I’ve officially started classes at Pompeu Fabra University, and all my professors have been so kind and welcoming to the international students. I arrived in Spain last Wednesday and had a full week to settle into Barcelona. This city has exceeded all of my expectations. It feels like there’s an endless list of “must sees” from spots like Park Güell and Montjuïc to activities like dance classes and paella cooking. The city offers everything, from mountain views to ocean swims. Even just walking around and catching a glimpse of La Sagrada Familia in the horizon feels unreal.
Before coming, I thought I would be on a Ryanair flight every weekend, but for now, Spain has my full attention. At the beginning, I felt extremely overwhelmed by everything there is to see and do. One of my goals was to say “yes” to as much as I can, and so far, I’ve tried anchovy ice cream, gone night swimming, been pelted by firecrackers in Sitges, toured a winery, watched countless fireworks, and made new friends. It has felt like if I were to take a lazy day to relax I would be wasting time exploring and seeing this amazing city but I’ve realized that rest is necessary. There’s no sustainable way I can be on my feet 24/7 without burning out.
This past weekend, from Friday to Tuesday, Barcelona celebrated La Mercè, honoring the city’s patron saint. There was live music, traditional events, food vendors, and fireworks almost every night. Even nearby cities like Sitges held celebrations for their own patron saints. My favorite parts of the festival were the cultural and traditional practices such as the human towers and the firecracker run.
The human towers, or castells, were incredible to witness. Teams, made up of people of all ages, created a strong base and then built upwards, reaching as high as eight to ten stories. Each tower was completed when a child, who looked no older than four or five, climbed to the top and raised their hand to signal success as everyone below clapped and cheered for the team. In the firecracker run, people dressed in ponchos held sticks with firecrackers attached, spinning them as sparks flew into the crowd. A few friends and I took part in this in Sitges, thinking it was just a parade, we had no idea what was about to happen.
Both of these traditions were incredible to witness. I have felt so lucky to be in Spain for this festival. It felt like every part La Merce aimed to lift up the people of their communities. In the human towers, I saw that very literally. Teams of people, from Five to eighty-five year olds, work together to lift their youngest members to the top. It’s a beautiful metaphor for the sense of family and community here in Spain. In the firecracker run, I saw families, kids, elderly people, tourists, and locals all gathering to be a part of the intensity. I was so terrified every time I heard the firecrackers light and the drums get louder. More than once I took refuge with random people huddling in a circle protecting each other from the incoming sparks. My absolute favorite moment was when I saw a scared little boy get invited by one of the parade members to hold the firecracker stick. Such a small act of kindness by that person will stick with that boy forever and again I was able to witness how Spanish culture works to lift up their community. I feel so grateful to have been able to immerse myself in this city’s rich traditions. The wave of emotion that came over me while watching these events is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I would love to come to La Merce again and share this with my friends and family one day, so they can see firsthand how amazing Barcelona is!
DU Abroad 