Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in Catalunya?
This is one in a series of interviews with people who came from other countries to live here. I asked them the same questions that people often ask me to see what different stories emerge. You can read them here over the next weeks.
Tiffany’s Story
Please tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m a stay at home mother of two, a baby and a teenager. I’m Australian, 43 years old and at a relatively low point in my life. 😀 I’m concerned about health issues.
How long have you lived here?
Too bloody long – 5 years
Are you working here and if yes, what do you do?
I work as a yoga therapist, and English conversation teacher/speaker and healer.
Three favourite things about living in Catalunya?
Shops are very close by. Granollers is close to the mountains, the sea, and Barcelona.
Three things you don’t like about life here?
Granollers is not ‘anything’ in itself. It’s not the sea, or the mountains, or a great city. It’s just a point in between the good stuff. People are not friendly or diverse. Not a lot of green spaces.
What do you miss most about your ‘home’ country?
Friendly people. The great outdoors. Support of my family.
Three things you have learned about yourself or life since living here?
That working and earning money was more essential to my self esteem than I expected. You can make a home for yourself by controlling the environment you have around you as much as you can – and its ok. You have got to be kind to strangers. You don’t know their story. Never feel too full up of your own life to let someone else in.
What language(s) do you speak in your daily life here?
99% English 1% Catalan
Do you plan to return to your native country and in what circumstances would you definitely want to go back?
One day, I would like to go back to live. And I would definitely go back if my entire close family died.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of moving to this country?
Learn Spanish, get involved with the society. The hurts you feel are not personal, they are cultural. Keep a happy journal of all the things you love about living here
This is one of a series of interviews which I will be posting over the next few weeks while I am walking the Camino. When possible I will send short updates from my phone on how the walk is going.
Sign up in one of the subscription boxes on this page to get these posts delivered straight to your inbox. More news from the Camino will be sent to The Catalan Way Facebook page so click a Like on there and you can follow my progress.
Are there any questions you would ask someone about what their life is like after moving to an new country? Let us know in the comments and we will try to get some answers and do an update later in the year.
If she does not like Granollers, she may move to other town. I live in Premià de mar and it is very nice. In all places there are good and bad people. Generalize is just mean. Speak 99% english and 1% catalan is not an example of integration. Perhaps her problem is that.
Dear Elisabet thanks so much for writing in and I totally understand your feeling. The thing is that she also would agree but this was how she felt on the day and it seemed important to publish it even though it seemed a bit negative. The reality of living in another culture sometimes means we get into dark places! I think people who go to live in the UK also have these feelings sometimes but it’s not always easy to admit to! Language abilities of course do make life smoother.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy other posts here. Love Kate