I knew this trip would change my life. Okay, maybe that’s dramatic, but I find I bring something back with me whenever I leave the country. Whether it’s a touristy shirt, candy for my little cousins, or valuable life lessons, foreign countries always leave an impact on me. This trip would be different though. I am privileged to have experienced the pink beaches in Bermuda and the delicious food and culture of Mexico multiple times, but I have never ventured out of the country on my own. After a grueling 9-hour flight, I awoke to a bright morning in Madrid when my brain still thought it was midnight. I stepped off the plane, hopelessly jet lagged but excited, and the colorful culture of Spain instantly surrounded me. I definitely wasn’t in Kansas anymore…here’s what I learned.Â
#1. Spain is way ahead of the u.s. In terms of sustainability
The first couple of days in Spain were filled with culture shocks. From the Spanish people’s obsession with having potatoes with every meal to churros at Taco Bell; I had to get used to things looking a little different. What surprised me most was Spain’s effort to be sustainable in ways almost unheard of in the States or ways people complained into nonexistence back home. Water bottle caps that didn’t come off were the first thing that stuck out to me. After research, I learned that loose water bottle caps were banned in most of Europe to reduce single-use plastic waste, citing that water bottle caps are the most littered single-use plastic found on beaches. The second thing I noticed was that everything was paper! I had to adjust to the paper straws melting in my mouth and my paper bags disintegrating but I loved how the Spanish government was actively working towards making our world a cleaner place. It seemed as if sustainability was part of the culture and was widely accepted as a necessary action rather than a political question. Even companies adjusted to the views of many European people. Which after research, I found out is why all the McDonald’s in Spain and Europe are green (Green=Sustainable, duh). America has a lot to learn in terms of everyday sustainability, but sadly, most of us will continue to complain over paper straws rather than climate change destroying our planet.Â
#2. The urban design of spain is genius!
The simple things set Spain apart from any other country I had been to, like the amazing walkability, easy-to-use public transportation, and lively public spaces. After traveling to cities all over Spain, one city stuck out to me: the beautiful city of Barcelona. Barcelona introduced “SuperBlocks” in 1993, which are clusters of neighborhoods in which certain streets are blocked off from vehicles creating more space for public recreation. The impact of this was less urban design focused on cars and more priority focused on creating a community with parks, shops, and recreational spaces. If you search Barcelona from an aerial view, you will get a better picture of this. These urban planning designs inspired me to continue working in my field and bring back some of these creative ideas to make my hometown, Kansas City, better. Â
#3. My favorite part of spain: The Cathedrals
I am not a religious person. It has been years since I have been inside a church and practiced religion in any way. But I would say that visiting the cathedrals in Spain was a religious experience for me. I remember the first time I walked through the 20-foot doors of a cathedral. My jaw instantly dropped as my eyes tried to take in everything I was seeing in front of me: tall, sculpted walls, beautiful stained-glass windows, and gigantic gold structures displaying scenes from the Bible. We learned so much about the Catholic faith, Spanish culture, and history within those walls and it is an experience I will remember forever. The cathedral that stuck out to me the most was the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Right as I walked in, the hundred-foot-stained glass met my eyes as I took in the beautiful sculptures and paintings on the ceilings. The front of the building told the story of the nativity and the back the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection. The guide explained that the nativity facade was facing east, and the resurrection facade was facing west so as the sun rises and sets the story of Jesus’s life unfolds from birth to death. When we visited Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia was not yet done and would be finished in 2050 after being worked on for 500 years. After it is finished it will be the tallest and largest cathedral in the world.Â
#4. Art connects us, it is a wordly language
Near the end of our trip, we visited the famous museum: The Guggenheim, which is known for its contemporary art. On the 1st floor, I was stunned to see a shuttlecock exhibit that instantly reminded me of the Nelson Atkins Museum back home and turns out it was done by the same artist! As I read the artist’s description I was amazed to see my hometown, Kansas City, Missouri, mentioned in a museum in Spain! It helped me realize that art connects us no matter what language we speak. Creativity and art are worldly languages that everyone can understand and interpret. Our art has the potential to affect people all around the world.Â
#5. Churros are better in mexico
I am no churro connoisseur. But I am a sweet treat connoisseur, so I believe I have the authority to judge the churro debate. For context, I have tried churros in Mexico, Disneyland, and Taco Bell, so I am properly experienced. When I think of a churro, I think of a big fatty cinnamon delight dipped in dark, decadent chocolate. But I was surprised to see that in Spain they were skinny, delicious, but skinny. In my opinion, size matters. When it comes to churros of course. I enjoy the bigger fattier churros of Mexico that fill me up with 1 or 2 compared to the skinny “churros” in Spain that I had to eat 5 or 6 to extinguish my sweet tooth. So, it is settled; Mexico wins the churro debate over Spain! Colonizer- 0 Colonized- 1. Â
Throughout the trip, I acquired a Barcelona jersey, Spanish candy for my little cousins, and memories and life lessons that I will remember forever, accompanied by a deep love for travel. There are so many languages, cultures, people, monuments, experiences, and environments that I want to experience. Spain kickstarted my love for learning what awaits outside of our country’s borders on our beautiful planet.Â