During my time in Barcelona, I found that I created many new and amazing relationships with the other students within my study program. All of us became super close, but I realized that primarily spending my time with the same people hindered my ability to fully involve myself within Barcelona's diverse population. The city has many opportunities for social interactions, but I decided to try my hand at playing street pick-up basketball.
I’ve played basketball since I was young, and have developed a deep love for it. I wanted to continue my hobby while overseas. A couple of my friends from my program introduced me to an outdoor court in the neighborhood, Glòries, about three weeks after our arrival in Barcelona. We loved playing there, and as time went on I started to make connections with some of the locals who were at the court almost every afternoon. Familiar faces quickly turned into peers; I would make small talk with them with the few Spanish-speaking skills I had. Street basketball became a routine. After classes I’d get ready, hop on the metro, stroll into the park, greet my new friends, and play competitive ball. Sometimes games were aggressive, and despite being the only girl, I never let that prevent me from getting physical.
Unlike the U.S., Spaniards live a more collectivist lifestyle; in basketball they prioritize sharing the ball and communicating with their team. I felt like a valued member of each squad I played with. I started to feel comfortable enough to go play even when my American friends couldn’t. I showed up so often that people remembered my name, and I would know theirs. I played with guys from China, Cuba, other parts of Spain, and even with an American expat. It was a great feeling being able to meet so many people with a different culture than mine. I was even able to connect with some of the players on Instagram!
When my dad came to visit me, the father of my homestay family treated us to an FC Barcelona basketball home game. Although I had only been living in Barcelona for two months, I could see my dad's American traits clash with my homestay father’s. Some of the Spanish cultural differences I discovered while playing street basketball translated to the discrepancies between the two dads. I felt like a local telling my dad the differences in behavior when it comes to sports fans in Barcelona versus in the United States. Sometimes he would whip out his phone to record, but I’d tell him to focus on living in the moment. Most locals are so passionate that they hardly ever look away from ball play even if it's to take a picture.Throughout my semester abroad, I learned so much about other people's life experiences through basketball, and this wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t try to meet others around the city. I encourage anyone to travel outside of their comfort zone and meet others! I promise, it’s not as scary as it seems.
Here are some aspects of Spanish culture that differ from the United States:
Here are some aspects of Spanish culture that differ from the United States:
- Attentiveness during sports games - no looking at their phones and no leaving until the end of the game (even during halftime)
- Collectivist society
- “Work to live” mentality, rather than "live to work"
- Relaxed lifestyle - I saw less “hustle and bustle” in the streets
- Meal times (lunch is typically from 2-3 pm and dinner is typically from 9-10pm)
- Communication - there are a lot of expressive hand gestures, and interruptions aren't always seen as rude (they can be a sign of excitement, interest, or enthusiasm during a conversation)
