Yes, I find it hard to believe too, but I’ve spent the last 10 mins (unsuccessfully) trying to research the source of an article on Expatica.com that claims the UK Government is warning Brits about the realities of growing old in Spain.
“British officials in Spain are devoting more and more time to elderly Britons who cannot manage alone. Many of those who come for help have neither learnt Spanish nor learnt about how the welfare system works.”
Note to Expatica, please link to your sources! Like this!
Anyway, the result of the googling was very a interesting article on thisismoney.co.uk entitled ‘We don’t love Spain anymore‘. According to the article:
“Britain’s long property love-affair with Spain is going cold. UK nationals who emigrated with dreams of a carefree retirement are returning home in increasing numbers… Experts say there are several factors behind the change of heart. These include:
• Widespread corruption among planning officials that could result in properties being repossessed.
• Rising crime and noise pollution.
• Reports of older expats living in squalor because of the lack of care provision.
• An influx of too many Brits destroying the local culture.”
Of course the comment about Brits destroying the local culture, which in turn stops other Brits from moving here, is ironic to say the least. Or maddening. But, there is a valid point here, and one that has been made before: make sure you know just what you are letting yourself in for before you leave for a knew life in Spain. Or more importantly, make sure you have an “exit stratergy” in case things don’t go as planned (don’t mention the war!)
Chiny
11 Dec 06 at 7:47 pm
Link is:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6165955.stm
Ben
11 Dec 06 at 10:56 pm
Thanks Chiny!
Edith
12 Dec 06 at 6:17 am
A 73-year-old woman who has lived in Andalucía since the 1980s and who doesn’t speak any Spanish finds herself helpless after the death of her husband: sad, but how come she still doesn’t speak Spanish after all those years? That’s just unfathomable to me.
Martin Stevenson
12 Dec 06 at 2:14 pm
Having seen these kind of stories many times before, I am not in the least surprised about this.
It’s a simple enough – learn the lingo!
I’ve found that in most cases, if you make the effort it’s rewarded and that alone encourages you to improve your language skills. In Malaga this year, I had a medical problem so I sat down and worked out as much as I could to explain it all in Spanish. I was in and out of a Pharmacy with everything that I needed in minutes and I was even complemented on my Spanish and I hardly know any! What’s more, I am deaf and that STILL doesn’t put me off planning my move to live in Spain.
Ben
12 Dec 06 at 8:04 pm
Martin and Edith, I agree with both of you, how anyone can think of moving abroad without learning the language is just incredible. The British must be the worst offenders in the world for that…
Chiny
13 Dec 06 at 9:07 am
Not studying languages is official policy in Britain:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6173219.stm
But the foreigners do not bother either:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6172805.stm
Astonishing.
theo
13 Dec 06 at 1:58 pm
If you want to live abroad, whether it’s Spain or another country, you must adopt yourself a bit to local customs. It doesn’t mean you have to give up your identity. Other europeans who plan to live in Spain ask for areas with as few english people as possible. It’s very sad it has come to this point.
Ben
13 Dec 06 at 2:48 pm
Chiny, thanks for the links.
Theo. I quite agree. But doesn’t a variation of this always happen? People want the ‘real spain’, find a spot and fill it with their own kind – then it isn’t the real Spain any more. As soon as a delightful, unspoiled spot in Thailand is discovered (for example), it fills up with westerners and is ‘ruined’. Then again ‘ruining’ it brings great tourist wealth to the area in question… it is a very tricky area this.