After almost a complete year in Zurich, last June, did we for the first time make a four-day trip back to our former home town, Vilanova i la Geltrú just outside Barcelona. Before our journey, we all looked forward to tapas at the local restaurants Genito and El Giraldilllo, but at the same time our youngest son was a seriously concerned that he would not any longer be able to understand the languages.
As soon as we arrived he was relieved from those fears. Through friends, I had organised for our sons to be able to visit their old school classes for a few lessons. Later on the same day, the children also met their old friends outside of school. All of this was incredibly successful: the Catalan language worked smoothly and both our boys received a strong reminder of how many friends they still have here.
Apart from this, our children enjoyed a long bath at the beaches of Vilanova and visited the company which I still operate here and on whose premises they have spent so many hours during their early years. .
As soon as we arrived he was relieved from those fears. Through friends, I had organised for our sons to be able to visit their old school classes for a few lessons. Later on the same day, the children also met their old friends outside of school. All of this was incredibly successful: the Catalan language worked smoothly and both our boys received a strong reminder of how many friends they still have here.
Apart from this, our children enjoyed a long bath at the beaches of Vilanova and visited the company which I still operate here and on whose premises they have spent so many hours during their early years. .
For my own part, the Friday night was the highlight of this trip. Then, as usual, my old club Bordegassos de Vilanova rehearse building human towers (castells). During a few intense hours I was reminded of all acquaintances and the all Catalan culture, which I through our move have left behind, but where I still feel immensely at home.
Over the weekend, finally, we left the coast and went up to Berga in the Pre-Pyrenees (Prepirineus). Here we yet again celebrated midsummer with the Swedish friends we still have in Barcelona. For the children this resulted in another reunion with old friends, but also a reminder that they also master Spanish - our common language in this group, where most families are mixed marriages.
Unfortunately, our group becomes smaller and smaller since many of those who make it up – just like we have done - choose to leave the crisis in Spain. However, if things develop as I want, we will continue going back at least once a year. Sure, it is amazing that our sons, who were born abroad, see themselves as Swedes but already call Switzerland their home. That does not mean that they should not also be reminded of their background as “native Catalans”. ;)
Over the weekend, finally, we left the coast and went up to Berga in the Pre-Pyrenees (Prepirineus). Here we yet again celebrated midsummer with the Swedish friends we still have in Barcelona. For the children this resulted in another reunion with old friends, but also a reminder that they also master Spanish - our common language in this group, where most families are mixed marriages.
Unfortunately, our group becomes smaller and smaller since many of those who make it up – just like we have done - choose to leave the crisis in Spain. However, if things develop as I want, we will continue going back at least once a year. Sure, it is amazing that our sons, who were born abroad, see themselves as Swedes but already call Switzerland their home. That does not mean that they should not also be reminded of their background as “native Catalans”. ;)
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Deutsche Version (kommt bald...)
Svensk version
Svensk version
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