Arrival

The year abroad begins:

Íngrid, Me and Maite on our balcony

The day after I arrived was the Diada Nacional de Catalunya (National Catalonia day), which saw 1.5 million people flood the streets of Barcelona in a massive demonstration for independence. Although this demonstration was a one off for this year, I was surprised to learn that the origins of this national holiday were not on a military success, but instead a military defeat in the 'War of Succession'. I also learnt that the English had supported Catalonia in this war, and then we abandoned them (which is maybe why they lost).

Demonstration for Catalan Independence

Plaça Major - Vic

The weekend before University started I escaped the city and headed North with my flatmates Íngrid and Maite to Torelló and Vic to go to Música Viva Vic, an annual music festival that was on that weekend. As we watched numerous Catalan bands including els Catarres and Txarango, the aftermath of the national celebrations were still visible with flags hanging from many of the balconies in the Plaça Major, and the gaps between acts filled with the chants of the previous Tuesday: IN, INDE, INDEPENDèNCIA! 


Before heading back to the city on the Sunday we headed to Banyoles to watch a swimming competition, and then Girona on the way back for Ice cream and a walk around the city walls!

Banyoles!

Girona

During the weekend I was also interviewed on Ràdio Manlleu - a local Catalan radio station - about why I chose to learn Catalan, about Catalan at Leeds and about my thoughts on Barcelona etc. Apparently they normally have authors as guests on the show, but as they couldn't find any that week they resorted to me, a foreign student of Catalan. It was the first time I'd been on the radio so I was a bit nervous, but apparently it went well!