The Importance of Cultural Exchange

With pen in hand and notebook open, I peer out the bus window, admiring the various landscapes in the many different neighborhoods. I watch the people gather and disperse, looking for a seat, sharing space with strangers, or gripping the yellow metal bars to stand still in place. The blue seats, where some are situated to sit together, facing each other ready to engage in conversation, or others, simply in rows, clearly designed for folks to transfer from one spot to another, are filled, except for one close to the front. The red seats, reserved for individuals with mobility issues, are clearly marked, with visuals outlining who is supposed to use that space - a person using a cane, a wheelchair user, and a person holding a baby - all drawn in white outlines.

With each stop, the door opens, individuals quickly leave, and others sometimes hop on, quickly surveying the space for a spot, but this time, most of them continue standing as the seats are taken, even that one from earlier. A man near the back is holding a case used for some stringed instruments. It reminds me of a viola case, similar to, but clearly larger, than the one laid out on the sidewalk in the center, used to hold the man's violin playing music along the Port of Málaga earlier in the day. Heading back from a beautiful flamenco show after wandering around Muelle Uno, the name of the port, and the city center just before that, I cannot help but be incredibly grateful for this opportunity not just to be engaged in research and work in Spain, but to experience a deep, and rich, cultural exposure outside of the United States.

These experiences are not lost on me now, as I shared previously how many Fulbrighters were experiencing pauses to their stipends, upending their lives, even if temporarily, or, though many have had their payments restarted (though not all, and some have had their projects suspended indefinitely,) the IIE professionals who work tirelessly to support these programs are facing a furlough, which creates a significant administrative burden, as noted by the IIE organization itself. More can be read about that here: An Important Update from IIE.

Flamenco performance at Kelipé on Feb. 13, 2025

Having been here for only two months so far, I have had thought-provoking conversations, fascinating observations, and in-depth history lessons that have made me rethink how I see the world not only in my own space but nationally as it relates to the United States and globally. I recently developed a significant love of flamenco. While I had watched a show in San Diego, the pasión y cultura that stems from la corazon is so evident here in Spain, not illogical, seeing as flamenco has become part of the national identity, and especially in terms of how the world looks at it on the outside. I did not, however, know that its roots also can be traced to Andalucía, which is the region where Málaga is located.

Opening guita performance at Kelipé.

My first understanding of the contentious and difficult changes around flamenco started with our first show here in Spain at Kelipé, a fantastic establishment. One of the things that I think people need to understand when attending this space is that they do whatever they can to maintain their origins and roots, engage in cultural transmission, and share the historical underpinnings of flamenco. It is because of our first show at Kelipé by the performer Gitana that I truly understood the realities of the art. In this case, the performer and director of Kelipé, Suana La Yedra, shared the importance of Gitana culture, the struggle against persecution, and important values. One thing that stood out to me was her statement that while they tend to have more conservative values within their community, they believe in liberation for all, regardless. I found this incredibly powerful, as she highlighted how the music, dance, and flamenco is music, dance, and art of resistance to erasure, a movement for liberation, and art for people.

With that, I do recognize art as political, and really, most of existence is. We must constantly grapple with power dynamics, politics, and laws, and never mind the social and emotional complexities involved. Flamenco is an art form that began as a way to maintain culture and identity, act as resistance to those in positions of power, and act as an oral history for the Gitano people.

One of my favorite photos I've taken, Mar. 14, 2025. Dancer: Anabel Moreno

Many people began significantly pushing against flamenco becoming the symbolic icon of Spain, primarily because of discrimination across ethnicity and race. However, there was a large shift, and we see now that it is a highly sought-after performance that people attend worldwide when visiting Spain. I think it's also important to highlight that travel, while for many people it is vacation, is also an opportunity for connection, understanding, and new knowledge. We have access to books and articles online, with the advance of technology, we have threads like Reddit and social media, such as TikTok, Instagram, and more, but being immersed in the culture with people, the people, and the living histories.

This is a consistent reminder to me that the ways we engage in art, dialogue, and history are crucial. So often, histories are mistold and misunderstood. I had gone to another flamenco show, which was fantastic as well. It was beautiful, colorful, vibrant, and exciting. I went to look at reviews of various places for flamenco, and one thing is that individuals consistently rated this performance at Alegria positively (with, of course, some negatives as it is a business,) while the one at Kelipé, while the majority were positive, did tend to rate it lower at a higher rate than the other performance. Now, let me be clear.

Performance at Algeria with Anabel Moreno and Sergio Andrade.

This is in no way a comparison, nor am I saying one is better than the other. Rather, it was evident that there was a critical misunderstanding of what flamenco is, the importance of, and how, while it is performance, it is a dialogue of the heart between history and current conditions, an act of survival and resilience, of joy, anguish, pain, and love, rooted in the persecution of Gitano people, a way of celebration through Spanish culture, and deep connection. Why do I say this? On the night of March 13, during the performance at Alegria, the dancer Sergio Andrade said that every night is different because it depends on what is in his heart. I think this is important because while Alegria did not provide historical context, a deep dive into the music, or song choices, it was clear there was power, fire, and compassion throughout.

In both performances, with every clack of the shoes on the hardwood floors, every facial expression, the frowning of what was a smile, furrowed brows, gripping of the chest out of heartbreak, the embrace of two hands slowly disconnecting indicating a loss of love, every use of vibrato in the singers' voices, the soundwaves moving from each clap, reaching my ears, creating beautiful music across each strum of a violin and guitar strings, the connection from person to music, from music to performer, and performer to emotion was present, never missing a beat, harmonious and only facing discord when intentional to convey strong emotion, and each outfit representing colorful masterpieces of feelings and swirls of emotions, histories, contention, and resistance, it was clear: this is more than pure performance. And it also highlights something else: the negative reviews of Kelipé were clearly rooted in colonial perspectives of flamenco, stereotypical ideas, dismissive of the art's deep cultural and historical components, and a lack of awareness of cultural differences and longstanding persecutions, resilience, and love. And I'll admit that I was ignorant to these origns as well.

Street art near Plaza de la Merced, Málaga, España

Being on this journey, with each passerby I see on a bus, through every bite of jamón and each croquetta, through every performance and reading, I cannot disconnect myself from the very history and cultural understanding I am developing, even just foundationally. Recognizing the diversity of people, experiences, persecution, and resistance, the pain and anguish, and the survival, joy, and love that have existed here through people that are not talked about as often or discussed globally is something that is valuable, necessary, and critical. I have had the fortunate experience of existing and living in a space where people are currently advocating better housing rights, people who work daily to create beauty and share space through graffiti and street art. I also have had the opportunity to reflect on the ways that being in Andalucía in itself is different than other parts of Spain, heavily influenced by so many factors, yet still being Spain, a stark reminder that we cannot make sweeping statements about people based on their country. Everyday people are different than the policies and governmental practices, and while yes, we are products of those, of course, and we cannot pretend we are not, everyday people can also make and shift social structures and systems, and by forgetting or sidestepping that, we dishonor the countless efforts and work people have done to advocate for a better future.

So, why is cultural exchange important? My argument is that when we step out of our comfort zones, misconceptions, and stereotypes of people, we can see beyond the scope of our limited understandings of the people and see what the people are doing daily, how they are shifting the future, making change, and resisting to harmful narratives. There are people daily who are doing work to undo pain and harm that systems and structures have forced people to endure, and this is a vital thing to remember. It is what can help us hold onto hope, find community, and stand in solidarity. This does not mean there are not people who can cause harm, but also remember that the people can, and do, have the power to make change.

So, for me, for now, it is important because of the opportunity to soak in observation of people like myself who are sitting on this bus, in these seats, trying to get from point A to point B. I will be reminded of the stories I've been told that were just stories, the histories that were dismissed or ignored, and the acts of resistance that exist on this land not widely discussed. I will be sure to appreciate a cultura that values familia y comunidad. And I will forever appreciate spaces to discuss with others cultural values that are different as well as the ones that we share while spread out across the globe.

If you enjoyed what you read and are interested in the intersection of travel, history, and the arts (like writing and photography), and as I am trying to gain momentum with my writing, I'd love for you to subscribe (for free) to my blog posts: Subscribe Now.