Why in Spain we don’t have garage sales
It would be amazing if in Spain we could organize garage sales in a common way. It is the perfect way to keep the garage clean, recycle everything properly (your neighbours will do it for you) and also to make some quick money too.
The problem, as I tried to explain to an American friend, is that in Spain there are a lot of reasons to not doing it for not doing it. First, there is no place to spread your garbage, I mean, your yard sale items :-). Almost 75% of Spaniards live in urban areas, let’s say apartments, that means no private gardens, no yards. That contrasts with the amount of Americans who live in detached houses, 65% of them.
Ok, but that should not be a problem in rural areas of Spain where houses are easier to find. However, the second problem is bigger. Let’s suppose we have some place to show our stuff to our customers. The consequences could be dramatic, your neighbors would interpret imediately that you´re in desperate need of money, almost in poverty for you to have to sell your belongings. And as we all know everybody takes very much into account what our neighbors might think of us. Absolutely.
Third, why should I buy an used article from my neighbors? Can´t I afford to buy something new and then show everyone the healthy state of my domestic finances? For sure I know that a new item is more expensive than an a used one. But nothing can beat the pleasure of being the first one to use something, and that, that´s very important, man.
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[...] Go to the author’s original blog: Why in Spain we don’t have garage sales [...]
*Reasons for not doing it/Reasons not to do it. Remember this is a purpose-sentence: you can use the for + ing form, or if you want to use the Spanish structure, apply it in the same way para + INFINITIVE (ie, TO X – comprar algo PARA COMER = buy something TO EAT) .
*Amount of Americans THAT. Actually you can see and hear both THAT and WHO in that case, but the precedent is AMOUNT, and not AMERICANS. You can leave WHO if you are always going to use WHO in similar sentences (this is like using collective singular nouns in Spanish with a verb in plural, la mayoría de las personas saben – should read sabe because the precedent is singular). Just for the record.
*a used one. The a+n rule falls when the consonant sound U (or any other) follows, it is just a phonetic restriction. “A university, a uniform”, but “an uncle, an urban area”.
OK Mariano- I hear what you’re sayin’ with this, and actually this is a good topic you chose to write about…
This is exactly the kind of topic that has cultural allure and you may want to expound on more often on USLive.
If you choose to, I’m sure you’ll draw a lot more attention from english-speaking web-readers that will engage you to practice more of your english by asking further questions about cultural differences and such- don’t you think?
Absolutely! polo-Go, I fully agree with you.
That’s the way I want to follow.
By the way, I have ready the Spanish version of that post, just focused for Spanish people to let them know what garage sales are.
Well, I think the subject of garage sales is a good exercise in having a glimpse into the life of the average American in their own neighborhood.
These have been held around the States for generations- even depicted in the movies most times (remember the scene in Toy Story 2 where Woody ‘fell’ into a table at the family’s garage sale? Remember what happened next?)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120363/
This kind of event evolved from old rummage sales (UK Jumble sales?) and Church sale gatherings, where the town folk would get together to look for items they would not have to spend much on (or pay sales tax!), vintage items they could not find otherwise, talk to each other, gossip, and such.
But what you have highlighted in your article is a good point- the cultural differences between a typical Spanish family’s perception of the event, and the American family’s one. Perhaps it is that for Americans, steeped into more consumeristic tendencies may be the reason they are more prevalent here-I’m not sure…
But I think most americans would read your story and say: “What? No garage sales in Spain? That’s crazy, everyone in the world does garage sales!”. The Spanish view of garage sales may be a more distinct and emphatic one, due to what it may communicate to their neighbors as you so put in this article.
I wonder, though, if Spaniards would consider to “experiment” with this social event in their own neighborhoods in the near future? What would happen?…
Perhaps, since you so nicely included the ‘Torito Osborne’ pic with this article, maybe a neighborhood could start a yearly event (aikin to “La Batalla Del Vino” or similar) and meet behind the Torito’s around Spain and do massive neighborhood ‘garage sales’ with sherry and the whole nine-yards! This way, inhibitions would not abound of what people would think!
Well, it was a thought after all… : )
I wonder, though, if Spaniards would consider to “experiment” with this social event in their own neighborhoods in the near future? What would happen?…
Nothing. The neighbours would become the laughing stock of the place after putting themselves to the trouble of organising the event and attracting potential customers. The latter would show up to meddle with every item, snoop around and leave empty-handed as they came, well, almost: only knowing exactly the kind of junk their neighbours kept and with the growing satisfaction always felt after poking their noses into someone else’s misery (for as misery it would be regarded, as Mariano explained).
Any other opinions?
Yes, Mortizzia, I am afraid you are right with your assesment.
You did ,however, remind me of a TV-episode from an old sitcom they used to broadcast here in the 70′s U.S. about a cuban-american family integrating into Miami’s (at the time) anglo society:
They had an episode where the teenage children (whom were raised within the american culture) convinced their parents to have a garage sale at their home because they needed to raise money for a summer trip.
The grandparents were vehemently opposed and interfered because of the possible shame and ridicule the family would be exposed to if allowed to be held. And then there was the “nosy” neighbor (also cuban), whom was reeling to have a field day over the family when she heard of the event.
In the end, between the pot-shots taken by the envious neighbors, the anglos trying to buy everything in-sight, and the grandparents having heart-attacks in the living room, everyone started to realize that there were some personal items that were really outstanding- and everyone was at each other’s throats trying to buy it and take it home!
Bottom line- this was a comedy show episode that attempted to address (besides the language, because it had a bi-lingual script) the subtle differences that can exist between cultures, and how to appreciate them within their context. I think the overall idea of that show supports the ideas we are all concurring in this article…
I think Mariano is right: in the USA, selling your old things is to buy new things, everybody does it, and almost everybody buys something there, but in Spain if you do it, everybody would believe that you have become poor.
Wow, this post is fascinating. I’m an American and it would never occur to me to feel shame out of selling assets that are no longer of use to me. Even if I needed the money – because how could one be ashamed of taking steps to solve a problem?
In America, there is an equal feeling of satisfaction for getting something at a great price. Not every item we own has to be ours first if we get it at an amazing price.
Would it make a difference in Spanish perception if they knew that in America the occupation with the highest percentage of millionaires (according to the book “The Millionaire Next Door”) is auctioneers? Why are auctioneers so wealthy? One possible explanation is that they recognize how to get $ out of every single asset, no matter how small.
Karen,
Welcome to USLive- the forum about “US” as seen through the eyes of Spaniard expatriates!
Besides practicing their use of english vocabulary and daily expression, Mariano (the moderator and webmaster) posts a number of interesting topics that cross both cultures and percieved cultural lines in this site and his parent site, MiCienega:
http://www.marianolozano.com/
Please feel free to contribute often, as the more commenters-the merrier the site! As for your posted comments, I agree with your viewpoint; however I will look for other posters to respond further.
Hope to exchange future responses with you on USLive or MiCienega topics!
I clicked an address to your web-site from Themelis Cuiper’s SocialGarden Business one-on-ones about socialmedia marketing & social media advertising – you are doing a beautiful job as he is pointing towards you! :-d
Thank you!