cricketman

I second that - A lot of Brits approach the Spanish with fear and trepidation (and even contempt) becuase they dont speak English and because things arent the same here is in Britain. ie. the Brits are out of their comfort zone

Once you except that Spain is Spain and go with the flow, it is a wonderful country to live in. Spanish people arent particular nice towards strangers or tourists though, you have to get to know them a bit first then they are incredibly generous

pete_l

But isn't an "immigrant" what an ex-pat from one country calls an ex-pat from any other country?
Unless you were born there, everyone who lives in Spain is an immigrant.

CBANDY

Exactly what I meant. In a lot of areas most of the crime is from non spaniards.

cricketman

Absolutely, British people who live in Spain are immigrants. They arent "expats" at all. That term implies they have been sent to look after the colonies

Veleta

Not true.

If you only watch British TV, you will only hear about the British who have come unstuck here.

If you only watch Spanish TV, you only hear about the Spaniards who have come unstuck.

I don't get SKY TV so I remain blissfully ignorant about the plights of the British, but I often see TV reports about Spaniards who have bought into illegal blocks of flats, etc.

Sharon B

I wonder what number of Brits here in Spain would actually think to call themselves "immigrants"?

painterhombre

good point. I reckon yes the "expat" thing does seem to have undertones of colonialism and going to live with "johnny foreigner" (!), and immigrant seems to fit the british in spain as we will always be foreigners and guests, no matter if we are made welcome or not, , however arent we all supposed to be European???!

based on some of the red tape we have experienced so far, we truly are not europeans, each member state has different stuff to sort out and different ruels etc, doesnt seem fair. (for example, eastern europeans coming to england and getting handed benefits from day one even though they havent paid a penny in contributions, and get more on benefits than they ever would working in their own country.......

......meanwhile amanda and i have to give up our tax credit and child benefit, and have to pay massive self employed contributions, even though we have paid for years on the uk??

but the spanish not liking the british?

Not so sure about that, but of a sweeping statement really. You have to admit though, some people would argue that the english have totally ruined the costa del sol, but the spanish allowed them to do so.

The spanish have encouraged lager louts to come to Spain (and that is not just english either),.......
Who is wrong?

cricketman

I think that is actually a middle class British point of view.

When I've discussed this topic with Spaniards, yes they lament what has happened to the CDS but they dont blame the British. After all, not everyone is British here (you can avoid them completely if you want to) and it is the local councils and local people who have sold all their land to build the horrible concrete bunkers and become very rich doing so

painterhombre

i said SOME PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE THAT................, i didnt say "what i think is...."

and yes its not just the british.

and yes im middle class and proud thanks!!!!

i'll just get back to reading The Times, drinking tea and raising my voice at johnny foreigner until he buckles down and learns english ........

SueG

I am the first to admit that I have very little Spanish, but I work in an office which mainly deals with English people and their problems of life in Spain but the Spanish people I come across in my working life (architects, Spanish lawyers, Notaries, estate agents etc) all accept me with no problem and also help me when I try and speak Spanish with them and write down words and phrases for me to try out

In our home life we have Spanish neighbours who are more than helpful with our dismal attempts to converse but no-one has ever been nasty etc.

The local Spanish restaurant we go to welcomes us with open arms, an odd free drink here and there, and hugs and kisses, even Jose the husband comes out of the kitchen for his hug!

We are very happy here and the thought that we might have to go back to England at some stage in the future feels us with dread but what the heck life is an adventure!!!!

cricketman

sorry no offence intended, I am middle class too! (I think )

Dick Dasterdly

I have spent much of the past 15 years in Spain, during which time I have been treated with decency and respect by the Spanish for at least 99% of the time and often with kindness and generosity way above what is the norm in the UK.
I have only spent a limited amount of time in touristy,lager loutish or little England districts, but even in those places have experienced very little resentment, although possibly a certain amount might be understandable in such places given the circumstances.
There are for sure a few areas of Spain where extranjeros receive a slightly cooler reception, but this often applies likewise to Spanish people from other areas.
I think if the first poster spent some time in a typical all Spanish area,possibly inland, and made a genuine attempt to integrate,he would very likely form an entirely different opinion.

painterhombre

its cool, dont worry, i was typing with a big smile on my face!

Sharon B

Good post. Totally agree.

jdr

Surely you are only an immigrant if you have emigrated to another country ? As we are all in the alleged union were didn`t have to emigrate. ;-))