School Starts! Nuances, Health, Why Move? and more...
Spanish is coming along too! (but still too slowly)
Hola to my 60-year-old self! Remember I write this blog for myself and my kids to read in 15 years but, happy to share these with anyone who wants to read as well…
Hayes and Ellory start school today - Hayes in 5th and Ellory in 3rd. It’s crazy how proud I am of them. They are both very different and amazing and, how to say, interestingly unique. Not a lot in this blog on exciting things we have done since the last blog was about our summer trips and a busy August - really not much has happened but a week where I crushed the coffee shop with Hayes for some computer time, then worked with a new colleague in town (we worked a half day and went to the vineyards!) as Ashley took care of school prep - so I thought I would write on various things I have been thinking about for well over a year…..
Nuances, the health of the people here, why in the hell did we move???? and learning another language (not the norm for Americans, but it is for nearly all other countries) so here we go!!
Nuances I’ve noticed
Meals are so different here. Breakfast is nothing or a croissant. Eggs are served for lunch (or dinner) and often are mixed with jamon, potatoes, and sometimes truffle and/or foie gras. Lunch is late and long, 130-330, and dinner usually starts around 8-10pm or so and lasts hours - there is really no snacking (for adults). The meals are long (a normal lunch on a random Monday is 2 hours and a weekend lunch 3hrs, dinners usually 2-4 hours each!). The foods are usually all fresh and lots of veggies and meats (and of course, pan con tomate) - but there are still some processed foods (but not highly processed and the additives are much different). Wine is nearly a staple for every meal and a coffee/espresso is common after lunch and dinner (yes, even if at 1130pm). Meals are often shared and usually tables just order 5-6 plates and pass them. There is really no ‘my plate’ at most meals.
Most things take a long time. A ‘quick’ 4-minute appointment to turn on the water in your apartment can take 2 hours - but the healthcare system and doctors are pretty damn efficient. A laborer at the house to hang pictures that should take an hour takes 3, and they likely have a coffee break halfway through. A delivery scheduled for 2pm usually arrives around 5pm. Getting a butane tank for your grill is a 2 week process (if you do it legally, which I do NOT!) and a drivers license takes 4+ months to obtain. The trains are always on time though!
America is the land of the free but they really do what they want here. Breastfeeding in public is the norm and marijuana/prostitution are legal (and I think abortion too). Many women do not wear tops on the beach and drinking beer for breakfast is perfectly accepted (and common to see with even a 65-year-old lady!). Everyone just wants you to be kind and respectful to each other, and they are. Speaking of free (ballin) they are more liberal with being naked too - the guys let it ‘hang out’ in the locker room and everyone is so much more comfortable with their body. Thin, athletic, or heavy. Ashley says the ladies are the same in the ladies locker room. I have learned to let it hang as well….which was looked at awkwardly while back in the states! HA!!!
All that above being said, it’s safe…very safe - I’m confident my wife can walk home at 230am alone and my kids can be without us walking around our town and in the subway, on the beach, or in any mall/store/plaza (yes, even at 8 and 10 years old).
Speaking of safe, there are not that many police officers. If you are speeding they just take a picture and send you the bill, and deduct points (if you have a legit license that is). No pulling anyone over or profiling, no roadside fights. They do have police stops from time to time (I’ve been through one in 21 months) but they don’t pull you over for minor traffic violations (DUI limit is 0.04 so they do NOT mess around with drinking and driving). Not all the police have guns, only some. And it’s super hard for any Spanish citizen or resident to get one.
We routinely have some friends and family in America telling us to ‘just you be safe now!’ and while we appreciate the concern/love - it’s hyper-safe here!
Driving - it works - nobody is competing to get there 20 seconds faster so traffic just flows. People don’t speed up to ‘not let you in’ and there may be a horn here and there but never road rage or a middle finger (at least I’ve never seen it). The roads are much smaller and you gotta be a pro at parallel parking though! I know Ashley really liked driving in the US where the roads are BIG and the parking PLENTIFUL.
TONS of people here speak 2-4 languages. See below…
Why would you move? Why DID you move?
I get asked ‘why would you move’ by many in the midwest US or ‘why did you move’ by people here. Two very different questions I feel. Just a few reasons (if you have ever considered it feel free to message me to chat through it!) below. There are many more but …
I needed to shake it up. I love Kansas City, but needed to ‘shake the snowglobe’ per se.
The kids are the best age (IMO). Teenagers I feel it becomes more difficult to do a big move (but nothing is impossible). 3 or 4 years to 10 or 11 I feel is the best age for this.
Our family health is good - me/ashley/hayes/ellory and all our parents as well. I didn’t feel guilty leaving someone who needed care or assistance (or time) from us. I am aware this can change anytime….there is no time like the present.
I have always wanted to move overseas - and if you have thought about it, you better do it now - not doing it will haunt you forever….and I knew this when I thought about my possible regrets at 50/60/70 years old. I HAD to move.
My company and our finances were/are in a good spot. I am aware this can change anytime…no time like the present!
I needed to do something hard….this was/is super hard (but well more rewarding/fun/exciting/etc).
I felt it was best for my kids futures. I could predict their future in KC and although a very robust one, I wanted a little pivot.
Cheers to Andy and Courtney Storch - they just moved from Orlando area with their two kids. I am confident they will look back on the year/years here and be thrilled with the decision …. WELCOME TO BARCELONA!
Health Status - are people healthy here?
I’ve still been thinking about the health of the population here. It is rare to see anyone overweight - very rare to see obesity of any kind….but they do it all wrong! (according to everything I THINK I know about nutrition and health). They eat too much bread, have too much salt, eat late at night, don’t do enough formal exercise/training, drink and smoke too much - BUT they are healthy and seemingly very happy. I think I have it figured out…
First they have access to healthcare - so if there is a problem it’s fixed, but not over-indexed. They don’t overtest, overtreat, or do unecessarey surgeries but the healthcare is free for all and there is no financial barrier to it (mental illness included). They don’t snack throughout the day much (as above, zero to a small breakfast, 2 hour lunch 130-330p and dinner 8-10p, no snacks) either. They eat quality food (and it’s affordable) like natural fish, pork, fruits and veggies and it’s not processed or if it is, it’s very minimal. In addition, many chemicals and additives in the US are not approved here (Red-40, High Fructose Corn Syrup, transfats, etc). Oh, and their bread uses soft wheat vs hard. Long story but it is about 80% less gluten than typical western hard wheat (much less protein too).
In addition, I feel they just have much less stress. They also have TONS of social time (long lunches and dinners and beach days) and don’t spend as much time in their homes alone or watching TV. They are ACTIVE - and outside. They don’t formally hit the gym but they are outside walking, playing volleyball, padel, or just walking to the store for their groceries and bottles of wine (and carrying them back home).
So I ‘think’ that being outside, having less stress, not snacking, being active, consuming quality food (and not to excess) and having social time are where I think the money is on being HEALTHY and living a LONG TIME. I’m firm now on this belief, but who knows if I change my mind in the future!
Spanish!
Being in America for 3 weeks was hard to get in good Spanish practice. Here it is (obvi) so easy. I had a great interaction with the owner of the Kodak store here in Sarria today. ‘Hi I emailed you photos - can I have them? …. how was your summer? …Did you work or vacation? … Where? … Me? I was on vacation! 3 weeks in USA and a few in Costa Brava. It was great! … The kids start school tomorrow - I am very happy! … Ok good thank you and see you later” all in Spanish. I am probably about 8% of where I want to be with it, and need to invest more time in it…which I plan on starting MONDAY. Most of the non-American parents at the school speak 2-4 languages, some over 5. Ellory, in 3rd grade, has classmates that speak 4!! Its really interesting how its so impressive to me yet, ‘not a big deal’ to them. THIS is one of the reasons I am super happy for the kids growing up knowing Spanish (Hayes is still the best in the family)…well, once they get it down.
Just a few pics - next blog I’ll update on starting school and what some of the goals are this year for the kids and myself. As from the beginning we are/were dedicated to Barcelona for 2 full school years, so we are here through June 2024…then ?? - we shall see…I’m sure the decision will unfold over these blogs in a very interesting way….