A New View

Tell us about yourself—what do you do?
I work for the Catalonia Tourism Board, and I promote the region outside of Barcelona, which is the capital of Catalonia. We’re independent of the Spanish tourism board, and we’re funded by the autonomous government of Catalonia. Everyone’s heard of Barcelona, but the other parts of the region aren’t as widely known, and learning more about Catalonia through my work has helped me to see things from different perspectives.

We see you have your own lunch and cup with you—is leading a sustainable lifestyle something you’re trying to practice?
I try my best, but it’s hard to keep up the habit. The speed at which things change makes it easy to buy new things all the time, but if you stay true to something you’ve always had, you’ll see that it can be used for a long time. It’s important to find value in things, even if they’re old.

What’s the last thing you read that inspired you?
I recently read the e-book of The Thing Around Your Neck, a short story collection by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I like that she’s not afraid to be subversive in creating characters who are unlikable, which I think is brilliant. I also like how she challenges the common perceptions people have of black people in America.

Are there TV shows or films that you’d recommend to people?
I’m watching Westworld, and The Handmaid’s Tale. I like that Westworld questions consciousness, and what it means to be human. I’m generally interested in sci-fi and dystopian worlds—I actually spend a lot of time thinking about imaginary scenarios. (laughs)

What’s the last scenario you thought about?
How my needs would be different if I lived in a forest, or somewhere that was completely not urbanised. I was wondering if my desires for myself would change with the environment I was in, and if I would find value in different things. Plus, I wouldn’t be able to buy books or use the internet, so I think the ways I spend my time would change too.