Communication is Key!

One of the things I love about Sitges is the connection of the multi-cultural community. A multitude of nationalities mingle using multiple languages to communicate. Walking through the town delivers a smorgasbord of interesting characters. It is a vibrant place to be. I cherish culture, embrace diversity and thrive on the connection that comes from such richness.

As well as local Catalan residents and those from Spanish regions, there is a huge expat community. According to International Living this year, “its permanent population of 26,000 is made up of 35% Northern European Expats.” The current population is quoted at 28,969. It also mentions the hive of activity here from Carnival at the beginning of the year, Beach Parties throughout Summer, its awesome Pride Party, International Film Festival and various local Saints Day celebrations throughout the year. There are many dynamic events on offer.

As an expat, holistic well-being therapist and coach, and resident in Sitges, with a history in event organisation, it was natural to create a festival of that kind here. We did it in 2021, as a collaboration, with success. It was a great event held in a private education facility. We learned quickly that the Ajuntament wanted us to apply to them for permission, as our small well-being event, organically became more of an ‘extraordinary event’.

Last Summer I worked around 1000 hours to co-create Equilibrium Fest 2022. My partners put in their own time and energy. You may or may not have come across this fairly new project, now working towards our 3rd event in 2024. A collaborative platform of Health and wellness professionals bringing therapies and workshops with a focus on health and balance. We had everything organised down to a T.  Yet just 24 hours before the opening in September 2022, we were prevented by a single email from the Ajuntament technician, the morning before the event was due to happen. The shock at that moment was debilitating.

The issues raised were relevant and respected, however, the application process had been going on from May through to August. There had been time for the issues to be addressed. The breakdown of communication perhaps began with some initial misunderstandings of the process. Intent on doing everything correctly we consulted with lawyers and the venue and concluded that we must postpone. The event was still ready to go. A positive, creative, diverse and spirited addition to Sitges that eventually happened in June 2023 in Vilanova I la Geltrú.

The bureaucracy and detail that comes between real people doing real things are of course needed for safety.  However, we experienced a level of obstacle which could have been avoided with better communication.  This situation impacted multiple people’s lives and income. Could it be a question of language?  Or is it more systematic than that? When we give the power of communication over to computers, multiple choice questions, automated services and we stop speaking to one another directly, we begin to lose our humanity.

It is essential for us to improve communication, talk and bridge any gaps that create miscommunication and error.

Sitges and all surrounding areas are a unique place to live. Known for its acceptance of different lifestyles. It is essential for us to integrate on deeper levels I suppose, in both business and social interaction, to fully allow everyone to thrive. Without that, we live in a tolerant environment not necessarily a fair and balanced one. For that, we must maintain our humanity and remember that communication is key!

Here at Little Paper Towns and with Equilibrium, we aim to connect, communicate and thrive!