British Expats - A General Moan - Things that irk you about Spain!

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Re: A General Moan - Things that irk you about Spain!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dtall (Post 13097678)

I'd say he's not whining, you're being too simplistic. I'd say he's suffering from culture shock somewhat though, can't blame anyone for that, it's just how they experience it. Lots of the points made are quite balanced and nuanced, they're simply observations made from living where he does.

I've lived in Belgium for 11 years, I also suffered culture shock in many different ways. I also sought to try to understand the mentality, why people behaved the way they do, why they have the values and mentality that they have. I don't see any of this as whining, its being openly curious and looking to understand the differences. I do sense some frustration too by the OP, but I take his post in a spirit of open discussion rather than simply a long moan.

Nice post

Re: A General Moan - Things that irk you about Spain!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEVS (Post 13097748)

Nice post

Totally agree. I think the OP made very relevant observations and ones you would make after you have integrated much more than the average UK immigrant who lives in the British enclaves of the South and witnesses and knows little about modern Spanish culture .

Re: A General Moan - Things that irk you about Spain!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronnyone (Post 13097755)

I am fully integrated in my little town and have been for almost 16 years. Chose to live amongst the Spanish without any English influences. Very involved with the events that occur throughout the year. Friends of all ages. Been "adopted" by familes. So I believe that I am not one of the average immigrants yet I find very little in the OP´s post that rings true for me apart from the comment on clothes that I made in an earlier post. Some of what he states such as parents encouraging their children to gain qualifications is true of many nationalities. Many of you have reacted to various parts of his post and given your own thoughts and experiences which mainly differ from his opinion. Obviously there are going to be the odd differences regarding what is culturally accepted in each area and of course there will also be differences between families so none of us can even quess what it is like to walk in his shoes.

Rosemary

Re: A General Moan - Things that irk you about Spain!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronnyone (Post 13097755)

Say someone who lives in Torrevieja, a municipality where 45.23% of the registered population in 2021 were born outside of Spain, and there were 4,525 registered British residents

https://www.foro-ciudad.com/alicante...tml#Nacimiento

My own municipality of Velez-Malaga in 2021 had 12.61% of the registered population born outside of Spain and 878 registered British residents.

https://www.foro-ciudad.com/malaga/v...tml#Nacimiento

The total population of each of them is not dissimilar, 85k for Torrevieja and 82k for Velez-Malaga. So which of them could be said to more closely resemble a "British enclave"'?

There doesn't seem to be any shortage of British restaurants and bars in Torrevieja.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...n_Country.html

In the Velez-Malaga municipality, I am aware of 3 (all of them in the resort town of Torre del Mar, which is part of the municipality, but there are none at all in Velez itself).

Re: A General Moan - Things that irk you about Spain!

Beyond question I have found the Spanish open, friendly, engaging and welcoming.

Having said that they do not treat Latinos like that. The Spanish can be quite racist towards them.

My irk is their food which is totally bland!

Also the bureaucracy in Spain is bonkers!

Re: A General Moan - Things that irk you about Spain!

One thing that grinds on my gears where I live is the toll roads.