Rotor

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.

lynnxa

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

sparkplug

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.

whitelinen

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.

expat2be

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

lynnxa

paintermujer

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.

jojojojojojojojojojojojo

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

Rotor

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

pwwm

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.

chulo

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.

twistedmelon

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
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.

pwwm

As long as you follow the rules, we have applied for permiso for all the work we have had done, yes including the pool 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

Madridboy

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. 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.

fionamw

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)