Brits who live in Spain
- Thread starter sam83uk
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Soldato
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My guess is, and I'm taking a really wild shot here, is that most people over there already speak English, so there's really no necessity to learn the langauge.
I'm sure a lot of people who are living there have Satellite too, or whatever the alternative is, some may even not bother with TV, I know I certainly wouldn't if I was in a sunnier country.
That is of course unless they can get Channel 9, Scotchio!
I'm sure a lot of people who are living there have Satellite too, or whatever the alternative is, some may even not bother with TV, I know I certainly wouldn't if I was in a sunnier country.
That is of course unless they can get Channel 9, Scotchio!
Permabanned
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Send them all back 
Yes I do.
My folks live in Spain as do my little brother and sister, both parents work. We can all speak Spanish.
Actually my little sister is the top of her English (Well Spanish really) class in the village (predominantly Spaniards) and her first langauge is English.
I have both native and ex pat friends.
You are correct in that the majority do not really bother, and most of those tend to be English people. Guy I know moved out with his family, grows his weed in the garden goes off to the work site in the morning with the other 'lads' and thats it... I think he can order a beer and what not. But if anyone interupts us I have to speak for him.
Andelusion is correct. Most brits have Sky so they can point back home for TV and news. This totally cuircumvents a lot of exposure to Spanish from local TV and radio stations.
You can also buy the Sun in the costas at the cost of around £2 per copy.
Again, who needs Spanish newspapers when you have your own printed locally?
(English I might add, not the Scottish Sun. Not that I'd read it anyway.)
Whats funny is to watch them trying to buy something, ex pats who have no lingo always struggle with the numbers!
My folks live in Spain as do my little brother and sister, both parents work. We can all speak Spanish.
Actually my little sister is the top of her English (Well Spanish really) class in the village (predominantly Spaniards) and her first langauge is English.
I have both native and ex pat friends.
You are correct in that the majority do not really bother, and most of those tend to be English people. Guy I know moved out with his family, grows his weed in the garden goes off to the work site in the morning with the other 'lads' and thats it... I think he can order a beer and what not. But if anyone interupts us I have to speak for him.
Andelusion is correct. Most brits have Sky so they can point back home for TV and news. This totally cuircumvents a lot of exposure to Spanish from local TV and radio stations.
You can also buy the Sun in the costas at the cost of around £2 per copy.
Again, who needs Spanish newspapers when you have your own printed locally?
(English I might add, not the Scottish Sun. Not that I'd read it anyway.)
Whats funny is to watch them trying to buy something, ex pats who have no lingo always struggle with the numbers!
Soldato
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I do think it's pretty ignorant going to live in another country and then not even bothering to learn the lingo, hell I make the effort even on me holidays to speak to the locals in spanish for the basics (la cuenta por favor? ).
No doubt these are the same people who crucify Muslims for not integrating when they come over here and "this countrys going to the dogs" etc etc when arnt they doing exactly the same thing?
).No doubt these are the same people who crucify Muslims for not integrating when they come over here and "this countrys going to the dogs" etc etc when arnt they doing exactly the same thing?
Associate
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Indeed.
Also can't the Spanish government give you a right royal rodding and just take your property away from you when they feel like it?
Also can't the Spanish government give you a right royal rodding and just take your property away from you when they feel like it?
Johnny Girth said:
To a certain extent yes.
But only if you have no common sense. Tends to happen to those idiots that turn up with pockets full of cash and buy a property without consulting a lawyer. Which is actually quite a regular occurance.
Then later down the line some half cousin of a donkeys rear end turns up with evidence he owns the bathroom and a bedroom in the property..
However, the 'government' itself will not seize your property. Franco left a long time ago my friend.
However if you buy something that was built in a no build zone without permit (greenway sort of thing) then they can by right pull it down and tell you to hook it.
Again, common sense.
Psycho Ned said:
Kind of, but a lot of these sort of places are purpose built holiday home complexes. You won't find an English ghetto in downtown Madrid for example, interfering with the lives of ordinary Spaniards.
How many English claim Spanish benefits? or build out of place British influenced buildings that are an eyesore on the Spanish city skyline? or complain about Spanish school uniforms not respecting British culture?
Biohazard said:Oh, a side note. There is no free right of access in Spain.
So if you buy a house at the end of a track, and the farmer takes a disliking to you.
Buy a helicopter.
I'm still waiting for my invite to that villa
theres so many English folk over there its probably not too hard, depends what you want to do though.
My neighbour has been over there for about 4 years or so now just doing odd jobs and installing satalite dishes etc
My neighbour has been over there for about 4 years or so now just doing odd jobs and installing satalite dishes etc
Work in Spain is hard. In the North its ok, big cities with jobs. Down in the agricultural South it is different, the costa's are on a whole a lot poorer.
Getting full well paid employment in the South can be hard even for the most fluent speakers.
Most common things are
a) Open an Irish/something relevent themed pub
b) Claim benefits from back home along with a bit of this and that
c) Be a builder
d) Pick tomatoes
e) Down right criminals
Getting full well paid employment in the South can be hard even for the most fluent speakers.
Most common things are
a) Open an Irish/something relevent themed pub
b) Claim benefits from back home along with a bit of this and that
c) Be a builder
d) Pick tomatoes
e) Down right criminals
I don't live in Spain.
I live in France though, my French is lousy but since hardly anybody around here speaks English it's getting better every day. Give it a few more years and I'll be reasonably fluent.
I prefer to try out my French, mingle with the locals etc, I have generally avoided other Brits over here (apart from the odd beer in a cafe) to aid my integration into the community.
I'll be back in the UK to work this autumn for a few months but as soon as I can raise enough pennies I hope to start my own business up over here.
Edit: and like the above post, unemployment in this part of rural France is sky high, hence the desire to start my own business, maybe employing french folk in the future.
I live in France though, my French is lousy but since hardly anybody around here speaks English it's getting better every day. Give it a few more years and I'll be reasonably fluent.
I prefer to try out my French, mingle with the locals etc, I have generally avoided other Brits over here (apart from the odd beer in a cafe) to aid my integration into the community.
I'll be back in the UK to work this autumn for a few months but as soon as I can raise enough pennies I hope to start my own business up over here.
Edit: and like the above post, unemployment in this part of rural France is sky high, hence the desire to start my own business, maybe employing french folk in the future.