Foreign Perspectives

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

In the days of Franco, the various local languages in Spain were, by and large, suppressed. The overall effect of that was that they were on the way to dying out.

However, since the early 1980s single language schools in the local language have sprung up in all areas of Spain where there is a local language. That’s particularly important in the Basque region as their language is so different from all others that it’s said to be virtually impossible to learn unless you learn it as a child.

But there’s a downside to all this promotion of local languages and that’s that it’s beginning to cut those taught in them from the rest of the world. This morning we had one of an increasing number of Spanish guests who couldn’t really speak any language other than Catalan. We could barely communicate with them at all because they couldn’t speak more than a few words of English, French or Spanish.

Now, I can understand that in some areas they would prefer not to be taught in Spanish but they really need to learn one world language or many people will find themselves virtually cut off from the world. Remember that these are local languages: if you only speak a local language you’re going to have trouble outside that region.

Popularity: 13% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Don’t you sometimes miss the elegance of Victorian times?

Oh, for sure, the ladies garments were none too practical and probably best confined to history, but the gentlemen’s attire was quite practical but still managed to be truly elegant. Who could fault a gentleman with an embroidered waistcoat and pocket watch?

Actually, we still have the pocket watches from my grandfather and his father and quite a collection they are too. Still working last time I checked too which says something for the workmanship of those days although, to be fair, they were far from cheap as one came with a seriously heavy gold chain and watch to match.

Popularity: 15% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Whilst we all love our vacation time, we all assume that places that thrive on tourist business will be open during the holidays.

That’s not always the case in France where many attractions are closed today because it’s Labour Day (May 1st). Although many people will be eating out today, a number of restaurants choose this time of year to close thus losing considerable business of course.

Even when they’re not on holiday many restaurants stick to the 12 to 2pm lunchtime and we know of one local touristy village which gets tour buses every day from 9am to 7pm yet the restaurant only serves food from 12 to 1.30pm.

Popularity: 33% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!