prettykitty

I have lived in Costa Blanca North for a year, wondered how other expats find they are received and treated by the Spanish. Interested in the good and bad.

Veleta

I met my future husband here. So I guess I was received fairly well by the Spanish.

Mitzyboy

I'm in the CB North as well. I haven't had a problem, people have always been friendly and nice.

painterhombre

Very much depends on the area you are in and the language each of you know.

eg, in benidorm, we tried to speak (not too bad) Spanish, and prob because we look english, they reply in english so can confuse matters. Most Spaniards under 25 know some english and seem keen to use it. Was in a Moroccan halal grocers yesterday in lliria, Valencia. Bloke spoke Spanish, then Arabic to another customer, then Spanish to us, but still enjoyed saying "thank you bye bye!" to us. Most seem to love saying a bit.

the WORST thing you can do is be totally ignorant (and there are MANY english in Spain like it) and just speak english, slowly and expect them to understand, eg,. Basil Fawlty style. Its awful and it doesnt help.

In all, the Spanish are far friendlier and more genuine than the english, in my own humble opinion and from extensive experience.

What you give out is what you get back.

jojojojojo

I agree with that!! I find that if you're friendly, try to speak the language and are pleasant then thats what you get back - even with the checkout girls in Mercadona!!!!!!

Jo xxx

savateur

What about the roller skate girls in Carrefour ?

I generally concur with the above views, the Spanish are very easy to make friends with, but strong when neccessary.

Mitzyboy

Xtreme that used to be on here took a picture of a roller skate girl in Carrefour once, and was promptly ejected by security if I remember rightly

paintermujer

Theyre too fast to get to speak to.

A boring job made fun.

savateur

He wasn't asking her to get the very last box of cornetto's, from the very bottom of the freezer was he ?

manamama

I think it's true..if you're friendly and smiley, others tend to reciprocate.

If you're a miserable toad then you won't get much friendly interaction.

The sunshine does make people more cheery and friendly..more relaxed.

I find that up in the North, they are not as friendly generally than the South..

Today, was really the first sunny day of the year and you can feel the difference in the air..everyone is out and chatting in the streets and parks. Thank god the sun is finally here..The winter is miserable here.

cricketman

From my experience Spanish people are very easy to be a good friendly acquaintances to, but outside of the big cities they will spend most their time with their extended family and childhood friends. As an outsider its difficult to enter that network.

Maybe thats why my friends in Spain tend to be my OH's extended family or Latin Americans i.e. outsiders too. Or maybe I'm not very friendly!

cricketman

My BIL says Asturians are more British than Andalucian!

HBG

Learning a few words in Valenciano won’t do any harm in the northern Costa Blanca, especially in Denia.

painterhombre

?????....

No He entenc! Pot escriure-ho? Pot parlar castellà per favour?
Moltes Gràcies

painterhombre

(*painterhombre sits there adorned with a "chufty badge")