I just wanted to write this for people who are thinking of coming to Spain to live the dream. I moved here last November with my husband to the barcelona area, we had an apartment here so rent wasnt an issue. I have lived in 3 other english speaking countries and though moving to Spain would be easy!!
Firstly the language situation was the hardest challange, even though my other half speaks Spanish fluently it was hard for me to just go out and buy the easiest of things and they speak catalan here too so it makes it harder!! I have gotten much better but it is daunting .
It took us 10 months to find work that would actually keep us, luckily we had the money to keep us that long.
But my hubby got a job that requires him to travel and could be gone for 6 weeks at a time, leaving me here to fend for myself, I have a small group of friends but its not like the support structure that I had at home. It has been a different picture than I imagined! I find it lonely here now.
Spain is still in a deep recession and people should remember that before coming here and trying to find work.
I want to stay here and make a life here but it will not be easy by any means!!
Please think carefully before you move here and make sure you have a good plan in place for all situations
Thanks for your post Irishgirl.
It's very difficult the moment to be positive with the current situation, especially when would-be expats are contemplating moves over here, especially with the unemployment situation, let alone settling down and dealing with the language, red tape etc. And we do try and see the positive side as well, but at times, well, it's difficult isn't it? I think the adjustment to living abroad takes far longer than we give it credit for....at the end of the day, it's life, not just an extended holiday, so you've got the authorities to deal with, schooling, work, property (rent or purchase?), banking and just everyday stuff like the school runs, cooking and cleaning!
Without a support structure to aleviate the stress, or just to have someone to have a good old whinge to, that can make it very hard.....them being now on the other end of the phone isn't quite the same, is it? Although my OH's side of the family surround us here, I miss my family and friends very much. And when you're down about that, it can knock your confidence so much, especially when you're attempting to find your feet and just get around the place, doing your everyday things. That "streetwiseness" you had back in the UK - knowing exactly who to call or write to or visit if there was an issue to deal with...that took a while - more than expected really - but I do love it here and now we're in our own home surrounded by our things, etc, it really feels like home now.
We have a friend in Barcelona, a short distance from the city centre (although she is from here in Galicia and spends a few months a year back here) and she's a feisty older lady! She refuses to speak in Catalan although she understands most of it. When she had to go to an appointment, the consultant attempted to speak to her in Catalan and her response was "either you do me the courtesy of speaking to me in Castellano, or I will respond in Gallego"!!:boxing: Bless her!! She got the results she wanted, but then, there is a strong empathy between Catalans, Gallegos, Basques etc (those in autonomous provinces with another language apart from the common Castellano and an apparent common ground in preserving their languages). Once the consulatant realised she was Gallega, his stance completely changed and spoke Castellano immediately. I had understood this to be the case with other country folk as well, and that their stubborness was directed purely at Castillian speakers - maybe things have changed and their recent concessions gained from Madrid has made them even more determined for everything to be in Catalan - I know that there is a struggle here at the moment, particularly with education - although here, it is clearly at political level and people generally are happy to communicate in whichever language suits the situation best, with even Galicians wondering why the powers that be are so adamant about enforcing Gallego - even to the questionable detriment of a child's linguistic progress at school.
Anyway, I hope things are starting to work out better for you - once you find your feet a bit more and we're always here for a chat and a moan, so we'll look forward to seeing you more on here hopefully. Let us know how you're getting on.:ranger:
Tallulah.x
