Comments on: How long does it take to get used to living in Spain? http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/ Podcasts and comment on travel, tapas, learning Spanish and living in Spain, plus a lively forum and beautiful Spain photos. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:23:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: ALeX http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-66497 ALeX Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:45:01 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/#comment-66497 DEar Spain-lovers. I hope that You can help me..I am looking for a FRIEND I have met in Cannes Film Festiwal this year....Maybe somebody can help me:)? name: don`t remember:( nationality: GErman , in Spain ( I think Madrid) since 1999 (if I remebrer correctly) We were watching new Woody Alen`s movie lying on the floor...... Muchos besos from Poland Alex DEar Spain-lovers. I hope that You can help me..I am looking for a FRIEND I have met in Cannes Film Festiwal this year….Maybe somebody can help me:)?

name: don`t remember:(
nationality: GErman , in Spain ( I think Madrid) since 1999 (if I remebrer correctly)

We were watching new Woody Alen`s movie lying on the floor……

Muchos besos from Poland
Alex

]]> By: Jonk http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-37435 Jonk Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:19:38 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/#comment-37435 HJ, come to the forum! The link is up the top and if you start a thread many more people will see it. Plus you'll see the threads the other people have started. In terms of this thread, I have moved home 13 times, but only within 2 states of Australia. My parents have always had a very restless attitude towards housing and it has transferred to us children. This sounds ridiculous but on holiday I start thinking and referring to a hotel room as home by the 3rd or 4th day. I know that probably isn't what Ben meant by 'home' per se but... I would say I could see myself thinking of a place as home inside 18 months or so, really. I'm the kind of guy that would obsessively immerse and probably avoid English speakers. HJ, come to the forum! The link is up the top and if you start a thread many more people will see it. Plus you’ll see the threads the other people have started.

In terms of this thread, I have moved home 13 times, but only within 2 states of Australia. My parents have always had a very restless attitude towards housing and it has transferred to us children. This sounds ridiculous but on holiday I start thinking and referring to a hotel room as home by the 3rd or 4th day. I know that probably isn’t what Ben meant by ‘home’ per se but… I would say I could see myself thinking of a place as home inside 18 months or so, really. I’m the kind of guy that would obsessively immerse and probably avoid English speakers.

]]> By: Hj http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-37411 Hj Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:46:35 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/#comment-37411 Hi - I'm 32 year old Korean (f) and currently am considering moving to Madrid. I'll have a decent paying job but I am slightly worried about moving there by myself and trying to fit in and make friends. I've lived in several places and this will be my 6th country, and I do speak some Spanish which is quite rusty but I'm quite confident I'll learn fast. Any advice would be appreciated... Hi – I’m 32 year old Korean (f) and currently am considering moving to Madrid. I’ll have a decent paying job but I am slightly worried about moving there by myself and trying to fit in and make friends. I’ve lived in several places and this will be my 6th country, and I do speak some Spanish which is quite rusty but I’m quite confident I’ll learn fast. Any advice would be appreciated…

]]> By: richardksa http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-37087 richardksa Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:35:54 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/#comment-37087 @Gerry, you could not do better than to explore all this website has to offer. It has been a great help to me during the past three years. For job opportunities, and for many other reasons, take a peak at LoquoMadrid.com @Gerry, you could not do better than to explore all this website has to offer. It has been a great help to me during the past three years.
For job opportunities, and for many other reasons, take a peak at LoquoMadrid.com

]]> By: gerry mcdade http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-37086 gerry mcdade Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:16:22 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/#comment-37086 hi my name is Gerry and i stay in scotland but i am moving to madrid on the 1st of september with my wife as she has got a job as a teacher over there. I am looking at some websites to see what oppertunities i may have when i go. Is there any good sites you could recommend, i have seen a few but the thing is i dont speak spannish but trying to learn (i have a fitness instructor qualifacation and i am also a quaulified lifeguard back home in glasgow). Any advice or information you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Gerry. hi my name is Gerry and i stay in scotland but i am moving to madrid on the 1st of september with my wife as she has got a job as a teacher over there. I am looking at some websites to see what oppertunities i may have when i go. Is there any good sites you could recommend, i have seen a few but the thing is i dont speak spannish but trying to learn (i have a fitness instructor qualifacation and i am also a quaulified lifeguard back home in glasgow). Any advice or information you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Gerry.

]]> By: dina jose http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-36581 dina jose Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:50:18 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/#comment-36581 i've lived in spain for two years, and have gone there on holiday every summer for the past six years...I consider Andalucia me second home, and many a times i wander the alleys thinking i found me place in the sun, but i find most spaniards especially Sevillanos xenophobes: for no matter how good your spanish gets or how well you integrate with their ..marchas and fiestas, they still consider you as Xeno this effect was less noticable in madrid though, cause everyone tends to find their "own place" in a big city when i felt low and i wanted a taste of home, i use to hit the first Irish pub i laid me eyes on makes life easy anywhere, anytime i miss Spain now i feel i'm in a love-hate relationship with this place but for me i always end up with the pain! drop the s's i’ve lived in spain for two years, and have gone there on holiday every summer for the past six years…I consider Andalucia me second home, and many a times i wander the alleys thinking i found me place in the sun, but i find most spaniards especially Sevillanos xenophobes: for no matter how good your spanish gets or how well you integrate with their ..marchas and fiestas, they still consider you as Xeno

this effect was less noticable in madrid though, cause everyone tends to find their “own place” in a big city

when i felt low and i wanted a taste of home, i use to hit the first Irish pub i laid me eyes on
makes life easy
anywhere, anytime

i miss Spain now
i feel i’m in a love-hate relationship with this place
but for me i always end up with the pain!
drop the s’s

]]> By: marc http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-35106 marc Thu, 01 May 2008 22:53:30 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/#comment-35106 SergiMan: "THE KIND PEOPLE ATTENDING IN THE SHOPS": what Spain do you live in? In Britain, yes, the shop attendants may be kind, as well as in America or Mexico, but in Spain? I will not say helpful is unheard of, but it is neither particularly common. And a smile is rare. SergiMan:

“THE KIND PEOPLE ATTENDING IN THE SHOPS”: what Spain do you live in? In Britain, yes, the shop attendants may be kind, as well as in America or Mexico, but in Spain? I will not say helpful is unheard of, but it is neither particularly common. And a smile is rare.

]]> By: Michael http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-34967 Michael Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:42:32 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/#comment-34967 I am from Spain but when I was 6 years old my father passed away and we moved to California USA. I lived in the US ever since, for 25 years, and I was very happy there. 5 years ago my oldest brother came back Valencia, Spain to live, he was older than me when we went to the USA and he was always homesick. He always wanted to come back to Spain. My mother also moved back to Spain 4 years ago and I decided to go there to try it out. I've been in Spain 3 years now and I don't feel at home. Here are my thoughts, Coming from California, the life style in Calif. is more independent. You do your own thing, there are shops and theaters in every corner. Spain is a country where you have to be very confident with yourself. You have to like to be around people, talk to people, become part of the group or else you will always feel like an outsider. I live in a small town and I don't go out much, people here know everyone by name and I was not raised with this mindset. I can't get used to it. Like someone else said my heart is Spanish but my head is not. I like to have my own space, I like to be anonymous and independent. Maybe im introvert. And Spain is for extroverts. In the USA I was more independent, I had more identity, It's kind of hard to explain. But Im planning to go back home...California. I will miss some things from Spain, like the food, my brother and mother and walking everywhere, but I think I will be happier in the back in the USA. We will see. I am from Spain but when I was 6 years old my father passed away and we moved to California USA. I lived in the US ever since, for 25 years, and I was very happy there. 5 years ago my oldest brother came back Valencia, Spain to live, he was older than me when we went to the USA and he was always homesick. He always wanted to come back to Spain. My mother also moved back to Spain 4 years ago and I decided to go there to try it out. I’ve been in Spain 3 years now and I don’t feel at home.

Here are my thoughts, Coming from California, the life style in Calif. is more independent. You do your own thing, there are shops and theaters in every corner.

Spain is a country where you have to be very confident with yourself. You have to like to be around people, talk to people, become part of the group or else you will always feel like an outsider. I live in a small town and I don’t go out much, people here know everyone by name and I was not raised with this mindset. I can’t get used to it. Like someone else said my heart is Spanish but my head is not. I like to have my own space, I like to be anonymous and independent. Maybe im introvert. And Spain is for extroverts.

In the USA I was more independent, I had more identity, It’s kind of hard to explain. But Im planning to go back home…California. I will miss some things from Spain, like the food, my brother and mother and walking everywhere, but I think I will be happier in the back in the USA. We will see.

]]> By: cuc http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-34962 cuc Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:12:09 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/#comment-34962 I moved to Madrid from the US 3 years ago with my husband and 2 children, one of which was a toddler. I speak fluent spanish, so the language barrier was not a factor. It was a difficult move. The "mañana" way of life, the ridiculous driving standard, the siesta hours, the over-inflated prices, the holier than thou attitude... well you get the picture, it's very, very hard to get used to. Once I realized that I was NOT in the US and I accepted that things are "different" it got much, much easier to live here. The amount of time it takes to realize that can vary for each individual. For me it was at about the 2 year point. I am much happier now and when I am happy, my family is happy. I miss my home, the US, very much. But I'm not going back until it's time to move back (another 2 years). The way I see it is: "I'm in Europe and I'm going to see this part of the world before I leave." So to answer the question.... It is different for everyone, but you have to make a choice. You either accept a different way of life, or you fight it until the end. Good Luck. I moved to Madrid from the US 3 years ago with my husband and 2 children, one of which was a toddler. I speak fluent spanish, so the language barrier was not a factor. It was a difficult move. The “mañana” way of life, the ridiculous driving standard, the siesta hours, the over-inflated prices, the holier than thou attitude… well you get the picture, it’s very, very hard to get used to.

Once I realized that I was NOT in the US and I accepted that things are “different” it got much, much easier to live here. The amount of time it takes to realize that can vary for each individual. For me it was at about the 2 year point. I am much happier now and when I am happy, my family is happy.

I miss my home, the US, very much. But I’m not going back until it’s time to move back (another 2 years). The way I see it is: “I’m in Europe and I’m going to see this part of the world before I leave.”

So to answer the question…. It is different for everyone, but you have to make a choice. You either accept a different way of life, or you fight it until the end. Good Luck.

]]> By: Cynthia http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/comment-page-1/#comment-33195 Cynthia Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:38:11 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/02/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-used-to-living-in-spain/#comment-33195 I just moved to Spain from the states in December. I moved here to be with my boyfriend of three years. I'm finding that as the weather gets warmer and my spanish/catalan is improving, I'm getting more used to the idea of calling Spain my home. I do miss my college friends and my family and I'm sure I will going back to the U.S. by Christmas. It is hard to adjust when I'm waiting for my work visa to go through, I'm home all day, don't know anyone, no friends, scared to go to stores for fear of someone talking to me in Spanish and me looking like a complete fool. Lucky, Lloret de Mar is very touristic and english can be understood here. I hope that as the months pass I grow to love Spain more. I can see myself moving back here when I graduate,just give me a flat by the sea. I just moved to Spain from the states in December. I moved here to be with my boyfriend of three years. I’m finding that as the weather gets warmer and my spanish/catalan is improving, I’m getting more used to the idea of calling Spain my home. I do miss my college friends and my family and I’m sure I will going back to the U.S. by Christmas. It is hard to adjust when I’m waiting for my work visa to go through, I’m home all day, don’t know anyone, no friends, scared to go to stores for fear of someone talking to me in Spanish and me looking like a complete fool. Lucky, Lloret de Mar is very touristic and english can be understood here.

I hope that as the months pass I grow to love Spain more. I can see myself moving back here when I graduate,just give me a flat by the sea.

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