It is hard to believe I have already spent almost three months working at La Piccola in Barcelona. These past months have been full of new experiences and challenges. Each day adds a new piece to this journey, helping me grow and understand more about what it means to build an Italian literary and cultural space in a big city like this.
Working in an Italian bookshop in Spain is a fascinating experience, as every day I get to meet different people: some are Italian expats looking for a piece of home, others are locals passionate about Italian literature. After these first few months I already know who the regular clients are and the relationship feels more familiar. I have also learnt how powerful books can be in being a bridge between cultures.
One of the most unexpected yet rewarding moments so far was hosting a poetry event called Vespertina in collaboration with a Catalan man passionate about Italian poetry. We spoke about Maria Luisa Spaziani in front of an audience. I spoke in Italian, he replied in Catalan and somehow it worked amazingly: the conversation flowed naturally and the audience truly appreciated it. It was a challenge given that I am quite shy, but it gave me so much confidence to speak in public and trust my voice, even in a setting that felt a little intimidating at first.
Another unforgettable experience was the day of Sant Jordi on April 23rd. It is a celebration that fills the city with books and roses, celebrating literature and love. As a tradition, people gift books and that day the atmosphere was magical, because everybody was walking around the streets with books in their hands. Together with my Host Entrepreneur and a couple of helpers, we set up a stall right in the square in front of the bookshop and we sold mainly translations of the most famous Italian titles into Catalan and Spanish. That is because this tradition was the perfect opportunity to reach new clients and to get people outside of the Italian community to get to know our literature. It was busy, exciting and full of energy. I loved seeing people stop by and ask questions about the bookshop. It also gave me a new perspective on how to reach new readers beyond the physical space of the bookshop.
Moreover, I am also participating in the book club that my Host Entrepreneur organises once a month. It is helping me understand how to build a community around books, how to listen to different perspectives and also how to create a welcoming space for people to share their ideas. These are all things I will take into consideration when I start my own project in the future. I pay attention to everything: not only the books we discuss, but also how the group is structured and how everyone is encouraged to communicate .
Speaking of communication, one area I wish I had done more in by now is social media. Before coming here, I had imagined being more active in creating content, but I am also learning to respect the existing style and pace of the bookshop. My Host Entrepreneur prioritises other aspects, but she also listens to my ideas and lets me experiment with Instagram. That being said, we have started planning more content together for the next few months and I am excited to contribute in a way that feels aligned with the personality of the bookshop.
Looking ahead, now that I feel more confident and I have understood the dynamics of the bookshop, I would like to challenge myself more, taking more initiative and proposing small projects.