alt Hacker NewsIt’s hard to appreciate this until you spend some time elsewhere.
I was in Barcelona for a few weeks for work. While I don’t want to pretend there are no problems, I can only say that life seemed better and happier than back home. I didn’t sense the cynicism that I’m used to. It was especially jarring considering that pretty much everyone is underpaid by American professional standards.
That said, it’s anecdotal, I speak mediocre Spanish and toddler level Catalan, and my boss was paying the bill. But it was still striking to me.
Replies
KetoManx64 • today at 7:17 AM
I image locals don't spend a lot of time discussing their hardships, political views and economics with the visiting gringos
It varies. Obviously not Spain, but I lived in Ireland (a place Americans romanticize) for a decade and there was abundant cynicism. I got tired of mentioning ideas and plans to people and immediately hearing how they could fail. With friends from California (and Oregon) the response to "I want to build a house" wasn't "that will fail, here's why it's a bad idea, you will go bankrupt, only pros know how to do that" but "hell yeah I'll bring a nailgun!".