This is an assignment for my COM-480 class
Studying in Salamanca has really taken me out of my comfort zone as far as communication goes, and placed me in a position where i have needed to re-learn every aspect of the ways I talk with others. Non verbal communication is so vital in an environment like this for someone who is not from the area. Near the end of my trip, I have begun to really think on how the people here communicate, and investigate why their culture is so different than ours.
One major factor about their culture is how everything has remained in place over a long period of time. The city I stay in has been bustling for over 6 centuries, and the people here are very rooted into tradition. Siestas are integral to the way of life here, and I can see how many years ago it was extremely important to get out of the heat of the day. Tradition has kept that going, and despite affordable air-conditioning, the country’s people choose to keep having that time of the day as rest. Compared to the US, we are fairly new, and in some areas of the country, you absolutely have to have AC. Additionally, most of our buildings were built since the 50s, so central air and heat are common themes across the country. Here in Spain, buildings have been around for many, many years, and not but a few have been updated to have any air control at all.
The city, I have begun to understand the major influence the Church has had over the city. The church has served as the central point of communications for an entire city. I have seen the connection in both the structure of the city, as well as the construction of the church. The acoustic properties are amazing, and the positioning and architecture help it stand out amongst a sea of buildings that look more or less the same. Having infrastructure set up in this way allowed for the best possible communication routes for a once developing, and then thriving city.
As time went on, the town took a foot hold in Spain with the University of Salamanca. The city cemented itself as a hub of both the clergy, as well as any student who wanted to expand their knowledge. The town was transformed from a city of cattle farmers trading in markets, to a hub of knowledge and faith. Citizens from across the nation would travel to learn about science, culture, and the christian faith, to take their knowledge back to their home towns to share and grow other communities.
Overall, Salamanca is a hub of communication. The shape of the city, as well as the historical trade of information, has influenced how the city ebbs and flows for centuries. Traditions from long ago still hold up today, and I can imagine they will stand for much longer.
Kobee Vance 