Thread: Crisis in Spain? Is it time to move back home?

Anyone who has just arrived in Spain or been living here finding life a little difficult, frustrating or if "living the dream" hasn´t happened for you yet or you need a little inspiration to live life to the full and enjoy Andalucia to the fullest degree, well I´ve got news for you! *Contact me!!*
It is there to be had and I am living proof! My Son was born in Malaga 24/05/2002 and was the best thing that ever happened to me! Everything else that I have done since has been an ongoing success with of course the occasional "rollercoaster ride", but all said, it was the best move in my life!
"Language", well of course I am originally from Manchester/Uk and having lived here since 1991, I can honestly say, I too have had my share of language difficulties and bureaucratic headaches, but there is one true fact I will leave you with for now; If you want to live in Spain/Andalucia, then learning the language and becoming as Spanish as viably possible would be the best advice anyone could give you! Adios for now and look forward to chatting with any members out there!!

Extranjeros will always be that no matter what they do, they are extremely unlikely to accepted as anything other than extranjeros and should not expect to be. BUT that does not mean they will not be accepted by some spanish people.


It is the same world over I believe.



Hello and welcome from inland Andalucia.

hi sandra,sorry to here this is how u are feeling right now.But hey there are so many positive ways you can look at this.Firstly gibraltar has so much to offer,spanish lessons at the college.also u need to get out there and meet people.I don't know where you are living in spain and how far away from gib,but try and go to spanish lessons ,maybe in spain if not in gib.I'm living about 20mins away from gib.If you don't know many people in spain it can make you feel abit lost.If you have such hobbies ,find out where you could follow them up. Once you have met different people with same interests as you ,live would be much better.Also you didn't say if you are working at moment,if not finding a job will get you out there!!.
kind regards samantha.

My name is actually Sandra but recently I find myself so lost that I thought I'd choose something along thos lines

My family and I moved to the Costa del Sol late last year. A full year has nearly passed and it seems that every day that goes by it will be harder to go back home and catch on where we left things and most scaring of all, everyday that goes by here in Spain.... Everything seems to get worse!

I don't want to sound too alarmed but I'm honestly really lost. Our Spanish is not so good yet so we haven't really been able to see or hear how the Spaniards are taking all this, but what seems clear to me is that its a tough time? Perhaps even time to move back home?

What's your experience?

Originally Posted by ValL

Extranjeros will always be that no matter what they do, they are extremely unlikely to accepted as anything other than extranjeros and should not expect to be. BUT that does not mean they will not be accepted by some spanish people.


It is the same world over I believe.

.

I think that "Incomers" don't have to be of a different nationality even. Where I lived in the UK, A 'Local' once said to me, " Do you know boy, every bl@@dy business in this town is run by Incomers". And they also said that you never became a local until you died there, and they meant it

Sandra
i'm very sorry to hear that you are already thinking of returning to Britain. Can I ask if you're a mum or a young person whose moved to Spain with her family?
Moving anywhere is traumatic but often more so to a country that the language and culture is alien to what you've been used to.
Saying all of this the world [with the help of the internet] has become a smaller place; and i am sure there are many people in similar circumstances to yourself.
However, forums like this one are there to offer help , guidance and even a listening ear especially if you end up meeting others who may actually live near you, and currently use this site.
As for being accepted; Spanairds may, after a while say 'Hola' to you but it is very unusual to be invited into there homes [this takes many years ]. Learning Spanish can take time but even a few words is better than nothing at all [listen to local radio stations; songs are sung slower , so often the pronunciations can be heard clearly and in no time at all you may even be singing in Spanish !!!!!
Best advice I can give is , don't give up, but if you decide to return to the UK look at this as a positive step and something you want to do, afterall you can always look back and say 'oh ! I lived in 2 countries recently, how about you ?'

Best of luck

Hi yes I live in the uk and the crime is getting worse. I have moved my 14 year old daughter to 3 different schools this year to make her happy. She is getting bullied due to gang culture. We visited spain in june this year and I was suprised and was impressed with the local ex pats community. They were totally different and were willing to help. One lady invited us to her barbeque. I have travelled many places in spain and yes the expats are lovely and supportive. I really can't wait to move over to spain next year. You really don't want to come back to the uk it is horrible and believe me there are not so many white English faces anymore. please forgive my typing I cut my finger open and everytime i touch the keys!!! Stay there we will be there soon Tracy

Originally Posted by Big Vern

Congratulations on your first year in Spain. We celebrated our first anniversary last night and my wife and I are very happy and certainly wouldn't contemplate moving back to the UK.

There is an economic crisis in pretty well every civilised country in the world at the moment and we can expect unemployment and inflation to rise in both the UK and Spain for a while yet. The euro/sterling exchange rate is also working against those of us who are on a fixed pension paid into a UK bank and I wouldn't expect it to return to normal for another 6 months yet. So yes - things are going to get tough here but.....

What you must ask yourself is why you moved here? We came for the fantastic climate (have you talked to anyone in the UK this year about their summer?!), the cheaper, healthier lifestyle (yes - the price of food is rising here, along with petrol, but so it is in the UK) and the more relaxed way of life.

I'm sure that Spaniards are finding life getting tougher now but it doesn't really change the fact that day-to-day life here is a lot better - fiestas aren't going to stop, you will still be able to buy a bottle of wine for €1 and enjoy eating out at lunchtimes for €8. Compare the price of taxing your car in the UK with Spain and think how much more Community Tax you would be paying to a local authority in the UK, TV licence, income tax, the tax on alcohol, VAT etc. etc.

...and how about crime? Every time I watch the UK news there are reports of more street stabbings and shootings. Life here in the north of the Costa Blanca anyway is virtually crime-free, apart from the odd break-in to a holiday home by someone of E. European descent.

Last time I went back to the UK in April, I was struck by how miserable everyone looked walking down the High St of my home town and how streesed everyone was. Here they are happy, have time to greet you when they pass you in the street and take time out to relax and enjoy themselves.

I would say - don't panic! I would rather ride out an economic crisis here than in the UK. Have an imaginary pair of scales in your mind and weigh up all the good things as well as the bad. Don't let the British media scare you - they love reporting bad news!

Originally Posted by country boy

I think that "Incomers" don't have to be of a different nationality even. Where I lived in the UK, A 'Local' once said to me, " Do you know boy, every bl@@dy business in this town is run by Incomers". And they also said that you never became a local until you died there, and they meant it

did you live in the same village as me in Scotland ? I know exactly what you mean country boy I was once told I could live there for 20 years and I would still be an incomer and that was being married to a local ..... real friendly place it was NOT I would rather live in a tent in the middle of nowhere than live in that place.

Without wishing to seem mawkish...Spain is all very well....IF you have someone to share it with here I feel.....very very lonely and somewhat pointless otherwise IMHO. And ftr, I don't necessarily mean 'romance'....close friendship and support are just as relevant.
Unattached women really do have the odds stacked against them ...from other women (married/attached) as well as men (predatory) and there's only so much conversation you can get from a dog!!!

TJ..don't you think that applies anywhere. Loneliness is a very personal thing. A few people thrive on it, but most human beings need companionship, it's the way we are made. I am sad that you are lonely but I don't think you can blame Spain particularly except that you are away from familiar customs and circumstances. Have you tried the internet...a very good friend of mine was deserted by his partner shortly after moving down here but has now found a tremendous lady friend through internet dating whom he has since married...he is very happy. There are lonely people everywhere , go seek!