Q: So, Sr. Vericat, what classes do you teach here at Paly?

A: Here at Paly I teach Spanish 3, 4, 5AP, and 6. Spanish 6 is an independent study class, however.

Q: What is your favorite part about your job here at Paly?

A: My favorite part about my job at Paly is probably having fun and joking around with my students.

Q: What is the worst thing about teaching at Paly?

A: The worst thing is not being able to come into school on Saturday or Sunday, or not being able to teach on those days. Ha, ha, ha.

Q: So tell me, what is your favorite way to torture your students?

A: Being here every day is torturous enough for my students.

Q: Where do you originate from?

A: I’m originally from a small town in Catalonia, Spain.

Q: So, how many languages do you speak?

A: Hmm … well I speak three languages fluently. I speak Catalan, Spanish, and English. I know some French and Italian.

Q: You were born in Spain. When did you first come to America and why?

A: I first came to America in 1988, mainly because my wife captured me and brought me to America.

Q: Did you immediately decide to move to America?

A: I met my wife in Barcelona in 1989. Then I came to America the next year to permanently live here.

Q: What made you decide to move to America?

A: I didn’t decide to live here, my wife did…

Q: Do you still regularly go back to Spain?

A: Yes, I spend most of my summer in my town, Ulldecona (Catalonia).

Q: What do you think the main difference is between life in America and life in Spain?

A: Life in Spain is much more relaxed. I think people there enjoy life more. Things are not as tense as in America.

Q: As I understand, you are very involved with art. In your classes, you teach a lot about art and you also paint. How did you get interested in art?

A: Since I was a child, I’ve always been interested in art. I started painting when I was fourteen. My grandma gave me the materials to really start painting.

Q: Where do you draw your inspiration from when you paint?

A: My inspiration always comes from the same place, hard work.

Q: I’ve heard that while you were in Spain you were nearly arrested. Why was that?

A: Oh yes … This was during the time after the death of the dictator Franco (1975). I was working with a Catalan political group organizing "La Marxa de la Llibertat" (Freedom March).

Q: Did you have to make a dramatic escape from the police?

A: No, I was only interrogated for several hours in a police station. I later found out that the police had been spying on me for a long time.

Q: So are you currently on the most wanted list in Spain?

A: I am on the most wanted list in the whole universe.

Q: Buzz on the street is that you look exactly like a junior named Roger Villanueva, how do you feel about this?

A: Roger is a handsome guy, but I am "guapisimo." (very, very goodlooking).

Q: In your classes you tend to joke around a lot with students. Do you do this just for fun or any other special reasons?

A: When you laugh, life comes inside you, and I personally like having a relaxed atmosphere in my class.

Q: What do you plan to do after you retire from teaching?

A: After I retire, I plan on spending half the year in my town in Spain and the other half here.

Q: What is your favorite show on television lately?

A: I really don’t watch television. I just like to watch movies and that’s all.

Q: What do you do in your free time Sr. Vericat?

A: What is free time? That is a phrase I do not recognize? I have no free time.