Spending two full weeks in Spain was a very impactful for both my future and my understanding of the world. Prior to landing in Madrid, I had only been outside of the US for a day trip to Canada, so I had no Idea what to expect. I had no way of knowing what I was going to see, how I was going to feel, or if I was going to have to change how I normally act. Now looking back on the trip, I find it hard to believe that I was concerned about those things because of how much my world view has expanding and how much I have learned about myself.

Studying Abroad has Increased my Cultural Curiosity

The biggest change I have noticed in myself is growth in my cultural curiosity. Prior to Spain my bucket list for traveling only had a handful of international locations on it. Now that list has expanding greatly because I have learned that traveling to a new place is not only enjoyable for what you can see but also for how you feel. The added challenge of being in a different culture adds a certain value to a trip that I had not considered before traveling abroad. While it can be intimidating in the first couple of days, by the middle of the first week I was able to embrace the challenge and really enjoy it. I look forward to taking on new challenges to see what it is like to be in other parts of the world.

Studying Abroad Molded my Worldview in Unexpected Ways

My worldview was greatly developed in my time in Spain. I had no way of knowing how noticeable cultural differences were in each country prior to this trip. We were lectured on what aspects of Spanish culture were different than the United States. However, I was very skeptical of these lectures up until our first day in Madrid. I did not believe that these cultural dimensions would actually be noticeable in our day to day activities. After spending just, a day in Madrid I was quickly persuaded that they would be noticeable. As I noted in my fourth blog there were many significant differences that were easy to notice as we walked the city.

Carlson’s Mandatory Study Abroad Creates a More Openminded Student Body

Signing up for a study abroad program was definitely not in my plans for college and truthfully, I was not looking forward to it prior to starting this course. However, after completing the program my opinions on the mandatory study abroad rule that Carlson has have changed. I learned more both academically and about myself more in this course than many of the courses in my major. Both my future plans and my worldview have drastically changed as a result of this program.

Madrid and Barcelona, the two largest Spanish cities, are separated by only a 6-hour car ride, yet the look, feel, and people in each city could not be more different. Some of the differences can be attributed to the geographical features of each city, but other differences have more hidden roots. In contrast, Milwaukee and Minneapolis are separated by a similar distance but feel almost identical in comparison. Being a traveler visiting Spain, both Madrid and Barcelona offer many sights and understanding the differences is important to getting the most out of both experiences.

Knowing Spanish is More Important in Madrid than Barcelona

The first and perhaps the most noticeable difference between the two cities are the languages that are spoken. In Madrid, it is almost exclusively Spanish and so at many points it was challenging to find someone who spoke English at all. As someone who speaks little to no Spanish this was a major challenge of Madrid. I expected communicating in the higher tourism areas to be much easier than in ended up being. In Barcelona on the other hand, Spanish was far less prevalent. There was no real dominant spoken language in any parts of the city, some spoke Spanish, others spoke Catalan, and most spoke some level of English. Communication was far easier for me in Barcelona as the English we heard from the residents was far more developed. This was noticeable in most of our site visits, where I found it much easier to understand the speakers. Both HP and Quadpack mentioned that the ability to speak English was a factor in making hiring decisions. In contrast, the English spoken by the presenters from El Corte Ingels and Recyclia was much more difficult to understand.

Be Prepared for Tourists in Barcelona and Locals in Madrid

A second difference that was noticeable was the people of each city. In Barcelona there were many tourists anywhere we went. In Madrid the foreigners were much more localized to the high tourism areas. I noticed more tourists in Segovia and Toledo than I did in the Madrid city center. The amounts of tourists were an obvious difference between the people in each city but the local of each city had differences that were harder to notice right away. The resident of Madrid tended to be dressed more formally than those of Barcelona which gave the city a more upscale feel that I did not notice until we got to Barcelona. The neutral look of the locals from Barcelona also impacted the feel of the city. Our gothic quarter tour guide pointed out that the residents are not quick to trust anyone so if someone was smiling, they were either a tourist or trying to, take our wallet. For me this took away from the feel of the city, comparing it to Madrid where everyone seemed to have a bright expression on their face.

While they are the two biggest cities in Spain and are relatively close in proximity, Madrid and Barcelona are very different and offer tourists different opportunities. These differences can be an important factor to consider when deciding where to travel in Spain.

As you walk down the streets of Madrid it may seem like a Spanish speaking New York City. However, after you take a closer look at the people and how they interact, the differences become clear. The differences between Spanish and American people can be overserved the most on Erin Meyer’s persuading and Hofstede’s individualism dimensions.

Erin Meyer’s Persuading Dimension was Noticeable in the Guest Speakers

While I was watching many of the presentations given by the companies we visited, the difference in the persuading dimension were very noticeable. The United State is heavily based in the applications first side of the dimension, where Spain is based in the principles first side of the dimension. I noticed the difference most during the Recyclia presentation. At several points in the presentation I found myself wondering what Recyclia actually did. I also found myself having a challenging time finding the information interesting because I did not understand how and why the lecture was important. This is a direct result of the differences in culture. The guest speakers that I have seen throughout my schooling have for the most part used an applications first style because that is the culture of the Untied States. This made the Recyclia a challenging presentation to follow because it was different from what I was used to.

The Collective Society of Spain can be Seen in the Streets of Madrid

Hofstede’s individualism dimension was similarly easy to find throughout life in Spain. As I was walking in the city center of Madrid, I took a second to stop and look around. One of the more noticeable things was that it seemed everyone in the city center was walking with someone else. I noticed only a handful of people by themselves at that given time. Throughout the rest of the week I continued to notice this same pattern in different areas such as the metro or around our hotel. This contrasts greatly to the United States as it is common to see someone out by themselves or sitting a bar alone. I believe this is related to Hofstede’s individualism dimension. The United States is very high on the individualism scale with a score of 91, which is 40 points higher than Spain’s score.

Going into the trip, I was skeptical if the cultural dimensions we spent so much time learning about would actually be identifiable. It became quite clear very early on in Madrid that learning about the dimensions was important because they were noticeable in the culture. I think understanding the differences before getting to Spain helped reduce the amount of culture shock that I experienced. 

Ranging 60 miles down the coast of the Balearic Sea from Barcelona, the city of Tarragona is filled with Roman history. Tarragona is filled with ruins of Roman structures which are integrated into the rest of the city. Due to most tourists going north from Barcelona, Tarragona is not a high-volume tourist area. However, the city has plenty for tourists to see, all within walking distance of the city center.  

A Roman Amphitheater is a Must See in Tarragona

Sitting right on the coastline of the city is the ruins of a Roman amphitheater that is one of the most popular sites for tourists when visiting Tarragona. Built in the first and second century AD, the amphitheater is built into the side of a hill. It is in remarkably good condition, given the age of the amphitheater and the minor restoration efforts by the Spanish government. Seating about 14,000 people in total, the amphitheater was the location for many fights between gladiators and wild animals throughout its history. Public execution also took place in the center of the structure. The most famous of which was the execution of Bishop Fructuosus who was burned alive inside the amphitheater.

The Walls of Tarragona is a Reminder of the Roman Past

Aside from the amphitheater, the walls that surround the city are an iconic reminder of the Roman influence in the region. The walls were built in the second century BCE, making them one of the oldest Roman construction outside of modern-day Italy. Nearly 1.2 kilometers of the walls are still around the city, most of which has seen some restoration. Many of the walls have been converted into gardens to foster tourism. Other important structures in Tarragona include the Devil’s bridge aqueduct, the Casa Castellarnau Museum, and the Roman Circus.

Tarragona is an Inexpensive Day Trip

Admission tickets into the sites can be bought on location or at one of the Tarragona Municipal Tourist Offices. Tickets can be purchased for 3.30 Euros for each individual site. For large groups, people over than 65, the unemployed, and students, the ticket prices are reduced to 1.70 Euros. Finally, a ticket to all of the Roman sites can be bought for 7.40 Euros. 

Getting to Tarragona from Barcelona is a relatively simple task. There are two trains that travel the 60 miles between the two cities. Both trains stop at the Sants station in Barcelona and travel to the city center of Tarragona. The slower of the two trains takes roughly 45 minutes and the express train takes about 30 minutes. Both trains cost under 10 Euros for each trip. There are also bus options that travel between the cities however, the busses take longer and are no less expensive than the trains. 

Located in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia stands as one of the tallest religious buildings in the world. Proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, the Sagrada Familia is a consecrated Roman Catholic Church that holds weekly mass, while it continues to be built. 

A Church that Broke Ground in the 1800s

Officially known as the Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia, it is one of the longest running construction projects currently being worked on. The original plans date back as far as 1874 when Josep Maria Bocabella i Verdaguer, the founder of the Spiritual Association of the Devotees of Saint Joseph, began campaigning for a temple in the name of the Holy Family. Construction formally began in 1882, with the original architect being Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano. Beginning with the crypt, construction that has lasted 137 years is finally set to conclude in 2026.

Gaudi Takes Control of the Project

Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano would ultimately leave the project due to creative differences with the developers. Taking over as the lead architect, Antoni Gaudi would infuse his creativity from the ground level up. In the beginning of the Gaudi years, he had intended on following the original design of the basilica. However, after funding for the project increased, he began a much more extensive set of plans that replaced the original neo-Gothic style of architecture. Ultimately, Gaudi would not see the project completed, as he passed away in 1926. His body was buried in the crypt of the Sagrada Familia, the work that consumed his final days, where he still is today. 

Following Gaudi’s ideas, multiple architects have taken over the project. The Sagrada Familia has seen multiple setbacks ultimately leading to several delays in the construction. One of those setbacks was a fire that caused considerable damage in the crypts and the surrounding workshop. Gaudi’s original plans were lost to the fire and some scale models were found to be smashed as an act of vandalism. Despite multiple setbacks, construction has remained continuous, although slow, since Gaudi took over the project. 

Architecture Meets Religion to Build a Work of Art 

With the tallest spire reaching nearly 560 feet, La Sagrada Familia will become the tallest church in the world. Each of the 18 spires will represent figures in the Catholic Church. The tallest stands for Jesus Christ, another will represent he Virgin Mary, 4 are attributed to the evangelists, and the final 12 are for the apostles.

Other distinguishing features are the 3 main facades. The first and most notable is the Nativity Façade, which was designed by Gaudi himself. The Passion Façade and the Glory Façade were designed and built long after Gaudi’s death. On the Passion Façade there are multiple statues depicting the crucifixion, which has brought controversy among the observers of the basilica. Many believe that the statues are too abstract and contrast from Gaudi’s style in a distracting way.

Questions

• How many people attend mass every week?
• What aspect of the basilica do the majority of visitors come to see?
• With the exception of Gaudi, what architect has brought the greatest influence to the basilica?
• Do the construction plans continue to change or is there a set idea of what the unfinished portions will look like?
• How did the fire in the 1930’s change what we see today compared to what would have been if the fire did not occur?

The idea of having a flight delayed is something that often makes travelers cringe. The frustration of having your vacation plans derailed makes traveling a much less exciting experience. This is happening on a large scale in Spanish airports due to union strikes. These strikes include both airport ground workers and pilots. Along with the air unions, there are also planned strikes by the ground transportation unions as well. The strikes will occur during Holy Week, which is a period of high tourism for Spain.

Airline Will Cancel One Quarter of its Flights During Strike

Air Nostrum, one of the major Spanish airlines, in anticipation of the pilot strikes has cancelled 148 flights. All of these flights were supposed to lift off during the three-day period, April 15 through April 17. After a four day return to work, the pilots will go back on strike from April 22 to April 24. The cancellations are 23.6 percent of the total flights scheduled for the three-day period. Spain’s Public Works Ministry has set minimum service requirement for Air Nostrum. This minimum service requirement includes all flights to Melila, the Canary Islands and Belearic Islands. Public service obligation flights between the three major Spanish airports must also go as scheduled. A majority of the flights that have been cancelled have been between to cities where alternate travel is five hours or less. The minimum service requirement for those flights is only 29 to 31 percent. Air Nostrum, in an effort to satisfy customers through the strike has offered a full refund or a choice of a different flight before May 10 2019. More information on the Air Nostrum cancellations can be found on the El País website. (https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/04/15/inenglish/1555322765_365750.html)

Ground Transportation Unions Will Go on Strike with Air Unions

The air travel industry is not the only mode of transportation that will experience the effect of union strikes. Many workers in the rail and train driver’s union also plan on taking part in strikes during Holy Week. These will not be as extensive of strikes as the air unions but will still cause delays in traveling around Spain.