Defying (and proving) Spanish Stereotypes

Stereotype 1: Spanish laziness

Not true, at least at my school!!! The teachers here work long hours and have lots of responsibility. In preschool, the ratio is about 18:1. The school day is from 9:30-5:15 and although we have breaks throughout the day, it is exhausting. Teachers also have conferences with the parents of their students 3 TIMES a YEAR! That's about 60 conferences a year, much more than most American teachers I know. Sometimes the conferences are during lunchtime, or teachers have to stay after school. It is nice being in a school where communication between parents and teachers is a top priority. But wow, that's a lot of conferences.

Stereotype 2: Catalan nationalism

Some people have the stereotype that Catalan people are very nationalistic about their culture.  They speak Catalan to piss of Spanish speakers, they are very pro-independence, they hate Madrid, etc. etc. But I've met an array of Catalan people with an array of opinions on the matter. Some would like independence, but do not consider Catalonia its own country. This is FC Barcelona's manager's point of view (I sense tongue and cheek). Some people in the region prefer to speak Castellano as, perhaps, their parents are from another part of Spain. In this case, some people who live here may not have much of a Catalan identity.  I have hear many different opinions on this topic, all very interesting and eye-opening. I look forward to learning more about Catalunya, and other regions of Spain.

Stereotype 3: Spanish food.

TRUE!!! I don't think I've had one bad meal here.  The food here is sensational.  I'm not always sure if I'm eating Spanish or Catalan cuisine, but if the food is prepared here its bound to be good.  Makes me wonder about SF food.  San Francisco is a big restaurant town, but man oh man I think Spain is just athat takes its food very seriously.  Here at school, a Catalan custom is to say "bon apetit" to everyone when you enter the lunch room. In Catalan its "ca profiti" or "bon profit". Everyone responds with "Gracias, igualmen".  I think this is a good indication that dining is a main part of life here. Just the way I like it!

FYI: Francisco Franco ruled Spain until his death in 1975.  During his reign, languages such as Basque, Catalan, and Gallego were supressed.  Film schools were banned, divorce, contraceptives and abortion were forbidden, and homosexuality was a criminal offense. While abortion was also illegal in the US, most of the laws in Spain were that of a dictatorship. Franco became slightly more liberal in the 1960s, but a liberal dictator is hardly liberal.  I'm reading more on the Civil War, so I'll add the new things I learn about this part of Spain's history.

ciao!
meg