Eduardo from Brazil

Name: Eduardo Neto
Age: 28
City and country of origin: Porto Alegre, Brasil


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I´ve been living in Barcelona since october 2007. The first 4 months in Barceloneta, after that I lived near Sagrada Familia for almost an entire year, an then I came to live where I´m living now, near Sant Antoni market, in the Raval.


2.What made you move here?

I was looking for some changes in my life. I had a good life in Brazil, but I needed more than I already had. After many years studying and working in the things that I like (sound producer, music and others similar things) I found out that I didn't have enough possibilities to grow profesionally in those areas.
At the same time, I wasn't happy with other normal things about living in Brazil, such as personal security problems.


3.What made you stay?

I still have many things that I want to do here. I'm trying to reach the same regular life that I had there, working just with the music and living well with that and, after that, I want to go further, and really make a carreer as a musician. Barcelona is not the best place to do that, because here we have some stupid laws about live music, but it’s Europe, and Europe is better than Brazil in this aspect.
And of course, I have my girl here, and I don't wanna go anywhere without her. She has her things to do here, too and many of those things we are trying to do togheter. Almost everything related with audiovisual creations.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona?

The mix of cultures.
Almost everything happens here. Concerts, theatre, museums, sports...
The weather is very similar to my city in Brazil. But it almost never rains, which is a plus here.
It’s a small city, it’s easy to move from one side to another.


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona?

The tourists. Not the normal ones, taking pictures and going to expensive restaurants.
I hate the kind of tourist that come here to do every kind of things that they cannot or they are affraid to do in their countries, such as screaming all night long on the streets, piss on the streets, put trash cans on fire, throw things on people from their hotel windows...


6. Name one special place in Barcelona.

Montjuic


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona

Mix.

Vania from Portugal

Name: Vânia Smeets

Age: 26

City and country of origin: Cascais, Portugal


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

Approximately 3 years


2.What made you move here?

I came to study, I participated on a Master which consisted of 4 months in Barcelona and 4 months in The Netherlands. In the end I had to do a traineeship and had an opportunity to come back to Barcelona. Everything went well and I stayed in the company where I started with my internship.


3.What made you leave / stay?

In the beginning, the main reason for staying was work but in the end I met great people and my actual boyfriend so work, boyfriend and friends made me want to stay a while longer.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

People in general, the culture and also the feeling that it is not a suffocating city. There are options for everyone, various different places to visit at any time, several activities and choices.


5. What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

The constant hustle and bustle in the public transport and in the city center. Also the thiefs at the beach and the Gothic Area. Also, I hate the fact that everything is closed on Sundays.


6. Name a special place in Barcelona.

I was impressed with the quiet in the Plaza Sant Felip Neri, it is incredible how quiet it is in that square located in the middle of the city center. Also, I love the Parque del Laberinto, in Horta. It is very original and not so full of people.


7. Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Movement

Ali from the USA

Name: Ali Visconti

Age: 18

City and country of origin: San Diego, CA, USA



1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

Lived in Sabadell for 7 months, then moved to Barcelona (Sagrada Familia) and have been here for 4 months.





2.What made you move here?

People, food, art, culture. This city is one of a kind and moving here was one of the best decisions I have ever made.





3.What made you leave / stay?

Everything that made me want to move here was everything that wanted to make me stay.

I can't imagine being anywhere else...





4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

People-watching. Have you ever ridden the metro here?





5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

Stupid laws about having a "work visa" or a "residency".





6.Name one special place in Barcelona.

The beach at sunset. Nothing beats sitting in the sand, iPod on, and a beer in hand.


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Home.

Roberto from Guatemala

Name: Roberto Ramírez Türckheim
Age: 28 years old
City and country of origin: Guatemala, Guatemala


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I’ve been living here for 2 years and 6 months, have moved about 7 times. Started in el Born and now I’m in Gracia.


2.What made you move here?

Better work and study oportunities.


3.What made you leave / stay?

I enjoy it here. It is such a cosmopolitan city, so many things to discover and enjoy.... and my life is here for now.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

It’s diversity of cultures and people, public transport, public cleaning services, castellers, the will of always being in the vanguard of technology, its barrios.


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

Taxes! :D


6.Name a special place in Barcelona.

The beach in the winter.


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Diversity

Slavik from Ukraine

Name:Slavik
Age:28
City and country of origin:
Zaporozhya, Ukraine

1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

6 months in 2005,Horta Guinardó and Eixample


2.What made you move here?

I was doing a project for a company over there.


3.What made you leave / stay?

I wanted to stay but could not figure out all the bureaucracy. Also I needed to finish my studies (which I could have done and wanted to do in Barcelona, but again, forests of bureaucracy).


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

Almost everything, especially the people.


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

Unaccounted homeless people.


6.Name one special place in Barcelona.

Montjuic


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

A dream

Kajsa from Sweden

Name: Kajsa Nilsson
Age: 28
City and country of origin: Malmö, Sweden, currently residing in London



1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I lived in Born for 6 months in 2007.




2.What made you move here?

I had friends staying there.




3.What made you leave / stay?

I needed to get on with my career in London.




4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

The relaxed culture and the sea.




5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

The relaxed culture again : )
All administrative things are very slow and complicated.




6.Name a special place in Barcelona.

The restaurant El Xalet on Montjuic. Lovely food, great service and perhaps the best view of Barcelona when the sun sets.

Rebecca from Denmark/Spain

Name: Rebecca Watson

Age: 24

City and country of origin: Svendborg (Denmark) / Mallorca (Spain)





1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I've lived in Barcelona for over 6 years, I've lived in several parts of the city, in student dorms and in student flats, all of them mainly around the Eixample.





2.What made you move here?

I was 18, and I had to choose where I wanted to continue with my education, I guess of all places I mainly chose Barcelona because I managed to get into the University I wanted, that it is not that far from home (Mallorca), and also because it has the sea.




3.What made you leave / stay?

I still haven't finished my studies, but even if I had, I think I would still be here, it is starting to be home to me, and I still haven't grown tired of this city, and it is full of opportunities.





4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

It's got everything, there is always somewhere you can go or something to do no matter what day or time it is.





5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

The "tourist-traps", that the beaches are dirty and that there is a lot of noise contamination.





6.Name a special place in Barcelona.

"L' Eina", it's nice to be out in the park there when there is good weather, just sit in the sun on the grass and relax, and the views are great, you can see most of Barcelona.





7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Ambiguous

Eliah from Qatar

Name: Eliah English

Age: 16

City and country of origin:

I live in Doha, Qatar. Im originally a mix, my mother is Australian and my father is American but I have lived in Qatar for more then half of my life.



1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I lived in Sentmenat, a small village just outside of Barcelona, as an exchange student for 5 months.



2.What made you move here?

It was like there was something calling me to go there, I wanted to learn the language, experience a different culture and mentality, live in an open society and a european capital. My love affair with Barcelona began before I even arrived.



3.What made you leave / stay?

I would still be there now if I could, I have to finish school, I only came as an exchange student, I left kicking and screaming.



4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

The people and their way of life. People I found were so happy, honest, open, fun and welcoming. I adopted my host family as my own, made friends that I’m still in contact with and just the most amazing group of people who let you be who you are, let you be happy, and are really real people.
I also loved the place for the culture, the food, the history and the old doors, back streets and museums and above all the iglesias.



5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

Cabrons.



6.Name one special place in Barcelona.

Santa Maria Del Mar, Sentmenat



7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Felicidad, Amor

Leonie from the Netherlands

Name: Leonie Scholten

Age: 26

City and country of origin: The Netherlands



1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I lived in calle Padua (San Gervasi) for 7 months.



2.What made you move here?

After finishing my Bachelor study in the Netherlands, I wanted to take a break from the life I was living. I really needed some time to relax and enjoy. I also wanted to improve my Spanish. I have always loved this language! My initial plan was to visit several cities in Spain during my stay. I started off in Barcelona, and immediately fell in love with the city. I decided to change my plans, and stayed in Barcelona for the full 7 months.



3.What made you leave / stay?

I could not build a good future in Barcelona. There are not many jobs, and the ones there are not paying very well.



4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

The atmosphere. You never feel alone. There is life everywhere, always.



5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

The dirt and mice & cockroaches that also seem to love Barcelona. I also didn't like it that some people would just keep on speaking Catalan, while I already struggled to speak proper Spanish.



6.Name one special place in Barcelona.

Passeig de Gracia con Gran Via. I worked there, and loved to look down at all the business below me.



7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

vividness

Liu from China

Name: Liu He
Age: 25
City and country of origin: Beijing, China



1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

3 months (sep-Dec 2009)



2.What made you move here?

My school had a exchange program with several european cities, I chose the hottest and the most exciting city, Barcelona, which is by the way my all time favorite get-away vacation city



3.What made you leave / stay?

As I said...it’s a exchange program...so I’m returning to Paris to finish my study.



4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

I like people’s positive attitude about things, it’s like, they have that innate spirit of fighting against things without complainning too much, and live the life they dream of. And at the same time, life here is quite chill, you can discover the simplicity in the system around daily life (France is more bureaucratic I think), and the beauty of fun (nightlife...) here is just the right amount, yet is not to say that Barcelona is too simple, it certainly has a European type of complexity, you can discover that in their food, their arts, and the latino relationships...



5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

Maybe the modernity is taking over the ancient beauty.



6.Name a special place in Barcelona.

The Badalona beach (east of Barcelona) and the port! I like to play around there a lot!



7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Hot stuff.

Razul from Spain

Name: Razul Hernandez
Age: 33
City and country of origin:
Madrid, sunny Spain


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I am currently living in the Eixample (c/Urgell). I moved from New York about a year ago. It might be perceive as a faux pas, but such is life.



2.What made you move here?

I always thought it would be the place to live, if we ever were to return to what my grandfather would consider Spain. My girlfriend followed me to Holland, were we spent 6 enjoyable years. Then it was my turn to go after her to New York. Two years afterwards we skipped turns, and here we are.



3.What made you leave / stay?

Our contractual situation tells us we have at least two more years in BCN.



4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

We have lived in very cold, rainy places. The weather is certainly a plus. I consider BCN to be a fairly european city. It´s easy to walk around and beautiful in most parts. Decent record stores. People dress well. The streets are clean. I enjoy the cultural activity, although it is miles away from New York or even Amsterdam at times.



5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

Here is a list. It is bloody humid. Renting a flat is an ordeal of epic proportions (they seem to be unaware of the crap salaries paid everywhere). It is hard to make friends. I was warned about this in advance. At the end of the day I have been lucky, but it is certainly true. I mustn´t forget, if you don´t speak catalan, you might not find a job (not even a shitty one).



6.Name a special place in Barcelona.

We have not been here long enough. It always takes us half a year to start discovering the city where we live. I like this street: Carrer Gran de Gracia.



7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Visca

Nuria from Argentina

Name: Nuria Rico
Age: 28
City and country of origin: Buenos Aires, Argentina


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I have been living in Barcelona for three years, always in the city centre.



2.What made you move here?

The reason I came is because my family was from here. First I was only coming for three months, but then I have stayed for several reasons.



3.What made you leave / stay?

My desire of getting to know the world.



4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

That it is a relatively small city, that it has the sea and the mountains. It feels like a big town to me.



5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

The dirt in the city center, all those bikes getting stolen and thiefs in general.



6.Name a special place in Barcelona.

The Montjuïc castle and its views.



7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Freedom.

Agne from Lithuania

Name: Agne Bertasiute
Age: 24 years (28/01/1985)
City and country of origin: Jonava, Lithuania


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I came to Barcelona about 4 years and a half ago (june 2005). I had been here before with my sister to establish some contact, visit the university and try to find and make a reservation for an apartment. We stayed for one week.
When I came back to stay I went straight to my shared apartment in Sant Andreu, where I stayed for a year and a half before moving to Gracia (right in front of the subway station of Fontana). A year after that, for several reasons, my flatmates and I decided to move to an apartment in Eixample (c/ Diputació with c/Muntaner). And another year later my boyfriend and I decided to rent an apartment close to Lesseps (follow República Argentina and turn into the third one to your left, which is c/Escipió). It’s been a year now and hopefully it’s going to last this time! ;)


2.What made you move here?

I was living in Switzerland and I was sure I wanted to leave. After graduating from school I worked part-time for my father for a year, trying to figure out what to do with my life and where I wanted to go. I felt and still feel very attracted by Tokyo and I also had thought about Venice and London. But in the end I came here!
I had been in Barcelona before, I had learned Spanish and it seemed an inexhaustible, cosmopolitan and welcoming city, with the sea and a School about Social Work and Social Education, which I decided to study.


3.What made you leave / stay?

I feel good in Barcelona, there’s still a lot of new things to discover and, above all, my partner is from here and we are currently not considering to move.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

The variety, the sun and that it is full of art and history ;)


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

The tourists everywhere, any time of the year and the lack of bigger and more quiet green areas.


6.Name a special place in Barcelona.

The Ninfas Bar, hehe
A couple of days ago we went up to the Parc del Putxet and the view is surprising, especially at 8.30am when there are only people like you walking their dogs.
Well, all in all I wouldn’t point out a special place I have been able to hide at, if I had to it would be the Macba.
And to eat? The Trallers (delicious!) and the Maoz (which defined my initial years in Barcelona)


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Independencia

Erin from Canada

Name: Erin Higgins
Age: 26
City and country of origin: Pembroke, Ontario, Canada


1. When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I have been living in Barcelona for 5 years now. The first 2 and half years I lived in Gràcia, and now I live in St. Gervasi.



2. What made you move here?

I fell in love with my husband who is half Catalan and half Colombian. He asked me if I wanted to come and live in Barcelona with him and I said yes!



3. What made you leave / stay?

I have stayed because the longer I live here, the more people I know, and the more comfortable I feel. Also because I have had to fight very hard for many basic things that I have accomplished in my life, such as being a legal resident and being able to work, and I wouldn’t want to give that all up very easily. Also if we were to go to Canada we would have to start all over. I like the Catalan way of life, and I like Barcelona. However, the constant stream of tourists and the ever rising prices for flats are starting to get to me, and I don’t believe I will live here for ever. I am a small town girl from a rural area and at some point I would like to get back to the Catalan equivalent of that life style.


4. What you like the most about Barcelona.

The thing I like best about Barcelona is all the different neighbourhoods. I really enjoy going out to the different “barrios” as they are all like little towns to me. Gràcia, St. Gervasi, Eixample, Barceloneta, El Born, El Gotico, I enjoy them all, and it is nice to have the variety. Living in Barcelona is a bit like living in several small towns, each with their own unique characteristics. I also really enjoy the large variety of cultural activities the city offers, if you are bored in Barcelona, it is by choice.



5. What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

The high cost of living and the tourists!! Of course I like to be a tourist too and everyone has a right to visit and travel around. However in Barcelona it is like they own the city sometimes!! I think the mayor of the city gives too much of a priority to projects to improve things for the tourists who visit the city each year and not enough priority to projects to improve things for the city’s residents!! Also because of the mild weather of the city we have tourists here all year round, making it that much more tiring. In colder cities for example in Canada, we really only have tourists in the summer, and it isn’t so tiring to deal with.


6. Name a special place in Barcelona.

For me a special place in Barcelona is Pl. Virreina, in Gràcia. Filled with terraces and a nice atmosphere, it is a great place to meet up with friends and have a drink or some tapas.


7. Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Unique.

Fredrika from Sweden

Name: Fredrika Tham

Age: 19

City and country of origin: Gothenburg, Sweden



1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I have been living in Barcelona for almost eight months now (how did that happen?), all the time in Raval. Came here in june 2009. Bought a one way ticket home for the 13th of December, but after talking to my grandmother (of all people) I changed my mind. She asked me "Fredrika, why are you going home?" I didn't even have an answer, so a bought a ticket back again.
I'm glad, and thankful to my granny, that I did it, after spending my holidays at minus 15 degrees.


2.What made you move here?

Actually, it wasn't something that I had planned for a long time, it just sort of happened. I was broken after years of non-stop studying and I needed to get away.
My intention was to move to Madrid (mentioning it might get me killed in this town...), but when two friends of mine got a job here I thought “oh what the hell, why not?”.
Got the job and just left.



3.What made you leave / stay?

The fact that I am happy here. I have everything I need; a lot of fantastic friends, a job, an apartment. I'm not in love with the city, but I am in love with how the city makes me feel.



4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

The possibility of taking the Renfe to a beach outside Barcelona, the ocean that looks as it never ends, taking a coffee in the sun at our favorite café, sitting at MACBA for hours eating ice cream watching people skate (wich I am doing at the picture!), the juices for 1 euro in la Boqueria. Oh and of course, falafel at Carrer de Joaquím Costa.



5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

The smell. What is that smell? A mix of pee and garbage, which the heat doesn't make any better... The stealing. I've basically lost everything that I could lose. And I hate the fact that I'm sometimes scared when I'm walking alone.



6.Name a special place in Barcelona.

The back of Montjüic, where you can see all the cruise-ships and containers. So ugly, but yet so beautiful.



7. Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Relaxed

Josefina from Chile

Name: Josefina Cerveró
Age: 25
City and country of origin: Santiago de Chile



1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

14 months


2.What made you move here?

In Santiago I felt like one of those seagulls that get lost from the sea and end up in any possible city, with no orientation, tired and completely out of place. I knew that here I would find an immense ocean where my liberty of expression would be understood (Santiago, as one might know, is a place with a lot of repression, I don’t blame it, it’s just what my country had to go through unfortunately). I knew I would be welcome here, that Spain would like me.


3.What made you leave / stay?

Here it just feels right. You can have one of the darkest days of your life or one of those best ones you will never forget. This city won’t let you fall asleep, you constantly see yourself in situations where you have to face yourself, there’s no one next to you who will tell you what to do. It’s very easy to lose control, to feel how blood pumps through your veins and how your heart beats faster… there are so many different paths to take, quick ones that take a part of you away, slow and hard paths or even the correct ones that suddently appear when you thought you were already lost. Life becomes completely unpredictable and that very much depends on yourself. Your horizons broaden and you cannot picture anymore how things are going to turn out.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

The city’s constant movement, the people, anecdotes you hear, the incredible pictures I can take here, where I can capture life, lifes I can see, feel and even smell while they float around.
As a photographer I think I am in the right place, there’s so much material to work with, here every day you find someone who has got a story to tell and who usually wants to share it with you and create things for the sake of art (even though that will eventually turn into benefits $, to be completely honest and realistic)


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

Thiefs, bad people


6.Name a special place in Barcelona.

My room, my shelter, my hiding spot.


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Freedom

Ana from Portugal

Name:Ana Azevedo
Age:19
City and country of origin:Portugal


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?
I came to live to Barcelona in the beginning of September 2009. Im living in Vallcarca (near Parc Güell) and I’m staying just 3 more weeks, too sad.


2.What made you move here?
Erasmus!


3.What made you leave / stay?
I’m obliged to leave because of university, but it makes me very sad! And also Barcelona is quite expensive compared to Portuguese life.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.
I love the friends I made here mostly. And I like that there is always a thing to do if its day or night, rainy or sunny. And I like that Sunday is still a real Sunday, and people are relaxed... and so on..


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.
Hm.. difficult one.. I don’t like when it is too full of tourist and I think the beach could be cleaner, and I don’t like that they waste all the water they can at night “in order to help the environment”, and I REALLY HATE the mice running around in the city center.


6.Name one special place in Barcelona.
Gràcia.. (just one more: las plazas de la ciutat vella donde hay siempre música!)


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.
Ta-se bem (my portuguese word) and amigos, música y cañas!.(sorry, its difficult to name just one)

Emily from England!

Name: Emily Holden

Age: 23

City and country of origin: London, UK





1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?

I lived in Barcelona from June 2008-September 2009

I lived in 3 different apartments - the first one on Muntaner con Maria Cubi, then another place very close, Laforja con Via Augusta, and the last one down by Drassanes, the infamous Carrer Santa Monica.


2.What made you move here?

I wanted to improve my Spanish, and needed a change after University in Paris. I applied to do a Leonardo da Vinci programme for the summer 2008 and stayed on afterwards. The internship was a total joke! I found work in a variety of different places afterwards - a business club, an auction house, and finally as an English teacher. None of them made me any money!


3.What made you leave / stay?

I stayed until the point where I felt Barcelona wasn't giving me as much as I was giving her. In the beginning I tried really hard to meet people, make friends, and integrate, but I found it hard to find caring, honest people. I met a lot of "fair-weather" friends. I didn't want to keep working and making no money, and wanted to save up money for travelling in the future, so I decided to go back to London on a money-mission. So far it's going well! I also never felt like I truly was part of Barcelona, that anything was holding me there. It was a very different experience to living in Paris where I felt 100% Parisienne despite my English roots. Barcelona just wouldn't let me in!


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.

The way of life, walking down unknown streets, having a drink on a plaza, the beach, the bars, the mountains, the views, the architecture, seeing crazy people do crazy things in Barceloneta, getting home at dawn, ice cream, the walk from Colon to Barceloneta, Bicing...


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.

The prostitutes; the crime; the fact that I met a lot of people who were only interested in what I could give them or something I could do for them; the feeling of always being a "guiri"; not speaking Catalan; finding "presents" on my doorstep (vomit, dog shit, human shit, stink of piss); seeing people buy, sell and take drugs in the street; the shameful behaviour of my compatriots.


6.Name a special place in Barcelona.

Montjuic - for hidden corners, the runs with Cristian, the picnics, the Sunday walks, the views.


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.

Temporary. Temporary jobs, temporary friends, temporary flats - it was good, but too good to last! The only thing I've kept from Barcelona is Cristian :) We'll see if that turns out to be temporary or not!

Monica from Italy

Name: Monica Martini
Age: 24
City and country of origin: Campione d’Italia (CO) - Italia


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?
July 2009 – February 2010, a really nice flat near Lesseps:).


2.What made you move here?
The opportunity I had in my Master of studying abroad for 6 months (Erasmus Exchange Programme). The city, the lifestyle, the opportunity to learn one or two new languages.


3.What made you leave / stay?
My university does not let me stay more than 6 months. I would stay.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.
The opportunities. It is always possible to discover something new, something colourful, something interesting… someone new, someone colourful, someone interesting. Then you decide what can just make your life happier.


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.
The Rambla, I think. And the uncountable attempts to steal from my bag (but at the end they never managed it;)).


6.Name one special place in Barcelona.
Gracia.


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.
Colourful.

Maria from Sweden

Name: Maria Näslund
Age: 19
City and country of origin: Gothenburg, Sweden


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?
I lived in Barcelona for six months. I went in june 2009 and came back to Sweden in december the same year. My intention was to just stay for two months during the summer. I had a really good time and decided to stay another four months.


2.What made you move here?
It was pretty much a coincidence. I wanted really bad to get a way from Sweden for a while and saw an ad where a swedish company were looking for staff for their office in Barcelona. I like Spain a lot, I had never been to Barcelona, but it seemed like a really nice city. So I applied for the job, got it, and went shortly afterwards.


3.What made you leave / stay?
Even though I really wanted to get to know the Spanish culture, I found it a bit hard to do that because of all the Swedish people in Barcelona. The fact that I was living with four swedish friends didn´t really help either. It was more like being on a vacation, even though I was working, and not really living in another country. I had a feeling that I was standing still, I didn´t like my job, and wanted something more. It wasn´t a life I wanted to live forever, even though I had a really good time. I also wanted to study in Sweden for a while, which was a reason for me to go home.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.
I like the atmosphere, the weather, people that seemed happier and more open compared to Sweden. Barcelona felt a lot more relaxed than what I am used to.


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.
That there were so much tourists (I know that I was one of them in a way, but still!), I didn´t like the attitude a lot of men seemed to have towards women. It was also difficult to see so many poor people; beggars and prostitutes.


6.Name a special place in Barcelona.
I loved to take the train out to the small beaches just outside the city. Beautiful!


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.
There are so many things I think about when I think about Barcelona, if I can only choose one word I think it will be happiness. Simply because I was almost always happy when I lived thereJ.

Kirk from the USA

Name: Kirk Moore

Age: 39

City and country of origin: Charlottesville (Virginia), U.S.A.



1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?
2.5 years


2.What made you move here?
The strongest reason was US visa regulations for my Catalan wife. We also thought it'd be nice to live here for awhile.


3.What made you leave / stay?
We've stayed to comply with US visa regulations, but also because we like it for the most part, my wife missed home and likes being near her family, and because the prospect of another international move with 3 young children is a bit daunting.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.
Overall, it's a beautiful city and is very well located - next to the sea, and close to the mountains.


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.
The hours (the mid-day break when everything closes was kind of cool at first, but overall complicates everything too much for my taste) and the working environment in general: the work hours are too long and the pay is too low and the autocratic ethos to management is depressing.


6.Name a special place in Barcelona.
La Plaça Sant Felip Neri


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.
sun

Cristina from Spain

Name: Cristina Iglesias
Age: 25
City and country of origin: Orense (Spain) (Although I grew up in Germany)


1.When, where and for how long have you been living in Barcelona?
I came here almost two years ago (wow, time goes by so fast!). I’ve lived in different places: from the “rather difficult” El Carmel and the centric L’Eixample to the bohemian Gràcia.


2.What made you move here?
Well, actually I came here because my boyfriend at that time received a work opportunity in Barcelona and I decided to come with him.


3.What made you stay?
Apart from deeply falling in love with the city (any better reason than this one?), I wanted to finish the studies I began here. And now that I’m almost finished with that too I’m thinking on staying now as well…



4.What you like the most about Barcelona.
I’m from a small town of Orense (Galicia), and not that I have anything against small towns, which I haven‘t, but in Barcelona you can find everything you want. In a nutshell: you have mountains, you have the coast, everyday you can do different stuff… But the most important: you can find people from all over the world (It is actually difficult to find someone who was born and who grew up in Barna), who either come to see the beautiful architecture and singularity of this place, or who decided, like I did, to live here. I think the streets of Barcelona are like the world concentrated in a single space. It’s simply great!


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.
The drawbacks of so much diversity are that sometimes you are not always in the mood for so much hustle and bustle. People in the subway, for instance, would sometimes simply run over you if they could, and the atmosphere turns out to be quite impersonal (to say it in a subtle way). The anonymity I so much enjoy in certain moments of the day, suddenly become hostile looks or pushy gestures.

6.Name one special place in Barcelona.
Without any doubt: The streets, shops, cafes and little restaurants of Gràcia!



7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.
This is a though one…If I have to stick to one word I guess I would choose: Culture

Malgorzata from Poland

Name: Malgorzata Szkudlarek
Age: 29
City and country of origin: Poznan, Poland


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?
I lived in Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona, from July 2008 till December 2009.


2.What made you move here?
I moved because of promising job perspectives.


3.What made you leave / stay?
I left because of cultural differences to which it was hard for me to adapt and because I wanted to be closer to my own country.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.
I like the fact that it is quite European compared to other Spanish cities. People seem to be a bit more open minded that in the rest of the country. The great number of foreigners living in Barcelona also contributes to that state of affairs.


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.
Personally, I hate the crowds of tourists. Second thing - I don’t mind the fact that Catalans insist on speaking their own language, however, I do find it freaky that they seem to be really fighting for complete political independence.


6.Name a special place in Barcelona.
Puerto Olimpico and the magic fountains.


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.
Smog and humidity.

Maxime from Sweden

Name: Maxime Persdotter Wallström
Age: 19
City and country of origin: Gothenburg, Sweden


1. When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?
I moved to BCN the end of June this year, stayed for 6 months, went home for Christmas and I’m planning to get back in January and stay until late spring/early summer. (But it feels bad to leave then too, when it´s getting warm again, so...)
So, I stayed in an apartment in Raval, at Carrer de Guifré, the street with the big neon heart. An expensive, small but kind of cosy place. Crowded and with loud neighbors. But even so, I had a great time there.


2. What made you move here?
I was really bored and didn´t have a job after my graduation. I was planning to do a course in the university, literature science, because I thought that it would be different, then I realized that it wouldn´t be as different as I wanted. I had also started to dislike my city and all the people in it, was bored with night life, friends of friends, old routines and so on. And then a friend of mine had sent in an application for a job in the city, so I did the same, got it, bought a ticket and one week later we were in BCN.


3. What made you leave / stay?
From the beginning the plan actually was to get back to my town in September to study, but the time was too short so to speak, so I stayed. Then I thought I would go home at the end of October, but I stayed. After that, the plan was to get back for Christmas and start working or something after the holidays. But because of the economic crisis and blabla there were no jobs. So I´m getting back to BCN in a few weeks not only because I really like the city, but because I don´t have anything else to do.


4. What you like the most about Barcelona.
I like that people are out in the streets. Now, when I´m back in Gothenburg, the streets are empty, it´s almost spooky. But in BCN people are living outdoors, doing whatever and chatting with the neighbor meanwhile. I like the climate, it´s perfect. I have never gotten used to the cold in Sweden. I like that you´re always close to the ocean. That you can choose between lying on the beach between fat Germans or going to some small village outside BCN and almost be alone. I like that the night life starts when I´m used to go home from the clubs in my town. I like La Boqueria, and that you get 3 fruit juices for 1 euro when you go there right before there closing. I like that the old man whom I´m buying vegetables from is calling me “mi vida” or “mi reina”. I like that there are green parrots in the parks, where there´s usually only pigeons.
But most of all I like that I know street names, and have favorite bars and restaurants, that I know how the metro system works, the fastest way to the beaches, and all the people I gotten to know. And so on.


5. What you dislike the most about Barcelona.
That have to be that you can´t go home alone at night, even though I have done that and nothing really happened, you can feel that´s it´s not the smartest thing to do. And also the guys that constantly want your attention by screaming (or whispering vulgarities in your ear as you pass them), or even grabbing things they’re not suppose to grab..


6. Name a special place in Barcelona.
Our street, under the neon heart, La Boqueria, the first favorite bar at Carrer de Mercé, the village Sant Pol de Mar outside BCN because of the beach and the smallest church ever, a bar on Rambla de Raval called La roughe only because of the lamp made of small liquor bottles and the best sangria de cava. The street C/ Sant Ramon because it´s so far away from home. Only to name a few.


7. Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.
“Sexy beer, my dear?” has to be it (in lack of something more serious and exact...).

Sarah from England

Name: Sarah
Age: 24
City and country of origin: Leamington Spa, England


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?
I lived there for 2 months in the summer of 2008 in Les Corts neighbourhood.


2.What made you move here?
I went there to do an internship.


3.What made you leave / stay?
The internship was only for 2 months, then I had to leave to go to my new job in Valencia.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.
It's a really fun and diverse city with lots of cool neighbourhoods...especially Gracia and the Born. The architecture is amazing and I like the fact that you are surrounded by mountains and sea on either side.


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.
Like most big cities, I don't like the busy, bustling, fast-pace. There is also a lot of problems with crime, particularly pick-pocketing and mugging. I didn't really feel safe at night.


6.Name a special place in Barcelona.
La Sagrada Familia - it's not a very original choice but it's definitely my favourite.


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.
Cosmpolitan

Juan from Venezuela

Name: Juan Carlos Cañas

Age: 37

City and country of origin: Caracas, Venezuela (but lived 4 years in Moscow and 2 years in London)



1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?
I was there in September 2009 for one month.


2.What made you move here?
I attended a course to become a Spanish teacher at International House Barcelona.


3.What made you leave / stay?
I completed the course I was doing.


4.What you like the most about Barcelona.
I would say the local people I had the chance to meet. Doing this course with locals made me have a great experience. Anyway, the city itself is very nice. During my time there it took place the "Mercé Festival", I enjoyed very much all the free concerts around the city.
I also liked a lot Vichy Catalan!!! I miss it!!


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.
Prices in bars and restaurants around to La Rambla!!!


6.Name a special place in Barcelona.
Paseo Gaudi, Hospital de Santa Creu y Sant Pau, and the empandas at the Laurel opposite to Renoir cinema.


7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.
Gaudi I will say. Cosmopolitan.

Isabelle from Sweden

Name: Isabelle Åström
Age: 19
City and country of origin: Västerås, Sweden


1.When, where and for how long did you live or have you been living in Barcelona?
I was in barcelona for four months and two weeks.



2.What made you move here?
Life took its unexpected turns, I had a one way ticket to this incredible town in my hand. All of a sudden I was sitting in a flat in the middle of Barcelona, planning to stay. I've always thought that Barcelona is a really cool city, with a lot of chilled out people. So why not?



3.What made you leave / stay?
There are three main reasons why I decided to leave Barclona. The first reason why I left was because I felt that I never landed. I could never really relax when I was in Barcelona, not mentally, even though everything was rolling on so nice and I enjoyed every moment of it.
The second reason was because of all the drugs. I found it extremely annoying to see it everywhere. I actually don't care a lot what people want to do with their bodies or lives. But it was just too mutch. Very trashy.
The third is the simple one, I missed home. I missed my family. I missed my friends. I missed Sweden.



4.What you like the most about Barcelona.
Barcelona is an extremely beautiful city. There is a special happy spirit about Barcelona that makes you just smile, especially in the summer. Summer in Barcelona is great!


5.What you dislike the most about Barcelona.
Well, I dislike how people dare to be so open about drugs. It made me see a very dark side of Barcelona. I know it's a big city and I dont think that there are more or less drugs in Barcelona than in any other big city, but there is no such thing as being sophisticated over there.
One more thing was how things are getting handeled over there, with payments, dates etc. You know, important things, like getting the key to you apartment on time. I felt that I always had to argue to get anything on time, or to get anything to work.
And one more thing! All the disgusting men (not all men of course) that think that they could say or do what they wanted. Never seen so many of them in one town.



6.Name a special place in Barcelona.
A special place, hmm. There are a lot of special places in Barcelona. But now I have to be totally regular and say the beach. That is where I had some of my best and loveliest days.



7.Name one word you would relate to Barcelona.
Oh, one word, thats so hard. For me it has to be "hectic", just because it's simply the first word that came to my mind, and also what I think about life in Barcelona. Totally hectic.
Thats how I see it, from my point of view.