Yesterday Professor Dorothy Noyes, who works for the Comparative Studies and English departments at OSU, visited our class, Spanish 4568 (Catalan Cultures). She talked about one her main research topics: Catalan festivals. Among other issues, Professor Noyes addressed the Patum de Berga, its historical and cultural significance and the similarities and differences with other festivals in Europe and the Mediterranean. The students had the opportunity to ask her questions based on the reading of Noyes’ “Festival and the Shaping of Catalan Community”, a chapter of the book 'A Companion to Catalan Culture', published in 2011 by Tamesis. I would like to thank Professor Noyes for devoting part of her time to us, despite her busy schedule.  -Ernest Carranza Castelo