You've moved to Spain......

[XTreme]

.....so what have you done for Spain in terms of your local Spanish community?

Have you contributed anything back to the community? Made a difference to people's lives? Changed things for the better? Plan to do something in the future?

I'm sure many people would be interested in things you've done.....as it certainly would help others to follow a similar path in integrating.

[jojo]

oh!!! now you´re making me feel guilty!! I do tidy up around the bins when I go there? and I frequent the local shop and bar to help our local economy???

Jo xxx

[anles]

Well having lived here for around 35 years, I imagine I have contributed a little to my local community. I pay into the system, have raised four beautiful children... that's some contribution eh! But being part of your community is life here, nowt to brag about. It's what life is about, you try to be a good neighbour, a good friend, a good parent, a good citizen and have fun along the way. Living in society is give and take... but you don't think look what I have done, aren't I good. If what you contribute is for self gratification, then it's not worth much.
Or maybe I'm just a very privileged person, I live in a tiny typical noisy Spanish flat, but have wonderful neighbours. I live in tiny town where the kids have free activities all through the summer, teenagers look after tots, whole families and friends party together, where I leave my car inevitably unlocked cos my old one hadn't locked for the past two years and it's still there next day, I work in an even smaller office in a small town where every day ex-clients who are now dear friends come for a chat, a coffee, to put up a notice or to drop me some eggs or a lettuce, to ask a small favour; when I go out for a cofffee, my office is open, my handbag is there and the only danger is getting told off by the taxidriver cos the phone rang twice while I was out or I come back to find I have missed a kind visitor who has dropped off a couple of English books for me. Yeah... life's tough in Spain, I earn about 800€ a month cos I do private teaching and courses after I finish full time work and I still have two girls at school who live with me. I haven't been back to the UK for 10 years, only five times in 35 years, I don't have holidays and we can't buy custard powder or gravy here but I have a wonderful life, I have a lot of wonderful people in my life and every day I have at least one magical moment when I think, wow... some days it could just be that first cup of coffee at work 'cos when I get to work every morning my boss has my cup of coffee waiting on my desk!
So I would be hard put to actually say what I do for my community, I imagine I do hundreds of little things each day like I do for my family, my friends, my clients, other people's clients cos people have told them to ask me, but I don't even notice. But whatever it is, it must be OK, and I dunno if it makes much of a difference to other people's lives, but it sure does to mine.

[Normatheexdiva]

Just to add a little point..Ms Jones, you have made an awful lot of people's move over here much easier with your knowledge, perfect Spanish and Galego and your generosity.
We never forget that - and do you know - we never lock our car either AND it only cost 10euros to change that part!
Quite right about the give and take. Yoghourt all round (it's the 'in' foodstuff right now thanks to a neighbour's drying up cows).
hugs
xxxxxx

[anles]

Normatheexdiva and her family are a perfect example some of the wonderful people in my life, friendship is a real treasure and the yoghurt is out of this world!! Who needs custard and gravy
hugs xxxx

[XTreme]

Considering there's been so many new people joining lately I'm surprised there's been so few responses.
Cos I was thinking along the lines of charity work, services to the community, volunteer work etc.
Does nobody get involved in anything like that here? Any suggestions as to things people can participate in.....because in my experience there's a lot of Brits with an awful lot of time on their hands.

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by XTreme

Considering there's been so many new people joining lately I'm surprised there's been so few responses.
Cos I was thinking along the lines of charity work, services to the community, volunteer work etc.
Does nobody get involved in anything like that here? Any suggestions as to things people can participate in.....because in my experience there's a lot of Brits with an awful lot of time on their hands.

I translate for a NGO called PLAN (advertise advertise) Iker Casillas from Real Madrid does a lot on their behalf - you may have seen their ads with him, but it isn't involved in the Spanish community.

I know exactly what anles means about family and friends, but perhaps we should get out there more...

[Chica]

I've contrbuted to the spanish forum

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Chica

I've contrbuted to the spanish forum

yes!!! me too!! this is my contribution to the community!! Thats not what you meant tho is it Xt!

Does anyone do any proper charity work tho?? I know you kinda do stuff like that with your donkeys and boars Xt, I´m not sure many others do here tho?? I took in a Campo puppy??

I think Steve Hall does some work for homeless children or summat, well he did before he left Spain and went to live in Sweden??

Jo xxx

[XTreme]

Originally Posted by jojo

I know you kinda do stuff like that with your donkeys and boars Xt, I´m not sure many others do here tho?? I took in a Campo puppy??

I think Steve Hall does some work for homeless children or summat, well he did before he left Spain and went to live in Sweden??

Jo xxx

That's not charity work though Jo.....that's just caring for our own animals.

I didn't know Steve works with homeless children though....what a good cause. Respect to him!