What’s the Madrid secret?

MADRID, Spain — My friends and I are taunted as we bustle through Chueca, an eccentric and busy barrio, or neighborhood, in downtown Madrid.

“Americanos, Americanos!” follows us through this city. As students who will live here for four months, we long to assimilate into the madrileno population. One of my friends turns and whispers, “My goal by the end of this trip is to not be noticed as American.”

We have prepared long for this trip. We have taken years of Spanish classes, bought entirely new wardrobes and watched Travel Channel’s Spain re-runs over and over, but it seems that none of this has made us any less obviously American.

Despite our preparation, my friends and I have been picked out in cafes, museums, stores and our classrooms. We are noticed on El Paseo del Prado, in El Parque de Retiro and in Madrid’s many discotheques.

But after only a week in Madrid, I noticed that madrilenos have an uncanny ability to point out Americans in a crowd. And while there are telltale signs, such as flip-flops, oversized sunglasses and baseball caps, there is a secret madrileno aura lacking in my friends and I that separates us from natives. What is this secret aura? We tried to find out.

First, while many Americans think of madrilenos as lax and carefree, I’ve noticed that madrilenos value a sense of security and may have seven keys to their apartments. Or while I long looked forward to enjoying an afternoon siesta, I found that Madrid, like most modern cities, never sleeps and that its people are continually astir.

Madrilenos must be lovers of la corrida de los toros! Surely, this isn’t a stereotype, right? Uh uh, many madrilenos staunchly oppose the bullfights as violent and antiquated. And though I’ve been told that they are a loud and outspoken people, I’ve found that the loudest voices in the metro stations are usually speaking English.

After we discovered what madrilenos are not, my friends and I looked at what madrilenos are, by delving into their culture and unearthing the roots of Madrid. In an interview with Ana Palaez, professor of culture and civilization for the Boston College in Madrid University program, I learned more about these unique people and their city.

“Madrid is the capital of Spain,” said Dr. Palaez, “and because of this we [madrilenos] have always felt that we are at the center of Spain. We are very proud of our city.”

This pride resonates throughout Madrid, and is a key factor in defining the madrileno aura. Be it Madrid’s grand museums, classic architecture or impressive nightlife, every aspect of the city is something in which madrilenos hold great pride. And don’t even mention Barcelona’s futbol team.

Madrilenos are also very open and receptive to other people, both native and foreign. Family is a major part of the social culture in Madrid and it is common for madrilenos to spend mealtimes and weekends with their families.

Yet their sincerity extends beyond their family and madrilenos graciously welcome visitors to their city.

Madrid’s pace is decidedly relaxed, but madrilenos themselves are active and outgoing. Even the music of the Spanish guitar or the beauty of an authentic flamenco dance portrays the intensity madrilenos bring to this city.

They are passionate about life, and it seems as though the madrilenos have adopted their famous night-owl reputation as an opportunity to live and feel more each day.

After only a week, my friends and I adore Madrid. In many ways, it is a city like many others, complete with famous museums, sprawling neighborhoods and impressive vistas, but what makes Madrid different is its people.

Madrilenos exude a love for their city, for other people and for life, and together, these factors define the secret madrileno spirit that we soon hope to embody. Perhaps only when my friends and I learn to love as deeply as do the madrilenos, will we fit into in this city.

But what better place to learn to love? For as the madrilenos say, “From Madrid to Heaven.” It doesn’t get any more perfect than that.

This report comes from a journalist in our Student Correspondent Corps, a GlobalPost project training the next generation of foreign correspondents while they study abroad.