A
lazy post today . . .
Tidying
up my Mac today, I found this document. It's a Spanish resident's
response to (standard) negative comments on life here. I don't have
the source but the writer says he's a foreigner living here, very
possibly an Italian. (S)he says the criticisms are the 'the most
tendentious list that I ever saw in my life'.
1.
Nobody listens in this country!: Partially true: the people
here like to talk very loud. But the real problem is that Spanish
speakers have to use a long line argumentation, and yes, it's the
same in informal conversations. Their fault is not to be brief. 'To
get to the point' is rare. If you want to have your Anglo-Saxon
conversation experience here, you must to say: Vaaale. no me
marees. Vete al grano.
2.
Spaniards are always swearing: True: Like the Italians, the
French, the Portuguese, the Brazilians and the Germans too. It's our
way to express ourselves. Of course the English/North Americans do
not say 'fuck' every 3 words and never say dirty words. They are all
gentlemen and ladies. . .
3.
Everything takes so long here. False (or not): It depends of
your perception of 'takes so long'. I have done some things in
minutes by internet. Others I have to get in line and wait 30/45
minutes. My personal doctor I can meet in 48 hours (max) via a
previous internet appointment. Emergency cases at a moment's notice).
The police, for granting permissions (I mean official papers for
residence in Spain) can take 30/45 days. To me that doesn't look so
bad. In Italy it is at least 60 days.
4.
Do we really have to spend Sunday with your family again?
False (not a real question): Sorry, if your family is crap (or you
don't have one) don't blame us. If my family is a crap they are still
are my family and I will see then as often as I like. And I will
blame them how much I want! I love those guys. Cultural stuff.
Period.
5.
The food here is so fatty/greasy/salty: False: Here, you have
'healthy food', 'Mediterranean food', but, if you wish to have the
most inexpensive menu you can find, you will have the same crap food
as you have in your country. There is food for all tastes and
pockets. By the way: fish and chips, cheese hamburgers and Eisbein
with potatoes and sauerkraut are really nice models to follow)
6.
Your compatriots are such drama queens. True: They are
emotional people. If you don't like emotions, what are you expecting
in Latin country?
7.
I've been waiting for ages. Half true: In my work life here I
always have the people on time. In my private life I, almost, always
have people out of time (not so much; just the time to the party
'start'). You need to know the local usage: Dinner is at 22:00/23:00,
after this, people go to drink at some place (And, if you wish, it
will be at 10pm to 10am but it's not mandatory).
There are
exceptions. In the North people are more formal. In the South you can
expect a variance. But not so much in the work environment.
8.
Why can't I just go out and blow off some steam? True: To be a
expat will always give you some scars. I can tell by my self. I don't
have an excuse but to do the dull, as a drunk, is not far way of all
English teenagers that come to Spain and Portugal in summer to avoid
the pressure in their lives. People are not perfect. I'm sorry.
9.
Can't we do something different for a change? ??? Also I think
that's perception stuff . . . Where, in Europe, are the people who do
not join to eat, drink, talk, laugh and have good moments together? I
don't know all the world but the places that I know it's a sign of
friendship and inclusion (I mean inclusion for foreigners like
me).
But, if you want, there a lot of people who want to see French
noir cinema with you.
10.
People here smoke too much:
Half True: It's true that the Spanish smoke a lot. Period.
It's
false that the cafés and shops are smoker-friendly: We had a global
master ban some years ago. So, in all places, you won't be corrupted
by tobacco smoke. There are some places where, after hours, they
close the door and you (and other fine people) can smoke and drink
your beer.
Finally . . .
I've finally figured about why I'm confused by the new Maverick OS;
the touchpad and the Up and Down arrows go in opposite
directions.
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