casa del sol

The world is a small place we all have to share it.

IMO when we come to live in Spain (or any other country) we need to try to learn their language, embrace their way of life, and respect the way they live it.

poollounger

Perhaps this forum and this thread is a case of preaching to the converted??
Seems most of us on here are keen to make Spanish friends and integrate if possible. We are lucky as we had Spanish friends who we met through work in Britain, and they were one of the reasosns we bought where we did. They are like family. However when we bought our house we went and knocked on the Spanish neighbours gate and introduced ourselves. After garden fence chats..we are not permanent residents.. we were invited for dinner. Thier daughter scoffed and said ...' well they don't speak much Spanish, you don't speak any English, what are you going to talk about ?' Well we took a dictionary and spoke English, Spanish and French and had a great evening. At Christmas we had another, and agreed that we were happy to have each other for neighbours. They told us that the Spanish traditionally did not socialise a great deal with their neighbours. This cross fertilisation can benefit us all.
There was a news item the other night that mentioned the 100,00 Brazilians and 36,000 Portugese living in London. There are bars that they frequent and Stockwell in south London is a Little Portugal, but it adds colour and life and vibrancy. The Brits can do the same provided we learn the lessons of the Costa del Sol.

Big Pete

Yes agree on this ; 100%
When i get there my list of priorities are ;

1; Learn Spanish
2; Buy a boat
3; Clean my fishing tackle
4; Learn a bit more Spanish
5; Get Pally with my neighbours
6; Go Fishing
7; Buy a car
8; Learn even more Spanish
9; Clean my car
10; Clean my boat
11; Impress the neighbours with my Spanish
12; Ask the neighbours out on my boat in Spanish " Cum on da boet por fa vor "
13; Get the neighbours to clean my boat afterwards
14; Barbecue the fish we caught
15; Learn a lot more Spanish
16; Impress the neighbours yet again with my Spanish , thanking them for the cleaning the boat and washing the dishes " Grathias ec scrubbing dos boet ec polishing dishios "

poollounger

You forgot to add.....recover from the dunking after they have pushed you overboard..

susique

Hehe!

brisca

Yes Gallerie, we have had a pretty much identical experience to that which you describe!
Isn't life wonderful!?
We live in a small village (population around 300) and have been here almost a year.
We arrived knowing basic Spanish (greetings, basic manners and the general idea about verbs - although we're still struggling with them!)
We've been welcomed with open arms by everyone, and have been included in everything that's going on. When all the children were receiving presents in the Plaza during Los Reyes, MY name was also called out!! Friends had supplied a present, because they wanted me to experience Los Reyes in the village manner. How kind was that!?
We also help out in whatever way we can - I can be found carrying elderly folks' shopping home after the frutero has been on a Tuesday, we helped chop down a couple of pine trees and clear up afterwards, the village children know I'm a real soft touch when it comes to giving out sweets or water!
One of our dearest friends is an 82 year old lady who doesn't have family living nearby. She struggles to walk; so we carry her shopping, take it upstairs, get her big bottles of water from the supermarket, carry her gas bottles and so on. I have a wonderful time sitting at her brasero, listening to her telling me all about her life - she's a bit like a surrogate Grandmother really
People couldn't have been nicer and more friendly to us, and we feel very much part of the community. It's definitely the best move we ever made!
Glad to hear that you're so settled and happy. Haven't I read that you've been here just about a year too?
All the very best, Sam.

gallerie9

Hi Sam
We will have been in spain a year on the 21st and in the village a year on the 4th of march.
We came with just the suitcases and lots of well how can I say it ... we wanted a new life a new experience and we have it now.
We should move into our house in a few weeks now, not the whole thing just one of the small apartments, we are just really finishing off windows doors bathrooms and kitchens and all the tiling, My OH wants to do that all by himself, part of the experience for him and well he is in love with the place ....the whole thing should be finished we hope for the end of April.... but I am thinking more like July...... but it doesnt really matter as long as we are having fun.
Did I read you are having a house built ?
Its good to hear that other ppl are having the same life as us, and are made to feel part of the community.
I try to tell the family in the UK what it is like but I know they dont really believe me and look as if the ppl must be mad.
Its like well why would ppl treat you like that They must be after something,
How can you say well really if they thought someone was doing us they would go for them.
The mother of my good friend was buying some fruit from a van she told me it was cheap and good, she then turned to the guy and said , she is like family dont charge her more than us, got that.
Thats what I mean. ppl look out for us make sure we are doing things right.
It is so different from the UK and well it is like a breath of fresh air

Sharon

Big_john

I am pretty lucky, my wife's mother was born in Argentina and spoke to all her children in Spanish.
Her family moved to Spain years ago and married local girls.

My wife lived in Kenya for 16yrs, then moved to Spain where I met her in 89, we lived and worked on the Costa del Crime until 4 yrs ago then moved up here to Galicia where everyone only speaks Castellano or Gallego.

Not a problem for us as we both speak Spanish, as I like quite a few others on this forum prefer mixing with the locals, and do get ashamed of so many Brits on the Costas alway's being drunk,fighting, drugs etc.

Rant over bye

brisca

Hi Sharon,
We arrived here on 17th February last year - so this time next week we're going out for a celebratory meal!

Sounds like you've had quite an adventure during your time here!? That was really brave, just turning up in Spain with your suitcases! Good on you!
You've obviously been working really hard; both on your house and in making friends.
What made you choose Jerez? We've never been there, but are planning to do a lot more travelling around Spain in the future.

Yes, you are right - we are about to start having a house built
Hopefully it won't be too painful an experience! We're looking on it as part of the adventure, and hopefully we'll end up with something to be proud of.
I feel a few "lost in translation" moments coming on though; not to mention a bit of frustration...........but hey, it'll all make the experience that bit more interesting, I'm sure!!
Look out for some "we're pulling our hair out" threads from us in the not too distant future!

When my Mum came to visit in October, she was overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the people in our village; and she said it made it all the easier to go home and not worry about us, because she knew we had really good friends here who were looking out for us

Really glad to know that you are enjoying life so much - and long may it continue!
All the best, Sam.

gallerie9

Hi Sam
Why Jerez, Well we knew we wanted to live in real spain not the tourist route and my other half likes the Atlantic coast, we had never been that far south in Spain.

We had sold the house, and were ready for the off. We looked at the Map and it was either Seville Airport of Jerez, the flights were cheaper to Jerez (honest that was how it was)

We had done lots of looking on the net and we liked the look of some of the villages.

We had booked a night in a hotel, and hired a car. I had been in contact with some agents. We looked on the coast but didnt like it. In the hotel reception was a map, my other half looked and liked the lakes, and said that looks nice, look on the net and see if any one has houses in those areas.

I emailed this guy and we met him the next day. I told him what we wanted to do ( a gallery and art holidays) He said I will show you a house that will do that but it is not what you have asked me for ( we wanted a house in the campo) The minute we walked in to it we knew it was for us and like you nearly a year down the line we are nearly there.

Many people have been in the house and told us it was too much work for them but wished they had brought the house.

When we are finished you will have to come down and see us and experience Jerez and Cadiz wonderful cities with so much history.

Good luck with building your house and how did you get to Extrumdura ?

Sharon

brisca

Hi All,
I know this thread hasn't been "live" for a while, but tonight I was talking to some Spanish friends who said that they know of a place called Alfaz del Pi (Alicante) where "nearly everyone is English - even the Mayor!"
I asked them what Spanish people think about so many foreigners coming and living in one area of their country, but they said that apparently the locals have no problem with there being so many Brits there, and that there are no problems with integration.

I was quite intrigued by all this, so "Googled" to find out some more information.
I can't find any proof that the Mayor is actually English/British - but he's called Gabriel Such, so I suppose it's a possibility?? (Don't know how current this info is though?)
It seems that my friends' concept of "nearly all English" was just a bit off the mark according to the following information

[L'Alfàs del Pi is a Valencian town and municipality located in the comarca of Marina Baixa, in the province of Alicante, Spain, lying at the foot of Sierra Helada. L'Alfàs del Pi has an area of 19.3 km2 and, according to the 2003 census, a total population of 15,848 inhabitants, most of them foreigners, many of whom are mostly of Scandinavian, Dutch or English origin. It has the second biggest concentration of Norwegian residents abroad. The economy of L'Alfàs del Pi is mainly based on tourism. The most important monument in the city is the Catholic church of Cristo del Buen Acierto, built in 1784. The town's symbol is a pine tree, that can be found in the church square. It is home to a nationally renownd film festival which runs each year.]

There's also a link to a bit more information about the town here:
http://www.indigoguide.com/spain/alf...FSggEAodWG60lA

No other point to make really! Just thought it might be mildly interesting
I'm sure there are some people on here who live in the area, and who may know more about levels of integration?

Lionda

Been there a few times, lovely place. There is a very large amount of shops/businesses owned by Norwegians.