaint was the lack of reverence within the walls. During the boy's choir concert, there was pushing, shoving, and flash photography. There was not a sense of anything being sacred. This again illustrated my bias for those who don't think their actions will affect other people.
My favorite part of the trip up the mountain was the small hike down to the chapel built into a cave. Along the way, there were several depictions of biblical stories. The work that went into them was breathtaking. They could have been somebody's life work. But when we arrived at the little chapel, it was very quiet and very significant. There was a simple alter and simple wooden seats to sit in. I loved it. As beautiful as the big cathedrals are, they do not have any sense of the Spirit in them. There are just too many people crammed into these buildings.

Assimilation

Assimilating into the culture is going significantly better than planned. It is very easy to observe the behavior of the locals and imitate it. When getting on a subway, it is important to bring your bag in front of you and get as far in the train as possible. It is polite to get out of the doors so others can get on before the doors close. Most don't speak very loud, if at all, and if there is a seat open, sit in it. Even if there are people on either side of the empty seat, you are expected to sit down. There is no sense of personal space. People will get right in your face if they want something from you, and will push right past you if you are in their way. Eye contact, even while talking, seems to be unusual here. But we are all beginning to understand the metrosystem here. We went to the beach today. Before that, we headed to Las Ramblas Street to visit McDonalds. Neither Shay nor Jessica have been super thrilled by the food here, and needed something familiar to eat. Shay is also very addicted to french fries and was going through withdrawals. The people that were eating in the store were obviously tourists. I don't think that fast food is apart of this culture. The few fast food places I have seen seem to have been placed in strategic tourist destinations for their purposes only. The food here was actually better than the McDonalds back home. I have been surprised with how many people speak English here. I can see how the tourism has bled into the original culture and changed it to be more foreign-friendly. It's disappointing that it seems to be more dilluted in the bigger cities. I have hope for southern Spain though. After getting some french fries, we started walking down Ramblas to the beach. We had to stop to get a beach towel though, and there weren't very good options.
I spotted some towels in the window of a small shop, so we walked in to find one. The second we walked in, one of the store clerks came and hovered behind us. When we talked about the price, he began to get quite aggressive and actually grabbed Jessica's arm. We walked out while he was still trying to convince us to buy one. This behavior seems to be quite common place here. It's hard to tell if they act this way to rip off the tourists, or if all males here are this aggressive with their sales. I do believe they are full of personal pride, and therefore easily offended. When we got to the beach, there were vendors everywhere! People walk up and down the beach selling all sorts of goods. I did not see one person buying any of these goods. I am fairly sure this is done because of tourists. Public display of affection is another common theme at the beach. It is much more accepted here. Seeing two people having sex on the beach under a towel is a scene that has been played over and over again. This has been one of the most noticeable difference between our cultures. Personal space in America is respected by everyone, and it is expected that it not be violated. In Barcelona, however, standing just inches from another person is not considered rude or out of line. It doesn't bother me as much as it might bother others, but I recognize it would need to be an adjustment. Although I see gaps between our two cultures, there are many seemingly universal similarities. It will be interesting to see if southern Spain is the same way.

Significance in Architecture

The things that I am getting the opportunity to visit are things that others only dream about. The Sagrada Familia, the Sacred Family, was, to say the least, one of the most amazing things I have ever had the privilege of visiting. It was absolutely breathtaking. When we walked out of the subway and it was right in our faces, I gasped out loud. There is so much detail and symbolism that has been integrated into this building, I can very much believe it has taken over a hundred years to get this far. The fact that they aren't going to be done with it for another twelve years really says something about the importance of this building to natives. It was very eye-opening to be in a place that others worship and feel is holy ground. Unfortunately, the extreme amount of tourists negatively impacted the experience. There were many gift shops within the church itself, and the basement has been turned into a museum. Surely this was not Gaudi's vision of how the building was to be used. It is a shame that they have taken a wondrous work of craftsmanship and twisted it into a money making, tourists trap. Although I do not personally believe that the Sagrada Familia is a house of God, I could see how, through another person's paradigm, God could reside in such a place. The extremely tall towers are strong and cold and bring a feeling of distance from the ceiling (heaven). It's strange seeing my Heavenly Father portrayed in such a distant way. They have shrouded Him in mystery and dehumanized Him. I have never experienced anything like it, and it is the exact opposite from my own paradigm of God. It was a revolutionary experience in that way.

Following the theme of Gaudi's architecture, we proceeded to the Park de Guell where the famous mosaic wall is. It was extremely apparent that it was the same designer as the Sagrada Familia, yet the two locations had different emotions attached to them and were therefore treated differently by those visiting.  The park was a place of pleasure and nature. Although the Sagrada Familia was inspired by nature, the park was carved into it. The mosaic brought color and therefore life and a sense of whimsy to the very green, mono-toned hill. The bridge and columns found there were carved directly from the rock that naturally was placed there. I could see how people that visited this park felt very comfortable there. There were many people asleep on patches of grass or leaning against a palm tree. Gaudi very successfully created an oasis on the countryside through his revolutionary architecture.
The interaction with a waiter
at dinner exemplified the male Spaniard personality. The man was very insistent that he got his way in terms of the seating arrangement and how the check would be calculated. These men are classically aggressive, somewhat stubborn, and require compliance to their demands unless you also have a strong will and a sharp tongue. Passive aggressiveness seems to be the style here, whereas America shows anger more outwardly. I can relate to passive aggressiveness, as it is my own style of anger.

Discovering Picasso

It is fantastic to me that people can change so much in one lifetime. It is liberating and statisfying that personality is never set in stone. I had no idea that Picasso went through so many transformations in his lifetime. I could physically see the emotional turmoils of his life through his paintings. His blue period spoke to me on a level that I have been trying to repress. I also really enjoyed his slow transition into cubism. After his traumatic blue period, I think he was overwhelmed with feeling too much. I can see how cubism was a way of expressing this emotional overload. Cubism has a way of dehumanizing people. It over simplifies them and takes away the expression from the frontal lobe. It distorts the eyes and hides pain. I can see why thousands of people flock to such a place to view this man's intepretation of reality. SO many people can relate to feeling too much reality. Mortal experience is all about emotion and feeling. It is one of the biggest differences between a human and a dog. This important distinction is what fuels all expression of art. At least, this is what I think is the motivation. I see pain, happiness, and beautiful humanity in all of Picasso's work.
After the museum, we headed to a Nazi castle. The view was amazing, but I did not understand the significance of the building, other than the visit of Hitler and his cronies. I am starting to see a clear division in our travel group. There are about seven girls that seem to only have come on this trip to go party all night and meet as many boys in as many clubs as possible. The rest of us seem to see value in observing the culture and soaking up the atmosphere. I don't see these groups merging anytime soon.

Culture Shock

I am exhausted. I am struggling to think coherently enough to notice behavior around me. I see similar reactions in the group of girls that are in my apartment building. As we get tired, we begin to lose a lot of the sense that social customs dictate. We did, however, have our first opportunity to see Barcelona and people interacting with one another on Las Ramblas Street. This is one of the most famous and most crowed street in all of Barcelona. There are people everywhere. Vendors line the street as swarms of natives and tourists push towards the end of the street. Right away you can see a difference in the attitudes of the people. I see a lot of pride for themselves and their heritage in everything they do. The vendors on the street are very pushy, but in a way that suggests that they are used to getting their way. It seems that taking advantage of the hordes of tourists is something they are well accustomed to. I am having a hard time discerning if these interactions would be different if we were in a less tourist-driven town. Barcelona is huge and very diverse. I believe this is due to its proximity to France and the Mediterranean Sea. We are just under two hours away from the nearest French town. I expect that as we go further inland, we will see less tourists and more natives in the streets. Walking down this street, there is an overwhelming amount of other nationalities. There is obviously something here that draws the people to this city. It is the second largest city in the entire country, but is that so important? Surely there are other big cities in Europe that would be interesting to see. It is interesting to see the dynamic in our own travel group. When Kim lost her wallet and bus pass, I noticed a variety of responses in myself and others. These reactions ranged from almost disdain to panic. Later, after back in the apartment, I could see that my roommates were justifying their responses as we discussed the incident. It must be important for humans to feel that they reacted in the "right" way.

Human Connections

The airport is all about movement. Everywhere I look, there are people rushing and pushing. This seems to be a common theme throughout the whole world. I notice a lot of people interacting with each other to kill time. I think that's another constant in every culture. People need people. When there isn't someone physically present, they get on their smartphone. They connect with someone via Facebook, email, or texting. I have also noticed a strange bond between fellow travelers. The girl I sat next to when flying overseas to Madrid felt the need to interact with me. I believe she wanted a connection, a human one, while traveling to some place new. She was a study abroad student, like me. She was from Florida though. Her paradigm is probably quite different than mine. Why then, does she and I feel the need to connect? Do we naturally crave similarities or diversity?
However, her behavior could just boil down to social constraints. Owing to the fact that we were about to spend eight hours sitting next to each other, she may have felt pressure to make herself welcoming and open to future conversation.

Finding Meaning in the Byways of Spain

Wanting to travel to a new country has been on my bucket list for about ten years now. I never thought I'd have the opportunity to couple a culture change while also studying psychology. It's important to me to gain a greater understanding of the world around me. Being an introvert is tough in some cases, but it provides me a unique perspective to the world around me. As a consequence, I've always been a people watcher. When I entered a university, I knew within a couple weeks that I was being called to study behavior. As I progressed through the Psychology program, I realized that my passion was brain-behavioral differences between cultures. I am absolutely enthralled with studying why people do what they do and how their lifestyle effects their paradigms. As I begin this new journey, one that I don't think will end with me coming home at the end of May, I hope to gain a greater empathy people. I don't want to ever want to lose my faith in humanity to adapt and become better than they already are.
With this in mind, I'd like to focus my study abroad experience even more. I'd like to focus on discovering the Spanish paradigm and all it entails. If I can walk away with from this trip with one thing, it should be the ability to see life the way natives of Spain see it. This won't be easy, but it will be the stepping stone for me into my undergraduate research that I will be starting in a year. I plan on mostly observing people. Interaction is inevitable, but I should be able to discovery motivation through careful study of the new culture. 
This blog will serve the purpose of recording my adventures and new understanding of the Spanish culture and the new insights on social cognition and health psychology.