This week in Barcelona, the weather has suddenly plummeted. We had near 100 degrees and 80% humidity last week, then this week started with chilly winds and rain. Of course, this means half my office has decided they’re sick. 

woman-sneeze

Photo credit: Corbis via The Guardian

What happened? Well, the Spanish are convinced that you get colds because of actually being cold.

I was always taught that colds are called “colds”, but have nothing to do with the cold – it’s a virus instead, right?

Spain disagrees.

Photo credit: Stephen Cook

Here’s a small sampling of “reasons I’m sick” I’ve heard from the Spanish:

  • They spend their mornings in an air-conditioned office and their evenings in the summer heat.
  • They forgot to wear a scarf.
  • Or they didn’t keep their chest covered well enough.
  • They slept with the window open.
  • The temperature changed.
  • “I spent a lot of time naked this weekend. Long story.”

Of course, I think some of these are pretty funny, but the Spanish think my attitude towards colds is pretty funny too. To them, wandering around without a scarf is simply careless. My insistence that the cold weather doesn’t matter makes them snicker and shake their heads gently. And the vitamin C powder I gulp down is beyond absurd to them.

But maybe they’re right – it’s been cold this week, and funnily enough I’m feeling the sniffles coming on.  I’ve been wearing a scarf just to be safe…

<– Sensibly scarved up.

Besos!

-Jess