Mescladís

     I had the most incredible, truly inspiring experience today.  In retrospect, it affected me much more than I could have predicted and more than I initially thought.  As a field trip for my Cross-Cultural Psychology class, we went to a restaurant in Barcelona.  Unfortunately we didn't get to eat though.
     To get there, you need to take the metro and then walk for about fifteen minutes.  You wind through small streets and back alleys.  

All of a sudden, the narrow alleys open up to this:

It's a beautiful park, with families and dogs playing.  Then as you look around, you start to notice the graffiti and the crumbling buildings.  It's like something straight out of Brooklyn. 

     Then you notice it, nestled in between the decrepit buildings, chipping paint and fire escape ladders: a little ray of sunshine in a struggling area.

     The restaurant is called Mescladís.  It's open on the sides to the surrounding streets.  A soft breeze drifts through.  The building is made of rough stones and antique cabinets furnish the two rooms.  There is the sound of laughter and the scent of something that makes our stomaches start to growl.  It's peaceful here, almost tranquil and reassuring.

     We sat down with Martín, a co-founder of the restaurant.  He explained to us that the restaurant is owned and run by a program for migrants.  I have translated a statement from their website for you:

   "Mescladís is a social and non-profit Foundation for Multiculturalism and Citizenship. FCM's mission is to provide accommodation for immigrants and native citizens through educational initiatives that promote social cohesion and economic initiatives that facilitate the social integration and employment.

     Through educational and cultural initiatives promoting mutual understanding of different cultures in our city, we promote the internalization of respect for diversity and act as reinforcement and motivation in our schools and children.

     Through our solidarity, our economy projects facilitate social and labor integration of immigrants and people at risk of social exclusion by creating jobs in productive activities."

    It's such an incredible and inspiring program.  A significant amount of their funding is income made from their restaurant.  They predict that almost seventy percent of their budget this year will be from the restaurant.  In America we have homeless shelters, clinics and food pantries.  All of these are in dire need of help and funding.  However, these only provide people with physical essentials.  They do not provide people with the means to interact with the outside world, motivate them to join society in a productive manner or encourage cultural awareness.  My mom told me that my Dad used to work at a program like Mescladís in his spare time.

     Martín took us to the "hallway" outside the restaurant and explained some of the students' stories.  The program has "students" of all ages, young and old and in between.  Some left behind a better life thinking that they would be able to make some quick easy money here.  Many were arrested and/or sent back.  One boy was arrested twice in Morocco and was left in the middle of the desert.  He walked for six months and finally managed to make it here. Some live in the slums, some are still "illegal" (they dislike using this term, whereas in America we use it freely).  I think the photos speak for themselves...

     The students have an English tutor and are eager to learn.  The camaraderie among these individuals who have fought so hard to overcome adversity and make an effort to learn about one another, is astounding.  It is truly touching to read these stories and see the faces of such incredible strength and determination.  It inspired me to reexamine my life and see what kind of person I want to be.