One supporter of Catalan independence told me that the Catalans and Spanish are "like beans and rice, totally different". (And he didn't mean they go well together!)
Barcelona is in Catalonia, Spain. Those are the political facts. And to many, that's the social reality. Nonetheless, I'm always reticent to say I'm in Spain.
When speaking with people here (whom I don't know so well yet), I'm loath to speak of being in Spain without first speaking of Catalonia, for fear they'll view me as politically or culturally clueless. Also, when writing to folks (presumably elsewhere), I feel it's important to stress that Bcn is in Catalonia, something other than the Spain which they might imagine.
But just how is Catalonia different? Well, there are some obvious calling cards: language (Catalan), customs (castells, caganers, galets, caga tió), self-image (seny). But fundamentally, what makes a Catalan different from, say, an Asturian or Madrileño? What does being Catalan mean to Catalans?
I don't really know. Trying to figure that out.
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