Hollywood Actress Expounds on how Awesome Somewhere Else is Compared to Shitty U.S.

pswift00 · #1 07-02-2009, 10:25 AM

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NEW YORK (AP) - Gwyneth Paltrow speaks almost perfect Spanish - and she does it with an Iberian accent.
The Oscar-winning actress says she traveled to Spain as a teenager, fell in love with the country, and embraces the culture to the point that she visits at least once a year and makes sure her young children, Apple and Moses, also speak the language.
"When I was 15, I went to a small town outside Talavera de la Reina and I had the most wonderful experience. It really changed my life," Paltrow said in fluent Spanish during a recent interview.
Paltrow said Spain "became a second home."
"It is so different from the United States. It seemed to have a history, and the buildings are years and years and years old. Here in the United States an old building is about 17 (years old), and over there it's from 500 B.C., it's incredible," she said.
"Also, the way people live over there. They seem to enjoy life a little bit more. They aren't running around as much as in New York. They enjoy time with the family. They don't always have their Blackberries on."
Paltrow remains close to the family she lived with in Spain, calling them "my Spanish mother" and "my brothers" from Spain. Her success as an actress, she says, hasn't impressed them.
The 36-year-old actress, who is married to Coldplay's Chris Martin, says she talks to her children in Spanish.
"Moses speaks a little bit, but understands everything. Apple speaks a lot," she says.
Paltrow shot "Spain ... on the Road Again" with chef Mario Batali, cooking expert Mark Bittman and actress Claudia Bassols. They traveled throughout the country, sampling traditional foods and praising the virtues of Spain, its people and cuisine.
She's also writing a book on U.S. cuisine with Spanish influence that is due out next year.
" ... I love food, I love to eat," she says. "I can't go on diets. I have to do a lot of exercise."
She also enjoys Mexican, Italian and Japanese food.
"I'm always playing with different flavors. If I remember a phenomenal meal I had in a country, I think of its ingredients, and how I can make it in my own kitchen."
Paltrow recently launched a Spanish-language version of her Web site, GOOP.com, a weekly bulletin in which she writes on topics ranging from health advice and travel to fashion and cooking. Contributors include Madonna, Steven Spielberg and Deepak Chopra.
Has she considered acting in Spanish?
"I would love to. I haven't found the script yet, but the first (movie) would have to be a small role, not very important, because I imagine I would have to get used to acting in Spanish," she says.
Paltrow says she'd like to work with Spanish directors Pedro Almodovar and Alejandro Amenabar and Mexico's Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. And she says she would like to work again with Mexico's Alfonso Cuaron, who directed her in 1998's "Great Expectations."
She is now shooting "Iron Man 2," in which she reprises her role as Pepper Potts. "We're all back together: Robert Downey, Jon Favreau, the director. And Scarlett Johansson is with us, Mickey Rourke. ... It's a phenomenal group, we are having a great time."

It seemed to have a history.....Here in the United States an old building is about 17 (years old), and over there it's from 500 B.C., it's incredible," 17 years? Really? Wow. 500 B.C.? No shit? Fuck me. But really, it 'seemed' to have a history. That's fucking awesome. I wonder why it seems that way. This country, it has no history. It started in 1776. Fucking fact right there; look it up. Before that, there was nothing here. Just smooth sailing all the way from the Canary Islands to mainland China.

Also, the way people live over there. They seem to enjoy life a little bit more. They aren't running around as much as in New York. They enjoy time with the family. They don't always have their Blackberries on." Comparing some bumfuck Spanish village to New York City. There's some fucking perspective for you. And Americans, they don't give three shits about spending time with their families. Spain, they got a fucking monopoly on that.

Here is some fluent spanish for you, folks: No me gusta. No me gusta mucho.

jriddle3 · #2 07-02-2009, 10:45 AM

Her insight is not nearly as deep as he acting talent (which isn't saying a lot).

brothers11 · #3 07-02-2009, 11:09 AM

Her role in Duets changed my views on life forever. Thank you, Gwyneth, give my best to Apple

pswift00 · #4 07-02-2009, 11:23 AM

I would, however, like to nominate Paltrow's mother for that over 40 babe bracket. I forget what her name is, but she is the mom in Meet the Parents. Fuck, I would totally knock the dust off that.

DCDawg · #5 07-02-2009, 11:24 AM

Dude, if that bothered you then you have too big of a patriotic chip on your shoulder. First of all, I don't see where she says that Spain is better than the "shitty" U.S. And frankly, I agree with everything she said. Spanish architecture is more interesting because it has more history. People go there to look at ruins. People come to the U.S. to go to Vegas and Disneyland. And yeah, it's fucking great that people are more laid back. It's not unfair to say that American cities are more fast-paced and exciting, but it's also not unfair to say that Americans are more focused on work than the Spanish.

MookStunna · #6 07-02-2009, 11:31 AM

Maybe she was all cranked up on the snow? IT is measurable in the air there

LOLOLOLOLOL.

pswift00 · #7 07-02-2009, 11:38 AM

It was tounge-in-cheek, dude. Relax. I'm sure you of all people know that I am most definitely not some kind of ultra-patriot. And it's a bit of a generalization to say that tourists come here to go to Disnelyand and Vegas. They go everywhere for lots of reasons. Hence why they are always clogging the metro escalators here in DC. And Spanish cities are more laid back? I honestly don't know, but I'm pretty sure Barcelona and Seville are pretty modern, fast-paced places. Spain is the 7th largest economy in the world. I'm sure folks in those towns do plenty of running around and blackberry checking too. But look, let's not try to compare New York to anytown anywhere, because that's just silly.

But if you love Gwenyth Paltrow so much, why don't you just marry her?And if you love Spain so much, why don't you just move there? And take me with you. I hear it's lovely there.

Edit: Ignore all that, because my point was never about all that stuff anyway. It was more about the absurdity of her statements- that 'old' buildings in the U.S. are 17 years old. That Spain is more laid back that NYC. No fucking shit there. Everywhere is more laid back that NYC. Enjoying family time more? Just stupid. Here in the U.S., we eat our young. Certifiable fact.

gco211 · #8 07-02-2009, 11:47 AM

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Originally Posted by pswift00

It was tounge-in-cheek, dude. Relax. I'm sure you of all people know that I am most definitely not some kind of ultra-patriot. And it's a bit of a generalization to say that tourists come here to go to Disnelyand and Vegas. They go everywhere for lots of reasons. Hence why they are always clogging the metro escalators here in DC. And Spanish cities are more laid back? I honestly don't know, but I'm pretty sure Barcelona and Seville are pretty modern, fast-paced places. Spain is the 7th largest economy in the world. I'm sure folks in those towns do plenty of running around and blackberry checking too. But look, let's not try to compare New York to anytown anywhere, because that's just silly.

But if you love Gwenyth Paltrow so much, why don't you just marry her?And if you love Spain so much, why don't you just move there? And take me with you. I hear it's lovely there.

Spain is likely the laziest country in the world. Their cities are well known party cities, they still take siestas in the middle of the day, and they get a ton of vacation time. They really are a laid back culture.

DCDawg · #9 07-02-2009, 11:48 AM

I'm actually going to marry all of Spain, since I love it so much. I also love barbecue, so I'm going to have an affair with barbecue. On a related note, I recommend that you not eat the pulled pork.

I have actually heard that Spanish cities are more laid back too. Hell, they actually take naps in the middle of the afternoon on weekdays, even when they are relatively sober (which is almost never). Also, they have good food, their beaches are topless, many of their women are not obese. If I could get deep fried twinkies there, I'd move there in a heartbeat.

bipolarboy · #10 07-02-2009, 11:49 AM

Having never travelled to Europe, it's impossible for me to agree or disagree with her, but I'm not offended by what she said. She said not really bagging on the country. They asked her why she liked living there, and she told them. It's as simple as that.

And how many of us really disagree with her that the U.S. is a high-stress, fast-paced nation of people who don't take time for the simple pleasures. I mean, seriously guys. The French invented the Seven-Course meal. We invented the drive-thru window.

bipolarboy · #11 07-02-2009, 11:53 AM

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Originally Posted by DCDawg

I'm actually going to marry all of Spain, since I love it so much. I also love barbecue, so I'm going to have an affair with barbecue. On a related note, I recommend that you not eat the pulled pork.

I have actually heard that Spanish cities are more laid back too. Hell, they actually take naps in the middle of the afternoon on weekdays, even when they are relatively sober (which is almost never). Also, they have good food, their beaches are topless, many of their women are not obese. If I could get deep fried twinkies there, I'd move there in a heartbeat.

Thank you for that image. Really, didn't need to think about someone having sex with a boston butt.

Spain is one of the places I really want to go to. It's up there with Ireland, Iceland, Candy Land, the Playboy Mansion, and Las Vegas. Hopefully, I'll be able swing Vegas towards the end of this year.

pswift00 · #12 07-02-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bipolarboy

Having never travelled to Europe, it's impossible for me to agree or disagree with her, but I'm not offended by what she said. She said not really bagging on the country. They asked her why she liked living there, and she told them. It's as simple as that.

And how many of us really disagree with her that the U.S. is a high-stress, fast-paced nation of people who don't take time for the simple pleasures. I mean, seriously guys. The French invented the Seven-Course meal. We invented the drive-thru window.

You say that like it's a bad thing. If you can think of a faster way to get food from the heat lamp to my face, I'd like to hear it. No? I didn't think so.

bipolarboy · #13 07-02-2009, 12:00 PM

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Originally Posted by pswift00

You say that like it's a bad thing. If you can think of a faster way to get food from the heat lamp to my face, I'd like to hear it. No? I didn't think so.

I'm actually shocked that no one has tried to start selling glucose bags to the public, yet.

DCDawg · #14 07-02-2009, 12:04 PM

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Originally Posted by bipolarboy

Thank you for that image. Really, didn't need to think about someone having sex with a boston butt.

Stop judging me, asshole. Love does not see things like species or whether a lover is whole or chopped into pieces in your grocer's freezer then thawed then loved deeply and tenderly then seasoned then cooked then loved again and then served on a roll with some cole slaw on the side.

pswift00 · #15 07-02-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCDawg

I'm actually going to marry all of Spain, since I love it so much. I also love barbecue, so I'm going to have an affair with barbecue. On a related note, I recommend that you not eat the pulled pork.

I have actually heard that Spanish cities are more laid back too. Hell, they actually take naps in the middle of the afternoon on weekdays, even when they are relatively sober (which is almost never). Also, they have good food, their beaches are topless, many of their women are not obese. If I could get deep fried twinkies there, I'd move there in a heartbeat.

Shit, half the folks in my office take naps in the middle of the afternoon. What else are you supposed to do with that time between lunch and dinner? But yes, I have also heard of these naps. They call them 'see-esthers.' But in all seriousness, what happens is, they go home from work at the hottest part of the day, eat a really big fucking lunch, take a nap for an hour or two, then go back to work until like 8 or 9 at night. The work week in spain, I believe, is still 40 hours.

The nude beaches, you may be thinking of France. Spain is a catholic country, after all. But I could be wrong about that. I am too lazy to google that. Either way, my point here was not to bash Spain, which is also very high up on my list of places to visit and begin a life-long commitment to alcohol abuse; it was merely to poke a bit of fun at Gwenyth Paltrow, because she's a silly girl.

pswift00 · #16 07-02-2009, 12:07 PM

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Originally Posted by bipolarboy

I'm actually shocked that no one has tried to start selling glucose bags to the public, yet.

You just reminded me of that Onion article about Taco Bell selling feed bags.

jriddle3 · #17 07-02-2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCDawg

I'm actually going to marry all of Spain, since I love it so much. I also love barbecue, so I'm going to have an affair with barbecue. On a related note, I recommend that you not eat the pulled pork.

I have actually heard that Spanish cities are more laid back too. Hell, they actually take naps in the middle of the afternoon on weekdays, even when they are relatively sober (which is almost never). Also, they have good food, their beaches are topless, many of their women are not obese. If I could get deep fried twinkies there, I'd move there in a heartbeat.

Can you get me a couple hot looking maids?
I'll provide food, sex, and housing.

Thanks.

gco211 · #18 07-02-2009, 12:24 PM

The average Spaniard gets 36 days off per year (vacation plus holidays). We get, on average, 25. Spain's full time worker, while working just over 40 hours per week, is also the lowest number of hours per week of the EU.

pswift00 · #19 07-02-2009, 12:28 PM

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Originally Posted by gco211

The average Spaniard gets 36 days off per year (vacation plus holidays). We get, on average, 25. Spain's full time worker, while working just over 40 hours per week, is also the lowest number of hours per week of the EU.

What's the source on that shit? I thought the French worked like, 10 hours a week or something. Fucking French.

gco211 · #20 07-02-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pswift00

What's the source on that shit? I thought the French worked like, 10 hours a week or something. Fucking French.

Untangling the myths of working time: How long is the European working week?

French work slight longer full time, but less overall if you count part time employees. I figured it would be better to go with only full time workers.