#17: Micro-Interview w/ Paula V. Guisande
By Bilal Mohamed
Bilal Mohamed (struggling to keep his eyes open) takes a 5 AM call to catch Paula Guisande (wide awake under the Spanish sun) for a few minutes during her 3-hour lunch break in Barcelona, Spain. She sits in a luscious courtyard removed from the city center. She sports big black Bluetooth headphones and light red lipstick. The birds chirp and fish swash around in the small pond before her. When she answered, she wanted to sneeze, but the sneeze disappeared and never returned.
The Q&A below is only a small portion of the conversation that took placeā¦ Enjoy.
You left home a long time ago Paula, how does it feel to be away from family for so long?
You know, I went home recently to spend time with my family. There was a wedding and it was so cool. I had not seen some of my family from my momās side for a long time. But since I moved a long time ago, everything I go back to has changed, and you see how old everyone is becoming.
How long has it been?
I moved 7 years ago, more or less. 3 years of studying exchange. Both in Lisbon and San Diego.
How much do you update your parents?
(Laughs) I update them on what I want. I donāt tell them everything. At least I donāt tell them anything that will keep them from sleeping. In San Diego, I felt very alone, because of the time change. When I would be able to talk to my family, they couldnāt talk. Especially nowadays because weāre all so busy. Thatās why I love sending voice messages because it feels like we are really talking and get to hear each otherās voices.
Thatās right actually. Youāre like the only person I know who sends voice messages, and it feels like I see you all the time.
Yes, and we havenāt seen each other in like 5 years!
5 YEARS??
Yes! 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022ā¦! Thatās why I always tell you we are internet friends at this point. Imagine when we see each other again, weāre going to feel like weāre being catfished! (laughs) Weāll see each other and just be like, āWell. It was good to meet youā¦ Bye.ā (Laughs)
Do you see yourself ever writing a film?
Actually, I struggle to write. I see more in images. That is why I am more into cinematography, aesthetics, and feeling because it is easier for me to think like this.
Why does all your personal work - your photos, films, and artworks - feel like Summer?
I am a sunny person!
Donāt you have a sun tattoo?
Yes, I do! Right here (pointing to her right shoulder). You know itās like, I deal with Winter, but I am myself in the Summer. I grew up next to the beach in Vigo, always going for water activities. I donāt like the rain even though my town is usually rainy. So thatās why I left my hometown. That is why I went to Lisbon, and now Barcelona.
You studied in Lisbon, right?
Yes, I did my Erasmus in Lisbon.
Are you an optimistic person?
Yes, I think so. I donāt like drama and negativity even though I have a lot of it in my life. (Laughs) But Iām very positive, I have goals and I am like āUgh. I canāt wait to do this!ā And when I stop to think about it, compared to other people and how negative some people can be, I think that I am very cheerful.
(Just then, Paula spots a dead bird lying on the other side of the pond in the courtyard. Itās a pretty pigeon. People surrounded it one by one as if it was some phenomenal spectacle. Although it was in some way, for something beautiful had died. Paula tells Bilal how to say pigeon in Spanishā¦ āPalomaā)
Why do you keep making art?
I feel it is a way to connect with people in a different way. The most interesting people you relate to in different aspects, use it as a way to learn a little bit more about themselves. To feel and express emotions, artists use art. That is their way, but there are others.
In terms of photography, for me, it is a good way to connect with people. I like to receive feedback from my world and other peopleās worlds. For example, in this garden, we could be in the same place and see it in a completely different way.
Right, like I may be taking gorgeous photos of the garden and pond, while you may be taking pictures of the dead paloma.
(laughs) Right! For example, I like this pond. And if I had my camera, I would focus on the shadows, the light of the pond, and the water.
Whatās your favorite photo youāve taken?
This one I took on a ferry with my two friends, probably. I feel like itās because that photo went viral and was so successful, and the fact that it simply came into my mind and we created itā¦ I even had 2 random people from the internet make paintings of it. My favorite photos generally, however, are the ones I take just living in the moment with my friends and family.
Can you give some tips to women who want to travel or travel often?
I lived abroad for a long time. In this time, I have lived with a total of 55 flatmates. It is one thing being a tourist in another city, but it is another to be living someplace. I realize the more I talk with both women and men, that there a lot of people who struggle to do things alone - (jogging, going to cafes, skating, or going to events). I had to get out of my comfort zone because I began thinking, āAm I going to stay home alone while I am in another country? No, Iām going to go out.ā I enjoy being alone, but being lonely is different than being alone. I suggest that people, not just women, but men too, learn how to do things alone. It could be because they are insecure, shy, or embarrassed, but I also understand that a lot of people need someone to do things with them, so I encourage people to try doing things alone when they travel.
I ask that about women specifically as my understanding is that it is because safety is a major concern.
100 percent. I would never go hiking, partying, or even travel alone sometimes. I met a lot of women who travel alone and I think, āYou have to be extremely carefulā. My whole life, I have not been able to even walk home alone at night, safelyā¦ MY WHOLE LIFE.
I feel the difference between men and women is that aspect, but you guys have to worry about getting robbed or beat up, itās a different type of fear.
Do you have any crazy stories?
Yeah in my hometown (Vigo), I live a 10-minute walk away from the place we go to party.Ā I would usually have a friend walk home with me after and sheād stay at my place. But every time I was alone, I would have to take a taxi just for a 10-minute walking distance because itās not safe. One time I could not find a taxi, and it was 2 am, and Iām walking home, then there were 2 guys sitting on a bench, and they started making comments about my butt and making fake orgasm noises.
Disgusting.
I know. But I no longer have much fear about these things because I know how to act now. My chin is up and I walk very strong. And I put my keys between my fingers like a knife.
Another time in Barcelona, I took the metro after partying at 6 a.m. I was a 3-minute walk from my house when I got off, and there was a random guy behind me. He yelled, āHey, sorry!ā So I turned around, but I didnāt know him, and noticed he began following me. He kept saying, āHay, perdona!ā but I did not answer, and he continued to follow. I started walking faster and he came faster as well. The scary thing about my building is that if he knows where I live, he can follow me inside because it is not locked ā this is how a lot of women have gotten attacked or raped. So I ran around the corner before he could see me and got into my building super fast. I donāt know what this guy wanted from me at 6 AM but I did not want to find out.
You have any recent revelations or discoveries in life you want to share?
Oohh let me thinkā¦ Yeah - āLife is like a gameāā
Naa thatās too cliche! (Laughs) But Iāll hear you out, keep going!
Jajaja Okay. Well, itās like, when youāre young, you are always in a hurry and it feels like you are going to die at 30 years old. So now, I believe itās very important to be patient.
So always remember that the sky will not be gray forever, and never to follow the clouds!
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