No Regrets: A Life in Catalonia

by Dvora Treisman

She was 52 when she took the great leap into the unknown, and, together with her cat, flew from San Francisco to Barcelona on a one-way ticket. She had very little money, no papers, no job, no problem. She had her new Catalan husband and was determined that it would all work out.
The apartment was already bought (sight-unseen) and paid for. The shock of the deed arriving in the mail with a much lower price than what they had paid was fading. The cat yowling in his carrier under her feet would be okay. And so would she.
Drunks who whistle Verdi and pee on the street, furniture that won't fit through the doors, explaining to the pharmacist that you need a laxative when you don't speak the language, and shopping at the emblematic Boqueria market are her daily reality. But challenges turn into fear when her husband decides he wants a divorce.
In stories and vignettes Dvora Treisman deftly explains much about her new home: Templar Knights at Miravet, the Roman aqueduct in Tarragona, the caganer (shitter) who squats in Catalan nativity scenes, adopting abandoned dogs and cats, a murder in the town cemetery on All Saints, and where that missing money went.
If you've ever dreamed of moving abroad, you might be inspired by this honest and engaging memoir of an expatriate who found a new home in the old world. If you enjoy traveling from the comfort of your sofa, you will delight in the detailed and insightful descriptions of the people, places and culture of this corner of northern Spain.
Dvora Treisman has lived in Catalonia for over twenty years, has many appealing stories to tell, and tells them with intelligence and wit.

Genres: Travel, Memoir

190 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2022

About the author

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Los Angeles, Dvora Treisman has been living in Catalonia, Spain for over twenty years. She spent most of her professional life in administration at the University of California and finished it as a technical writer for a major health care provider. She has been writing Beyond the Pale, a blog about her Catalan experiences, since 2009 and published her memoir, No Regrets: A Life in Catalonia, in 2022. Her next book, Stories My Father Told Me: From Warsaw, Moscow, Algeria, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Dominican Republic, will be published soon.

Reviews

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d love to feel the city’s vibrant energy as I wake every morning after moving to Spain, but that will never happen. Thanks to Dvora Treisman’s vividly descriptive book No Regrets, I am eager to at least visit this Spanish country and see towns with medieval mansions where everything is built of stone. Dvora’s writing immerses you in her world, where she faces the challenges of day-to-day living as a non-permanent resident and the difficulty in finding work. However, despite financial struggles, her love for her captivating new home remains unwavering. However, as wonderful as life was in that picturesque country, all good things must come to an end, and I’m sad to say that I just finished this extraordinary book, so it’s back to the U.S. for me. My main takeaway was that I envied the Spanish way of life, where they embrace each moment without worrying about every little problem, leading to a longer life expectancy. Thank you, Dvora, for reminding me of the importance of releasing my problems and sharing your incredible experience living abroad.

[Cristiano Facanha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dvora's captivating book weaves together personal anecdotes and the rich history of Catalonia, creating a delightful tapestry that's as enlightening as it is enjoyable. As a skilled writer and captivating storyteller, Dvora's narrative effortlessly transports readers into her world. From living in Barcelona's hectic Gothic Quarter, enwrapped in so much history, and yet so many unsavory and noisy characters. To moving to quieter surroundings and being in awe of starlight bird formations much before it became an Instagram sensation. She masterfully navigates even the most challenging moments of her life, blending light-heartedness and unflinching honesty, while often sprinkling in her curmudgeonly humor.

Beyond her storytelling prowess, Dvora emerges as a brave woman who pursued her dream of living in Catalonia with unrelenting determination. Her profound connection to the region is palpable, as she embraces its essence, learns the language (but not the pronouns), and effortlessly adopts its feisty spirit. Unconstrained by conventions, her journey is one of authenticity, and her passion for animals, history, nature, and leisurely strolls infuses each page with an infectious zest for life.

The book resonates not only as a testament to Dvora's remarkable journey but also as an invitation for readers to pursue their own adventures. Closing the book, a sense of connection lingers—a slight longing to have played with Pumpkin or walked alongside her and Cupcake at the Camino.

[Lisa Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into life in a foreign land told over many years.

When Dvora meets a charming Catalan man, her life is about to change drastically. In 1999 they move to Barcelona in Spain’s Catalonia region. Unable to speak Spanish or Catalan, Dvora’s decision to stay in Barcelona when Manuel returns to the US to continue working was never going to be an easy one. Over the years (the book comes right up to the present day) Dvora lives in a number of places in Catalonia – both with and without Manuel – from an apartment where whores and drunks congregate to a villa in the country, learns the language of the Catalans, and integrates with the community.
This is not a roses and wine sort of book about moving abroad. For a start, Dvora is older than many starting a new life (she was 52 when they first moved), and much of her life in Catalonia has been spent alone. Not everything is easy, or good in Dvora’s life, but the overall feel is that, yes, this brave lady has no regrets.

[Valerie Poore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a prize and have found it both fascinating and poignant. It covers more than twenty years of the author’s life as an expat in Catalonia and includes the various stages of her transition from a new resident to a permanent fixture in the country. Dvora Treisman writes with refreshing candour, but at the same time she is reticent about what must have been some very difficult times in navigating a complicated relationship with her Spanish husband. What I most enjoyed were her accounts of Catalan culture, its politics and the details of her life and work in the different places she lived, especially in Barcelona. I also loved the stories of her animals, from her cat Pumpkin to her beloved Cupcake. Ms Treisman is a courageous and stoic lady whose determination to stay in Catalonia, integrate with the people and learn the language has seen her through huge challenges. Highly recommended.

[Judy Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated by the intriguing story of Dvora, a confident woman who wasn’t afraid of anything, or at least didn’t let fear get in her way. Move to a new country with a culture within its culture and its own rare language? Why not? Learn that language? How else to fit in? Relationship doesn’t work out? Why hold on to anger? What I learned from this courageous and optimistic woman is that life has its ups and downs but if we don’t take ourselves too seriously and keep plodding along things eventually work out. Even with multiple challenges Dvora modeled a life of forgiveness, contentment, and enjoyment of the simple and rewarding things in life. I thoroughly enjoyed this uplifting story.

[Brett Hetherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book works so well because it gives such a great variety of experiences.

The American author lived in a number of different parts of Catalunya and the contrasts between Barcelona, Girona and several smaller towns enrich the reader's impressions.

She writes in a clear and conversational way, which entertains and informs about topics of everyday living. These range from the infamous bureaucracy of government departments to the trials of tradesmen visiting the house or the saga of getting a new driver's license. A personal favourite of mine was her nightmare when changing her name after getting married.

Treisman's parents were Jewish Holocaust immigrants from Poland so her own adventures have an historical place in the family timeline.

Equally, her love of animals and pets comes through in every chapter and there's also plenty of pages spent on the traditions of local festivals and fresh food: crucial corners of most people's time and energy.

I'd recommend this book especially for anyone who is thinking about making a new home in southern Europe. What can be learnt from "No Regrets" is absolutely invaluable.

[First published at https://bretthetherington.substack.co...]

[Pat Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted a copy of this memoir - tbh, I was intrigued by the cover as well as the title.
I’ve been to a couple of places in Catalonia, but, not for any length of time - so this memoir caught my interest.
The book ‘blurb’ describes the book well imho - I can only add some admiration to the mix - California to Catalonia is a big leap - learning Catalan and integrating not an easy ask / the authors determination throughout is admirable. I have no hesitation in recommending this memoir - do read the book ‘blurb’.

[Ronald Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Dvora Treisman’s memories of her 20+ years in a unique part of Spain was a delight. Her gift for telling stories about people, places and events is such that I was right there with alongside her, often amused, occasionally scared, but always comfortingly upbeat and positive.

She is a remarkable woman who has the courage to write forthrightly and well, captivating her reader in the process.

[Rachel Newcomb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the first part of the memoir set in Barcelona, which does a great job showing what it’s like to adjust to a new culture and the triumphs and setbacks that happen along the way. The second half of the book was more like smaller vignettes from different places later in the author’s journey, and I found it more uneven. Overall, though, it was an absorbing and fascinating account to read.

[Andy Hughson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adventure Dvora has had in her life. It must have taken incredible stoicism to carve out a new life in Catalonia, throwing yourself into the culture and language like that, when most the time you were doing it alone. It was lovely to hear that you’d managed to keep your dream alive despite the ever-changing personal circumstances. A woman of true substance.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fascinated to see Catalan Spain through the eyes of someone who had moved there from a completely different culture. From California to Catalonia was one huge adjustment, but I was impressed by Dvora's determination to speak the language, and integrate into the community, even though life didn't work out as she had hoped. Well-written and captivating story of twenty years in Spain. An enjoyable read.

[Marc Hankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I loved this book. It's become one of my favorite books; I'm re-reading it right now. It reminded me of much of what I experienced when I moved to Israel, and to some extent what I am experiencing now as I transition to life in France. It's easy to read and it develops many sub-themes as the story moves along without rubbing an ideology in your face. The book made me think a lot about my life and it made me feel more comfortable on the one hand accepting some things, and on the other hand, making decisions instead of avoiding them and fretting intermittently about what to do. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to think.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.