“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list”
3 THINGS
I WISH I KNEW
BEFORE MOVING HERE
1. Siesta time is serious business. Many places
close from 2-5pm daily so that people can eat
their large lunches and get some R&R. I had no
clue that everything shut down during that time
and it would’ve been helpful to know when we
were walking around town during those hours
trying to get our utilities set up.
The food in Catalonia (this region of Spain) is delicious!
Most restaurants have ‘pa amb tomaquet’ for a starter,
which is a toast with fresh squeezed tomato sauce, garlic
and olive oil. Being on the coast we eata lot of seafood.
Also typical of the region is iberico ham and paella.
I have yet to try a Spanish dish I didn’t enjoy!
2. More about the language conflict here
in Catalonia. During Franco’s rule (1939-1975)
the only language to be used by government
and in public was Spanish. After his death the
Catalonian people did everything they could
to keep their language and culture. Today,
schools are taught in Catalan not Spanish. There
are many people that disagree with this, saying
that although Catalan is the language of their
Fathers, the emphasis should be put on Spanish,
not Catalan. The discussion gets quite passionate at times.
Right now we have only planned to be here for a year
and a half, which is when my husband’s program ends. We
are open to staying, open to returning to the US and
open to trying somewhere new. We don’t know what the
future holds for us. Sometimes the unknown is scary and
other times it’s beautiful.
3. Local rules about cheek kissing. These are
some rules I picked up in our region. A. When
facing someone, go F???W"?VgBf?'7B???W"&?v?@?6?VV?2F?V6?f?'7B??F??2?2???'F?C??6??V?F?( ?@??fRF?W????v???"???RW7V???????70?7V??F?6W2?V??W72??R&R&V??r??G&?GV6V@?F?6??V??R'??7V??F?6R?2???W"?0?&R???F?W&RF???R??76??r6?V?B???W ?6?VV?2&RF?R???'G2F?B&RF?V6???r???72?f????b6?W'6R'WB?6??W7Bv???rF???P?7F?&RF?'W?WfW'?F???r????7B??N( ?26???RF???rF?@??F???f?"w&?FVB???fR7???B???&WGW&?&6?F??W&?6??( ???F?P??B??F?R??7F?'??F?Rf??B?6??RG&F?F???2??B6??P?v??FW&gV?V??RvR?fR?WB6?f"?f??B?WB??&R&?WB7??B'&6?V?&?V?Wf&B?6???C????