onlineamiga

Today I celebrate a success story. My success story. I hope to bring confidence to others that despite difficulties. It is possible to relocate to another country and be successful and live a better life.

Today marks exactly a year since I touched down at Malaga airport where I began my journey to a new life.

I think I have always had it in me to leave my home country and experience life elsewhere. I felt a holiday abroad was always spoiled by having to return home. I felt I had experienced everything the UK had to offer and wanted to discover a new way of life.

I quit my job as an IT Manager and prepared to move to Spain. Disaster struck right at the beginning when 2 weeks before departure date I was involved in a car crash which ended the very car I was going to drive down in. Luckily I walked from that motorway smash, and booked a flight instead.

Day 1 was perhaps the easiest day of all. I picked up my hire car and checked into a hotel. This move was feeling more like a holiday! Though I had my work cut out for me. I needed to find an apartment, a job and some friends. Tho I had been doing the groundwork for all three before I left.

I met up with someone from this forum who helped take the "being here all by myself" element out a little. We looked at some apartments together and had a few beers etc. But sadly he soon left. At the time I felt this was a bit of a blow. However, broad shoulders and on I continued. I got myself sorted out with a 1 month rent on an studio apartment in Benalmadena. It was great just for me just for now. My new life felt like moving out of my parents again. Doing things on my own. I didnt know where anything was. Was constnatly relying on GPS to get me around. I remember needing some new pairs of socks (as i forgot to pack any!) and had major major trouble finding a shop that would sell them! Suddenly the simple things in life were a task as I got used to my new surroundings.

What must have been a sheer bit of luck, (or an excellent CV on my part) was that I was invited for a job interview at a large firm based in Marbella. This happened just 6 days after landing. What I figured would be the hardest part about moving to Spain was suddenly coming into shape really quickly. So put my best suit on and went for the job interview. Answered a few technical questions correctly. 2 days later I was offered the job. A full time job on a similar salary to that I was on in the UK!
Woooo hooooo!!!

As most of you know, I set off alone for Spain. Leaving a girlfriend back in the UK. If things worked out, she was to follow me. Sadly that never happened due to an unexpected turn of events. We maintained a close friendship though. But it was tough as she had a baby whom id come really close to. But I had to move on.


A week later I started the new job. Working as an IT Technician looking after an office network. It was exactly the same sort of work I had been doing in the UK. I was suddenly surrounded by other ex pats who had been in Spain a lot longer than I had. I soon started developing a circle of friends amongst my collegues, and had a few nights out and slowly I was starting to feel settled now I had a daily routine.

I remmeber my great struggle to get an NIE number which took months to resolve. It was basically down to general ridiculousness from Fuengirola police station who hadnt a clue what they were doing. Giving me wrong forms etc. Then work was giving me wrong forms too which didn't help! Eventually after an early start and a long wait in Marbella, I finally got it.

Next up I needed a new apartment. I selected Estepona due to its proximity to Marbella and Gibraltar. I knew there was great IT Opportunity on the rock as well as in Marbella. I wanted to be in reach of both in case things didnt work out in the new job. I took on an 11 month long term rental in a fantastic apartment over looking the marina.

I remember getting my first pay into my Spanish bank account that I had opened. Wow it was amazing seeing that there. After just 2 months of landing, I was earning money to stay afloat on the coast. Instead of digging into my ever dwindling savings.

My insurance money from my car in the UK came thorugh, so I went and bought a car. I got a nice one which hasnt caused me any trouble what so ever.

As time went on, the job was going fine. It was long hours. But I had perhaps the best summer of my life. I was socialising well with people whom I perhaps wouldnt have done before. I was always very closed and shy before. But this place enabled me to overcome personal barriers and become far more confident and open minded to new ways of life. I even met another girl who came to live with me. I was getting calls at 10pm at night from people wanting me to go out. Wow! I was popular! That never happend in the UK!

Yeah I partied hard, got drunk many more times than I perhaps should have done. I also went to a lot of festivities, events and ferias over the summer. But for the first time ever, I was able to go out a lot and not over spend. Living costs were so much lower than the UK. Basically just paying my rent and fuel. So plenty of spending money left over.

4 months after landing, I had decided that I was to stay here for the foreseeable future. So drove my car back to the UK to collect the rest of my belongings. I had literally been living off what was in my suitcase for the past few months. I was extremely excited to go back to England. This worried me somewhat. But amusingly from the moment I drove off the ferry, back into the miserable grey rainy clouds. I realised I had moved to a far better place.

It was a strange feeling being back. Having driven for 30 hours, Spain suddenly felt like a very long way away. As I knew I had to make the return journey. Being back home was strange. The UK was just recovering from the worst floods they had ever had. It was cold, it was dark and gloomy. I had literally just experienced 4 months of almost solid sunshine. I remember going into a cafe to draw some money out of a cash machine they had in there, and saw this young lad (dare I say chav) in there stinking of beer and kicking a fruit machine and calling it a "f'in d*ck head" in that horrible rough yorkshire accent I had not heard in a while. As I stood next to him at the ATM, glowing with spanish sun. I couldnt help but feel a sense of betterness. He's there smelling of booze at 10am on a saturday morning, bitter having just lost his last pound on a fruit machine. Where as I had a life next to blue seas, great bars, amazing restuarants, an amazing apartment and I could afford it all because I had a good job.

I returned to Spain with a car only half full of my belongings. I expected to bring back so much more. But when I got home to get my stuff. I found myself not wanting most of it anymore. I had truely moved on.

It was just before Christmas. Suddenly the sun wasn't as strong anymore. It was getting dark early, it started feeling cool outside. Things took a bad turn. Some complicated issues arose with the new girlfriend. Feelings I thought I had suddenly were not there. We split up but still live with each other, but just as friends.
Out of the blue, I suddenly got a bad report at work. Telling me that my performance was poor and they nearly didnt renew my contract. I couldnt understand the problem was, seeing as my line managers were full of nothing but praise for me. But for some reason the directors were not happy. It was all a mind game, to get me to take on a new roll, under the guise of a second chance. It was an experimental roll for a new arm of the business that they didnt know was going to work or not. I was suddenly an easy target to be got rid of if it didnt work out. I had come this far. I was not going to let some corrupt directors ruin everything I had achieved in coming to Spain.

I went back to the UK for Christmas and had a great time with all the family. It was great to see them all again. For some reason the UK didnt feel particularly cold and dark this time. This was because things had also gone grey on the Costa Del Sol.

After Christmas, I returned to Spain, not looking forward to going back to work and being in this new department as I would be away from my friends and colegues I had gotten used to working with. People were getting sacked, laid off, or leaving out of disputes. Things were very bad at work. Despite being in a new department. I wasnt very busy and such was worried when my time would be coming.

However, I was to hatch a cunning plan. One that was set up before I even landed.... THE ROCK!!! I got up one morning, and looked out over my balcony to the rock of Gibraltar. It was gleaming in the distance with the easterly sun shining on its white face. My CV went out there in the hope of being lucky again and getting a new job.

It wasnt to become easy. I got a job interview within a couple of weeks. However it also turned out that my best friend (whom had got laid off at the previous job) also had an interview there as well! Oh yikes! He needed the job more than I did! OK things are bad at work. But at least Im getting money where as he wasn't. I would have hated it to ruin our friendship. However, everything was good. We agreed that whoever gets it was buying the beers for the other one and we would have a night out to celebrate. We hadnt had a good night out for a while with things going downhill.

We both went for Interview, I snuck out of work and went there. The interview seemed to go well. The job was what I was wanting, and I was intrigued at the idea of working in one country but living in another. My friend to was feeling quite confident. But we both said that we'd be very happy for each other whoever got it.
Time passed. Time dragged! But still no word. Maybe they were trying to get us both in? Maybe we were both as good as each other? Then the day came. I got a phone call.....
..... Congratulations! I heard! I was succesfull, my friend sadly not.

Everything was good though, we had a night out (on my expense!) and he found another job some time later.

A new chapter of life was born. I said adios to the old company and instead of driving east to work. I started driving and cycling west.
Everything was good again.

11 months since landing, and the tenancy agreement on the apartment was running out. But problem. They want to put the rent up! I had been eyeing up an alternative place to live, slightly closer to Gibraltar. So took a new apartment there and get the keys on Saturday! That was a tough decision as its in a bad location for the girl I live with as she doesn't drive. But we have worked it out.

So that is pretty much how the first year of my life went in Spain. Despite a few problems, I made it through. I feel settled here. I forget Im even abroad now. I remember those feelings I would get as I was driving on the right hand side of the road down the N340. The sea at the side of me. I was thinking.. Oooh my gosh! Im in Spain!!! What the hell am I doing? I generaly dont get that now. Im living here, its feels like home. Im due anothe trip back to the UK in a couple of weeks. Im looking forward to it lots. It would be great to see everyone again. But i know I'll be straight back here continuing with life.

To say things couldnt have gone better would be slightly inaccurate. However, after reading about how things can go wrong for people who moved out here. I feel I have been very fortunate. Luck has been in my side. I have been lucky enough to have found work so easy on both accounts and to have met a great bunch of people who have become friends. It took some initial money to get sorted out here and some determination. I won't say it was easy. Though I found it easier than I thought it would be! Things just fell into place! Maybe that was down to the preperation.

Have I changed? Yes. Ive done stuff in Spain I never thought i'd do. Ive tried new things, accepted people and places. I broadened my horizons and opened my mind to new possibilities. I have hopefully become a better person as a result. This whole venture wasnt just about moving somewhere warmer and having a better quality of life. It was about overcoming some personal barriers and acomplishing something. The fact I got myself comfortably living in Spain gives me a sense of pride and I now feel like I could achieve anything I set my mind to.

I have met people I would have never have met before. Its amusing to think that I didnt know anyone who is in my life now this time last year. And they didnt know me. But i feel like ive known them years.

I never planned to be here permanently. Initially it was an open visit which would have lasted 3 months or until I ran out of money. But everything just worked out. I never set myself in stone anywhere. I ensured I was really flexible. By doing a short term rent to start with and hiring a car. I would have accepted a job from Tarifa to Nerja, it would not have mattered.

The weather is warming up again now and Im looking forward to another great long hot summer!

Rosemary

Well done Andrew, a real success story. So great to read that you have gained so much confidence along the way and that moving to Spain has allowed you to find your hidden strengths.

Best of luck for the future.

Rosemary

Same Difference

I really enjoyed reading your post Andrew You sound settled and happy, I hope the next year is even better for you now you are set up in your life here in Spain.

cafeconleche

That's a great post Andrew, really enjoyed reading it, thanks for sharing your experiences. All the best for your next year of adventures

jackytoo

Thanks for that, you have a good attitude. Good luck for the future

rugbymatt

Well done Andrew, as well you know I often use you as an example to newbies on here that things can work so long as you are bold and brave and don't mind getting stuck in.


I hope we eventually meet up Andrew, because the first round is on me.

Lionda

Andrew What can I say but WELL DONE When you first posted on here you were excited yet aprehensive about your move. Now you seem so full of confidence Your post has been a pleasure to read, I hope that everything runs smoothly for you in the coming year. You don't need romantic entanglements just have some fun And please - keep posting

Splatt

Fantastic, glad to hear you've settled in and landed on your feet. There will no doubt have been detractors and pessimists along the way but you have proved them wrong and got it right! I wish every thread on here was as positive!

I wish you many years of happiness and prosperity, and I just hope that next december, 1 year on for me, I can report being as content as you.

Nice one fella!

Ste.

twyntub

Absolutely brilliant! Well done!

Your story before you came over was a bit of a roller coaster... especially the crash! We were all anxious for you then and we're all delighted now that you've had such a great first year.

Sam Greenfield

Im so pleased everything has worked out for you now - there were some rough times for you but im so pleased you have come out of the other side and are happy with your lot.
You are an inspiration to us others who have not yet made the move - keep inspiring us chick and enjoy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ScotinSpain

What a great, and positive, post. You have proved that changing your life can be fun and dispelled some of the doom merchants on here. I truly hope your second year as is fruitful as the first.

Thanks for restoring my faith in expats. Karma on it's way

teddy14

this is inspiring, Im moving over in a month, and hope that in 13months time Ill be able to write a similar post.

SueG

I am so pleased for you - have watched all your trials and tribulations along the way

lmj50

Andrew
An excellent post so glad you had the guts to do it, and hope things will continue in the same way.. Enjoy your life.
LMJ

Spanish John

Nice one Andrew,a good example for others to follow.Your location puts you in the UK-I think you are definitely in Spain now mate....
John