Madridboy

That's a pretty good list especialy number 6, there's nobody worse than the Brits for ripping off other Brits!
I'd have moved to Madrid but I'd definatly have needed good Spanish language skills first.

painterhombre

si claro!

Amanda and I have come to the conclusion that its best to struggle with the language and do business with the Spanish than the many english who seem to make a living out of ripping off their countrymen. Just goes to show what an awful place the UK is to have addled their brains in such a way.

Bloody immigrants!

agoreira

I find it incredibly naive, but not surprising, that you can believe that one nationality, the British, are rip off merchants, and that another nationality, the Spanish, can all be incredibly honest. Methinks you could be heading for a fall. Lets hope you never come across any of the estafadores, timadores, of which there are many. Gullible, naive Brit expats are an easy target for the streetwise Spanish.

Madridboy

I don't think for one second that painterhombre was implying anything of the kind, merely pointing out that unfortunatly when we Expats are in another country we take comfort in seeking out other Expats who we are all too ready and easily prepared to trust because they are "one of us" and unfortunatly there are many who will take advantage of this fact and use this opportunity to charge that little bit more or just blatnetly ripp off other Expats.

painterhombre

i completely agree.

the person is talking out of their a*** bascially and yet another brit who is looking for an argument on this forum which is why i simply wont reply, its not worth the effort typiing and fools like that person is why i regrettably dont come on here too often, far too many people with a chip on their shoulder, a grudge or just someone who loves the uk so much, you wonder why they are on a Spain forum? I am sure the sunday sport or the BNP have a forum they would be welcome on and i'm not sure why they come on here.

Yes, espcially when we 1st arrived, we did seek the comfort of other brits but we soon wised up to the fact that in most cases, they only wanted us when we were giving them money for goods or services!!!!

agoreira

Read it as you wish, for me "the many english who seem to make a living out of ripping off their countrymen" is a pretty damning statement.

painterhombre

correct!

Madridboy

By jove I think he's got it

pete_l

I reckon there are two big indicators:
- when a motorist cuts you up and you automatically swear at them in spanish, and
- when you can tell a funny story (not just a one-liner) and the people who laugh aren't just being polite.
I agree, that a lot of the time I spent in evening classes in England, trying to learn spanish was a waste of time. Apart from the "advanced" class I took after year #1 starting right back with "uno, dos tres ..." because some beginners had signed up for it. I also found that I wasn't learning the language, I was only learning the course. It turned out that all the spanish people I meet all went on a different course so while I could converse (in spanish) with the other brits in my evening classes I didn't stand a chance in Spain.

scampicat

And evening classes do not teach Alpujarreño anyway.....

jackytoo

Fluency is when 3 or 4 (at least) spaniards are speaking at the same time and you can join in the conversation.

jdr

agoreira

I was listening to Rosa (she won Operación Triunfo, or something like that!), she's from just outside Granada, and when she is talking to her friend, it's not the easiest to understand!
http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/?page=2#732768

Madridboy

This is my nighmare, everytime my friends and I get together they all start speaking quicker and quicker and all at the same time, coupled with my hearing problems I just give up and drift off into my own world.

paintermujer

I dont think one of my ears is brill either and it can make a big difference at times.