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If u don't like the country why you don't move to another country? If u not able to learn the Spanish language so it's ur problem. Do u think that all the words are speaking English and u gonna be served because ur are English person? If u choose to move to a new country u must learn the language, I really don't like what u saying
Im thinking of purchasing a property in Andalucia having listened to varios videos it sounds like day to day costs are going to amount to £2000 per month is this correct. Stephen Mulligan
I was very surprised as a Spaniard that it is mentioned both in the video and in the comments that there is this culture here that "everyone does their own thing" and I am even more surprised that these opinions (which I respect but do not share) come from people foreigners who call themselves expatriates. In the area where I live, which is the southeast coast and also on the Costa del Sol, there are hundreds of thousands of foreigners living, and many of them (especially those who come from English-speaking countries) are crowded into colonies in the form of housing estates where they literally They are in a “little Britain”. They have their supermarkets with products from their countries, English bars and restaurants and the majority do not speak Spanish despite having been here for decades. I do not complain about this, I respect that decision of isolation but in these circumstances they should not be in the position to judge the type of life that we Spaniards lead and which most of us love. And regarding opinions about the labor market, I am almost fifty years old, have few studies and have never lacked work nor have I ever had financial problems. Since I speak English, I have worked in an airport for more than 15 years and I have also lived in the United Kingdom. I spend 8 hours of my life e every day with European foreigners and I know them very well. And there in their countries there are also things that work poorly and they also have bad social habits. Let's be fair, and those who really cannot or do not want to adapt in Spain, just as they found the door open to enter, have it open to leave. and I don't say this out of sarcasm, simply as friendly advice since I myself would be the first to leave a place that didn't make me happy. Many times we set high expectations for a place and then when things go wrong we blame the country or the citizens, when perhaps the problem is within ourselves.
The reason foreigners stick together in what you call "colonies" - LOL, is because you people are just impossible to get along with. Arrogance, xenophobia, inconsiderateness, desperation for a sense of importance/authority, etc. All countries have their problems and bad people, but Spain is just on another level.
Well, the last part of your comment ruined all the excellent points that you made before "Let's be fair, and those who really cannot or do not want to adapt in Spain, just as they found the door open to enter, have it open to leave" Let's take in consideration that this is a foreigner leaving his life in Spain for good or bad. You also mentioned "foreigners" as a factor , well. In 2021, more Spaniards emigrated from Spain than immigrated to the country. in 2022, the same thing happened again, as in the previous year with around 141,000 Spaniards leaving Spain.
@@giggles8458 First of all, I don't think I've ruined anything by giving that example of open doors. One has the freedom to seek his happiness wherever he goes and just as he arrives at a place in search of happiness, it is totally understandable that he can leave that place if he does not find it. What you cannot do is blame a country and its people for being one way or another. It is the immigrant who has to adapt and not the other way around. An example is myself, I went to the United Kingdom with some goals and left there once they had been achieved. Never blame anyone for anything and try to integrate as quickly as possible. Regarding what you say about emigrants, your data doesn’t look very real to me , I pass on these data from the National Institute of Statistics: “The population of Spain increased by 34,110 people during 2021 and stood at 47,432,805 inhabitants as of January 1, 2022 The positive migration balance of 148,677 people offset the negative vegetative balance of 113,023 people Region of Murcia (0.63%), Comunitat Valenciana (0.50%) and the Canary Islands (0.36%) experienced the greatest population growth The resident population in Spain increased by 34,110 people during 2021 and It stood at 47,432,805 inhabitants as of January 1, 2022. After six consecutive years of growth, the population reaches a new maximum since beginning of the series.”
I am in the countryside in Alicante about 20 minutes from coast , lovely beaches, sunny again today. I find the Spanish very friendly that I know, I learnt Spanish at the official school of languages in Alicante. All my neighbours (5) are Spanish and give me figs and lemons. I give them almonds. Its what you are saying thats important, in whatever language. Some like to practice a bit of their English so I let them. I showed a boat to a broker yesterday and he was from the Punjab spoke Spanish perfectly. I prefer to speak Spanish and Im in Spain ! Off to the gym today mostly Spanish, some Romanians, Ruissians, Latvians, Ukrainians in big Unanizations. A mixture on the coast here. I prefer being here than Bournemouth England mainly because of the weather, people , food, better prices, wine, veg, historic churches etc. but also go back every few months.
Very rare to hear such honest comments from expats - exposing the elephant in the room. Normally, as regards UK expats, they defend Spain to the hilt - to a fault. Many of the ones I know have burned their bridges behind them in the uk (unintentionally) and cant afford to go back - so they slag of the UK and praise spain to high heaven. I have a holiday home in Spain but live in the UK and am totally fluent in Spanish (through learning and practicing hard). Im so embarrassed for the vast majority of my fellow brits in spain who simply cant be bothered to learn the lingo (even slightly). A great honest exposé of the reality of Spain's problems and shortcomings - that non-many expats will admit.
You make some valid points there. Maybe 'expats' who only ever praise Spain have never really had to look into any of it. You actually have to integrate a bit to be in a position to moan about stuff. I have kids in school and there are things that I like and things that I don't like about the education system. What I'm starting to realise is that stuff that affects me and my family doesn't just affect us but affects lots of families both Spanish and foreign. So I think we're are entitled to our opinions positive and negative and I will voice both. And local people will tell me if they agree or disagree and I get a bit of both but never anything nasty. I tend to find that as long as you're not too biased for one side or the other and try take a balanced view, a lot of people are actually pleased that you're taking an interest in the issues facing the country. And that's when people open up a bit and tell you what they think as well. And that's where the language really comes into play, e.g. can you read the paper?, can you get the gist of what they're saying on the radio? And then you can learn a bit and try and talk to people about it. As for the people that always slag off Britain or wherever they're from, I can't stand it. Neither a flag waver nor a flag burner be, is my motto. Also local people are not impressed by these foreigners either. When I lived in Kazakhstan a few American colleagues where vociferously telling anyone in earshot some 'hometruths' about the US. When they had left the staffroom, a couple of Kazakh colleagues came up to me, they were a bit shocked tbh, and asked, 'What do they say about Kazakhstan behind our backs?!'. I think local folks actually look to us sometimes for a bit of rhyme and reason, and we should try to give that! Anyway it's good that we have Stu to keep us on the straight and narrow!
Some people who move to Spain from my country have the same problem. They sold their properties quit job to move to Spain which means they have no way back.
Hi, you have just described England except in Spain it doesn’t rain every week , try living in England for a few months and you will be begging to get back to Spain .
I lived one year in Birmingham, after one year I was so happy to move out of uk, I wouldn’t live there for any money, even if I could earn so much, very sad is that many poles and other immigrants work there for minimum wage 😅
When I was living in El Puerto de Santa Maria, I asked my friend why she got excited about the upcoming feria, considering it's an annual event. She responded, "You don't understand. Sometimes the feria is the only time of the year when we get together with our family and celebrate." It all made sense after that.
Absolutely! Christmas. Easter. Glastonbury or Nottinghill carnival (for some). Marathon. London to Brighton bike ride. I can go on. Like groundhog year.
Well, that's part of the problem. People going to Spain for those reasons have got it wrong. Do they honestly believe that Spain will be the remedy to all of their problems? That's pure fantasy and delusion. It's one thing going to Spain on vacation and another trying to live and make a living in the place.
@@susanaescriba977 Sí, soy consciente de que Fuerteventura, dentro de las Islas Canarias, es una comunidad autónoma de España. La cuestión es que residimos principalmente aquí y para nosotros dos nuestras vidas son mejores. Hay motivos para no vivir en España o el Reino Unido. Todo depende de cuáles sean sus preferencias, incluida su salud diaria, que es un punto importante para nosotros.
Interesting thoughts Stu... I have spent a load of time in Spain since about 2008 but never really wanted to get residency for most of the reasons you mention. Love visiting Spain for many reasons - loads of positive for visiting but not to live permanently.
Believe it or not Spain seems to be way better than my current place, Greece. We have the same cons only that the salary here is around 500 to 700€ per month but our prices are 200% up than Spain. I see the prices of similar supermarkets we both have like Lidl and I can't believe how much more we pay for the same things, except olive oil. Here is still a bit cheaper than there. Less than 10€ for a liter.
we lived in Greece before moving to Spain, and yes it's much cheaper here in many ways, also the tax system is much better and the property prices are ridiculously cheaper. Olive oil very much depends on the area right now, the price is going crazy!
Hope your cold is better soon. Good video and accurate. My wife has 12 brothers and sisters and we are constantly going to family events. At first it was a little overwhelming for me but now I've grown to look forward to these events. As my Spanish language skills improve, they become more interesting.
I aggre with you , I spend 1 week each month in my home in Spain and 2 months in the summer , for the last 20 years , luckily for me I wouldn’t need to work in Spain , if I did I wouldn’t move there , perfect for people with a decent pension and an Irish passport 😊, move back and forth as much as you like and get the best of both worlds. That’s how I do it anyway 🇪🇸
Como extranjero viviendo en España al escuchar tus observaciones sobre el país, me cuesta entender las razones que desde tantos años te obligan vivir en este país (quitando la mujer y, supongo, el sol). Tiene que ser una verdadera pesadilla. Tus observaciones sobre el tener que aprender el castellano solo podría venir un ingles porque creo que a ningún español ( ... y no solo) se le ocurriría irse a vivir a Inglaterra confiando de no tener si o si que aprenderse ingles para integrarse. Quizás es a raíz de eso que te cuesta tener amistades locales, piénsatelo ...!
"Spain is different" used to be the motto of the Spanish tourist authorities in the 60s, in the deep years of the dictatorship. What you describe, which I confirm after having lived in four EU countries in the last 40 years and recently returned to Spain, means that Spain is no longer different; some of the negative points that you describe I easily overcome: I avoid crowds, I avoid having a Spanish wife with an extended family and I don't talk about politics with anyone; I'm retired now, so I don't have to deal with all the other problems you correctly describe either. My personal conclusion is that Spain is still a good place to live if you are a rentier, that has not changed; otherwise, Spain is no longer better than most other places in the EU, although it still has good weather, food and private health services. All the best.
As a former migrant to Australia (I lived in Brisbane for 14 years) I find your comment about people in Spain not trying to understand people with a low level of Spanish quite irritating; This is precisely what I found in Australia on too many occasions. People who did nothing to understand you or looked at you with contempt calling you a "wog" or worse. You can find nasty people like that everywhere. In general, people in Spain are hospitable towards foreigners and appreciate and try to understand when they try to speak the language, no matter their language level.
As an Italian living in Australia, I couldn’t have said this better myself! 100% with you!! And I’m watching this video as I’d love to leave Australia and finding out if Canary Island would be a good option for me..
Fantastic post Stuart, my son lives in Spain and I’ve lived in Portugal for about 15 years and spend some time visiting Spain, your comments are so correct
I don't like crowds either, Spain is completely empty, there are simply no crowds in places away from those that attract the crowds😂. Go to the España vaciada and avoid the popular holiday destinations.
As a Spaniard I have to confess that the second point made me laugh a lot. And I would like to contextualize to let people understand when we use that expression. "Ir a tu pvt4 bola" we use it when for example you are going against the rest of the majority. Like a fish that swims agains the direction of the rest of fish. For example in an hipothetical world where majority decides to: - Use a very easy, fast, practical, effective and efficient way to measure; but you prefer to use a 800 years old adn archaic system to do it, based in the size of an arm, finger, or even something so random like a barleycorn to determine the size of the shoes. - Like in the example of the fish... you can imagine the same point in that hypothetical world but with roads. - Or the same obviously about the driving sides in the cars. - Or if you decide to join a country party, but you wanna keep having your own money. But all that in a hypothetical world... But yes, remember that are spaniards ,only spaniards and nobody else, who "van a su su bola".
As a Spanish person living in the United Kingdom for a few years now, I completely share your opinion regarding how challenging it is to integrate into society and the language barrier that comes with it. It also affects me, and I believe these are aspects that impact any expatriate. However, yes, you are right in your observations about Spanish society.
You are giving negative reasons to not live in Spain that are typical in any city in any Country. I live in Los Angeles and what you're talking about is nothing compared to how difficult things can be here. I have spent a lot of time in Spain, don't speak fluent Spanish and I have never had anyone be rude to me. Sometimes that has to do with the negative vibe a person gives off.
This is my thought exactly. I live in Florida and I won’t even discuss the ignorant people and messed up politics we deal with non-stop. Spanish is my native language but my husband is American and our experience is Spain has been great. Considering making the move permanently with eyes wide open because no place is perfect, but anything will be an upgrade from Florida.
Spot on. Living in any mayor city in the world will get you these issues, speaking from someone who used to live in Buenos Aires. Been living in Cáceres for a year (2 hours from Madrid) and every bad thing he mentioned I can say for sure it doesn't apply here (ofc everyone might have different experiences, but once again, big cities are different)
In our village it doesnt matter that we dont speak fluently but accept us and are friendly and helpful. Been here 23 yrs.and have no problems at all. Xx Its same in UK. Xx
Hi Stuart, All of your points are valid, but I think compounded by the fact you live in Madrid. I have lived in a smaller city in inland Alicante ( 60,000) for 14 years. We get very few tourists, and while prices have gone up, it's still way more affordable than other European cities. While I always look forward to taking the AVE to Madrid but once I am there, I can't wait to leave as it's just too busy. Hope you feel better!
Well as a spaniard in highschool the taught us to respect the tourist , and do not disturb the tourist for the simple reason that The tourist industry is our main sector , as for english now in spanish school they have the language assistant program so many classes are only in english ,the younger generation are better at english and french that the previous one , as for unfriendly spaniards maybe is due to the economic problems that we are facing , high inflation in food and in the spanish politics , as for learning spanish , is an easy lanfñguag for english speakers , and spoken in 22 countries ( including the United States in wich is the second language ) I know Scots , Irish and americans that speak perfect spanish , also learning a new language prevents Alzheimer and other memory deceases. SPAIN is still a friendly country in spite of it's problems.
great vid stu!imust say we still thank the stars we came to tenerife! we came to the north of the island after 25 years in the touristy south! not a lot of english spoken in our town but when we make the effort to speak spanish we find that local shops etc, really apreciate our efforts to speak spanish!our only regret is not learning it sooner! we have lovely neighbours that dont speak any english! why should they!its up to us to imerse our selves in this lovely canarian culture!!❤
There are places in Quebec, Canada where if you don't speak their dialect of French they won't speak to you either. That's just how some people are. As far as the burocracy goes, yes, that is what I am least looking forward to having to deal with once we get to Spain! Regarding online services abroad, the US Visa website kicks you out every few minutes while you are completing the application regardless of your activity on the site, so Spain isn't the only country with online services that are lacking.
C pas si pire que ca. Oui il y a du monde fermer dans certains région, mais toutes les pays ont une population similaire. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy Spain and all its wonders.
@@TB-us7el Quebecois is based on Norman French (Jacques Cartier) and crew who came over about 350-400 years ago. It's like speaking Shakespearean English! Nothing like Modern day French French. (I lived in Canada for 40 years.)
Nevada must be a part of Spain because so much of what isn't great about Spain is also true about here. It took nearly six months for me to renew my drivers license, rents have increased dramatically, jobs don't pay enough for anyone to buy a home & whenever there's an annual event, there are LOTS of people taking up space mostly to be seen & not because of any real interest in the event. And through it all, it's family, family, family.
Great video,most people judge Spain as a cheap sunny place but that’s normally because there on holiday there,keep the videos coming and have a peaceful xmas and new year all the best ,steve from Leeds uk
As a native spanish following your channel for years I can fully agree with your points. People in Spain are getting colder day by day (though not so family oriented lately). That being said, you are welcome again to Chinchon so we have some tapas together. I wish I could make you feel like at home. Cheers to my dearest foreigner in Spain. Thanks for your channel and your effort.
Thanks Shaun. You didn't mention one more thing that bothers me about moving to Spain and that's the squatter issue. It blows my mind to think the someone could take my home away from me simply by breaking in and if I wasn't quick enough (maybe I was away) I would have little recourse to the government basically support the squatters.
Stu, thank you for being so candid and revealing. I have been to Spain in various opportunities and have some Spanish friends. However I had noticed (inconsciously) practically all the aspects of Spanish life that you have mentioned here, but no one seemed to bring them up. I am glad I can now also get them off my chest. Cheers!
Completely agree with everything you’ve said. We lived in Valencian community for 16 years , we speak total fluent Spanish but could never make good Spanish friends. We always say to people two weeks holiday in Spain is totally different from living there. When you speak the language you know what’s going on and it’s not always a good thing. It can be very stressful living there with the bureaucracy. Good programme ,we have been waiting for you to tell it as it is.
I was practically in the same boat and only ever made one good Spanish friend in 10 years who didn't want to use me for a free English lesson. I left for many of the same reasons
I went to Spain on September and I was there for a month and I made 2 friends , I would like to get back soon, my first language as a Mexican is SPANISH. SPANIARDS ARE LOVELY PEOPLE.
I feel that all countries are suffering post Covid, the loss of liberty has hardened the social attitude, sad but true. Coupled with the economic situation, how many do you know who are in debt, credit card especially, with large interest charges. Finally, the politicians have not lead by example, rather do as I say and not what I do. Great video 😊
Spot on. I am dual nationality native to both UK and Spain (Dad travelled all the time), with a house in both countries. Speak native english and spanish. My education is UK and Spain, with a university degree in each country. Used to travel backwards and forwards, to live and work. Stopped completely 2017, when my neighborhoods got hostile, both countries. Now I just live and work in London, waiting for the recent unpleasantness to go away.
Hi you must be feeling really ruff this week . as to a lot of your comments don't visit France or Belgium and the UK. will really piss you off. cheers Andy, Feliz Navidad to you and your family
Loved seeing outside your car windows; pretty areas. I'm an introvert so I couldn't care less if I was accepted or not (I hope that doesn't sound rude). Of course, if I was attempting to conduct business and got push back that would be annoying. I can see spending a couple of months in Spain, we're not ready to become expats (yet). Our first trip to Europe earlier this year took us to Bilbao, Cadiz, Motril, Ibiza, Mallorca and Barcelona. All of them felt very safe. Bilbao is very pretty (love the river running through town), Cadiz felt a little like here (San Diego), Motril felt quiet (which I like), Ibiza is for young people, Mallorca (Palma) is just gorgeous (and I love islands anyway) and Barcelona has too many people and the air quality bothered my lungs. Buenos noches! :)
You had me at: "Low salaries and bad working conditions...unfriendly wait-staff" My wife is from Madrid, we met there while I was attending my brother's wedding. We got married, but she keeps hinting at moving there, but I've done a lot of research and I have serious doubts about moving there. I don't mind visiting 2-3 times a year though. Having a good salary and working for a great company gives me most doubts. Plus I've talked to plenty Spaniards and they all complaint about their working conditions and crappy salaries.
😂At the moment, I have been looking into moving to Gijón and just checked rent prices in Terrassa . Have got the shock of my life a 100 square metre flat with 4 bedrooms (quite small) and 1 bathroom, the rent was 1,250€ and not a central area. In the Centre of Terrassa about same type of flat goes for around 2,500€!!! Who can pay that when you are lucky to earn about 1,200€ a month!!! Crazy!!!
100% agree with you Stu, the routine is so regimental and the lack of spontaneity is unbelievable. Re the language, again no matter how well/correctly we speak Spanish we are often greeted by vacant looks until eventually they repeat the first thing we said, so frustrating. We don't correct them when mistakes are made.. Agree with a lot of the comments, Spain is changing and will no longer be our forever home 😢
@@coffermartin77 There are some Swedish people that might rival that attitude, thinking that everything Sweden does is perfect and the Swedish method (I still don't really know what that means) is better than sliced bread.
@@SvengelskaBlondie😄 Ah, the good old Swedish exceptionalism: "in Sweden we have child leave for fathers", "in Sweden we have superior covid strategies, based on science", "in Sweden we show the world how to tackle climate-change" etc, etc.
You have put a smile on my face. I am Spanish, and especially in the first part that you have mentioned about language, if people is really friendly or just they pretend, customer services, routine, .. It is exactly how I feel, but in my case is living here, in the UK, I do not know what it is, but I feel exactly in the same way... and it is something that I feel more now than when I arrived here 17 years ago. I do not know if before I did not notice, or it is just not getting better with the time, I believe it is the second one, UK is changing a lot in different ways.... with the rest, I totally agreed with you, I do not like crows, big family things, or loudly people, and I prefer do not talk about job or opportunities in Spain. If in the first part I fell like you, about jobs and opportunities. I do have to thanks British people that they have gave me the chances that I never got in my own country.. still, my plan is move back to Spain in few months, for other reasons :) but I really thank you to help me to see what I can expect and what unfortunately it has not change ..
Since the referendum, the UK has changed a lot. I am British and disabled. So from a personal perspective, I have noticed people being nasty to me, but I also see British people being horrible to anyone they perceive as "foreign", whether they are genuinely foreign, or born here. Since I have a dark skin I also get some of this, too. Lucky me! We were in La Rioja and the basque region over summer and there is a little of this in Spain, too, but not as much as here. Where I went, it is plain they don't really like tourists, although they like their money - but then, they don't like Spanish tourists, either. Or strangers. Or people from the next town. 😆
Customer service The internet has re-wired our sense of relating to others, or should I say lack of relating to others. more and more it keeps growing, the sense of not communicating with the person next to us, just look at Alexa" how insidiously became the norm to have a talk with a robot.
smile more, moan less, it is a foreign country. we drove up through uk, motorways were terrible so very crowded, driving through spain on motorways north to south an absolute delight. people here have been pleasant and helpful, food great. weather mostly very good. life is what you make of it. huge country find a bit that suits you best, moving to spain is a choice, staying here is a choice. why did you want to leave your home country in the first place? do you stay or do you go? you have the freedom to choose.
You had some valid points... (low salaries, high taxes, the cost of living rising, the difficulty of doing business with Spain, and the fact that creativity is not always encouraged because, "this is how we've always done it..:" or, "this is how it's done in Spain" - I've gotten both). I don't think that the issue with (some) locals possibly not wanting to speak to a person because that individual speaks differently than they do is something that is solely related to Spain. Also, it's done between Spaniards, e.g., the people of northern Spain poke fun at the way that people of southern Spain speak to the point where I've heard them say, "I don't understand what they say..." And you know that is not true because it's the same language, so the foundation of the language is the same. It's good that you share these things so that people moving to Spain are aware that it's not all unicorns and rainbows (or sangrías and flamenco).
As I understand, not all Spanish is identical. There's Castillean ('Spanish Spanish?), Valenceano, Catalan, Galician and Andalucian, plus island spanish from the Balearics and Canaries. Therefore it's quite possible that one party doesn't fully understand the other.
Oh dear Stuart, it sounds like you were having a bad day. I could have sworn you were describing the UK for much of what you were saying 😄Of course, we tend not to be very family oriented when it comes to our extended families and we've definitely become less friendly towards each other, especially if you live in the bigger towns. And as for everyone crowding together, you should try visiting Brighton during the August Bank Holiday - you'd hate it! As for the language barrier, I'm from the south-east so have difficulty understanding any of my fellow Brits who live north and west of London (my fault not theirs). So, all in all, I should be right at home in Spain! 🤣 Love your videos x
My first thought was the same, Stu having a bad day, being a bit grumpy, although to be fair he did warn us this was the case at the beginning of the video.
Well and there you go, that was a bit of a downer but good for people to know these things if you want to come here. I always recommend to people come for three months before deciding to move here or anywhere. I live in a big city for sure and it has big city rules. But I also lived in the US East coast and people would avoid eye contact in the elevator of my building and never say hello unless you were deliberate about saying hello and it seemed painful for them to respond, Anyway, my point is no place is perfect and you make the best of it. Learn Spanish and some of your other local language. I was surprise how many people opened up to me when I started using Catalan. Our neighbors are busy but wonderful and helpful and all local except for one. Our friends are both from Spain and International. Either way is fine with me. It is normal for people to have only hung out with the same people since kindergarten to be w little distant. Try being new in Boise ,Idaho or Provo, Utah and not be Mormon. But whatever you choose to do, humanity and each other is all we have. Our lives are so short, too short not to find contentment. Wherever you are be kind anyway, do some good anyway, and some may reject you but more are going to open up. As for extended family, unfortunately most of my family has passed, so if you have some that love you or put up with you enjoy it, it beats doom scrolling. As for politics ugh, many countries are polarized. Love people anyway, stay away from those things you can’t do a thing about, otherwise it’s like the weather everyone talks about it but don’t do thing about it. Enjoy your life be open to at least to say hello to people, help the old people at the market, they know all the good gossip in town, be kind to the young ones. Then one day they will unexpectedly give you a big hug. It sounds too positive I suppose, but it is this way or be sad and angry all the time and that is for sure lonely in any country.
Glad you realised about the importance of learning the local language. That's the key to open hearts in many regions of Spain (learning Spanish doesn't work in the same way at all). It's what inspires trust in people and makes them see you as an equal. Otherwise you'll always be seen as a tourist not to be bothered about.
Having lived in Spain for more than 35 years, I do agree with you and your analysis of the cons you have presented. The ones that bother me most are the lack of community feeling/spirit and the economic aspects. It is becoming harder and harder to lead a decent life in Spain but I still love this country and would find it very difficult to move back to Britain or to France which is even more bureaucratic than Spain!!!
Usually,.for family oriented societies have little community spirht. They tend to be low trust societies where people are suspicious of others. Therefore, one must depend on the family.
Think the UK is far from bureaucratic. You can renew your passport without paying in cash, you can setup a company and trade with ease, pay less tax, earn higher salary, get a contract for your job rather than relying on trust. Sounds like you have become accustomed with red tape as the norm. I can assure you have tried both the UK wins hands down on this front. Would only consider Spain as a place to live without working and in all honesty I would never live there.
@@garethsmith1436 Am retiring in September 2024 so kind of "stuck" in Spain, which I don't mind. On the contrary... as a foreigner and then a citizen in Spain, it has always been easy for me to to.find a job, even at university level, which would have been impossible in France. True, much easier in Britain but had to always wait for the fatídic 21 days before getting any possible job. Gave up on that as in Spain had no problem with those waiting days as a foreigner!
Most of those reasons apply to most countries in the West, and things are far, far worse in many of those countries. For example, things are so bad here in the UK, they make your list of reasons not to move to Spain seem unimportant by comparison!
I think if you move to Spain you would find how they behave VERY different to English people. They seem to have little to no concept of a queue or volume control. For Spanish, this is no problem, for someone from UK or Northern Europe, probably not so good.
Hi Stuart. Something that, perhaps, you could have mentioned : through 9 years of Winter caravaning in Spain we have found Spaniards to be rather noisy. This isn't just mine and my wife's opinions, on a campsite a couple of weeks ago the manager told us that she discourages Spaniards from coming because they make too much noise, which is offputting for other nationalities - and don't forget, that was said by a Spaniard !!
We really like Spanish people, we find them friendly and helpful, just a bit noisy. Don't forget my comment originally came from a Spanish lady.@@mariabarco7226
Stuart touched on this in one of videos. He mentioned how Spaniards scream at one another just in conversation in restaurants. He even commented his children were beginning to do the same. While it is part of the culture, ex-pats may or may not get used to it. As a senior,, American, I want my peace and quiet, no barking dogs to wake me up at night and certainly do not want to hear my neighbors - what ever they may be doing. As an American, we have laws - noise ordinances that help with a quieter environment. Before emigrating to another country, this is one of my biggest concerns, accepting that difference. Think most Americans look at it as just a consideration for others, respecting others. Other cultures may not see it this way. I personally value my peace and quiet- a lot-- in my blood so to speak.
The family part I think just revolves around Latin families period. You don’t have to live in Spain to have that issue. My dad is 94 and i still always have the struggle of putting boundaries with him even though he doesn’t even understand my boundary. Lots of Latin families want to control, control and it’s a constant battle. No joke! Thank you Stew for letting us know the good with the bad when it comes to living in Spain.
It is a living nightmare having a partner who’s mother is over controlling and wants everyone to do it her way. These are Italians I am talking about 😂.
@@ivadelasse7738 My family is from Mexico and it’s the same way. Even older siblings are the same. It gets out of control 🤦🏽♀️Nightmare is the right word you used.
@@ivadelasse7738 The same deal with Spanish families. Very controlling mothers. It's actually a sickness which family members are too scared to speak out against.
You are right, and you don't have to be from another country to experience all these frustrating things. Housing is unaffordable, salaries a disaster, etc. Just for you to know, many Spanish people like me also agree with your points of view.
Stu, I'm planning on retiring soon. Thinking of moving to Spain from California (USA). I speak Spanish, not perfect Castellano, but enough to understand and conversate. Any recommendations on living in the city (Madrid) or the outskirts? I'm projecting my retirement to be around 13,500-15,000 USD a month. Also, do you recommend on purchasing or leasing a vehicle? My other options are Barcelona, Mallorca, or Ibiza... Most of Spain has similar weather as my current home. My goal is to live in Spain 6-7 months a year.. Any recommendations or guidance would be greatly appreciated. CJ.
Go to live in Malaga (Andalusia), southern Spain, there is a large English-speaking community in the city. Malaga is a beautiful city with a beach. Andalusia, the cradle of flamenco, is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, there are diverse climates, beaches, mountains, snow, it is a paradise on earth. In Andalusia there are famous cities throughout the world with a lot of history, culture and excellent food. , historic cities such as Seville, Córdoba, Cádiz, Granada, Huelva, Jaén and Almería. We Andalusians are a very friendly people towards foreigners. In Andalusia for 13,500-15,000 USD per month you can live like a king. Watch videos of Malaga and Andalucia, greetings.
I really dont understand how having the same town fiestas every year at the same time is bad? Its literally like any holiday anywhere?? The Carnival in Rio, the 4th of July in the US, any tradition anywhere, they all happen every year at the same time?
As someone who has moved to Spain from another country I can agree with most of what you said. I suppose that every country will be different and I do not expect every one to be the same. I have lived in 5 different countries (for at least 2 years) and many others for shorter visits. I find Spain somewhere toward the lower end in my personal rankings. I find the people somewhat very high on the scale of being rude. It isn't just to foreigners, but to everybody. My daughter who lives here too keeps telling me it is "just a cultural thing" and is not a "bad" thing. I disagree. Much of what you said points to that direction. The criticism of language skills, political opinions and the "do your own thing" attitude just foster a culture of being a bit selfish. That "do your own thing" attitude can get a little tiring. For example: throwing your trash in the street because it is too much trouble to walk the 3 meters to a trash can, pushing others aside to be the first on the bus, or a group of people gathering to talk while blocking the entire sidewalk and not caring that someone has to step into the street to get around them is just rude or a lack of manners. I also find it hard to make friends here. Maybe it is just me or my experiences, but making friends with Spanish people has been a struggle. I have tried many ways to meet people and have had some temporary luck at the time, but suggesting a continuance beyond that time is often met with a " we will see" and then nothing. It is frustrating when I want to practice the Spanish that I am learning in class and can't do it outside transactions in a store or bar. I will have to disagree with you, at least partially, on the cost of living. Outside of the axis of Madrid/Barcelona/Seville things are not that bad. Where I live, Zaragoza, even being a larger city, I find is reasonable. The differences can be quite large. Housing in Madrid is just crazy. Prices are at least double, or more, from where I live. It is the curse of large cities. The US has the same problem with New York, Miami and all of California being just as overpriced. Food here is much less expensive (although that is changing) and public transit is very cheap. I won't even get into the fact that most Spaniards are underpaid and overworked and that may be a factor in where the society is today. Don't get me wrong, I really like Spain, but many days the good is sometimes outweighed by the less than good.
Exactly! People attributing Spanish rudeness as "just a cultural thing" is a total cop out. In any language or culture, that's just pure rudeness. Usually, uneducated people would those things like throw trash on the street or not cleaning their dog's poo droppings. It's apathetic behaviour and foreigners should not excuse this deplorable behaviour to curry favour with the Spanish locals. Call it for what it is.
I am not agree in a few things with you sir, and only will say that if you want to see people drinking and throwing all types of garbage to the floor you can just visit places as Manresa,Benidorm or Palma.you’ll see people (not spanish)doing it all the time.
@@susanaescriba977 hola Susana. No era Manresa? Pues me habré equivocado de lugar, me refería a un pueblo en la costa catalana que es famoso por los ingleses borrachos haciendo balconing.
Hey Stuart. Like your videos but I’m afraid the best thing about this one was the ad for Nord vpn. We’ve lived in a town of 11,000 in Andalusia for 7 years and find the people friendly, the lifestyle great and of course the weather is fantastic. Yes, there are frustrations with red tape etc., but that’s the same everywhere. Compared to what I see of the UK at the moment Spain is sooo much better. Okay, we took early retirement and don’t need to work so those related difficulties don’t apply to us but I’d still rather be here than anywhere else. You were one of the convincers when we decided to move here, watching your early videos, so I’m disappointed that this vid is so negative. I’m going to put it down to the fact that you’re under the weather and you live in Madrid 😀
That's your opinion but i see much more people agreeing with Stu's video than disagreeing. Both my parents are Spanish and i support Stu 100% with the points he made.
Refreshingly honest opinion as always. It’s difficult to find like minded people even in one’s own country, it must be so much more difficult in a foreign country without mixing in an expat community. Traditions, nuances, accents etc all means so much even without us consciously thinking about them. I come from a really tough low income area in the north of England, never had any trouble. Couldn’t say the same for anyone crossing the boundary from neighbouring districts.
As Canadian that has been travelling to Spain 2-3 times a year for the last 20 years, this has not been my experience, perhaps it’s time for you to move back to the UK?
Honestly! Complaining about the family values, that’s because they don’t have any! Go back home and make your kids pay rent in your own house, as it’s so common in the UK…if you are looking for negative things that’s what you’re gonna find. There is no perfect country, and a lot of things depend on the perspective. The vibe alone that’s coming from him in this video is evidence enough why everyone is not friendly to him, because he’s jus fundamentally not happy within
I lived in Spain for 5 years on the costa del sol and agree with some of your points. Bureaucracy, big family gatherings but i found the spanish for the most part friendly, socialable and engaging. Got invited round by my neighbours and in the summer constantly chatting in Spanish. I retired but took up a second job in gib but crap money but it was enough to go away for a few breaks. Cost of living and lack of real job opportunity made me come back to Uk but i'll be going back again.
I had first hand experience with Spanish bureaucracy a year ago. Out of the blue, I received a speeding ticket in the mail, 3 months after the infraction (its justification is another matter), and had to find a way to pay it from here in Canada. Long story short, it took a further 2 months of concentrated and convoluted effort on my part to get it paid after being directed from pillar to post and back again. The over-riding cause was simply unclear payment guidance from the DGT’s English website. As I write this, I’m thinking they must figure that by making the process excruciating enough, people like me won’t do it again. Right or wrong, they’re right.
Sounding a bit quimado there pal. Have to agree on most points there though. In fairness about half of what you raise is just down to modern life, same in uk and other places. The rest well yeah it sucks, at. Least for me where i live in the south there are more positives to compensate..
Hi Stu, great vlog as usual ! I lived in Spain for 13 years, loved the weather and outdoor life, BUT like you say trying to run a business with the bureaucracy, the taxes, and the hideous social security, in the end moved back to the UK in 2013. Also, with the language, unfortunately It doesnt matter how well you speak it, you will always be regarded by the local population as a Guiri ! and I know exactly what you mean when trying to get some "customer satisfaction" and being treated like they are doing you a favour by selling to you !! A few gripes, but still love the place.
I'm a Portuguese that was born in the Algarve, and that lives in Spain now. In this video you pointed out at the end most of the "why" sometimes people are not friendly like you expected, they may have had a bad day because life is getting hard here in Spain, and in Portugal the wages as much lower than Spain, which makes things even harder. Anyway, I've learned that if we treat the other with kindness regardless, the attitude of the other may change. Portugal and Spain are having huge housing problems, especially in big cities, and tourist regions, a considerable amount of houses changed from long-term rents to AirBNB-type businesses, leaving too few houses available on the market for people who want to go there for work, or want to live alone, on top of that, you have the people that come from all over Europe and the UK with higher wages and that can pay for an already inflated market. To give you an idea, last year a local newspaper from the Algarve announced that in the previous year, statistics showed that 1 in every 5 houses sold in the Algarve was for a Portuguese, the other 4 houses were sold to foreigners that wanted to go there for retirement, or that wanted a vacation house. I think that we should start to make laws to end this. Maybe laws like Denmark, where the only foreigners that are allowed to buy houses are people that go to the country to work and pay taxes there, no vacation housing. I hear the same problem that I see in my region, from places like Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, the Mediterranean coast of Spain... Maybe when this huge problem is solved, the people will become more friendly again. About the language, I'm living in Spain, I work here, so I do my best to speak in Spanish, they do not have to make any effort to understand me while I speak to them in Portuguese of English, it's their own country. If I go to England, I will speak in English because it's England, but here and in Portugal, I only speak English to help a tourist or while working because I have to do it. I don't know if the English people would take too kindly having me living in England without speaking a single word in English. Yet, in Portugal and Spain, we have people living here for years that never bothered to learn the local language, because for them we have to be the ones making the effort. Usually no one takes this too kindly, and gives a very bad image to the locals. Good video, thank you for the content. Cheers! 🙂
Personally I fully respect and understand Spanish people's penchant for sticking to their language and rightfully so - But they're going to be left out of the main stream of Business & global way of the living. My 2 cents FWIW.
Not my experience at all. 2 years in. Live in Valencia. People are beautiful. Trying to learn the language. People help and encourage you to speak espanol. I think living in a city like Madrid, London, etc will be unwelcoming
@@Cyndysuzette25 Oh my God! People speaking their own language in their own homeland!? How is that even allowed!? Shocked, I'm telling you, I'm shocked! 😮
You sound as if you'd move elsewhere - back to Australia? - if you didn't have your family here. I have reconsidered moving to Europe (from US) over the past few years. First, Portugal became less affordable and the bureaucratic Hoops to jump through for Residency have become much more onerous. I gathered documents for a claim to Italian Citizenship by Descent, but I can't locate my immigrant Greatgrandparents' Marriage Certificate in the US, without which I would have to claim Descent through the Greatgrandma and pretend they weren't married but 'lived in Sin' for 20 years and had 10 illegitimate Kids. It's too much weirdness. Then I considered France, but I really have no interest in France. But while I've been following these Bureaucratic regulations and changes - ALL of Europe seems more and more unstable and unpredictable and expensive. The US is unstable, unpredictable and expensive too - but at least I'm HERE and don't have the trouble and expense of attempting to migrate elsewhere.
Honest video Stuart! 👍 Being from the Netherlands myself, I can hardly imagine a country's people being more individualistic, hasty and self-centered than the Dutch. I suppose modern western society is someone equal everywhere, but the first thing I notice every time I go to Spain is the general calmness, friendliness and lack of ego centric behavior in the streets. Is it the weather? I believe everything you say, but could it be that it is not such a big deal in practice? I know; it's a very subjective thing of course. My point being: Here in Holland hardly anybody seems to care about each other anymore. Besides from tiny villages perhaps. I went to Barcelona & Madrid and even had talks with random people that kindly approached me.❤🙏
Can't disagree with any of what you mentioned in the video Stu, having been to Spain on many occasions albeit on holiday, things have changed and not for the better. But it has to be said that Spain is not that different from the UK in that respect. But what has to be a positive is the quality of life with much more outdoor living and that is a big plus. Living in the Madrid suburbs would have also impacted your opinion and maybe it is time for a move to a less of a city environment as Madrid doesn't have the best of climates. In my opinion 😅
My myself and my lovely future ex-wife we are considering moving to Vigo in a couple years. We traveled through Spain extensively over the last seven years, and we find the people very very friendly and welcoming.
I just came back to oregon from 2 weeks in Madrid and I agree people were not that friendly. In fact sometimes even rude, once they hear me American accent they stop smiling
Hi Stu, some things sound familiar, some could also relate to other countries. One thing that you did not mention which is a pet hate of mine, and that is the lack of punctuality. Everyone does it, even your own friends. The amount of time I have spent waiting for people in Spain, regardless whether they are tradesman or friends. It makes me angry as I find it disrespectful. With regards to being friendly, I do find it depends in the region where you live. I find people in Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria friendly, although through the years the "Tu" seems to have taken over, even in some banks believe it or not. Another pet hate which I have, which is not regional, is that the Spanish are so loud and care not about anyone around them, day or night, You just have to find a circle, a small one, of companions/friends that are like minded, which is hard. Get well soon Stu, you sound a bit p155ed off today.
My husband is really taken with retiring in Spain. I looked up this video to see if there were points to talk him out of it and your cons are slightly pro for me - I'm from Seattle, we are famous for the Seattle Freeze - I like my privacy and my routines. My husband would struggle more Lol
Thanks Stu! Language and insularity, I don't just think it's language. Brother let me tell you, coming from the US, local insularity, shines out of dialects and regional cultures. For the most part the cities are more homogenous and interchangeable culturally, hustle and bustle. But as soon as you step out of a city anywhere, you're going to be treated like an outsider in your own country. And I understand perfectly that that's a two way street. People from small towns comi g to the city, they're going to have a hard time adjusting to all the people that don't care about who you are, what you do, how long you've been there. I hate to say it, but it's probably like this to a degree everywhere. So this is a human problem, no doubt probably worse than other places, but being objectified and only being allowed to look in, that no doubt spans the globe. I'm getting up there in years too, things felt a lot easier on these social issues in youth, or maybe I was just a lot more oblivious when I was younger and just never noticed it. In hindsight, it absolutely had to have always been there and always has been a factor. Interesting that the Spanish have their own version of "keep your eye on the ball" that also means "keep to yourself." Let me tell you that's true in the US and also might be indicative of human nature or our historical moment. It's many things, but remembering back to before the pandemic, or remembering youth, there's just no time or patience for other people, and I almost can't blame anyone for it. I dont think it can be attributed to any one thing besides human nature. As social as we are as a species, we're somewhere in between ants and apes, and that's a well documented social evolutionary feature. As much as we are grouped into nations and cultures and local societies, we are also individuals, and imo that also must come with age. There's just no time or energy in the day to swim against that current. I wish it were different sometimes, but personally I've grown to appreciate and relish in almost complete social isolation, and it was a thing before the pandemic, but the pandemic seemed to bring out some of these basal instincts, if they could be called that, out of survival. When it comes to workers in shops and resraurants, as someone who has worked in hospitality all my life, many of the customers over the years have made it hell. Most people are fine and polite, but an increasing number of people are actively hostile to actively reflect whatever it is, class divisions perhaps, real or perceived, that can make almost everyday working an imminent living hell. They say jump and we are expected to leap for them and grovel because they have the power in the momentary relationship. This is some sort of social breakdown I suppose and has myriad reasons. The kids these days have identified this as "main character syndrome," a few years ago it was called narcissism, but it's not so much a mental illness as it is some sort of social default for a significant minority of the populatio, and no matter where you are in life or what status you have, they are there to gnash their teeth and exercise their humanity like we are all a bucket of crabs. I can't immediately see any parallels in the US with routine and extended family socializing. My parents are somewhat like this and seem peculiar for it. It's something to do with safety and security, predictability, changes are bad. My dad for example has been semi retiring and he's taken it upon himself to wear his welcome with extended family lol. Suddenly he's adopting new family, this is uncle so and so! This elderly man that you befriended through a family friend is jot your uncle! Haha. And he has so far spent 2 entire years out of the last 3 years traveling almost aimlessly helping people and trying to recreate what he imagines society should be. I don't know if he's fulfilled doing that, but it takes up a lot of his time and effort trying to swim against the currents and maintain farflung social contacts. So maybe my dad's the exception tk some of these things. Politics. I don't even want to comment on this too much. The US has been on fire politically for the last almost 15 years. And it's likely not going to get any better anytime soon. I'm an outlier in my area, which for the most part is fine, but if conversations ever come up, I have to turn myself into a fly on the wall and nod my head. Because there's totally a shadowy cabal and mass of Jews and foreigners always out to get us at all times, trying to appeal to our humanity to make us better people and better our societies. They're the enemy though, and if I open my mouth, I will be too. Economics, it seems the same around the world. Getting good work is getting harder, getting good pay is harder, and the cost of everything is up up and up. You could be a professional with 20+ years of experience and could run the place, but you are still going to be treated like a fresh faced teenager and expected to rake an entry position and entry pay. This is the style of economics, and it's anathema to question it, or you end up being sorted by class and politics like above. Yeah, beuracracy. I don't know why things need to be made more difficult, but that just seems to be the way things go. Efficiency and making tuings happen, that's just not how anything works anymore. Crowds and crowds of people. Personally, I've maximized my work and social life and the few things I need to do structured around minimizing human contact.i just can't take it anymore, from driving, shopping, or working. I don't know if I'm autistic, or if my social anxiety has compounded over the years, but I want nothing to do with the masses of humanity that hers like cats in crowds and dive like swallows in traffic. If i were in Spain I'd likely be a recluse until tourist season is over, just like here in the states.
Stuart is a mourner, he has a problem with his wife being close to her family while he doesn’t care about his own. He should discuss this issue with his partner!
Good comment. I moved to a village near Spain a few years back, and starting to go to Latin Mass was great for new relationships, not being a spring chicken. To a lesser degree doing a Catalan course. Should I move back to Spain, I would need to engage in similar activities. Usually there is a local chapter for the neigborhoods annual party (fiesta major). Personnaly I would be more interested in joining a pessebre group. Just thinking out loud :)
To language, that is very true and true everywhere, I think. I spent over a decade in China and I noticed that I could be understood and communicate with anyone who was interested in understanding me and/or communicating with me. There were always those who chose to be difficult, but they were certainly in the extreme minority in my experience. Good video.
@@ChanyeolsHaneul Hah! I spent time in Panama and Costa Rica with a woman from near Madrid. She had a fair bit of trouble communicating as well. The Spanish in Central/South America is different even from one country/region to the next. just as in Spain.
In Andalucia, people are friendly but they never onvite you in their home. You are right when you say its family oriented. I find it odd not to meet people speaking a foreign language. Here in Huelva, nobody speaks English and the majority of people I met never travelled to Portugal (40 kms away !) And not to Marruevos (only 150 kms away). They have all they need here !
Haha, I lived in England for 13 years never been invited to any English homes either. They are glad to come to mine but never reciprocate but they do only invite their own kind, English. 😂 I lived and learned. 😅
wow! I always wondered about whether the folks in Huevla had ever gone to Portugal. I've been in Spain for 25 years and I find the Spanish not be any nicer than any other Western country that I've been to. I agree with you going to Spanish people's homes. One rarely gets invited to a Spanish home. It's a private space and they tend to meet outside in bar, café etc as you already know.
@@karenhitchens3563 I noticed people don't invite so easily to their homes both in the UK (London at least) and Spain, in the latter case because Spanish like to go out. This was a bit frustrating after being used to having dinner parties, in France.
Congratulations, you became fully Spaniard; we complain A LOT about our country. Just one comment: enjoying extended family get-togethers is part of the Mediterranean people, so you cannot avoid that. We don't associate in clubs where members share the same hobby as the British, here the social knitting is done with family ties. I think is healthy in some sense, as you have to accept many different types of opinions and people. On the flip side, they will favour anyone in the family before you.
Your family must be perfect because the less i am around my extended family, the better. I have close friends who i would trust before some of my extended family. Spanish believe the myth that their family are pristine and can't do no wrong. What a load of bollocks!
I’m from Australia from a European background. In Australia family is definitely not close. It’s more common to have a network of unrelated friendships. I consider that a bad thing. I believe family should be close and it is a good thing. I had many Greek friends here and saw first hand huge family gatherings that I was invited to. I did wish I also could have that.❤❤
Thanks for the video Stuart. I really like how you speak from the heart and give your honest opinion on all things. Keep up the good work. Love your youbtube channel
I lived there from 1986 till 2001. As law changed, so did my status, till eventually got a residence permit. I started learninng Spanish at 11 years, so speak it quite fluently. I am thinking of going back, to a different village, but as I am on a state pension, I have to check whether I would be allowed back into the UK.
There are racist people everywhere Stu, there always will be, ignore them, I’ve been in canada 43 years and idiots still ask me where I’m from,,,, in canada everyone is from somewhere,,,, still moving there,,,, (to Spain that is)
We've both been in Spain for the same amount of time. This January it'll be 25 years total time for me. I agree with just about everything. I also lived in Madrid for most of that time.
well, I moved to Madrid in the early 90's for love. Plus As a gay person there were only 2 cities you could live in at that time. Madrid or Barcelona. @@jmg3344
Great video Stuart. I totally agree with everything you have said after living here and running a business for 22 years nothing’s changed just got worse. No incentives to encourage businesses and help for the younger people. Everything is too slow. And too many holidays.
Appreciate your honesty. For me, there is one main reason to not live in Spain and I did live in Spain for six years, but left a couple of years ago. You are right that no matter what you do, as a foreigner in Spain, you are always made to feel that you are a foreigner and not just another person who happens to live in Spain. This is not true in the UK in general and particularly is not the case in London. I guess it might be the case in more rural parts of the UK where there are less foreigners and also less white people in general. But in Spain, no matter what you do, as soon as they detect that you are a foreigner, they will not only put you into a separate category of ´foreigner´or ´guiri´but they will also try to find out information about you that helps them to further classify you according to which nationality you are, what language you speak, how educated you are, and ofcourse what job you have and how much money you likely earn. Based on this, they will decide how to treat you. Much of how they treat you will also have to do with whether they think you have money and/or influence or not. Things like how you dress or what material things you have such as a car and what type, which neighborhood you live in and who you know will also come into it. I found it very tiring and ultimately unbearable to always be treated as the foreigner, the girl from London who they assumed was wealthy just by virtue of being from London and being a native English speaker, someone to practice english with for free, and to try to get money or gifts from one way or another. I had many people ´befriend´me for these reasons and only realized much later why they wanted to be ´friends´.
Yes if you live in a non EU country as is the UK and want to retire in Spain.. You have to have €27, 793 plus €7,200 for one dependent I have read. The very least amount. I don't see how a UK person could afford that on the full UK state pension only. Let alone if only on the basic state pension. They'd need a lot of other investments I should think. Especially if they have no private pension. This when you convert the above figures to UK sterling. What it means by passive income? Furthermore, as you say Spain is not really cheap anyway.
I am Spanish. I live in a town that is not very touristy. Once a British man approached me to ask me an address. He spoke to me directly in English. Not even a "Disculpe" or" Buenos dias", I am not asking you to know Spanish, obviously, but if you are going to the local people directly in English, in the eyes of a Spaniard he looks like an arrogant British. I ignored him, I didn't like his attitude. Maybe those people that you mention as being unfriendly to foreigners have had similar experiences.
YOU are arrogant, not him. I never ever refuse to help foreigners in my country. In many cases they're just tourists, why should they learn the language? They have enough excitement and fears to be in another country. If I know their language, why can't I help? If I don't know their language I still try to understand and help, why? Because I have some empathy.
I have had poor treatment in some places even despite being able to converse reasonably well in Spainish. Some people just have a problem with foreigners or non locals, or non-native level speakers sadly.
@@ektanerNo, a decent and respectful human being would at least learn the basics of the culture but your opinion speaks volumes about how you view other cultures. Absolutely disgraceful.
@@paradoxparade1 it's ME not decent? I'm a person who always tries to help others even if they speak a different language and you are calling me disgraceful and not those people who ignore tourists and look at them like at trash?! Hahahaha, you need to wash your hair :) like really, I can't believe I even replied to you, what a joke 😆
I found your insights on Spanish culture very interesting. If you have a chance I would like to hear your thoughts on how the Spanish deal with their elderly? I notice many pensioners looking busy and happy. Is the car home culture a thing here? Do you know?
Nursing homes are preferably avoided in Spain. Not like they are bad or anything, but having a family that keeps an eye on you instead of strangers who do it for money willl always be better. And that's the secret of Spanish longevity.
@@fionashatto6102 Well, there are care homes, from state-run ones to private and even posh ones. But the general approach is trying to avoid them as long as possible, because they are impersonal and it is always better to remain independent in your own home, surrounded by your stuff. Families tend to live close-by in Spain (moving away for a job is not popular, unless forced). So it's easy to pay visits frequently to make sure they eat well, dress decently, take their medication, don't skip medical visits, are accompanied if they stay in hospital, sorting whatever they need with paperwork, or accessibility issues, etc. Families manage as well as they can when situation gets more pressing. A serious case of Alzheimer that needs a medicalised care home is one thing, but many cases are dealt hiring 1 or 2 private carers, if needed, because staying in your own home is preferred (maybe going to a memory unit in the mornings or things like that), so you keep your normal life and routines (family, friends, shops, activities) as long as possible. Removing someone from their context is the fastest way to decline and get frail, because their life loses sense and they don't know who they are anymore, nor sometimes care.
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If u don't like the country why you don't move to another country? If u not able to learn the Spanish language so it's ur problem. Do u think that all the words are speaking English and u gonna be served because ur are English person? If u choose to move to a new country u must learn the language, I really don't like what u saying
Im thinking of purchasing a property in Andalucia having listened to varios videos it sounds like day to day costs are going to amount to £2000 per month is this correct.
Stephen Mulligan
I was very surprised as a Spaniard that it is mentioned both in the video and in the comments that there is this culture here that "everyone does their own thing" and I am even more surprised that these opinions (which I respect but do not share) come from people foreigners who call themselves expatriates. In the area where I live, which is the southeast coast and also on the Costa del Sol, there are hundreds of thousands of foreigners living, and many of them (especially those who come from English-speaking countries) are crowded into colonies in the form of housing estates where they literally They are in a “little Britain”. They have their supermarkets with products from their countries, English bars and restaurants and the majority do not speak Spanish despite having been here for decades. I do not complain about this, I respect that decision of isolation but in these circumstances they should not be in the position to judge the type of life that we Spaniards lead and which most of us love. And regarding opinions about the labor market, I am almost fifty years old, have few studies and have never lacked work nor have I ever had financial problems. Since I speak English, I have worked in an airport for more than 15 years and I have also lived in the United Kingdom. I spend 8 hours of my life e every day with European foreigners and I know them very well. And there in their countries there are also things that work poorly and they also have bad social habits. Let's be fair, and those who really cannot or do not want to adapt in Spain, just as they found the door open to enter, have it open to leave. and I don't say this out of sarcasm, simply as friendly advice since I myself would be the first to leave a place that didn't make me happy. Many times we set high expectations for a place and then when things go wrong we blame the country or the citizens, when perhaps the problem is within ourselves.
The reason foreigners stick together in what you call "colonies" - LOL, is because you people are just impossible to get along with. Arrogance, xenophobia, inconsiderateness, desperation for a sense of importance/authority, etc. All countries have their problems and bad people, but Spain is just on another level.
Very good post mi amigo.
@@susanaescriba977Not really, bit of an exaggeration. They live there mainly because the weather is so much better
Well, the last part of your comment ruined all the excellent points that you made before
"Let's be fair, and those who really cannot or do not want to adapt in Spain, just as they found the door open to enter, have it open to leave" Let's take in consideration that this is a foreigner leaving his life in Spain for good or bad. You also mentioned "foreigners" as a factor , well. In 2021, more Spaniards emigrated from Spain than immigrated to the country. in 2022, the same thing happened again, as in the previous year with around 141,000 Spaniards leaving Spain.
@@giggles8458 First of all, I don't think I've ruined anything by giving that example of open doors. One has the freedom to seek his happiness wherever he goes and just as he arrives at a place in search of happiness, it is totally understandable that he can leave that place if he does not find it. What you cannot do is blame a country and its people for being one way or another. It is the immigrant who has to adapt and not the other way around. An example is myself, I went to the United Kingdom with some goals and left there once they had been achieved. Never blame anyone for anything and try to integrate as quickly as possible. Regarding what you say about emigrants, your data doesn’t look very real to me , I pass on these data from the National Institute of Statistics: “The population of Spain increased by 34,110 people during 2021
and stood at 47,432,805 inhabitants as of January 1, 2022
The positive migration balance of 148,677 people offset the
negative vegetative balance of 113,023 people
Region of Murcia (0.63%), Comunitat Valenciana (0.50%) and the Canary Islands
(0.36%) experienced the greatest population growth
The resident population in Spain increased by 34,110 people during 2021 and
It stood at 47,432,805 inhabitants as of January 1, 2022.
After six consecutive years of growth, the population reaches a new maximum since
beginning of the series.”
I am in the countryside in Alicante about 20 minutes from coast , lovely beaches, sunny again today. I find the Spanish very friendly that I know, I learnt Spanish at the official school of languages in Alicante.
All my neighbours (5) are Spanish and give me figs and lemons. I give them almonds.
Its what you are saying thats important, in whatever language. Some like to practice a bit of their English so I let them.
I showed a boat to a broker yesterday and he was from the Punjab spoke Spanish perfectly. I prefer to speak Spanish and Im in Spain !
Off to the gym today mostly Spanish, some Romanians, Ruissians, Latvians, Ukrainians in big Unanizations.
A mixture on the coast here.
I prefer being here than Bournemouth England mainly because of the weather, people , food, better prices, wine, veg, historic churches etc.
but also go back every few months.
Where do you live?
Alicante and Denia my favourite place
Very rare to hear such honest comments from expats - exposing the elephant in the room. Normally, as regards UK expats, they defend Spain to the hilt - to a fault. Many of the ones I know have burned their bridges behind them in the uk (unintentionally) and cant afford to go back - so they slag of the UK and praise spain to high heaven. I have a holiday home in Spain but live in the UK and am totally fluent in Spanish (through learning and practicing hard). Im so embarrassed for the vast majority of my fellow brits in spain who simply cant be bothered to learn the lingo (even slightly). A great honest exposé of the reality of Spain's problems and shortcomings - that non-many expats will admit.
You make some valid points there. Maybe 'expats' who only ever praise Spain have never really had to look into any of it.
You actually have to integrate a bit to be in a position to moan about stuff. I have kids in school and there are things that I like and things that I don't like about the education system.
What I'm starting to realise is that stuff that affects me and my family doesn't just affect us but affects lots of families both Spanish and foreign. So I think we're are entitled to our opinions positive and negative and I will voice both. And local people will tell me if they agree or disagree and I get a bit of both but never anything nasty.
I tend to find that as long as you're not too biased for one side or the other and try take a balanced view, a lot of people are actually pleased that you're taking an interest in the issues facing the country. And that's when people open up a bit and tell you what they think as well.
And that's where the language really comes into play, e.g. can you read the paper?, can you get the gist of what they're saying on the radio? And then you can learn a bit and try and talk to people about it.
As for the people that always slag off Britain or wherever they're from, I can't stand it. Neither a flag waver nor a flag burner be, is my motto.
Also local people are not impressed by these foreigners either. When I lived in Kazakhstan a few American colleagues where vociferously telling anyone in earshot some 'hometruths' about the US. When they had left the staffroom, a couple of Kazakh colleagues came up to me, they were a bit shocked tbh, and asked, 'What do they say about Kazakhstan behind our backs?!'.
I think local folks actually look to us sometimes for a bit of rhyme and reason, and we should try to give that!
Anyway it's good that we have Stu to keep us on the straight and narrow!
Perth is calling you!😮
Some people who move to Spain from my country have the same problem. They sold their properties quit job to move to Spain which means they have no way back.
But extremely bias and purely personal
UK immigrant nots expats.
Hi, you have just described England except in Spain it doesn’t rain every week , try living in England for a few months and you will be begging to get back to Spain .
I live in UK and I need to admit that what he says resembles a lot with UK !
Waiting 2 months for GP appointment !
I lived one year in Birmingham, after one year I was so happy to move out of uk, I wouldn’t live there for any money, even if I could earn so much, very sad is that many poles and other immigrants work there for minimum wage 😅
He's Australian, so why would be live in UK?
@@wojciechzudro1301Do you think Birmingham is representative of the whole country?
@@agadoin no but I just say what I saw
When I was living in El Puerto de Santa Maria, I asked my friend why she got excited about the upcoming feria, considering it's an annual event. She responded, "You don't understand. Sometimes the feria is the only time of the year when we get together with our family and celebrate." It all made sense after that.
I don't know what mythical land you came from, but this sounds just like everywhere else!
😂😂😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂 totally
LOLLLLLL
Absolutely! Christmas. Easter. Glastonbury or Nottinghill carnival (for some). Marathon. London to Brighton bike ride. I can go on. Like groundhog year.
I've been living in the states for 30 years. I'm from spain. Every time they hear my accent it is the same. They try to avoid talking to me.
The reason not to move to Spain greatly depends on the country you're not happy with and want to leave.
Well, that's part of the problem. People going to Spain for those reasons have got it wrong. Do they honestly believe that Spain will be the remedy to all of their problems? That's pure fantasy and delusion. It's one thing going to Spain on vacation and another trying to live and make a living in the place.
@@coffermartin77 we moved to fuerteventura.
Problem solved
@@susanaescriba977 Sí, soy consciente de que Fuerteventura, dentro de las Islas Canarias, es una comunidad autónoma de España. La cuestión es que residimos principalmente aquí y para nosotros dos nuestras vidas son mejores. Hay motivos para no vivir en España o el Reino Unido. Todo depende de cuáles sean sus preferencias, incluida su salud diaria, que es un punto importante para nosotros.
@@susanaescriba977 ❤️👍🔥🌡
@@madplanet3351do you guys have problem with refugees ?
Interesting thoughts Stu... I have spent a load of time in Spain since about 2008 but never really wanted to get residency for most of the reasons you mention. Love visiting Spain for many reasons - loads of positive for visiting but not to live permanently.
Believe it or not Spain seems to be way better than my current place, Greece. We have the same cons only that the salary here is around 500 to 700€ per month but our prices are 200% up than Spain. I see the prices of similar supermarkets we both have like Lidl and I can't believe how much more we pay for the same things, except olive oil. Here is still a bit cheaper than there. Less than 10€ for a liter.
we lived in Greece before moving to Spain, and yes it's much cheaper here in many ways, also the tax system is much better and the property prices are ridiculously cheaper.
Olive oil very much depends on the area right now, the price is going crazy!
Spain had that miserable salary and those prices 10 years ago
Hope your cold is better soon. Good video and accurate. My wife has 12 brothers and sisters and we are constantly going to family events. At first it was a little overwhelming for me but now I've grown to look forward to these events. As my Spanish language skills improve, they become more interesting.
I aggre with you , I spend 1 week each month in my home in Spain and 2 months in the summer , for the last 20 years , luckily for me I wouldn’t need to work in Spain , if I did I wouldn’t move there , perfect for people with a decent pension and an Irish passport 😊, move back and forth as much as you like and get the best of both worlds. That’s how I do it anyway 🇪🇸
Irish passport? Lucky you!
Como extranjero viviendo en España al escuchar tus observaciones sobre el país, me cuesta entender las razones que desde tantos años te obligan vivir en este país (quitando la mujer y, supongo, el sol). Tiene que ser una verdadera pesadilla. Tus observaciones sobre el tener que aprender el castellano solo podría venir un ingles porque creo que a ningún español ( ... y no solo) se le ocurriría irse a vivir a Inglaterra confiando de no tener si o si que aprenderse ingles para integrarse. Quizás es a raíz de eso que te cuesta tener amistades locales, piénsatelo ...!
Totalmente, es que es alucinante , y se queda tan ancho, y todos los borregos dándole la razón.🤦♂️
Les molesta que queramos a nuestras familias 😂😂
"Spain is different" used to be the motto of the Spanish tourist authorities in the 60s, in the deep years of the dictatorship. What you describe, which I confirm after having lived in four EU countries in the last 40 years and recently returned to Spain, means that Spain is no longer different; some of the negative points that you describe I easily overcome: I avoid crowds, I avoid having a Spanish wife with an extended family and I don't talk about politics with anyone; I'm retired now, so I don't have to deal with all the other problems you correctly describe either. My personal conclusion is that Spain is still a good place to live if you are a rentier, that has not changed; otherwise, Spain is no longer better than most other places in the EU, although it still has good weather, food and private health services. All the best.
Agree 😁
Agree
Hang in there Stuart we all have bad days. We all love you, Spain and Spanish.
Obviously every country has its own language. You want English in Spain...🤔Is it possible to speak Spanish in Perth, Australia on a daily basis?🙄
Interesting. BTW a a 'rentier' is...a person who lives on income from rent or investments. What about your social life? Do you have Spanish friends?
As a former migrant to Australia (I lived in Brisbane for 14 years) I find your comment about people in Spain not trying to understand people with a low level of Spanish quite irritating; This is precisely what I found in Australia on too many occasions. People who did nothing to understand you or looked at you with contempt calling you a "wog" or worse. You can find nasty people like that everywhere. In general, people in Spain are hospitable towards foreigners and appreciate and try to understand when they try to speak the language, no matter their language level.
As an Italian living in Australia, I couldn’t have said this better myself! 100% with you!! And I’m watching this video as I’d love to leave Australia and finding out if Canary Island would be a good option for me..
@@IlariaMullerlas islas canarias es precioso aunque caro para vivir
I migrated to Sydney, Australia, 8 years ago, and I agree completely with you.
Agreed. Former Scot in Barcelona.
Fantastic post Stuart, my son lives in Spain and I’ve lived in Portugal for about 15 years and spend some time visiting Spain, your comments are so correct
I don't like crowds either, Spain is completely empty, there are simply no crowds in places away from those that attract the crowds😂. Go to the España vaciada and avoid the popular holiday destinations.
@@simonsena1378awesome reply😂
As a Spaniard I have to confess that the second point made me laugh a lot. And I would like to contextualize to let people understand when we use that expression.
"Ir a tu pvt4 bola" we use it when for example you are going against the rest of the majority. Like a fish that swims agains the direction of the rest of fish.
For example in an hipothetical world where majority decides to:
- Use a very easy, fast, practical, effective and efficient way to measure; but you prefer to use a 800 years old adn archaic system to do it, based in the size of an arm, finger, or even something so random like a barleycorn to determine the size of the shoes.
- Like in the example of the fish... you can imagine the same point in that hypothetical world but with roads.
- Or the same obviously about the driving sides in the cars.
- Or if you decide to join a country party, but you wanna keep having your own money.
But all that in a hypothetical world...
But yes, remember that are spaniards ,only spaniards and nobody else, who "van a su su bola".
As a Spanish person living in the United Kingdom for a few years now, I completely share your opinion regarding how challenging it is to integrate into society and the language barrier that comes with it. It also affects me, and I believe these are aspects that impact any expatriate. However, yes, you are right in your observations about Spanish society.
I never integrated with the Dutch. 4 yrs, then went back to uk.
@@gardenroom65Yeah, if you don't speak Dutch, you'll always be an outsider.
Y qué vas a volver o te quedas por allá? Ganas mucho más que en Madrid/Bcn tu ciudad española???
You are giving negative reasons to not live in Spain that are typical in any city in any Country. I live in Los Angeles and what you're talking about is nothing compared to how difficult things can be here. I have spent a lot of time in Spain, don't speak fluent Spanish and I have never had anyone be rude to me. Sometimes that has to do with the negative vibe a person gives off.
Been here in Spain since 2000 no problems for me I learned Spanish and abit of Catalán as well. And in Spain when in the USAF in 1980 - 82..
This is my thought exactly. I live in Florida and I won’t even discuss the ignorant people and messed up politics we deal with non-stop. Spanish is my native language but my husband is American and our experience is Spain has been great. Considering making the move permanently with eyes wide open because no place is perfect, but anything will be an upgrade from Florida.
Spot on. Living in any mayor city in the world will get you these issues, speaking from someone who used to live in Buenos Aires. Been living in Cáceres for a year (2 hours from Madrid) and every bad thing he mentioned I can say for sure it doesn't apply here (ofc everyone might have different experiences, but once again, big cities are different)
Interesting. Thanks.
As a French, I just made it to Spain to have a look around and understand whether I should move here or not.
In our village it doesnt matter that we dont speak fluently but accept us and are friendly and helpful. Been here 23 yrs.and have no problems at all. Xx
Its same in UK. Xx
That's been my experience too love it. One's own attitude is paramount 😊
23 years wow, have you been taking lessons? When you say not fluent what level a1-c2 would you put yourself at?
Hi Stuart, All of your points are valid, but I think compounded by the fact you live in Madrid. I have lived in a smaller city in inland Alicante ( 60,000) for 14 years. We get very few tourists, and while prices have gone up, it's still way more affordable than other European cities. While I always look forward to taking the AVE to Madrid but once I am there, I can't wait to leave as it's just too busy. Hope you feel better!
Thanks
I love the routine and traditions. My daughter, who is British, love routines and traditions. It is just what we love doing.
Well as a spaniard in highschool the taught us to respect the tourist , and do not disturb the tourist for the simple reason that The tourist industry is our main sector , as for english now in spanish school they have the language assistant program so many classes are only in english ,the younger generation are better at english and french that the previous one , as for unfriendly spaniards maybe is due to the economic problems that we are facing , high inflation in food and in the spanish politics , as for learning spanish , is an easy lanfñguag for english speakers , and spoken in 22 countries ( including the United States in wich is the second language ) I know Scots , Irish and americans that speak perfect spanish , also learning a new language prevents Alzheimer and other memory deceases. SPAIN is still a friendly country in spite of it's problems.
Your admirable defence of your country is misguided
great vid stu!imust say we still thank the stars we came to tenerife! we came to the north of the island after 25 years in the touristy south! not a lot of english spoken in our town but when we make the effort to speak spanish we find that local shops etc, really apreciate our efforts to speak spanish!our only regret is not learning it sooner! we have lovely neighbours that dont speak any english! why should they!its up to us to imerse our selves in this lovely canarian culture!!❤
I’m Spanish living in England and I really appreciate your honesty.
There are places in Quebec, Canada where if you don't speak their dialect of French they won't speak to you either. That's just how some people are. As far as the burocracy goes, yes, that is what I am least looking forward to having to deal with once we get to Spain! Regarding online services abroad, the US Visa website kicks you out every few minutes while you are completing the application regardless of your activity on the site, so Spain isn't the only country with online services that are lacking.
C pas si pire que ca. Oui il y a du monde fermer dans certains région, mais toutes les pays ont une population similaire. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy Spain and all its wonders.
You can take the Frenchman out of France, but...
@@TB-us7el Quebecois is based on Norman French (Jacques Cartier) and crew who came over about 350-400 years ago. It's like speaking Shakespearean English! Nothing like Modern day French French. (I lived in Canada for 40 years.)
@@geoffjenkins1487 I was speaking of mindset more than the language, but that was interesting information I wasn't aware of, thanks.
Nevada must be a part of Spain because so much of what isn't great about Spain is also true about here. It took nearly six months for me to renew my drivers license, rents have increased dramatically, jobs don't pay enough for anyone to buy a home & whenever there's an annual event, there are LOTS of people taking up space mostly to be seen & not because of any real interest in the event. And through it all, it's family, family, family.
The problem with Stuart is he needs to relocate, with or without his wife 😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂@@mariabarco7226
Many sheep herders went from Spain to Nevada and New Mexico about 150 years ago!
Great video,most people judge Spain as a cheap sunny place but that’s normally because there on holiday there,keep the videos coming and have a peaceful xmas and new year all the best ,steve from Leeds uk
As a native spanish following your channel for years I can fully agree with your points. People in Spain are getting colder day by day (though not so family oriented lately).
That being said, you are welcome again to Chinchon so we have some tapas together. I wish I could make you feel like at home.
Cheers to my dearest foreigner in Spain. Thanks for your channel and your effort.
If you go to Australia they insult you, never mind cold!😂😂😂
@@mariabarco7226 I'm Aussie. I don't recommend it here haha
Mate, if you hadn't mentioned you talk about Spain, I could have sworn you talk about Germany! It is absolutely the same in almost every regard.
The spaniers are more friendly than the germans.😂😂😂
Refreshingly honest video. Thanks Stewart.
Thanks for the video Stu, it really made us laugh 😂
We live in Spain too and everything you said rang so true. Great work 👍🏼
I found this vid quite amusing. Thanks for putting it together.
finally, thank you so much for an honest opinion! have been in spain for eight months and my observations perfectly match yours.
Well done Stu great video very honest and I agree with a lot of your points
Thanks Shaun. You didn't mention one more thing that bothers me about moving to Spain and that's the squatter issue. It blows my mind to think the someone could take my home away from me simply by breaking in and if I wasn't quick enough (maybe I was away) I would have little recourse to the government basically support the squatters.
That’s absolutely ridiculous law😢
Whilst I take your point, I'd like to know who Shaun is.
That's very overblown by the right win party. It's rare.
h-Z , it’s a massive risk !
but this Socialist policies are coming to the whole of the West….
@@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420 ?
Appreciate all your detailed thoughts, sir. Thanks. :)
Stu, thank you for being so candid and revealing. I have been to Spain in various opportunities and have some Spanish friends. However I had noticed (inconsciously) practically all the aspects of Spanish life that you have mentioned here, but no one seemed to bring them up. I am glad I can now also get them off my chest. Cheers!
Completely agree with everything you’ve said. We lived in Valencian community for 16 years , we speak total fluent Spanish but could never make good Spanish friends. We always say to people two weeks holiday in Spain is totally different from living there. When you speak the language you know what’s going on and it’s not always a good thing. It can be very stressful living there with the bureaucracy. Good programme ,we have been waiting for you to tell it as it is.
I was practically in the same boat and only ever made one good Spanish friend in 10 years who didn't want to use me for a free English lesson. I left for many of the same reasons
I went to Spain on September and I was there for a month and I made 2 friends , I would like to get back soon, my first language as a Mexican is SPANISH. SPANIARDS ARE LOVELY PEOPLE.
I feel that all countries are suffering post Covid, the loss of liberty has hardened the social attitude, sad but true. Coupled with the economic situation, how many do you know who are in debt, credit card especially, with large interest charges. Finally, the politicians have not lead by example, rather do as I say and not what I do. Great video 😊
Spot on. I am dual nationality native to both UK and Spain (Dad travelled all the time), with a house in both countries. Speak native english and spanish. My education is UK and Spain, with a university degree in each country. Used to travel backwards and forwards, to live and work. Stopped completely 2017, when my neighborhoods got hostile, both countries.
Now I just live and work in London, waiting for the recent unpleasantness to go away.
what do you attribute this unpleasantness to?
Hi you must be feeling really ruff this week . as to a lot of your comments don't visit France or Belgium and the UK. will really piss you off. cheers Andy, Feliz Navidad to you and your family
Loved seeing outside your car windows; pretty areas.
I'm an introvert so I couldn't care less if I was accepted or not (I hope that doesn't sound rude). Of course, if I was attempting to conduct business and got push back that would be annoying. I can see spending a couple of months in Spain, we're not ready to become expats (yet).
Our first trip to Europe earlier this year took us to Bilbao, Cadiz, Motril, Ibiza, Mallorca and Barcelona. All of them felt very safe. Bilbao is very pretty (love the river running through town), Cadiz felt a little like here (San Diego), Motril felt quiet (which I like), Ibiza is for young people, Mallorca (Palma) is just gorgeous (and I love islands anyway) and Barcelona has too many people and the air quality bothered my lungs.
Buenos noches! :)
You had me at: "Low salaries and bad working conditions...unfriendly wait-staff" My wife is from Madrid, we met there while I was attending my brother's wedding. We got married, but she keeps hinting at moving there, but I've done a lot of research and I have serious doubts about moving there. I don't mind visiting 2-3 times a year though. Having a good salary and working for a great company gives me most doubts. Plus I've talked to plenty Spaniards and they all complaint about their working conditions and crappy salaries.
Be honest Stuart, did you look up the fares for a one-way ticket to Australia right after shooting this video? 🤣🤣
That just reminded me of my Mum on her death bed scolding my Dad for not moving to New Zealand in the 60's. Instead they moved to Spain...😅
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Naughty
😮😂@@Susanj2001
😂At the moment, I have been looking into moving to Gijón and just checked rent prices in Terrassa . Have got the shock of my life a 100 square metre flat with 4 bedrooms (quite small) and 1 bathroom, the rent was 1,250€ and not a central area. In the Centre of Terrassa about same type of flat goes for around 2,500€!!! Who can pay that when you are lucky to earn about 1,200€ a month!!! Crazy!!!
Catalunya is the most expensive region in Spain and, in my opinion, not worth the candle considering the high prices.
That's because of speculation due to expats and tourist rentals. Locals have already been outpriced of the housing market by foreign vulture funds.
100% agree with you Stu, the routine is so regimental and the lack of spontaneity is unbelievable. Re the language, again no matter how well/correctly we speak Spanish we are often greeted by vacant looks until eventually they repeat the first thing we said, so frustrating. We don't correct them when mistakes are made.. Agree with a lot of the comments, Spain is changing and will no longer be our forever home 😢
Creativity too.
There's no perfect place on earth, cheers 🥂🍾😂
@@queva3062 Unless you meet most Spaniards. They'll tell you that Spain is the greatest country in the world.
@@coffermartin77 There are some Swedish people that might rival that attitude, thinking that everything Sweden does is perfect and the Swedish method (I still don't really know what that means) is better than sliced bread.
@@SvengelskaBlondie😄 Ah, the good old Swedish exceptionalism: "in Sweden we have child leave for fathers", "in Sweden we have superior covid strategies, based on science", "in Sweden we show the world how to tackle climate-change" etc, etc.
You have put a smile on my face. I am Spanish, and especially in the first part that you have mentioned about language, if people is really friendly or just they pretend, customer services, routine, .. It is exactly how I feel, but in my case is living here, in the UK, I do not know what it is, but I feel exactly in the same way... and it is something that I feel more now than when I arrived here 17 years ago. I do not know if before I did not notice, or it is just not getting better with the time, I believe it is the second one, UK is changing a lot in different ways.... with the rest, I totally agreed with you, I do not like crows, big family things, or loudly people, and I prefer do not talk about job or opportunities in Spain. If in the first part I fell like you, about jobs and opportunities. I do have to thanks British people that they have gave me the chances that I never got in my own country.. still, my plan is move back to Spain in few months, for other reasons :) but I really thank you to help me to see what I can expect and what unfortunately it has not change ..
Since the referendum, the UK has changed a lot. I am British and disabled. So from a personal perspective, I have noticed people being nasty to me, but I also see British people being horrible to anyone they perceive as "foreign", whether they are genuinely foreign, or born here. Since I have a dark skin I also get some of this, too. Lucky me! We were in La Rioja and the basque region over summer and there is a little of this in Spain, too, but not as much as here. Where I went, it is plain they don't really like tourists, although they like their money - but then, they don't like Spanish tourists, either. Or strangers. Or people from the next town. 😆
Customer service
The internet has re-wired our sense of relating to others, or should I say lack of relating to others. more and more it keeps growing, the sense of not communicating with the person next to us, just look at Alexa" how insidiously became the norm to have a talk with a robot.
smile more, moan less, it is a foreign country. we drove up through uk, motorways were terrible so very crowded, driving through spain on motorways north to south an absolute delight.
people here have been pleasant and helpful, food great. weather mostly very good. life is what you make of it. huge country find a bit that suits you best, moving to spain is a choice, staying here is a choice.
why did you want to leave your home country in the first place? do you stay or do you go? you have the freedom to choose.
your reply sounds like one of those builders "cheer up love, it might never happen" . PATRONISING! @@angelasims2759
You had some valid points... (low salaries, high taxes, the cost of living rising, the difficulty of doing business with Spain, and the fact that creativity is not always encouraged because, "this is how we've always done it..:" or, "this is how it's done in Spain" - I've gotten both). I don't think that the issue with (some) locals possibly not wanting to speak to a person because that individual speaks differently than they do is something that is solely related to Spain. Also, it's done between Spaniards, e.g., the people of northern Spain poke fun at the way that people of southern Spain speak to the point where I've heard them say, "I don't understand what they say..." And you know that is not true because it's the same language, so the foundation of the language is the same. It's good that you share these things so that people moving to Spain are aware that it's not all unicorns and rainbows (or sangrías and flamenco).
As I understand, not all Spanish is identical. There's Castillean ('Spanish Spanish?), Valenceano, Catalan, Galician and Andalucian, plus island spanish from the Balearics and Canaries. Therefore it's quite possible that one party doesn't fully understand the other.
@@geoffjenkins1487Euskera in Basque Country also
Oh dear Stuart, it sounds like you were having a bad day. I could have sworn you were describing the UK for much of what you were saying 😄Of course, we tend not to be very family oriented when it comes to our extended families and we've definitely become less friendly towards each other, especially if you live in the bigger towns. And as for everyone crowding together, you should try visiting Brighton during the August Bank Holiday - you'd hate it! As for the language barrier, I'm from the south-east so have difficulty understanding any of my fellow Brits who live north and west of London (my fault not theirs). So, all in all, I should be right at home in Spain! 🤣
Love your videos x
😂
My first thought was the same, Stu having a bad day, being a bit grumpy, although to be fair he did warn us this was the case at the beginning of the video.
@@duncaninglis3806 / Is always grumpy!
Well and there you go, that was a bit of a downer but good for people to know these things if you want to come here. I always recommend to people come for three months before deciding to move here or anywhere. I live in a big city for sure and it has big city rules. But I also lived in the US East coast and people would avoid eye contact in the elevator of my building and never say hello unless you were deliberate about saying hello and it seemed painful for them to respond, Anyway, my point is no place is perfect and you make the best of it. Learn Spanish and some of your other local language. I was surprise how many people opened up to me when I started using Catalan. Our neighbors are busy but wonderful and helpful and all local except for one. Our friends are both from Spain and International. Either way is fine with me. It is normal for people to have only hung out with the same people since kindergarten to be w little distant. Try being new in Boise ,Idaho or Provo, Utah and not be Mormon. But whatever you choose to do, humanity and each other is all we have. Our lives are so short, too short not to find contentment. Wherever you are be kind anyway, do some good anyway, and some may reject you but more are going to open up. As for extended family, unfortunately most of my family has passed, so if you have some that love you or put up with you enjoy it, it beats doom scrolling. As for politics ugh, many countries are polarized. Love people anyway, stay away from those things you can’t do a thing about, otherwise it’s like the weather everyone talks about it but don’t do thing about it. Enjoy your life be open to at least to say hello to people, help the old people at the market, they know all the good gossip in town, be kind to the young ones. Then one day they will unexpectedly give you a big hug. It sounds too positive I suppose, but it is this way or be sad and angry all the time and that is for sure lonely in any country.
Bcn here & I'm with you 💯🤗
Glad you realised about the importance of learning the local language. That's the key to open hearts in many regions of Spain (learning Spanish doesn't work in the same way at all). It's what inspires trust in people and makes them see you as an equal. Otherwise you'll always be seen as a tourist not to be bothered about.
i agree with you after 6 years living there, not frendy people, i found this when shopping in bars ,
Having lived in Spain for more than 35 years, I do agree with you and your analysis of the cons you have presented. The ones that bother me most are the lack of community feeling/spirit and the economic aspects. It is becoming harder and harder to lead a decent life in Spain but I still love this country and would find it very difficult to move back to Britain or to France which is even more bureaucratic than Spain!!!
lack of community feeling/spirit?
Usually,.for family oriented societies have little community spirht. They tend to be low trust societies where people are suspicious of others. Therefore, one must depend on the family.
Think the UK is far from bureaucratic. You can renew your passport without paying in cash, you can setup a company and trade with ease, pay less tax, earn higher salary, get a contract for your job rather than relying on trust. Sounds like you have become accustomed with red tape as the norm. I can assure you have tried both the UK wins hands down on this front. Would only consider Spain as a place to live without working and in all honesty I would never live there.
@@garethsmith1436 Am retiring in September 2024 so kind of "stuck" in Spain, which I don't mind. On the contrary... as a foreigner and then a citizen in Spain, it has always been easy for me to to.find a job, even at university level, which would have been impossible in France. True, much easier in Britain but had to always wait for the fatídic 21 days before getting any possible job. Gave up on that as in Spain had no problem with those waiting days as a foreigner!
Most of those reasons apply to most countries in the West, and things are far, far worse in many of those countries. For example, things are so bad here in the UK, they make your list of reasons not to move to Spain seem unimportant by comparison!
How long have you lived in Spain?
I think if you move to Spain you would find how they behave VERY different to English people. They seem to have little to no concept of a queue or volume control. For Spanish, this is no problem, for someone from UK or Northern Europe, probably not so good.
Good video but I'm wondering how have you been able to survive decades there?
I'm going to go with medication lol
@@paradoxparade1
He did well at staying in the closet up until just lately!! ❤
Hi Stuart. Something that, perhaps, you could have mentioned : through 9 years of Winter caravaning in Spain we have found Spaniards to be rather noisy. This isn't just mine and my wife's opinions, on a campsite a couple of weeks ago the manager told us that she discourages Spaniards from coming because they make too much noise, which is offputting for other nationalities - and don't forget, that was said by a Spaniard !!
Oh, you should not go to Spain if you don’t like Spanish people 🙂
We really like Spanish people, we find them friendly and helpful, just a bit noisy. Don't forget my comment originally came from a Spanish lady.@@mariabarco7226
Stuart touched on this in one of videos. He mentioned how Spaniards scream at one another just in conversation in restaurants. He even commented his children were beginning to do the same. While it is part of the culture, ex-pats may or may not get used to it. As a senior,, American, I want my peace and quiet, no barking dogs to wake me up at night and certainly do not want to hear my neighbors - what ever they may be doing. As an American, we have laws - noise ordinances that help with a quieter environment. Before emigrating to another country, this is one of my biggest concerns, accepting that difference. Think most Americans look at it as just a consideration for others, respecting others. Other cultures may not see it this way. I personally value my peace and quiet- a lot-- in my blood so to speak.
The family part I think just revolves around Latin families period. You don’t have to live in Spain to have that issue. My dad is 94 and i still always have the struggle of putting boundaries with him even though he doesn’t even understand my boundary. Lots of Latin families want to control, control and it’s a constant battle. No joke!
Thank you Stew for letting us know the good with the bad when it comes to living in Spain.
It is a living nightmare having a partner who’s mother is over controlling and wants everyone to do it her way. These are Italians I am talking about 😂.
@@ivadelasse7738 My family is from Mexico and it’s the same way. Even older siblings are the same. It gets out of control 🤦🏽♀️Nightmare is the right word you used.
@@Toltecgrl I am Mexican, but I grew up in a very open minded family and I live abroad, so all these family shenanigans drive me crazy. 🤪
@@ivadelasse7738 The same deal with Spanish families. Very controlling mothers. It's actually a sickness which family members are too scared to speak out against.
@@coffermartin77 yes, very true. My grandma was like that with my father.
You are right, and you don't have to be from another country to experience all these frustrating things. Housing is unaffordable, salaries a disaster, etc.
Just for you to know, many Spanish people like me also agree with your points of view.
As a Spaniard with British nationality who returned "home " after many years abroad l agreed with you 100%+++
Eres muy valiente 😉👏👏
Can spanish citizens become uk citizens....? Does spain allow this ?
@@jasbindersingh2441 yes it does, many of us (Spanish) living in UK hold both passports
@@Missnoelia74Insubordinación Fundante, Marcelo Gullo. El por qué mejor que no parecerse a los anglos.
ahora por decir 4 cosas que opinas, de forma honesta y muy diplomática ya eres un VALIENTE? Pero en qué mundo vivimos??
I doubt UK is better, after 17 years living in London. What are you talking about?
Stu, I'm planning on retiring soon. Thinking of moving to Spain from California (USA). I speak Spanish, not perfect Castellano, but enough to understand and conversate. Any recommendations on living in the city (Madrid) or the outskirts? I'm projecting my retirement to be around 13,500-15,000 USD a month. Also, do you recommend on purchasing or leasing a vehicle? My other options are Barcelona, Mallorca, or Ibiza... Most of Spain has similar weather as my current home. My goal is to live in Spain 6-7 months a year.. Any recommendations or guidance would be greatly appreciated. CJ.
Go to live in Malaga (Andalusia), southern Spain, there is a large English-speaking community in the city. Malaga is a beautiful city with a beach. Andalusia, the cradle of flamenco, is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, there are diverse climates, beaches, mountains, snow, it is a paradise on earth. In Andalusia there are famous cities throughout the world with a lot of history, culture and excellent food. , historic cities such as Seville, Córdoba, Cádiz, Granada, Huelva, Jaén and Almería. We Andalusians are a very friendly people towards foreigners. In Andalusia for 13,500-15,000 USD per month you can live like a king. Watch videos of Malaga and Andalucia, greetings.
I really dont understand how having the same town fiestas every year at the same time is bad? Its literally like any holiday anywhere?? The Carnival in Rio, the 4th of July in the US, any tradition anywhere, they all happen every year at the same time?
As someone who has moved to Spain from another country I can agree with most of what you said. I suppose that every country will be different and I do not expect every one to be the same. I have lived in 5 different countries (for at least 2 years) and many others for shorter visits. I find Spain somewhere toward the lower end in my personal rankings. I find the people somewhat very high on the scale of being rude. It isn't just to foreigners, but to everybody. My daughter who lives here too keeps telling me it is "just a cultural thing" and is not a "bad" thing. I disagree. Much of what you said points to that direction. The criticism of language skills, political opinions and the "do your own thing" attitude just foster a culture of being a bit selfish. That "do your own thing" attitude can get a little tiring. For example: throwing your trash in the street because it is too much trouble to walk the 3 meters to a trash can, pushing others aside to be the first on the bus, or a group of people gathering to talk while blocking the entire sidewalk and not caring that someone has to step into the street to get around them is just rude or a lack of manners. I also find it hard to make friends here. Maybe it is just me or my experiences, but making friends with Spanish people has been a struggle. I have tried many ways to meet people and have had some temporary luck at the time, but suggesting a continuance beyond that time is often met with a " we will see" and then nothing. It is frustrating when I want to practice the Spanish that I am learning in class and can't do it outside transactions in a store or bar. I will have to disagree with you, at least partially, on the cost of living. Outside of the axis of Madrid/Barcelona/Seville things are not that bad. Where I live, Zaragoza, even being a larger city, I find is reasonable. The differences can be quite large. Housing in Madrid is just crazy. Prices are at least double, or more, from where I live. It is the curse of large cities. The US has the same problem with New York, Miami and all of California being just as overpriced. Food here is much less expensive (although that is changing) and public transit is very cheap. I won't even get into the fact that most Spaniards are underpaid and overworked and that may be a factor in where the society is today. Don't get me wrong, I really like Spain, but many days the good is sometimes outweighed by the less than good.
Exactly! People attributing Spanish rudeness as "just a cultural thing" is a total cop out. In any language or culture, that's just pure rudeness. Usually, uneducated people would those things like throw trash on the street or not cleaning their dog's poo droppings. It's apathetic behaviour and foreigners should not excuse this deplorable behaviour to curry favour with the Spanish locals. Call it for what it is.
I am not agree in a few things with you sir, and only will say that if you want to see people drinking and throwing all types of garbage to the floor you can just visit places as Manresa,Benidorm or Palma.you’ll see people (not spanish)doing it all the time.
@@susanaescriba977 hola Susana. No era Manresa? Pues me habré equivocado de lugar, me refería a un pueblo en la costa catalana que es famoso por los ingleses borrachos haciendo balconing.
@@jmg3344/ You should go to Manchester on a Friday night!
@@mariabarco7226😂😂😂😂
Hey Stuart. Like your videos but I’m afraid the best thing about this one was the ad for Nord vpn. We’ve lived in a town of 11,000 in Andalusia for 7 years and find the people friendly, the lifestyle great and of course the weather is fantastic. Yes, there are frustrations with red tape etc., but that’s the same everywhere. Compared to what I see of the UK at the moment Spain is sooo much better. Okay, we took early retirement and don’t need to work so those related difficulties don’t apply to us but I’d still rather be here than anywhere else. You were one of the convincers when we decided to move here, watching your early videos, so I’m disappointed that this vid is so negative. I’m going to put it down to the fact that you’re under the weather and you live in Madrid 😀
That's your opinion but i see much more people agreeing with Stu's video than disagreeing. Both my parents are Spanish and i support Stu 100% with the points he made.
@@coffermartin77 thank you so much for allowing me my opinion. It wasn’t an attack on Stu, merely a balance to his points.
Its important to speak freely on all sides.
Refreshingly honest opinion as always. It’s difficult to find like minded people even in one’s own country, it must be so much more difficult in a foreign country without mixing in an expat community. Traditions, nuances, accents etc all means so much even without us consciously thinking about them. I come from a really tough low income area in the north of England, never had any trouble. Couldn’t say the same for anyone crossing the boundary from neighbouring districts.
How come you did the video while driving? It was interesting though.
As Canadian that has been travelling to Spain 2-3 times a year for the last 20 years, this has not been my experience, perhaps it’s time for you to move back to the UK?
Honestly! Complaining about the family values, that’s because they don’t have any! Go back home and make your kids pay rent in your own house, as it’s so common in the UK…if you are looking for negative things that’s what you’re gonna find. There is no perfect country, and a lot of things depend on the perspective. The vibe alone that’s coming from him in this video is evidence enough why everyone is not friendly to him, because he’s jus fundamentally not happy within
@@rina2418 I'll be in Spain in a few weeks and can wait to get back there.
Weather is good...as an English teacher are you confident about your pronunciation of entrepreneur?
😂😂😂😂😂😂
I lived in Spain for 5 years on the costa del sol and agree with some of your points. Bureaucracy, big family gatherings but i found the spanish for the most part friendly, socialable and engaging. Got invited round by my neighbours and in the summer constantly chatting in Spanish. I retired but took up a second job in gib but crap money but it was enough to go away for a few breaks. Cost of living and lack of real job opportunity made me come back to Uk but i'll be going back again.
Similar here
@@amandaroberts5111where are you, mandy?
I am in Shropshire, UK. But l lived in Oliva, Valentin for 8 years. Where are you
@@amandaroberts5111 in Madrid outskirts......why did u go back to UK?
Because my older brother was ill and l had to take care of him
I had first hand experience with Spanish bureaucracy a year ago. Out of the blue, I received a speeding ticket in the mail, 3 months after the infraction (its justification is another matter), and had to find a way to pay it from here in Canada. Long story short, it took a further 2 months of concentrated and convoluted effort on my part to get it paid after being directed from pillar to post and back again. The over-riding cause was simply unclear payment guidance from the DGT’s English website. As I write this, I’m thinking they must figure that by making the process excruciating enough, people like me won’t do it again. Right or wrong, they’re right.
Sounding a bit quimado there pal. Have to agree on most points there though. In fairness about half of what you raise is just down to modern life, same in uk and other places. The rest well yeah it sucks, at. Least for me where i live in the south there are more positives to compensate..
Hi Stu, great vlog as usual !
I lived in Spain for 13 years, loved the weather and outdoor life, BUT like you say trying to run a business with the bureaucracy, the taxes, and the hideous social security, in the end moved back to the UK in 2013. Also, with the language, unfortunately It doesnt matter how well you speak it, you will always be regarded by the local population as a Guiri ! and I know exactly what you mean when trying to get some "customer satisfaction" and being treated like they are doing you a favour by selling to you !! A few gripes, but still love the place.
I'm a Portuguese that was born in the Algarve, and that lives in Spain now.
In this video you pointed out at the end most of the "why" sometimes people are not friendly like you expected, they may have had a bad day because life is getting hard here in Spain, and in Portugal the wages as much lower than Spain, which makes things even harder. Anyway, I've learned that if we treat the other with kindness regardless, the attitude of the other may change. Portugal and Spain are having huge housing problems, especially in big cities, and tourist regions, a considerable amount of houses changed from long-term rents to AirBNB-type businesses, leaving too few houses available on the market for people who want to go there for work, or want to live alone, on top of that, you have the people that come from all over Europe and the UK with higher wages and that can pay for an already inflated market. To give you an idea, last year a local newspaper from the Algarve announced that in the previous year, statistics showed that 1 in every 5 houses sold in the Algarve was for a Portuguese, the other 4 houses were sold to foreigners that wanted to go there for retirement, or that wanted a vacation house. I think that we should start to make laws to end this. Maybe laws like Denmark, where the only foreigners that are allowed to buy houses are people that go to the country to work and pay taxes there, no vacation housing. I hear the same problem that I see in my region, from places like Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, the Mediterranean coast of Spain... Maybe when this huge problem is solved, the people will become more friendly again.
About the language, I'm living in Spain, I work here, so I do my best to speak in Spanish, they do not have to make any effort to understand me while I speak to them in Portuguese of English, it's their own country. If I go to England, I will speak in English because it's England, but here and in Portugal, I only speak English to help a tourist or while working because I have to do it. I don't know if the English people would take too kindly having me living in England without speaking a single word in English. Yet, in Portugal and Spain, we have people living here for years that never bothered to learn the local language, because for them we have to be the ones making the effort. Usually no one takes this too kindly, and gives a very bad image to the locals.
Good video, thank you for the content.
Cheers! 🙂
Personally I fully respect and understand Spanish people's penchant for sticking to their language and rightfully so - But they're going to be left out of the main stream of Business & global way of the living. My 2 cents FWIW.
Not my experience at all. 2 years in. Live in Valencia. People are beautiful. Trying to learn the language. People help and encourage you to speak espanol. I think living in a city like Madrid, London, etc will be unwelcoming
Valencia is horrible! People start speaking Valenciano like you understand that!!
@@Cyndysuzette25 Oh my God! People speaking their own language in their own homeland!? How is that even allowed!? Shocked, I'm telling you, I'm shocked! 😮
😂😂😂😂😂 @@rafarequeni822
You sound as if you'd move elsewhere - back to Australia? - if you didn't have your family here.
I have reconsidered moving to Europe (from US) over the past few years. First, Portugal became less affordable and the bureaucratic Hoops to jump through for Residency have become much more onerous. I gathered documents for a claim to Italian Citizenship by Descent, but I can't locate my immigrant Greatgrandparents' Marriage Certificate in the US, without which I would have to claim Descent through the Greatgrandma and pretend they weren't married but 'lived in Sin' for 20 years and had 10 illegitimate Kids. It's too much weirdness.
Then I considered France, but I really have no interest in France.
But while I've been following these Bureaucratic regulations and changes - ALL of Europe seems more and more unstable and unpredictable and expensive.
The US is unstable, unpredictable and expensive too - but at least I'm HERE and don't have the trouble and expense of attempting to migrate elsewhere.
Honest video Stuart! 👍 Being from the Netherlands myself, I can hardly imagine a country's people being more individualistic, hasty and self-centered than the Dutch. I suppose modern western society is someone equal everywhere, but the first thing I notice every time I go to Spain is the general calmness, friendliness and lack of ego centric behavior in the streets. Is it the weather? I believe everything you say, but could it be that it is not such a big deal in practice? I know; it's a very subjective thing of course. My point being: Here in Holland hardly anybody seems to care about each other anymore. Besides from tiny villages perhaps. I went to Barcelona & Madrid and even had talks with random people that kindly approached me.❤🙏
with you 💯😂😂😂 positive OVER negative !! Merry Xmas 🥂🥂🍾🍾🥂🍾
I think Germany is worse,i live in rotterdam before ,i find Holland people very Nice.
Can't disagree with any of what you mentioned in the video Stu, having been to Spain on many occasions albeit on holiday, things have changed and not for the better. But it has to be said that Spain is not that different from the UK in that respect. But what has to be a positive is the quality of life with much more outdoor living and that is a big plus.
Living in the Madrid suburbs would have also impacted your opinion and maybe it is time for a move to a less of a city environment as Madrid doesn't have the best of climates. In my opinion 😅
My myself and my lovely future ex-wife we are considering moving to Vigo in a couple years. We traveled through Spain extensively over the last seven years, and we find the people very very friendly and welcoming.
shhh dont tell everybody keep it a secret. winters are wet but nowhere is perfect.👍
I just came back to oregon from 2 weeks in Madrid and I agree people were not that friendly. In fact sometimes even rude, once they hear me American accent they stop smiling
Telling it like it is , nice one Stu , it’s brought out a lot of interesting comments
Hi Stu, some things sound familiar, some could also relate to other countries. One thing that you did not mention which is a pet hate of mine, and that is the lack of punctuality. Everyone does it, even your own friends. The amount of time I have spent waiting for people in Spain, regardless whether they are tradesman or friends. It makes me angry as I find it disrespectful.
With regards to being friendly, I do find it depends in the region where you live. I find people in Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria friendly, although through the years the "Tu" seems to have taken over, even in some banks believe it or not. Another pet hate which I have, which is not regional, is that the Spanish are so loud and care not about anyone around them, day or night,
You just have to find a circle, a small one, of companions/friends that are like minded, which is hard.
Get well soon Stu, you sound a bit p155ed off today.
My husband is really taken with retiring in Spain. I looked up this video to see if there were points to talk him out of it and your cons are slightly pro for me - I'm from Seattle, we are famous for the Seattle Freeze - I like my privacy and my routines. My husband would struggle more Lol
Thanks Stu!
Language and insularity, I don't just think it's language. Brother let me tell you, coming from the US, local insularity, shines out of dialects and regional cultures. For the most part the cities are more homogenous and interchangeable culturally, hustle and bustle. But as soon as you step out of a city anywhere, you're going to be treated like an outsider in your own country. And I understand perfectly that that's a two way street. People from small towns comi g to the city, they're going to have a hard time adjusting to all the people that don't care about who you are, what you do, how long you've been there. I hate to say it, but it's probably like this to a degree everywhere. So this is a human problem, no doubt probably worse than other places, but being objectified and only being allowed to look in, that no doubt spans the globe. I'm getting up there in years too, things felt a lot easier on these social issues in youth, or maybe I was just a lot more oblivious when I was younger and just never noticed it. In hindsight, it absolutely had to have always been there and always has been a factor.
Interesting that the Spanish have their own version of "keep your eye on the ball" that also means "keep to yourself." Let me tell you that's true in the US and also might be indicative of human nature or our historical moment. It's many things, but remembering back to before the pandemic, or remembering youth, there's just no time or patience for other people, and I almost can't blame anyone for it. I dont think it can be attributed to any one thing besides human nature. As social as we are as a species, we're somewhere in between ants and apes, and that's a well documented social evolutionary feature. As much as we are grouped into nations and cultures and local societies, we are also individuals, and imo that also must come with age. There's just no time or energy in the day to swim against that current. I wish it were different sometimes, but personally I've grown to appreciate and relish in almost complete social isolation, and it was a thing before the pandemic, but the pandemic seemed to bring out some of these basal instincts, if they could be called that, out of survival. When it comes to workers in shops and resraurants, as someone who has worked in hospitality all my life, many of the customers over the years have made it hell. Most people are fine and polite, but an increasing number of people are actively hostile to actively reflect whatever it is, class divisions perhaps, real or perceived, that can make almost everyday working an imminent living hell. They say jump and we are expected to leap for them and grovel because they have the power in the momentary relationship. This is some sort of social breakdown I suppose and has myriad reasons. The kids these days have identified this as "main character syndrome," a few years ago it was called narcissism, but it's not so much a mental illness as it is some sort of social default for a significant minority of the populatio, and no matter where you are in life or what status you have, they are there to gnash their teeth and exercise their humanity like we are all a bucket of crabs.
I can't immediately see any parallels in the US with routine and extended family socializing. My parents are somewhat like this and seem peculiar for it. It's something to do with safety and security, predictability, changes are bad. My dad for example has been semi retiring and he's taken it upon himself to wear his welcome with extended family lol. Suddenly he's adopting new family, this is uncle so and so! This elderly man that you befriended through a family friend is jot your uncle! Haha. And he has so far spent 2 entire years out of the last 3 years traveling almost aimlessly helping people and trying to recreate what he imagines society should be. I don't know if he's fulfilled doing that, but it takes up a lot of his time and effort trying to swim against the currents and maintain farflung social contacts. So maybe my dad's the exception tk some of these things.
Politics. I don't even want to comment on this too much. The US has been on fire politically for the last almost 15 years. And it's likely not going to get any better anytime soon. I'm an outlier in my area, which for the most part is fine, but if conversations ever come up, I have to turn myself into a fly on the wall and nod my head. Because there's totally a shadowy cabal and mass of Jews and foreigners always out to get us at all times, trying to appeal to our humanity to make us better people and better our societies. They're the enemy though, and if I open my mouth, I will be too.
Economics, it seems the same around the world. Getting good work is getting harder, getting good pay is harder, and the cost of everything is up up and up. You could be a professional with 20+ years of experience and could run the place, but you are still going to be treated like a fresh faced teenager and expected to rake an entry position and entry pay. This is the style of economics, and it's anathema to question it, or you end up being sorted by class and politics like above.
Yeah, beuracracy. I don't know why things need to be made more difficult, but that just seems to be the way things go. Efficiency and making tuings happen, that's just not how anything works anymore.
Crowds and crowds of people. Personally, I've maximized my work and social life and the few things I need to do structured around minimizing human contact.i just can't take it anymore, from driving, shopping, or working. I don't know if I'm autistic, or if my social anxiety has compounded over the years, but I want nothing to do with the masses of humanity that hers like cats in crowds and dive like swallows in traffic. If i were in Spain I'd likely be a recluse until tourist season is over, just like here in the states.
Stuart is a mourner, he has a problem with his wife being close to her family while he doesn’t care about his own. He should discuss this issue with his partner!
Good comment. I moved to a village near Spain a few years back, and starting to go to Latin Mass was great for new relationships, not being a spring chicken. To a lesser degree doing a Catalan course. Should I move back to Spain, I would need to engage in similar activities. Usually there is a local chapter for the neigborhoods annual party (fiesta major). Personnaly I would be more interested in joining a pessebre group. Just thinking out loud :)
Subcitizen
Interesting to read, thought provoking.
To language, that is very true and true everywhere, I think. I spent over a decade in China and I noticed that I could be understood and communicate with anyone who was interested in understanding me and/or communicating with me. There were always those who chose to be difficult, but they were certainly in the extreme minority in my experience. Good video.
I'm Argentinian, Spanish is my mother language, but Spanish people in Madrid acted like I was speaking in Chinese.
@@ChanyeolsHaneul Hah! I spent time in Panama and Costa Rica with a woman from near Madrid. She had a fair bit of trouble communicating as well. The Spanish in Central/South America is different even from one country/region to the next. just as in Spain.
16:31 @@j.joseph5353
In Andalucia, people are friendly but they never onvite you in their home. You are right when you say its family oriented. I find it odd not to meet people speaking a foreign language. Here in Huelva, nobody speaks English and the majority of people I met never travelled to Portugal (40 kms away !) And not to Marruevos (only 150 kms away). They have all they need here !
Haha, I lived in England for 13 years never been invited to any English homes either. They are glad to come to mine but never reciprocate but they do only invite their own kind, English. 😂 I lived and learned. 😅
wow! I always wondered about whether the folks in Huevla had ever gone to Portugal. I've been in Spain for 25 years and I find the Spanish not be any nicer than any other Western country that I've been to. I agree with you going to Spanish people's homes. One rarely gets invited to a Spanish home. It's a private space and they tend to meet outside in bar, café etc as you already know.
@@karenhitchens3563😂😂😂😂😂 been there done that, even here in Condal City...
@@karenhitchens3563 I noticed people don't invite so easily to their homes both in the UK (London at least) and Spain, in the latter case because Spanish like to go out. This was a bit frustrating after being used to having dinner parties, in France.
In Lisbon, I was surprised to learn the Portuguese hardly speak Spanish.Actually, they speak better English.
where are you driving around? Seems like a nice area
Thank you for the video! Is it hard to find a job in your area?
Congratulations, you became fully Spaniard; we complain A LOT about our country. Just one comment: enjoying extended family get-togethers is part of the Mediterranean people, so you cannot avoid that. We don't associate in clubs where members share the same hobby as the British, here the social knitting is done with family ties. I think is healthy in some sense, as you have to accept many different types of opinions and people. On the flip side, they will favour anyone in the family before you.
Your family must be perfect because the less i am around my extended family, the better. I have close friends who i would trust before some of my extended family. Spanish believe the myth that their family are pristine and can't do no wrong. What a load of bollocks!
I’m from Australia from a European background. In Australia family is definitely not close. It’s more common to have a network of unrelated friendships. I consider that a bad thing. I believe family should be close and it is a good thing. I had many Greek friends here and saw first hand huge family gatherings that I was invited to. I did wish I also could have that.❤❤
Thanks for the video Stuart. I really like how you speak from the heart and give your honest opinion on all things. Keep up the good work. Love your youbtube channel
I lived there from 1986 till 2001. As law changed, so did my status, till eventually got a residence permit. I started learninng Spanish at 11 years, so speak it quite fluently. I am thinking of going back, to a different village, but as I am on a state pension, I have to check whether I would be allowed back into the UK.
did you vote for Brexit?
There are racist people everywhere Stu, there always will be, ignore them, I’ve been in canada 43 years and idiots still ask me where I’m from,,,, in canada everyone is from somewhere,,,, still moving there,,,, (to Spain that is)
We've both been in Spain for the same amount of time. This January it'll be 25 years total time for me. I agree with just about everything. I also lived in Madrid for most of that time.
If you are agree with all that cons, why are you still here?dont take me wrong,i just want to know
@@jmg3344 Oh, I don't take you wrong at all. Your question is a good one. I wish I knew why myself! : )
@@meatmoneymilkmonogamyequal5583 hagahahhah
@@meatmoneymilkmonogamyequal5583 well, there are better places than Madrid to live in Spain, in my opinion. Madrid is nice for a weekend,that’s it
well, I moved to Madrid in the early 90's for love. Plus As a gay person there were only 2 cities you could live in at that time. Madrid or Barcelona. @@jmg3344
Great video Stuart. I totally agree with everything you have said after living here and running a business for 22 years nothing’s changed just got worse. No incentives to encourage businesses and help for the younger people.
Everything is too slow.
And too many holidays.
Wonder why the French are flocking to Barcelona ? Probably because it's much worse in France :)
Appreciate your honesty. For me, there is one main reason to not live in Spain and I did live in Spain for six years, but left a couple of years ago. You are right that no matter what you do, as a foreigner in Spain, you are always made to feel that you are a foreigner and not just another person who happens to live in Spain. This is not true in the UK in general and particularly is not the case in London. I guess it might be the case in more rural parts of the UK where there are less foreigners and also less white people in general. But in Spain, no matter what you do, as soon as they detect that you are a foreigner, they will not only put you into a separate category of ´foreigner´or ´guiri´but they will also try to find out information about you that helps them to further classify you according to which nationality you are, what language you speak, how educated you are, and ofcourse what job you have and how much money you likely earn. Based on this, they will decide how to treat you. Much of how they treat you will also have to do with whether they think you have money and/or influence or not. Things like how you dress or what material things you have such as a car and what type, which neighborhood you live in and who you know will also come into it. I found it very tiring and ultimately unbearable to always be treated as the foreigner, the girl from London who they assumed was wealthy just by virtue of being from London and being a native English speaker, someone to practice english with for free, and to try to get money or gifts from one way or another. I had many people ´befriend´me for these reasons and only realized much later why they wanted to be ´friends´.
Love this, too funny! I do get his points ;-) We were refused a table in a half empty restaurant on the beach in Malaga e.g.
Yes if you live in a non EU country as is the UK and want to retire in Spain.. You have to have €27, 793 plus €7,200 for one dependent I have read. The very least amount. I don't see how a UK person could afford that on the full UK state pension only. Let alone if only on the basic state pension. They'd need a lot of other investments I should think. Especially if they have no private pension. This when you convert the above figures to UK sterling. What it means by passive income? Furthermore, as you say Spain is not really cheap anyway.
I am Spanish. I live in a town that is not very touristy. Once a British man approached me to ask me an address. He spoke to me directly in English. Not even a "Disculpe" or" Buenos dias", I am not asking you to know Spanish, obviously, but if you are going to the local people directly in English, in the eyes of a Spaniard he looks like an arrogant British. I ignored him, I didn't like his attitude. Maybe those people that you mention as being unfriendly to foreigners have had similar experiences.
YOU are arrogant, not him. I never ever refuse to help foreigners in my country. In many cases they're just tourists, why should they learn the language? They have enough excitement and fears to be in another country. If I know their language, why can't I help? If I don't know their language I still try to understand and help, why? Because I have some empathy.
I have had poor treatment in some places even despite being able to converse reasonably well in Spainish. Some people just have a problem with foreigners or non locals, or non-native level speakers sadly.
@@ektanerNo, a decent and respectful human being would at least learn the basics of the culture but your opinion speaks volumes about how you view other cultures. Absolutely disgraceful.
@@paradoxparade1 it's ME not decent? I'm a person who always tries to help others even if they speak a different language and you are calling me disgraceful and not those people who ignore tourists and look at them like at trash?! Hahahaha, you need to wash your hair :) like really, I can't believe I even replied to you, what a joke 😆
I found your insights on Spanish culture very interesting. If you have a chance I would like to hear your thoughts on how the Spanish deal with their elderly? I notice many pensioners looking busy and happy. Is the car home culture a thing here? Do you know?
That is care, sorry.
Nursing homes are preferably avoided in Spain. Not like they are bad or anything, but having a family that keeps an eye on you instead of strangers who do it for money willl always be better. And that's the secret of Spanish longevity.
It,s not a thing over here is it? The Spanish are expected to care for their own family, which is pretty normal I think?
@@fionashatto6102 Well, there are care homes, from state-run ones to private and even posh ones. But the general approach is trying to avoid them as long as possible, because they are impersonal and it is always better to remain independent in your own home, surrounded by your stuff. Families tend to live close-by in Spain (moving away for a job is not popular, unless forced). So it's easy to pay visits frequently to make sure they eat well, dress decently, take their medication, don't skip medical visits, are accompanied if they stay in hospital, sorting whatever they need with paperwork, or accessibility issues, etc.
Families manage as well as they can when situation gets more pressing. A serious case of Alzheimer that needs a medicalised care home is one thing, but many cases are dealt hiring 1 or 2 private carers, if needed, because staying in your own home is preferred (maybe going to a memory unit in the mornings or things like that), so you keep your normal life and routines (family, friends, shops, activities) as long as possible.
Removing someone from their context is the fastest way to decline and get frail, because their life loses sense and they don't know who they are anymore, nor sometimes care.