Moving to Spain means embracing a whole new way of life – not an endless beach break. From language barriers to bureaucratic hurdles and a slower pace of life, here’s what to expect when your dream of sunshine-living becomes an everyday reality.
Holidays are great! A week or two away from the routine of your life, sitting in the sun sipping wine, beer or sangria, then a swim followed by a long, lazy lunch, before heading off for tapas in the early evening. Sure, the lure of this lifestyle is strong – so why not move to Spain permanently and live the holiday?
Each year, thousands of people of all nationalities relocate to Spain, many because of the wonderful memories of holidaying there. Yes, Spain is a great place to call home, but living here isn’t the same as your holiday might lead you to believe.
The locals speak Castilian Spanish, Catalan, Basque and Galician
In most of the popular holiday spots, people will speak English – a necessity if they work in hospitality; however, do not imagine that this is universal. The younger generations will learn English at school but spend a lot of time on grammar and less on speaking, so they don’t necessarily speak it to a good standard in smaller towns and villages. As for the older generations, they may not speak it at all, French being their second language at school.
In order to have a good social life, you will need to think about learning their language – Castilian Spanish, Catalan, Basque, Galician: whichever you will find the most useful – as several regions have their own language, as well as Spanish. Just trying to talk to local people is a good move and it doesn’t matter if you make mistakes. All language is simply a method of communication.
A friend moved to near Tortosa from the UK with not one word of Spanish. Her dog was badly bitten by mosquitoes so she went to the local farmacia to ask if they had a cream to relieve the bites. She had a dictionary and desperately tried to explain what she needed but to no avail. Finally, in desperation, she got down on all fours, barked and used her hands to indicate a flying mosquito! The staff immediately understood. This has to be the ultimate last resort, so make it easy on yourself and learn some Spanish before you move or take lessons as quickly as possible on arrival in Spain. It will open many doors.
Speaking Spanish can significantly improve your social life
The daily chat
Part of the healthy lifestyle in Spain is that people find time to chat. It may be about something basic like the weather or perhaps about the husband’s aunt’s daughter who is pregnant. When you first arrive, you might find this annoying, especially when you’re in a queue at the bakery or a market stall. Life in London, Manchester or other big cities is lived at a fast pace but here in Spain, there is time to stop for a moment and exchange a few words with someone. It is one of the numerous small things that make for a better and healthier lifestyle which attracts so many people to this country.
Getting it wrong
There is a lot to discover and learn when you relocate. Form filling will probably require assistance, and there are a lot of forms to fill in! With some government agencies, if there is just one little mistake on a form, it will be returned to you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Even people who have lived here for years don’t always get everything right. I have found that most government and local government officers are helpful but there will always be one who isn’t. To emphasise this, I hope you enjoy watching this video as much as I did.
Answering the phone to someone speaking in Spanish can be nerve-racking. They tend to speak quickly here so you will find it difficult to keep up with what is being said. Don’t be shy, simply say you are English and ask them to speak slowly. Even without grammar, this is possible: “Inglés, por favor, despacio” or better still, ask if they speak English, “habla inglés?”
I did speak some basic Spanish when I moved here 19 years ago but found phone conversations hard, especially when it is a person from one of the South American countries on the other end. Even now. After all this time, I sometimes have to ask them to repeat things. They are usually willing and apologise for speaking too fast.
Neighbours are important. Introduce yourself with a smile and a “Hola!” They understand you are newly arrived and most likely will offer help should you need it. I’m not only talking about the Spanish but neighbours from other countries too. The Dutch and Scandinavians speak English well and have been through the first steps you are going through, as have the Germans, Americans, Canadians, Australians and other nationalities. It’s not worth being reticent here: appear helpless, ask if they know “how to…?” and maybe you will make a new friend in the process.
Actually, looking helpless works wonders! There will always be someone who will come to help you.
Joining in
To have a good life in Spain, you need to get out there. Join a club. For the sporty types, try the local tennis club, golf club, snorkelling club, kayaking club, gym or padel courts. Maybe look into art classes, amateur dramatics, dance classes, the film goers club, opera group, craft classes or photography club.
I recently wrote about “The art of the Paseo”, and that’s another way of meeting people and feeling part of your local community. There will be plenty of live music happening nearby, so go along to local gigs and soon you’ll recognise others in the audience. Try talking to them. Music is international so you will find people from all over the world at these events.
There will be charities in your town. Why not volunteer to help for a morning a week? It will improve your Spanish and you will meet locals too. I work for local and international charities and have met some wonderful people from all walks of life. Twice a year I volunteer to collect food and useful items at local supermarkets which all go to food banks and to people in need. It is rewarding, despite a very few who are annoyed by our presence. On one occasion, a very elderly lady came in and I explained to her why we were there. A while later, she appeared with a bag of rice and a tin of tomatoes, apologising that that was all she could afford to donate. I noticed she left without anything for herself. There are good people everywhere.
Looking good
Of course, not everyone looks like Penelope Cruz or Laura Sánchez but in general, particularly in the evening, Spanish people take care of their appearance when they go out. The paseo (evening promenade) is part of daily life in Spain and most people will change clothes after getting home from work. They go to see and be seen, to meet friends and simply to enjoy a leisurely stroll. In Italy, la passeggiata is more of a fashion show, but the Spanish do think about their appearance too.
There are plenty of spas in Spain, so why not seek out your nearest and spend a morning there? It’s another way to get to meet people while also taking care of yourself. Relocating is tiring, sometimes exasperating, and can bring on anxiety, so a relaxing time in a spa is just what you will need. Si?
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