long term rental

[sharron walker]

Hi, my name is Sharron im an Australia and planning to move to Spain for a period of time with my family. I want to work with Spanish cooks and learn as much as possible. We are rural people so do not want to be in the cities but would like to be near the sea. Can anyone give me help in finding accommodation and some idea of what I would expect to pay per week? All the accommodation on the net I have seen thus far is very expensive and aimed at the tourist. confused:

[chris(madrid)]

Sharon - depends where in Spain too. Certain regions are more "famed" for their cuisine than others. Oddly some of these are also not the BIG international expat/turist areas.

Take into account that the service industries here are NOT well paid on the whole. And you may get a bit of a shock when you see restaurant/kitchen opening hours. To get CHEAP accomodation you may need to think of LONG TERM lets.

Opinion here suggests that with the house-purchase market faltering - the rental market may open up.

In your case - I think I'd start talking to the larger Spanish HOTEL chains.

How's your Spanish?

[sharron walker]

Thanks Chris, Im under no illusions as to the rate of pay that I may obtain. I would like to earn enough to cover basic living costs. However, my primary interest is to work with as many good cooks as possible weather they be a homemaker or a fine chef. Im not interested in the larger companies but may need to accept what ever comes. As I mentioned I am from farming background, so popular tourist spots don’t interest me. From what I have read t thus far the agriculture and hence the cuisine changes through out Spain Im in love before I get there! My spanish is non existent im hopping an honest heart and good smile will get me started. I have looked at tacking short language course before I leave.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by sharron walker

Thanks Chris, Im under no illusions as to the rate of pay that I may obtain. I would like to earn enough to cover basic living costs. However, my primary interest is to work with as many good cooks as possible weather they be a homemaker or a fine chef. Im not interested in the larger companies but may need to accept what ever comes. As I mentioned I am from farming background, so popular tourist spots don’t interest me. From what I have read t thus far the agriculture and hence the cuisine changes through out Spain Im in love before I get there! My spanish is non existent im hopping an honest heart and good smile will get me started. I have looked at tacking short language course before I leave.

Hiya, please dont think I am being overly negative, but you have to think about this logically

You have non existent Spanish, and you dont want to work in a popular touristy area, and you want to be a chef. I'm afraid an honest heart and a good smile is not going to get you very far here. In the non touristy areas inland, small spanish restaurants aren't going to be too interested in hiring an english speaking chef ... many are run by families, and many just about make a living.

You may have to take whatever you can get IN the touristy areas to get started in what will be a very seasonal environment. I'm not sure it will be easy, but good luck to you

[sharron walker]

Thanks but im already a chef I believe that a language is best learnt in the country of origin and in the mean time the universal language of pleasantness overcomes many obstacles. I’m aware that most jobs are in the high tourist areas but I want to live among the rural people and learn from them. Earning money is not my primary concern. Thanks again if you have any information about accommodation, which is my question, please let me know.

[Bevdeforges]

Not to knock this too far off topic, but have you looked into the visa issue yet? I know it can be difficult for an Australian to get a working visa for France, and I suspect Spain may have some restrictions of its own for non-EU folks looking for chef jobs.

Your ability to bring your family with you may well depend on your finding a job - and even then, there may be restrictions on your accompanying family members working.

Not trying to rain on your parade, but the visa issue is one of those things that can literally be a show-stopper if you aren't aware of the restrictions you'll be working under.
Cheers,
Bev

[sharron walker]

Wow girls could it be that my family are eligible for EU citizenship. Yes, you assume that us aussies are totally stupid!

[chris(madrid)]

Sharron

I fully agree that the best place to learn Spanish is Spain. I learnt it thus - but I did have the tiny advantage that I married a Spaniard (with a job) plus was on full severance german pay for 7 months.

BUT as Strav has pointed out - in Small restaurants the working language is SPANISH and moreover not necesarily "pure" castillian either. The "universal language of pleasantness" will not win over many small businesses here. Not amongst the small business owners I know. Not with HUNDREDS of South Americans (and other Spanish speakers) looking for the same sort of work. Work is scarce right now ANYWHERE rural since the construction market collapsed. So nobody has cash to spare for restuarants - Alot are talking of closing.

My wifes aunt was a house-cook for a rich Spanish family. She's an excellent cook but you'd need fluent Spanish skills. My mum in law is also a good cook, but she'd not even be able to write things down as she never went to school. And her version of Spanish is VERY rural.

I know a small restaurant close to me where alot of the staff are Romanian - but whilst the owners (Spanish) are friends of ours - I'd not relish working for them. At least one (a chef) relies fairly heavily on the translation skills of a waitress.

Hence my thoughts about large-ish SPANISH hotel chains. Then there's a possibility that at least some of the staff can speak English - plus you maybe able to do a deal on accomodation. Also there's more likely a chance for your children too. Sol-Melia as an example.

I'd think one way MAY be to contact the Consul/embassy in Aust. I've just been looking at the officialpage of the region of Asturias (an example of rural life and good food) . But it's all in Spanish.

I wish you well - but I think you may need to redefine things.

[sharron walker]

Thanks Chris, maybe I can learn from your in-laws heheh. I think I need to remove some info from my post as it seems to have invoked unnecessary concerns. I’m not afraid of things not being as one expects as life is an adventure. But I try and lean a little Spanish before I leave. One of my daughters will be qualified to teach English. And the pay is not the issue here its my desire to understand the flavors of Spain.
Regards Sharron

[jojo]

Originally Posted by sharron walker

Hi, my name is Sharron im an Australia and planning to move to Spain for a period of time with my family. I want to work with Spanish cooks and learn as much as possible. We are rural people so do not want to be in the cities but would like to be near the sea. Can anyone give me help in finding accommodation and some idea of what I would expect to pay per week? All the accommodation on the net I have seen thus far is very expensive and aimed at the tourist. confused:

Rentals depend on areas and what you're looking for. I think bottom end of the scale would be a small one room cottage or apartment and in my part of Andalucia, inland a bit and up in the mountains you could expect to pay around 500 euros a month for an 11 month rental. The further inland you go the cheaper - maybe??

Not sure about restaurants, most bars/ventas that are for the spanish tend to just serve tappas which I believe alot of them buy in from larger companies. Even the restaurants for the Spanish people tend to serve a fair ammount of chicken and chips these days!. in fact I would venture to suggest it IS the tourist areas where you're more likely to find typical spanish fayre!!???

That said, I have only lived in Spain for 4 months and havent experienced anywhere other than my immediate area so far!! Why dont you come over for an extended holiday and have a look round???

Jo