Jobs and residency visas being very hard to come by at the moment, you might want to consider some sort of volunteer scheme in order to "soak up the culture".

For example Find host families and organizations as a volunteer, for gap year, work and travel. Spain

Basically you get free board and lodging in exchange for 5 hours work a day. You can make a daisy-chain and move round the country, seeing new places and meeting new people. I have met quite a few young Americans doing this. You can stay up to 90 days on a tourist visa and you don't need a work permit.

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Read about life in the pueblo: La Vida Alcalaina

Why is it that the majority of people who first post on this thread, and receive nothing but warm welcomes, rarely become regular posters?

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“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”

Hi Jojo - thank you very much for your 'double clap' welcome here! Sorry for not responding before - have been busy catching up with so many threads!

Well, a long time ago, I was here for a short while as 'Giritana' (mis-spelt, but I was new in Andalucia where I'd heard the term 'Guiri' for the first time - but had no idea how to write it correctly!).

In fact, once I'd re-registered on the forum,, with my new user- name and password - I then recalled my previously forgotten details, quite typically! But, I've chosen to stick with my new incarnation, regardless - somehow 'Guapachica' is so much more me, lol!!!

So now, I'm really looking forward to joining in with the discussions and info. sharing - Spain's a fascinating,diverse and complex country - I love discovering new aspects and insights via this forum. I hope you and your family will be returning this Winter, as you hope - and that it's not nearly so cold as last year!

GCxx

Look forward to reading your comments. Good to hear that you're enjoying Spain. I'd be interested to hear about your early experiences and impressions of Spain. Why not open a thread??!

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“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”

Hi,
My name is Ann and I have been living on our small hobby farm near Coín with my partner for 10 years since we took early retirement.
This seems like a nice friendly forum with some interesting topics.

I see you've already been joining in - enjoy

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Hi All!

Name is Jose and I am Spanish. Sorry to intrude!! lol! - After living in the UK for over 22 years, we (me and Mark) have moved back to Spain, we live in (or near) Gandia and I am hoping to get to know you all. Mark is English from Hull (no jokes please! lol!) and I am from Pamplona and that's where my family live, but we thought about living in Valencia as it is 'close' enough from them but not too close!

We are at the moment relaxing and doing lots of beaching and gardening, but I am hoping to find a job soon enough as I can't really do 'nothing' all day long. If anyone is near Gandia/Oliva, feel free to PM and we can meet up. It is pretty difficult to make friends here when we don't really know anybody in the area.

Kiss Kiss

Greetings all, my wife and i have returned to spain and are living in Alhaurin el Grande now, We lived in Otivar and Motril in 2004 - 2006 but went back to the UK for our kids high school as he was struggling here. We still have our youngest with us now tho ( and he is going to go to high school here too)
Just wanting to say hi to you all and if any of you are in Alhaurin el Grande ( and i know there is a couple here) then give me a shout and we can meet up for a cuppy or beer or whatever you do....can use some info on the area, like where people go to mingle. We are not fluent in spanish but can get by and hold a conversation, mind you... we were very surprised at everyone replying to us in english, that NEVEr happened in Otivar lol

Hi all. I moved out to Spain for work from Edinburgh with my wife and two kids nearly a year ago but have only just stumbled across your forum (which seems excellent). We are living in Tudela, Navarra and (mostly) enjoying our new life in Spain very much. I´ll looking forward to checking in regularly.

I don't know if this forum is still in use as there haven't been any posts in a while.

My name is Naomi and I have just moved to Alcala de Henares. I am going to be a masters student. I thought I would post on this site to see if there is anyone who felt the same way as me. I have moved over here alone and I love the area. But I am enormously homesick. I do not speak brilliant Spanish and I struggle in this area for hat reason. I do not want to go home, but I want home to come out here.

Feel free to get in touch - would be nice to have a friend