Not speaking Catalan if we move to Barcelona, Spain?

Question

If we move to Barcelona the language that is spoken the most is Catalan which we do not speak, at home English is the first language and Spanish the second, would it be better for us to move to a city like Valencia? My husband works on the restaurant industry and I am a Realtor and we want to move to a city where there is a lot of turism and we can take advantage of speaking English, but t the same time we want to move to a city were there are strong family values because of our 3 little kids. We are planing to move in a year because we need to sell our home and furniture, we want a fresh start and from what I have learn medical benefits and education are great in Spain.....any comments.....please help us make up our mind!

Answer 1

I'm only learning Spanish and I live in Málaga, but when I visited Barcelona I was able to hold a conversation with people. If you have the opportunity to move to Barcelona then take it.

I will say this about moving to Spain. Thiis is not a good time especially if you are financing your move here by selling your house. The pound has fallen so much against the Euro. You will get less money through the currency exchange. Over the last year it has fallen about 10%. If you sold your house in the UK for 200,000 pounds then that's a difference of 20,000 pounds.

The health service here is fantastic but if you are under 65 you will need to make your own provisions in the form of medical insurance.  As for schooling, getting your kids into school before they are 5 years old is a benefit. Once they get older then there are problems getting them settled, which would be accentuated if they don't speak the language.

The first thing you do when you decide to move here is to get a good English speaking lawyer. Find an ex-pats site in the area you intend moving and get their advice.

When moving to Spain do it positively and try and integrate into the community & learn the language. You will benefit greatly by doing so.

Jobs in the restaurant business are there if you are good, but the wages will not be like the UK. The hours will be long but then I've worked in the catering trade and it's the same everywhere.

If you work as a realtor it is worth noting that the housing bubble has comp`letely burst here. This is due as I mentioned earlier in part to the pound falling against the Euro.

I'm not trying to put you off. There are many plusses to living in Spain, the weather, the cheap cost of living and a more relaxed place to live, but you must first get settled before you can enjoy life.

I have lived here for three years and I love it, but I see many people who come here without doing their homework, then having to go back home. I wish you well.

Answer 2

In Valencia, Valenciano is also spoken ( its almost like Catalan).. If you only Speak Spanish then I would recommend anywhere in Andalucia ( Seville, Malaga) or Madrid and surroundings..

Good Luck..

An American Living in Barcelona,

Bcn_mimosa

Answer 3

Spain is  for Spaniards, let the Catalans flee to France if they don't speak Castilian[Spanish].

Madrid and Seville are other lovely cities that have lots of tourists, and as a bonus, not a lot of Catalan nuisance, I recommend moving there, after all, your family already speaks Spanish.

Answer 4

Everyone in Barcelona speaks Spanish, and many speak enough English.  There are always lots of English-speaking visitors, etc. Of course, all street signs are in Catalán, but you'll be able to figure them out right quickly, and all announcements, like on the metro, are in Catalán first, then Spanish, and the people will sometimes try to help you out with a little Catalán as well.

The real question is, are you sure you can get work?

If you are NOT from an EU country, I understand the work situation is very difficult, and in Spain, jobs are getting tighter all the time.  The financial situation is pretty difficult all around.  Restaurant, eh?  There ARE a lot of gourmet type restaurants in Barcelona, and clearly a really haute cuisine, so, if your husband is high end, he might be able to find work.  Real Estate, I'm not as sure about, but you'll find more experts than I on the work situation.  

There ARE other parts of Spain where knowing English can be a help, but the work situation is likely to be just as difficult.

Good luck!

Answer 5

This is a touchy subject and I will get a lot of people from Barcelona crucifying me for saying this, but....

Being NOT Spanish, my oppinion is that, as long as you're obviously a foreigner and easily identified as one, they won't object a thing about speaking Castillian with you.

Answer 6

People will speak Castillian with you, after they talk with you in Catalan!!

What you may want to consider more is where you think you & your children would be happiest.  In Valencia, valenciano is spoken, but not like Catalan in Barcelona!!

You realize that Barcelona is a BIG city...Valencia is a bit smaller...you might even consider Alicante which may have even more tourism than Valencia.  

So, where would you be more comfortable raising your children?  I think that is what I would be considering more than the Catalan...not that it isn't a legitimate question, but your children will learn whatever language that they will be exposed to regularly.

Good luck!!