One of the most significant communities in my life here in Barcelona is the one where I live. I’ve lived in the bohemian neighborhood of Gràcia for nearly 5 years and have worked at becoming a part of this community from day one. I know the owners of my frutería, tienda de alimentación, and tienda de granel and the employees of my favorite coffee shops and local bars. 

I remember being mortified by my dad when I was a kid whenever he’d say a server’s name by reading it from their nametag. It wasn’t until after college when I truly began to see the value of a name thanks to my yoga teacher, Aqeel. Fresh out of school and without a job, I found structure in my life by regularly attending his Dharma yoga classes. He’d start each class by encouraging us to introduce ourselves to the person on either side of our mat. I would always say hello, learn their names, have a quick chat, and then go about my practice. At the end of each class, I would never remember the name of either person I had met just an hour earlier. After months of forgetting names, I recognized how silly it was that I couldn’t remember something so simple after such a short period of time and challenged myself to remember each name. This little game with myself led me to both remember and use the names of people I’d meet and in doing so taught me the power of a name. 

This silly inquiry led me to a new way of life, one that opened me to a feeling of deep connection and belonging in the neighborhood where I live. 

A few years ago I read an article that resonated with me in the New York Times about the power of “low-stakes casual friendships.” 

“A 2014 study found that the more weak ties a person has (neighbors, a barista at the neighborhood coffee shop or fellow members in a spin class), the happier they feel. Maintaining this network of acquaintances also contributes to one’s sense of belonging to a community, researchers found.”

I actively choose to interact with my neighborhood in a way that leads to a greater sense of belonging, and I’m happier for it.

My weekend mornings are when I feel most at home in Gràcia thanks to my breakfast spot, Nabucco Tiramisu. It started off as a love affair with a ham and cheese croissant. This aesthetically beautiful croissant is what I’d imagine heaven tastes like. The perfectly buttery and flaky croissant with an ever-so-subtle sweet taste combined with the york ham, parma cheese, and Italian spices make for absolute perfection (I’m salivating as I write this). I religiously drink my spinach smoothie during the week so that I can indulge in this croissant on the weekends.

Becoming a regular afforded me the opportunity to get to know the staff and for them to know me. Sometimes I walk in the door to a choir of “holas” and “que tal guapa” and a laugh about whatever chaos is happening in the neighborhood that weekend. Other times I get to witness the sighs and stress that come with a busy morning and feel honored that I get to see them let their guard down with me and be real humans.

I’ve been introduced to fellow regulars and enjoy witnessing how other locals come to Nabucco with the same sense of comfort and belonging. There is a simple magic that comes from beginning the day in Nabucco and enjoying the neighborhood come together in the Plaça de la Vila.

This morning croissant is so much more than bread, butter, ham, and cheese. It represents community, neighborhood, and belonging.