Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Bye bye Sant Cugat

So we decided to move another part of Spain. Fundamentally we realized that it made more sense for our kids to grow up closer to their family, and Barcelona was just too far away.

Regarding Catalan: thank God I didn’t make any effort to learn it. What waste of time for the kids though. Wish the kids had spent their time learning an actually useful language like German or Chinese.

Fundamentally, I don’t believe that a majority cultural group should have the right to force its culture and language on fellow citizens. Culture is something that should be voluntary and come from the people, not imposed by the government. What makes it even more ridiculous in Catalonia is that the canon of Catalan culture is basically a Romantic re-invention of a medieval culture that never really existed.

I’m happy I don’t need to waste any more energy with this whole stupidity, and don’t even get me started on independence.

Anyway, I look forward to getting my school communications in Spanish. Last year the principal gave the introduction speech in Catalan, despite claiming to be an international school. Apparently a bunch of Catalan parents thought it would be unbearable to listen to the speech in Spanish, and would rather have the international parents not understand a word.

I also look forward to a much lower cost of living. I’ll make sure to point out to all my Catalan friends that my autonomous region is most grateful for Catalonia's fiscal contribution.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t feel bitter. We had a fun seven years. I just feel relieved that I won’t need to worry about this stuff anymore.

13 comments:

trebots said...

Looking forward to Lost in Albacete. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Good luck with your move, I had to make the same choice many years ago and escaped from Catalonia to the US (I'm not Catalan) to start a family. We're back in Spain now, but very happy my kids grew speaking English (and Spanish, of course) and not a useless language like Catalan.

On the other hand, the dual citizenship aspect is both a blessing and a curse... If the US just gave up that ridiculous worldwide income taxation of US persons no matter where they live...

Please keep up with the blog, rename it if you want but keep the domain name so we can find it. Your blog has been of great help, specially the tax tips.

Good luck and thanks for your blog.

Anonymous said...

I sense a bit of hatred and frustration in your post. I hope you find happiness with your move to the South of Spain. Please keep us updated. I look forward to hearing about the foreign language instruction at the new school. Have a great summer!

Anonymous said...

Some friends told me you should watch la hora del chanante for humour from Albacete
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMJ4FTiOfpY

santcugat said...

Not hatred. I just find the whole One Catalonia, One Language, One Culture thing a bit oppressive.

Also the sound of tibles hurts my ears (sounds like an screaming oboe).

Not Albacete.

I heard a couple country yokels from that area use "watcho" or something like that. I assume it means something like tio.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading. Please keep on.

Juan said...

Good luck. We are expecting more details on your next location, and a redirection to a new blog.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, Catalan is definitely NOT an international language, so I guess Catalan is just as worthless as other strictly local languages such as Danish, Dutch, Greek, Swedish, Polish or Czech. But for some reason I suspect you would not disrespect those languages if you'd live in those countries. The fact that Catalonia is not an independent nation is perhaps to blame, as in your mindset this doesn't entitle Catalan culture to live and thrive as just any other. But don't worry, we're working on that. Then perhaps it will all seem more natural to you.

Catalan language is worthless, someone living in Catalonia says so? Catalan culture, a medieval invention that never existed blah blah blah? You're absolutely free to chose your philias and phobias, but denying history, etc... oh man. What a frivolous display of bigotry.

santcugat said...

I am so absolutely happy that I don't have to deal with people like you anymore.

So, yes by all means continue with your fantasies of an independent Catalonia where free Catalans will be free to speak Catalan all day with other Catalans. Visitors will be amazed to experience yet another small useless European language. Exchange students from around the world will flock to Barcelona.

Maybe you can have the slogan. "Catalan: Now as useful as Polish, but with less consonants"

beerni7 said...

Really glad to see you're leaving, whoever you are. It looks like you came to Catalonia with a wrong image of what it would and should be, i.e. just a typical Spanish-speaking region of Spain.

Unfortunately for you, that's not the reality, Catalonia is a beautiful land, but Catalan is its native language. And even though you feel it would have been more convenient for you that Spanish was the only language spoken here, you cannot expect everybody to pretend Catalonia to be what you'd like it to be.

It's sad to see you were so misinformed and still so wrong about the reality in Catalonia. Everybody in Catalonia speaks perfect Spanish, whereas many people don't speak Catalan (even many of those who did go through the state-funded education system). We want Catalan to survive and to strive, but that doesn't imply in any sense that Spanish will be forgotten by anyone in Catalonia. Your hatred of the Catalan language and culture, and your desire for its annihilation are deeply irrational and pathetic.

If you found the "One Catalonia, One Language (WTF?), One Culture" thing oppressive, I hope you'll enjoy the "España, Una, Grande y Libre", which so open-minded and tolerant it doesn't even understand the meaning of democracy.

Bon vent i barca nova!

beerni7 said...

Really glad to see you're leaving, whoever you are. It looks like you came to Catalonia with a wrong image of what it would and should be, i.e. just a typical Spanish-speaking region of Spain.

Unfortunately for you, that's not the reality, Catalonia is a beautiful land, but Catalan is its native language. And even though you feel it would have been more convenient for you that Spanish was the only language spoken here, you cannot expect everybody to pretend Catalonia to be what you'd like it to be.

It's sad to see you were so misinformed and still so wrong about the reality in Catalonia. Everybody in Catalonia speaks perfect Spanish, whereas many people don't speak Catalan (even many of those who did go through the state-funded education system). We want Catalan to survive and to thrive, but that doesn't imply in any sense that Spanish will be forgotten by anyone in Catalonia. Your hatred of the Catalan language and culture, and your desire for its annihilation are deeply irrational and pathetic.

If you found the "One Catalonia, One Language (WTF?), One Culture" thing oppressive, I hope you'll enjoy the "España, Una, Grande y Libre", which so open-minded and tolerant it doesn't even understand the meaning of democracy.

Bon vent i barca nova!

santcugat said...

Bye bye! Have fun with your referendum!

ChrisP said...

Maybe you can have the slogan. "Catalan: Now as useful as Polish, but with less consonants"

Bwahahahaha!

I live as an expat in Costa Rica and this sort of thing is common. Our version is, "Love it, unconditionally, or get the fuck out."
I love/loved Catalunya, when I was young and single. We have two girls who are fully bilingual and are planning to move to Spain (still!) and I was wondering about the Catalan issue. I have no objection to my kids learning it, I always thought it was a beautiful language, but to the exclusion of Utterly fluent, high level Spanish, an infinitely more useful language? Nope, I don't think so. That and the expense of the area are why we've been considering other areas.

Please continue to post about your new home. Best of luck to you and your family!