Art Is Boring for the Same Reason We Stayed in Vietnam

By Nick Anders, disillusioned expat in Spain.

Thinking of living in Spain?

Maybe hate is too strong a give-and-take but ok so I dislike Spain, I've had enough, get me out of here – whatever your choice, the end result is the same. I'chiliad leaving Spain to go back to the Britain.

I'm not the just 1 who now hates Kingdom of spain. It's a fleck similar the thin line between beloved and hate.

I moved to Spain to outset a new life and at showtime I loved information technology but now I detest Spain and can't wait to get out.

So you want to know what it is like living in Espana? Here goes!

There are lots of downsides to living in Spain and I just didn't know virtually these when I moved to Espana.

I'll tell you why living in Spain is bad, I'll listing the problems and give you insights into the biggest mistakes expats make.

I've been living in Nerja which is a littoral town with nice sandy embankment on the Costa del Sol of Spain, I won't bore you with my tales of woe but I wanted to write this to let off some steam simply also to warn anyone thinking of moving to Spain to be very careful.

At least move to Espana with your eyes wide open – aware of all the negatives about living in Espana.

An expats life in Kingdom of spain can exist really hard, a abiding struggle, brand sure you are prepared for all of this because y'all oasis't seen annihilation like this on A Place In The Lord's day and nobody involved in the belongings/estate agent business will ever warn you of the downsides and disadvantages to moving and living in Spain.

Note from Spain Made Simple Admin – © Please respect our copyright. Yes we do allow this article or excerpts to exist repurposed or republished but we practise ask that you credit us by linking dorsum to our website, thanks.

Reasons I Now Detest Kingdom of spain and Want To Movement Dorsum to the U.k.

Criminal offense in Spain

I felt safe in Espana when I first emigrated and moved hither. I didn't encounter whatsoever crime, people were friendly, I idea law-breaking hardly existed hither.

Until I plant out that often when people are burgled in Espana they are bound and gagged. The luckier ones are gassed. Even houses with dogs – and have you noticed how many people accept big dogs – yes at present I become it – go hit considering they toxicant the dogs.

No, I don't like living in fear and I'g sure the recession will only increase crime in Espana.

Trouble is Spain is very close to some very poor African countries and at that place are lots of poor immigrants, mostly illegal and from places such as Eastern Europe, South America and Morocco, who will do anything to survive.

Living and Working in Spain

I moved to Spain for a better life. I hate how I now work harder in Spain than I ever did in the UK. I moved to Espana with savings of £fifteen,000, now I have pretty much nada but the shirt on my dorsum.

I figured that with and then many expats living in Spain that at that place must be a parcel of potential new business opportunities or companies looking for staff. I was and then wrong!

I soon found out that jobs and opportunities in Kingdom of spain were few and far between apart from the obvious ones.

Fact – I detest villa cleaning, I hate cleaning pools, I detest working in confined until two am waiting for the terminal drunken expat to exit, I hate edifice work in the baking midday sun. I hate Spain!

The Word Manana

Similar anybody else, I thought this was a funny joke at starting time. Every time a person in Spain – whether Spanish or British let me downwardly I would grin and say manana like information technology was ok or normal. When I'm paying for a job I want information technology washed as promised – and on time – or am I mad for expecting this?

Customer Service in Spain

What I detest in Kingdom of spain is when I go into a shop and stand waiting while the assistant chats away to their friend or relative totally ignoring me and everyone else.

In this global economy you lot merely tin't run into the Spanish having a chance against the likes of American, British or Indian companies who are hungry and put customer service first.

There is NO customer service in Spain. Much of the fourth dimension you are served when people experience like it, you get little help and assistance and oft you lot are not even greeted at the counter – you lot greet them. It is similar you lot are doing them a favour by shopping there!

I hate getting annihilation done in Spain. Often I stop upwardly going to the local boondocks hall and being sent from i section to another where I am told alien communication. The paperwork and bureaucracy are horrendous. If you are coming to live in Spain bring a photocopier!

Getting Ripped Off in Kingdom of spain

I hate that people prey on each other in Spain. Everyone seems so desperate that getting cheated is a story every expat I know can tell. I personally put a €8,000 deposit down on an apartment and the estate agent did a runner with my cash. God knows where they are at present just I won't finish looking until I find them.

Other common expat stories are ones such every bit beingness sold a property that was really illegal, didn't have planning permissions etc and often the people had a Spanish lawyer so they were non cutting corners and they all the same have lost their life savings.

Corruption is a problem in Spain and often there are stories in the newspapers about local boondocks hall officials being involved in shady/illegal deals. Anything and I mean anything, can happen in Kingdom of spain.

When I first moved to Spain the currency was the Peseta. The cost of living in Spain was low as nigh nutrient and beverage was cheap compared to northern Europe. Then the Euro came in and it seemed everyone took the opportunity to enhance their prices – typical – now I remember it could actually be possible – no I'm sure it is – that Spain's cost of living is at present higher than the Great britain!

When I go back to the UK I notice sales, discounts. When I go shopping in Spain, despite a so-called recession I don't see shops dropping the prices, I don't run across special offers, I don't see much evidence of contest betwixt retailers. In my local supermarket when nutrient goes out of date they don't slash the price, instead, information technology stays on the shelf and so you lot have to be conscientious what you are buying.

Poor Roads/Facilities in Spain

I detest the lack of infrastructure in Kingdom of spain. The motorways/autoroutes are superb every bit a lot of EU coin has been given to Espana only locally our roads are terrible. The corporeality of tyres we go through because of holes in the road is ridiculous.

There is no drainage so when it rains heavily places become flooded and roads are washed away. Areas that used to soak up the water have been built on due to pure greed. The councils just don't seem to invest back into the community, instead the money collected from me in taxes is diddled upward – literally – by stunning firework displays that even Disney would exist proud of.

I wish I had never moved to Espana and I urge anyone else thinking of Spain seriously to consider my story, particularly any young families who I meet writing on the expat forums virtually how they tin't wait to move to Espana, how they are fed up with life in the Britain etc – you don't realise how lucky you take it! Don't fifty-fifty think of moving to Spain if you have no money – it is not the inexpensive place to live that it used to be – the cost of living in Spain continues to lucifer Britain levels.

What they don't read about are the thousands of immature families who accept moved to Spain and who would love to movement back to the Great britain, if they but could beget to as they have no money. Or the ones who have moved back already having realised their error in moving to Spain in the kickoff identify.

If you are thinking about selling up and moving to Espana then my communication is, if y'all really MUST try living in Spain and then don't sell your house in the UK, don't burn all your bridges, try live in Spain for 6 months or 1 year by renting a house for that length of time. Then you can truly decide and you can move dorsum to the UK or wherever you lot came from originally without ruining your life. Sorry to sound so negative! Adios!

Editor'southward note – This article is a reader'southward opinion of life in Spain, it is non shared by usa just it does represent the thinking of many people who currently live in Espana or of those who take afterward moved dorsum to their habitation country.

Nosotros are ever existence asked, is it good to live in Kingdom of spain? We do encourage you to carefully consider your decision in accelerate, living in Spain has both pros AND cons and you lot need to balance these out, judging what is almost important TO You lot in life. Recollect that many expats absolutely love living in Espana. Read some responses to Nick'south opinion below and in our comments department and please do share this article and like information technology on Facebook.

Earlier we get to some replies to Nick, we have a special section for those of you who yet desire to motility to Spain and accept not been put off so far! We get so many questions on where the all-time place is to move to and so nosotros comprehend some of the oftentimes asked questions for you beneath. Don't worry, most people dearest Spain!

Where is the all-time identify to alive in Spain (for expats) in 2022?

We simply cannot give you one town or city and tell you that is the best place to live in Spain because it does depend on your criteria and your likes and dislikes. We will withal be able to give yous some definite suggestions based on these preferences in the different sections beneath in which we narrow down the categories and nationalities of expats seeking to live in Spain on a permanent ground. In brusque, nosotros give yous all the pitfalls, pros and cons of living in different areas of Spain.

Many people ask questions such as what are the all-time places to live in Spain for 1 month, 2 months, 3 months or vi months etc. Basically, if yous are looking to live in Kingdom of spain for a brusque time but then we suggest a busy area such as ane of the cities or Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca where you lot tin experience as much in a brusk time frame as possible. The Costa del Sol would exist our selection – from here you tin visit many places such as Seville, Cordoba, Ronda, Marbella, Malaga, Granada etc. while enjoying the Andalucian way of life, beaches etc.

Where do virtually Uk expats live in Spain?

First, make the obvious option between living in areas full of expats (most are British) or for truly trying to integrate with the Spanish which usually means living away from the busy coasts. By busy nosotros mean Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and to a bottom extent as well Costa Almeria, Murcia and Costa Brava. If yous do wish to alive past the sea we suggest northern Spanish regions such as Galicia and Asturias (Costa Verde) or Costa Tropical, Costa del Azahar and Costa de la Luz.

Below we have a tabular array with statistics from 2020 showing the most popular 12 nationalities living in Espana. Non on that list are also large numbers of Germans (Costa Blanca), Irish (Lanzarote and Tenerife), Americans (Madrid and Barcelona) and Scandinavian countries such equally Kingdom of norway and Sweden (Costa Blanca). As you can see a lot of S Americans come to live in Espana, more often than not illegally. They come up from poor countries to try get a better way of life for themselves and their families back home, unfortunately these usually very friendly people are often looked down upon by the Castilian.

The population of Spain is 47,431,256 to exist exact or approximately 47 1000000 people (and ascent).

Country of Origin	Population
Spain	46,450,795
Morocco	935,089
Romania	578,228
Colombia	514,110
Ecuador	416,527
Venezuela	396,188
Argentine republic	293,037
Great britain	268,957
Peru	244,827
France	210,529
Prc	208,788
Dominican Republic	186,395

But actually y'all desire to be slightly inland. Prices drop equally shortly every bit yous get into the countryside. Expats (especially the British) are few and far between and you will have to speak Castilian, the locals volition appreciate whatsoever effort and will ordinarily be patient to you. We similar Extremadura, a beautiful 'undiscovered' region of Kingdom of spain. Or how most some of the inland areas such as the Jalon Valley on the Costa Blanca where you can attain the declension in 20-30 minutes but still feel part of the 'real' Espana? On the Costa del Sol you have similar villages such as Frigiliana and Benahavis (although there are plenty of expats in both).

Be conscientious to think about getting older. Equally idyllic equally a house in the countryside sounds, what near when you get older and maybe cannot drive? Public ship is often minimal in Spain. How far away is the nearest medical centre and supermarkets?

If you want to know the best places to live in Spain for British people or for expats then you lot want to be in areas that have international schools which attracts families. We suggest Costa Blanca towns such equally Javea, Moraira or Calpe, all are beautiful with not bad beaches. Benidorm if you want cheap food and beverage and nightlife. On the Costa del Sol you have Marbella, Malaga and Puerto Banus. The Costa del Sol is the wealthiest area attracting the rich and famous. The climate is the best of mainland Espana and you can even ski only two hours away at Sierra Nevada, perfect! The inland Andalucian towns and villages such as Ronda and Mijas Pueblo are very pretty. If you are looking for the best villages to live in Spain these are definitely upward there with the all-time.

What almost living on the Spanish Balearic islands such as Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca? They are lovely islands but you can get island fever where you want to become abroad and yous feel enclosed. You will be in fairly near proximity to tourist resorts so the isle will fill up in the summer months and potentially be overcrowded. We would prefer the mainland so we tin can jump in the car and explore dissimilar terrain and regions but that is our opinion.

What about living on the the Canary islands of Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote? Well similar to higher up but at least these islands take a consistent temperature all year round being situated off the coast of Africa. Even in summertime they tend to be around 25 degrees Celsius and in winter only a little less with days in January mostly having temperatures in the early twenties. They are however much less green and scenic than the Balearic islands and much of mainland Espana. Many expats choose these islands only do beware of getting isle/cabin fever.

Where is the safest identify to alive in Spain?Zoe Conlong wrote in to say: "I have lived in Spain for over 21 years. Inland is definitely the safest identify to be, the infrastructure is superb, locals are friendly, schools are excellent, even so, yous must be prepared to learn the linguistic communication and integrate! I alive in Ontinyent, 40,000 inhabitants approx."

Tony Burgess writes: "Brexit may scupper many Brits retirement plans."

Peter Brian Gillon recommends: "Benejuzar Alicante, we have a place there, so underrated, must admit my married woman and I wondered if nosotros'd made the right decision at outset, very few expats, not to be disrespectful merely that'due south what we wanted, now, non ane regret, Castilian locals so friendly and accommodating, we laugh trying our Spanish and they, their English, such a beautiful place surrounded by orange groves and neighbouring farmer supplies our oranges free after every ingather picked. Can't wait to go a permanent resident there."

What are the cheapest places to alive in Spain?

If you demand to get a task in Spain in order to survive, we take some bad news because you will have to live in the nigh expensive areas to live. Most jobs will be the major cities or in the populated Costas such as Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca. These are very developed areas filled with well-off foreigners and prices are usually higher than remote countryside areas with little English language-speaking people.

If you are a retiree with a selection of living anywhere in Spain then yous need to seriously await at the lowest cost of living. We have a whole page on where is the best place to retire in Kingdom of spain. If you nevertheless desire to live by the sea Espana has an awful lot of coastline and then yous can easily avert the Costa del Sol, and Costa Blanca.

How about northern 'green' Spain such as Galicia which has wonderful cities such every bit Santiago de Compostela. It is however the wettest region of Kingdom of spain but information technology is inexpensive for belongings and eating out. We also similar the coastal cities of Santander and San Sebastian on the northern coast of Kingdom of spain.

What are the all-time cities to motion to in Spain?

If you are going to move to a city and so surely yous should live in the biggest busiest cities such as Madrid and Valencia in our opinion. The 3rd biggest metropolis is Valencia but that is like a small town when compared to the big two.

So which one?

Reasons to move to and alive in Madrid would be the civilisation as it has 3 major art museums and the nightlife is vibrant. The uppercase city tin, however, exist freezing in winter and baking hot in Baronial when virtually residents leave for the coast, which is a long-distance away.

Our choice for the best city to live in Espana would be Barcelona because it is every bit large as Madrid but it has more tourist attractions and arguably a more mixed and vibrant expat scene. It is literally by the beach and close to mountains (the Pyrenees) for skiing.

Living in Spain in the Winter

For many people, particularly pensioners, Espana is the ideal identify to choose when looking to escape the nippy United kingdom winters. Information technology is arguable that the Canary Islands are the all-time destination to spend your time in given that they're located so much further South than Spain'due south mainland. If lucky, the coldest months of the year can get upwardly to 20 or 21 degrees Celsius, whereas if you lot cull to spend your time living in for example Madrid, you lot'd be dealing with cold x-12 temperature degrees at all-time. If you were assault choosing to retire or move to the mainland, the Costa del Sol coast is the way to go; you'd be enjoying 14-15 degree warm weather making sightseeing during the winter completely do-able while too benefiting from the smaller crowds.

Living in Spain during the wintertime doesn't crave a far-fetched budget. When looking for affordability too as the ideal temperature, Malaga has the all-time of both worlds. Being in Andalusia, its temperature is pleasant all yr effectually and long term rentals are admittedly reasonable. Malaga offers culture such as the famous Picasso museum, beautiful beaches and the close proximity of so many other amazing Costa del Sol destinations i can relish on a 24-hour interval out.

As mentioned previously, the Canary Islands attract many with its fantastic weather. Equally a event of lots of competition, long term rentals and lets on the islands are very affordable. The best and virtually price-effective of the islands are Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Due to their popularity, airlines have even increased their number of flights for Britons going out to the islands, which makes getting out at that place easier and cheaper as well.

What are the all-time places to alive in Kingdom of spain for Americans?

We accept pretty much answered the question in the department above considering the two biggest cities of Madrid and Barcelona have the largest American populations in Kingdom of spain and many big multinational companies have headquarters or offices hither which is ideal for getting work in Spain when you speak little Spanish.

Response From Silvia every bit a Spanish Expat in the UK!

I'd like to give my point of view as a Spanish expat in Britain.

The problem comes when yous motility to another country without enough information about the identify. When I came to Britain I spent months searching information nigh the country and its people. Because I actually wanted to fit in. And I think a lot of British don't do that when they move out to Spain. They spent their holidays in Espana and they think they know the country. I had been in London earlier but I knew that it wasn't the aforementioned. The life as a tourist is totally different than the life as a denizen.

And, to exist honest, later all this time I don't know where I prefer to alive. There are bad and good thing in both countries. Merely I desire to focus in what you said in your post.

Jobs:

– Spain: Really?? Didn't you speak with a Castilian person before you moved to Espana?? Any Castilian had told you about the issues we accept in Espana with this. And it's not just nearly find a chore, it'southward when you become ane what conditions yous're going to take: low salary, a lot of extra unpaid hours, asshole managers….

– United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland: I'm graduated and I have several experience years in my sector only I was working for 2 years making sandwiches why?? Because my English wasn't expert enough. And when it improved, it took a lot of fourth dimension to have a better job, because I had feel but not in UK. And then I had (and I still accept) to fight for my opportunity. Because I have to bear witness I'm a improve option than a native or someone from another identify. I accept to fight against the topic "Spanish are lazy people thinking in annihilation but have siestas and consume paella"

villas-in-javea

I worked more than hours here than in Espana. 56 hours is just illegal in Spain…. the skillful thing is: UK they pay every single hour you piece of work.

A bad thing in United kingdom is when you lot get ill, for case. They don't pay you, fifty-fifty if yous had an accident at work and you're sick or injured because of it.

I remember I had to piece of work having a terrible influenza considering I couldn't afford stay at domicile. Another fourth dimension I cut my finger and so deeply with a pocketknife at piece of work and I had to continue working bleeding!!! Do you lot know how dangerous is that a ill person makes sandwiches for customers? But I, as many other people, had to do it considering we accept to pay our rent.

Criminal offense:

– Spain: It'south true, the crime in Spain increased lately because of the crisis. Yous have to watch your belongings because of the pickpockets. And obviously, when you're going to pay for something (as a deposit) you have to be sure you lot are giving the money to a formal agency. Scammers are in all the countries. But usually Spain is safe every bit the statistics say. We take a lot of constabulary patrolling the streets.

– Britain: One affair that surprised me almost UK it'southward that the windows of houses don't have grilles; the doors are made with wood and glass, easy to kick and open up. At first I idea it was because it was safer here, people aren't going to get in your house and steal your staff. But not….that wasn't the true. Your can be stolen at any time. Actually, at that place were 3 burglaries in my edifice in a year. And you could recollect "London is a place with a big amount of clearing, maybe that'due south the reason". Well, I have to say that the constabulary caught the thieves, and 2 of the 3 occasions, they were English.

Nearly the police, I don't see them, they don't patrol the street. They come up upwards when something happens, only they're not watching that nothing happen actually. So I can run into a lot of immature people offering weed in every corner of the high street. And the fights in the street are something normal every single weekend….

Mañana:

– Espana: I really don't believe someone doesn't make the job you lot're paying for. I merely don't believe it….In Spain there is something called: "consumo". If y'all paid for something and you don't receive it you have to go to consumo and they'll prepare it. Companies and cocky-employed don't want a penalty from consumo, that'due south for certain.

– UK: In UK, I worked in something related with construction, remodelling houses. You tin't imagine how many times I saw a piece of work unfinished or wrong done when the customer paid a lot of money for information technology, and he just didn't have what he paid. And yous cannot practise anything, considering in this country "consumo" doesn't exist. So if you lot desire your money back you have to accept that people to the court and spend a lot of money, and that is so unfair.
Another case, recently I moved to another house, and I was shaking because I recollect how difficult is here to get your internet supply. And I wasn't incorrect. I demand internet for work, I contracted i of the well-nigh expensive net providers and the instalation of optic fibre for that company was already washed in this business firm. Well….Information technology took for them i calendar month to come to my house to plug the router. According to them this was something only its staff could practice, so they weren't going to send me the router to plug it for myself. The existent reason was it charges me 10 pounds for the technical's visit and they told me it was an offer because normally it was 40 pounds…..come up on….

Customer service:

– Spain: that's true, customer service in Spain sucks. Information technology seems similar they are making you lot a favour….and it's something I hate grade Spain. Companies don't care about his employees, they pay a low bacon, employees work a lot of hours, some of them unpaid, and this has repercussions in customer services. Information technology's a compassion.

– Great britain: Normally, at to the lowest degree in London, the client service is adept. Except for GP and hospital receptionist; doctors and nurses are actually charming but the staff in the reception 90% of times are rude and impatient.

Getting ripped off:

– Kingdom of spain: The affair is I tin't speak about this in Spain, I don't have any experience and I don't know anyone that was in that situation, even my foreign friends. Perhaps considering I know the country and the language and it's difficult for them try to rip me off. I don't doubt that this happen as everywhere.

– Great britain: As in Spain I don't accept the feel to be ripped off in Britain, simply I know some people who do. They were cheated when they were trying to rent a apartment or a room. And this is something so usual in London. I read about that before I came here and it's for that I'g very conscientious when I want to rent something.
They main problem here are the landlord, you can be very careful but if you have a bad landlord it'due south hard to do something. And I lived and I heard terrified stories about some landlord and their houses.

Poor route/facilities.

– Espana: In this betoken, I totally disagree with you. I've driven in both countries and in many areas of them, and I have to say that Spanish road have a loftier quality if yous compare them with French republic ones or England ones. Obviously, y'all live in a village, yous can't await the aforementioned road in Madrid (vi one thousand thousand hab.) with Nerja (21.000 hab). Some local route to connect villages to each other or a village with a chief motorway could exist worst. Only the regime just cannot invest in the best road for every unmarried village in Espana, it's just impossible; it's a big country with a lot of small villages. I've travelled through Europe and I accept seen lots of villages with dirt roads instead of highways and that information technology doesn't happen in Spain, even in the smallest hamlet in the center of a mountain…

Nearly the floods, that is something so hard to set because of the ground. That area is not used to getting and then much water all of a sudden, and when it happens the ground can't take it, fifty-fifty if it has the best sewage system. Something like that happened some weeks ago in Paris, so imagine in a village. Simply information technology doesn't happen in the north of Spain for case, because the ground used to get lots of water equally in England.

– UK: Practice y'all know how many council tax I pay in London? Like 5 times what I used to pay in Spain. Patently information technology'southward not enough to fix the streets. Every unmarried tile in my street is not in its place, and then I see every day people fall in the street because of this. The streetlight in front of my house is broken for four months, I've called 3 times to the council and information technology's notwithstanding broken.

The sign indicating the name of the street, two streets abroad from mine, fell down a month agone and god knows when they're going to fix it.
And a special mention to the rubbish truck, which comes once every 2 weeks to accept the rubbish. I know this country is not hot and the rubbish doesn't smell as it does in hot countries only it brings rats and the foxes are fighting for the rubbish every dark. And I'll say the price we pay for the rubbish collection is far also inexpensive.
One good point, public transport is expensive but it works so well and I honey it.

I don't want to compare both countries, considering information technology doesn't make sense. They are just unlike, if you lot want to live in one of them you have to presume the change and be part of the community.

I love my land and I retrieve Spain have something special that everybody likes and I love England and I encounter special thing hither besides.

I know some Spanish and Italian people hither and they always say "I want to go back to Spain/Italy", and I don't take that feeling. When I'm hither in UK I miss Spain, the weather, my people, my food. And when I go to Spain, at first I'1000 happy, just then after a couple of days, I start to feel sad because I miss UK, I realized I miss the same things: the people, the food, even I miss the language.

The point is, my friends want to go dorsum because they didn't want to be part of the English culture, so they are fighting every day to keep their civilisation, to non modify annihilation. They idealize their countries and forget why they decided to leave information technology. And when they finally return, most of them realise it'southward not what they thought.

Is Spain a Adept or Bad Identify to Alive? Shirley Loves Living in Kingdom of spain!

Many people ask what are some of the best things near living in Kingdom of spain?

Beneath we have a response to the 'I Hate Spain' commodity from Shirley who has a house in Ontinyent:

"After reading your article from Nick from Nerja, I would await that you received many emails in reply.

I realise that life has become more difficult for many during this recession, and Britain is no different from Kingdom of spain. I don't know when Nick was in the Britain last, only around half the shops in our town in S Wales have closed down, and many families are struggling to get past after being made redundant. I work every bit an manor amanuensis, and nosotros are getting several repossessions every week and house prices are not increasing, as a lot of people believe.

I wonder if Nick learned to speak Spanish before he moved out to Spain, as I would imagine it is quite difficult to get work anywhere that y'all don't speak the language. He didn't say what work he did in the UK or in Kingdom of spain.

I have been learning Spanish for a few years now and wouldn't expect to get work in Spain, other than by working for Brits, doing things like cleaning apartments and pools. How would a Spaniard fare in U.k. getting work if he didn't speak English?

I feel that the Costa del Sol is probably a much different place to live than the Costa Blanca in many ways and I'one thousand not sure Nick is qualified to annotate on the Costa Blanca uncovered newsletter! One of the reasons we avoided the South of Spain was that it's closer to Africa and has more crime. I wonder how much enquiry Nick did before choosing an area to live in Spain.

We don't know whatever Brits in our area, although we don't alive there, and I don't kid myself that we could move out and make a practiced living, certainly not in this economic climate. I also think that moving out with just 15k savings is a very risky matter to exercise!

We have had no bad experiences of existence cheated by anyone, and have made some wonderful friends. I am always happy with the service I get in local shops and restaurants, although I do agree that certain things are more than complicated, like dealing with the quango etc.

But then at that place is no litter in our town, no discarded chewing glue stuck all over the pavements, and NO drunken louts fighting in boondocks on a Saturday nighttime out. My 21 year old daughter was recently assaulted on a night out in our dwelling town in Wales, and head-butted in the face, by a complete stranger, another girl, completely unprovoked while walking down the street with some friends.

As for Manana, when we went to buy some air conditioning in July from a small retailers, they turned upwards, equally agreed, the following day, and worked until late until the task was finished, which wasn't what we expected after all the stories nosotros heard!

We recently had a trouble with our internet in the U.k., and were told by our supplier that we needed a new modem, would accommodate an appointment for their technician to call to supplant information technology. We asked if they could send a replacement by post but were told no. They couldn't requite a specific time, just booked a morning time appointment between 8am and 12 noon.

My partner took a morning time off work to be there. No i turned upwards, and when he rang them, they said that there had been a fault in our area at the time of our complaint, so they had cancelled the appointment (without bothering to tell u.s.a.!) When he pointed out that it still wasn't working, they said they would send usa a new ane, which was what we originally asked for simply were refused!

I might also mention that our fuel bills at present are £threescore a month for electricity, £80 a month for gas (due to increase again before long), and £45 a calendar month for h2o. My council tax bill here £120 a month compared to 189 euros a YEAR in Spain."

Regards

Shirley

Linda Whitehead is Too Moving Back to the UK…

"Hello, I am merely commenting on the above writer's online report on his life in Spain. I retrieve he is so right and information technology is not at all uncommon amid expats. Here are some of the worst things aboutliving inKingdom of spain…

I myself had once dreamed nigh sunny Spain and couldn't believe information technology when my mum who already lived there told me its difficult to get jobs. Which is even worse now what with the recession.

Us Brits generally get the feeling that the Spanish practice non want united states here. Very often we hear them calling foreigners 'Giddies' and push through in the supermarkets.

Like so many people from the Uk, I was bored of the climate back habitation and wanted something heady. I didn't want to hear negative stories of Kingdom of spain back then. Simply now I capeesh what the UK has to offering. Information technology may not have the climate but it is a land that tin can stand on its own ii feet, economically. It has politically definiteness and is more often than not more of a 'frontwards' thinking state than Spain.

Needless to say, I am going dorsum abode to England for good this summer and it can't come quick enough.

Thanks for listening – Adios Espana."

Reasons Not to Alive in Spain past Rachel…

I have been living in Kingdom of spain for eight years, within the first 9 months of living here our business firm was robbed we had a Doberman at the time they threw tiles at him and kept him at bay with a pitch fork.

They practise call us "guiris" but we telephone call them "spiks" and nosotros are a easy target to be ripped off. They think that the girls are all drunken slags and a easy lay and English men do nothing merely cause trouble>

They believe we eat fried eggs, bacon and sausages for breakfast everyday and they swear down that our food is crap,

Nosotros as well got ripped off by the estate agents and lawyers being over-charged on the house price, deeds beingness lost and being charged twice for the aforementioned thing, then she buggered off to get a boob job and we never saw her over again.

Electric pecker is around 100 Euros a month and sometimes can reach 160 a month to "Shirley Who Does NOT detest Kingdom of spain!"

I speak fluent Spanish and I take no English friends in Kingdom of spain, I moved to a modest Castilian boondocks with my parents when I was 20, my parents even phone call me a plastic spik because my outlook on life and the style I alive is not that of a English language person, I take no job, in that location is no work at all, there are no opportunities to climb any ladder inside any company in Spain…

Most Castilian have moved out of Kingdom of spain. The only good affair almost knowing Castilian is that they know they can't rip you off… that you take been here for a while and you lot have some contacts up your sleeves, just and so again information technology's not only the Spanish that rip you off, it is the English who rip each other off which is even worse.

The client service in Spain is non-existent. When I was younger in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland I did a NVQ in customer service and I constitute information technology very hard at showtime to adapt to the manner you lot are treated here and I withal find it frustrating.

It was only two days ago I was forced to turn around and say to the shop banana "Tin you lot chat to your little mate after and serve me I've got things to exercise!" and the other thing that Castilian don't know what to do is queue in the right manner.

They are all over the place, you have to guess who is last or they will tell you lot if they think your pushing in, they don't open up doors, about of the time you tin run into a mother with a pram struggling to go in or out of a door and they just stand and stare. Or if yous practice help them yous get no thank you lot for information technology.

It is difficult to adapt to a culture that isn't familiar to that of your own. Every bit the years have passed I have adapted in a fashion to non take any observe to these faults which in my optics they are faults, but to a Castilian person they are not, it's merely the fashion they are. The town hall are time wasting, table humping thieving pen pushers.

Jay is Also Depressed in Spain

Nick Anders & Linda & Rachel you are spot on, I take lived in Spain since 2007 on and off then permanently since 2009. Nosotros bought a identify in Costa del Sol and since left that to rent another, as crime scary and was a chip remote and felt unsafe.

Nosotros had the artificial forceful gas men trying to gain entry to rip u.s.a. off, etc etc so we rented to exist nearer people and feel somewhat safer, I agree with Nick, just today as every 24-hour interval, in shops the Castilian seem to chatter to their colleagues, non even look at you, while you stand with your shopping, they do it to other Spanish too though not only us Guirres.

Castilian are nice though, if you can speak some Spanish it does make a divergence, but everything is such difficult piece of work, everything is washed the slowest, longest, way possible, costing fourth dimension and coin, no wonder information technology is in a land, not saying other countries are any better, I tin can't say, but what Nick, Linda and Rachel put is and so spot on!

It's non a bed of roses, it'southward a flaming headache at times, new laws all the time, anyway they can get money out of yous they will, I am told today if you bulldoze a Spanish automobile and take a UK licence yous are fined?? A solicitor here, a UK chap, told my son, plainly yous need a medical and have to utilize for a Spanish licence and if checked you could pay a fine and if you don't have the cash you tin be frog marched to the cash point.

It'due south all stuff like this all the time, yous go to a indicate you can't be bothered to go out in the car equally you don't know what's going on side by side.

Information technology was also my dream to move here and I accept never been so lonely in all my life, I am so depressed and I effort and snap out of information technology and it just doesn't get better, it's hard to make new friends unless you go to bars every night and drinkable similar a fish and I merely don't want to practise that, so it's a dismal existence…

Sammy From Murcia Writes In…

I can see both Nick and Shirly'due south point of view, but I'chiliad afraid I have to concur with Nick on this ane, Spain is going downhill and fast, much faster than England, I know the recession has hitting both countries badly simply at that place is no doubt that information technology has really taken it'south toll on Spain.

I live in Murcia and have done for 10 years with my parents and younger brother. I'm 20 almost 21 and my brother is xix we both went to school hither as children at the ages of 10 and xi and both speak Spanish fluently now most people retrieve that I am Spanish unless I inform them otherwise.

Information technology took me 3 years to speak fluent Castilian and in this time I was bullied badly by the Spanish just for being British, they would shout guiri as I walked by and insult me and tell me to go back to my ain country, my brother had a hard time coping with this and disliked school and then much that he dropped out early. I stuck it out and left at 18, got a chore as a instructor in the city pedagogy English at an academy.

Not bad, my employer is English language likewise. What I didn't know is whether you speak Spanish or not, makes no departure one time yous utilise for a task working with Castilian people and they encounter your documentation and discover you are really English, the job is then passed to anyone else providing they are Spanish.

Existence almost Spanish , having lived here x years i volition always exist a foreigner to them, no thing how skillful my Spanish and how Spanish I may wait, the job volition e'er be given to Castilian first.

Then I studied my whole teenage years (with a few English friends at school who subsequently left as they didn't similar living here and being classed as a foreigner and picked on constantly, while their parents struggled to notice work to keep them going)

I notice myself solitary most nights in or at work with the few friends I accept their, who are English as the Castilian don't tend to mix with the English too much not unless y'all are willing to pretend to be Spanish, apparel like them, swallow their food, socialize merely with Spanish, then they might accept you more or less, but never completely.

My parents have both struggled for work, since we arrived here my dad is a builder and my mum worked in England as a secretary to a doctor, hither we have tried cleaning jobs, private instruction in my surface area for little coin and unreliable students who do non even carp to band when they decide not to even evidence upwards most days.

There is no dubiety nigh information technology, if you are deciding to move to Espana, Exercise Non Educate YOUR CHILDREN HERE. The bullying drove most of my friends into a depression and breakdown earlier leaving. I accept to say it was not an piece of cake time, the only time it improved was when I was fluent in Spanish then my classmates would actually acknowledge me, yet I was withal the outsider, and was always treated as "impaired" or a "stupid english guiri" or as they like to say extranjera.

If you move to Spain and accept young children exist prepared for all of this as it will exist a very very hard time for your kids no matter what historic period they start school they will more than likely be bullied.

At the end of the day Spain is a lovely country with the sun and the laid back manner of life, simply one time yous scratch the surface, it is a holiday resort , that puts their own people first regardless of what any other person may have to offer, and life is definitely a lot more tougher than England here.

But hey, it'due south been an feel, mostly bad times simply some expert, I' thousand off to England soon to try and finally fit in!

Also may I add together we came to Espana with A LOT of coin, and all of information technology has now gone. The Spanish should be grateful for the amount of English language people that plowed their money into their economy. But no …

And Shirley, what is your plan, to stay in Spain and retire possibly without a pension ? or survive on piffling money? Who will look later you in your old age? What happens if the Euro crashes?

All I can say is practiced luck Shirley..

And I have read the other messages and am glad that you all hold more or less that Spain is non the place to be..

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I Detest Spain Folio Summary: This page features the story of Nick Anders who has become fed up and unhappy living in Spain and intends to return back to the UK. Nick's story is good reading for anyone thinking of moving to Spain.

Nosotros dear living in Kingdom of spain ourselves but we have agreed to post his article in the interests of fairness every bit most of his points have a degree of truth in them and at least they provide an antidote to the people who have a vested interest in telling you that moving to Spain is a bed of roses.

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