Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Many posters on this forum are always whinging about Spain,my questions are, when you moved here what do you expect life to be like and how has it turned out?

Expats to be ,what do you want/expect when you get here?

I moved here 6 years ago and life is good, making a living is much tougher than the U.K but the quality of life makes it worth it.:thumbup:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

living in Spain is pretty much what we expected, though I agree that it's much harder to make a living than we expected

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Its nothing like how i expected!
Wouldnt go back to the UK now.
Much prefer the way of life out here even if the job front is sadly lacking for most, went to iceland yesterday and came out with 4 bottles of pop and some sweets - totally gone off the idea of prepacked meals and like the spanish way of cooking from scratch now.
Everyone I´ve met both Brit, Spanish and a few Gibs have been friendly and willing to help even when theres been a language barrier. Its a far better place than the UK provided you are not looking for "Little Britain" and are willing to try and learn the language and integrate into their culture.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

With around a million ex-pats living in Spain and about 20 contributing to this site I would guess that the rest are happy and only the moaners air their views.

For the majority of us who dont have to work life here is great.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

As a expat to be we hope to lead a more relaxed lifestyle in a much better climate.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

:confused:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

We are relative newbies in Spain but things I guess have turned out more or less as we expected.
A much different,nicer way of life-but you have to make it that way and persist until things are the way you like them cos it is so easy for it to go the other way.

Different parts of spain offer a different way of life so it depends on the individual really.Choosing the wrong location can ruin everything so make sure you choose right.

Expect the unexpected.Each say seems to bring its own challenges.Some things you would never think of until they happen but you learn from it and move on until the next challenge is there for you to overcome.

Having enough money is so crucial.

Weve learnt alot and spent alot but now we are where we want to be but it didnt come cheap or easy.

Never any regrets though.We are happy to be in Spain.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Do you not think that its a typically British trait to moan??? I moan about silly things in Spain all the time, but I wouldnt swap any of it! I moan and laugh when I'm stuck in my car behind the goat herder and his goats and I'm late. I moan and laugh about the dreadful road surfaces that threaten to take the bottom off my car, the appalling way they repair the aforementioned roads, the "stop/go" men who always put the "stop" board up when I'm in a hurry, the driving, especially on round abouts....... none of this would be put up with in the UK and I love that! It makes you realise how uptight Britain is and I wouldnt want to be there ever again! But I still moan lol!!!

Jo xxx

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

From what Ive seen most "moaners" go back within a short time.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

I agree Rotor they do go back quite quickly, what I find irritating are the people that come out with "but in UK" we are not in the UK , as I have said to people here, leave your English/British head in UK put your Spanish head on.

We have used Spanish workmen for work, made a point of always have correct paperwork for everything, find because we have it is easier to get extra permiso for any work.

Others have said it is as expensive in Spain, I certainly disagree. Maybe if you socialise a lot. By that I mean out drinking etc.

All in all it is good, just dont expect to come over and find work, 15% unemployed here:)

have edited to say, it is harder to settle then people realise, you suddenly realise you do not have the language to just pop out and get something done, but we carried for some time a dictionary. Buy a big one and keep it in the car or very close by.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

I'm grateful to read all view points and long may honest debate continue.

Without differing view's how can anybody make a balanced judgement.

Reading the arguement for and against really has helped me decide.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Well I don't see that much moaning and I am grateful to the 20 here who have probably over time helped the other million lazy expats who look but don't contribute:thumbup:
I think it all depends on peoples circumstances, if you fall foul of the corruption here it's not so rosey and I think that is one big thing anyone does not expect.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

As long as you follow the rules, we have applied for permiso for all the work we have had done, yes including the pool :cool: both inside and out of the house, we use local builders merchants etc, try to speak their language, not speak louder in English then for the most part you are accepted, we know a few that havent bothered to learn the language, yes does take a while, the local accent is not what you learn at evening classes:confused:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

I was living in France and kind of moved here almost against my own will. I thought it was going to be too hot, I'd just got the hang of French and had many friends in France and I had become acustomed to the countryside.
The day I got here I loved it. :D I've had my fair share of ups and downs but I certainy have never regreted coming here. The problems and challenges I've faced and have yet to face could and can happen in any country, the UK included.
Spain is what you make of it, there is a diversity of climates and cultures so it could be said there is something for everyone.
Granted there is great unemployment over here but there is in pretty much every country at the moment. If someone wants to compare Spain to another country wait until they are back on par economically.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

I think most things have been or will be said by others, but two points
1. I still find it abhorrent ... haven't checked the definition, but certainly inexcusable, unforgivable, ignorant, you name it... that people can live here for years & consider it acceptable not to learn anything other than a few words. I am very far from fluent but believe my neighbours would think I could converse (given that one just asked another for my phone number!! all innocent, I assure you. Land. !!)
2. Given that I was the first in another thread to mention things being expensive, I'd like to say I don't socialise very often at all. Try buying kids' shoes - Asda & Tesco can lop about 30% or more off the average supermarket price here. Or pencils, or towels, or a multitude of other houseware bits & bobs. Or ladies' clothes. Or men's, or kids'..... need I go on. Frankly I'd say socialising was cheaper! (or maybe that's because I'm a cheap date:unsure:)

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

How cheap????????? :blink:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

You'd have to ask OH, and I suspect he'd say not that cheap at all:lol:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Just come from my Spanish class, were talking abour car insurance etc and my teacher from Valladolid commented how cheap it was here in UK. She said her father can't believe she is only paying about £300 fully comp. She said both her and her Dad only ever had seguros a terceros, third party.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

When I first came over 20 years ago, I expected to become very rich in as short as possible a time. That didn’t work out, and I went home for a couple of times to re-think, not for long, and then it was all systems go again, but with fewer ambitions to become rich.

13 years ago, I decided to stop going home and concentrated on enjoying life in Spain, without any further attempts to run a business here. And that’s how it is now, luckily I still have a decent English income and it’s enough to live on, quite happily, though modestly.

I made an effort to learn the language before I came and during my stay here, but I still have to get the dictionary out at times. Today I found out the difference between Perrito and Perito, the latter is an insurance assessor. And the Perito has checked La Luna, not the moon but my car windscreen.

You never stop learning in life, do you?

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

The thing is why shouldn´t you have a moan. If you were in the UK you would moan about certain things so now you are living in Spain you are not allowed to moan about anything Spanish. Balls, I love living here but there are things I want to moan about just as I would moan about different things in the UK. My present moan is the bloody pot holes at the bottom of my road whilst the Council are laying artificial grass on the entrance to the town. I have always said there is good and bad in every country and every nationality.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

totally agree

just because we prefer to live here doesn't mean we wear rose-tinted glasses & think it's perfect

why lay artificial grass:confused:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Who knows with this town? I´d be interested to know where it is they are laying it chiclanagirl.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Ditto. I can't believe that those complaining about moaners don't ever have a moan themselves. Is everything that perfect in Spain? Not from what I read, the Spanish themselves are the biggest moaners around, but I guess that's different. Reading recently about Spain taking over the presidency of EU, nearly all the comments were of the "ZP has f----d up Spain, he'll probably do the same to Europe" type of comment. Reading what the Spanish themselves write about Spain will dispel any myths about it being perfect, but if a few Brit immigrants find it perfect, I guess they should consider themselves very lucky.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Personally what I read is criticism.

I read/member of most of the Spanish and Italian forums on the net, some Spanish forums too and there is a pattern of complaint.

I prefer to read the hassle of someone in the Spanish community than a person who spends all day in their villa/pueblo.

Someone with a family living and working in Spain is going to have far more experience of Spanish culture than a person not working.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

you just described jdr:D

and me;)

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

[QUOTE=chulo;8265257]Personally what I read is criticism.

Check out the Canadian forum if you want moaners.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

He only believes...... oh i can`t be arsed. :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

;):rofl::thumbsup:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

I don't work :lol:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

And I value both your comments on Spain, when you write them.:)

It is the other content I have issue with.:rolleyes:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Therefore your input on lifestyle is limited, I would not rate your opinion of work, schooling etc in Spain compared to someone working or having children in school in Spain.

If I wanted advice on pensions, tax issues for the retired then I would rate your input and anybody else retired.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

I would suggest everyone's hassle is equally important to them.... we can make our judgements about whether or not the hassle complained of might have been less of a hassle if the person had done more to join in with the community... (learned more Spanish, got friendly with the mayor, been seen in more shopping in the town etc) , and choose whether or not to air these judgements. Living and working in Spain is apart from anything else surely a bit simplistic - what about the old biddies in our village who haven't done paid work in years & find stuff to mither about? If they're English they're moaning, if they're Spanish it's ok? :unsure:

A totally separate but I think relevant question.... does any Spaniard on this forum ever go on Spanish expat forums ref the UK? Do the Spanish have comments to make about elements of the British way of life? I don't know the answer so it's not a test question!

ref Chulo's last post.... I don't know about other folk, but I don't do paid work here therefore try to be careful about how I phrase any comments I might have to make. I certainly think I'm entitled to make them, though. Similarly about any topic in any conversation whether in pixelland or face to face. Blather is blather whether in a forum or in the pub. Sometimes we talk about things we know little about & there's nothing much any of us can do about it, apart from strive to ensure our own posts are fair. Not sure that all made sense..:blink::rofl:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Then you would be making massive assumptions based on no fact :)
This of course as opposed to someone who doesnt live in Spain and isnt here on the spot? :confused:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

In general people on forums argue with every comment they disagree with, something they probably would not do in person, unless they are that dumb.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

That is my mistake to make.:rolleyes:

It also should not concern others.;)

Oh I'll also remind you that I have a Spanish National in his forties sat less then 5 feet away from me.

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Well I have one in her 40`s sat on my.....err wrong forum:rofl::rofl:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

I hope you are very happy together :D

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

Blissfully.:D

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

I am not working at the mo but dont tell me about lack of experience of spanish culture if only the fundamentals.

Schooling
dentists
doctors
town hall
etc etc...it goes on..
All done on our own and always in spanish.

Keeps your brain alert.

How many of us have rehearsed in our heads all through the night what we are going to have to say the next day?:blink:

Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
 

I dont go on other expat forums, either for Spanish or Brits.
We fisrt started to look on the forum for helpful hints in establishing ourselves in Spain, ie British TV etc, as we could not expect the fimily to know all that stuff.
I can understand why expats would want to contact eachother, we all gravitate to what we are used to.
As for the complaints about moaning, I dont see it as such, folks are recounting their experiences and trying to stop others tripping over the same obstacles. And this is real life not the TRUMAN SHOW
What I cant understand is why anyone would sit day after day,
and post on site dedicated to a country that they have no desire to live in, invest in, or work in,
I have no desire to start collecting stamps, or learn more about them, or bug people that do know and are interested in them, so I stay away from those type of forums.