Murugi Munyi shares culture shock moments in Barcelona
Kenyan digital creator Murugi Munyi has shared her experiences of culture shock while visiting Barcelona, Spain.
Through an Instagram post on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, she painted a picture of how everyday life in the European city differs significantly from what she is accustomed to back home.
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Murugi expressed her amazement at the daily lifestyle of people in Barcelona, noting that what is considered ordinary for residents feels almost extraordinary to an outsider.
“Yaani, people live like this. Like this is where and how these people live. Their daily life is like this. And we are all in the same world,” she remarked, emphasising how surreal the contrast felt.
Urban planning
Among the things that stood out to her was the city’s modern infrastructure and attention to urban planning.
She observed that Barcelona’s design prioritises both convenience and safety, making the city easier to navigate and more accommodating to its residents.
One specific example she highlighted was the availability of dedicated bike lanes across the city. Murugi noted that cyclists in Barcelona do not have to compete with vehicles for road space, highlighting how this simple yet effective system reflects thoughtful planning.
According to her, such measures not only reduce congestion but also encourage healthier and more environmentally friendly modes of transport.
She further praised the city’s overall organisation, describing the urban planning in Europe as “well thought through.” From road systems to residential spaces, Murugi observed that the design makes daily life flow more smoothly compared to what many Kenyans experience in local cities.
Her reflections underline how travel often reveals the contrasts between countries, particularly in terms of infrastructure and lifestyle. For Murugi, Barcelona’s systems and structures appear to provide residents with a level of ease and efficiency that is still developing in many African urban centres.
Murugi’s observations resonate with a broader conversation about city planning and quality of life in various parts of the world.
Her remarks highlight the importance of investing in infrastructure that serves people’s everyday needs.
Murugi’s reflections capture the wonder of seeing everyday life from a different lens while also sparking debate on what Kenyan cities could achieve with smarter planning and investment.
