Comments on: Can families move to Spain and survive? http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/ Podcasts and comment on travel, tapas, learning Spanish and living in Spain, plus beautiful Spain photos. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tom C. http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/comment-page-1/#comment-35419 Tom C. Sun, 11 May 2008 20:57:33 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/#comment-35419 @Parubin, How insulting! If I wasn't eating this hot dog I'd shoot you and then beat you sensless with my bible! @Parubin, How insulting! If I wasn’t eating this hot dog I’d shoot you and then beat you sensless with my bible!

]]> By: Parubin http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/comment-page-1/#comment-35063 Parubin Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:55:26 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/#comment-35063 We all know that Spaniards are lazy unreliable procrastinators who like to throw down goats from bell-towers when we wake from our long siestas, just as Brits are these tattoo-covered drunken teethless thugs dressed up in footy shirts and Americans are fat and ignorant people with no sense of style who carry a gun in one hand, the Bible in the other and a hot-dog in between. French are not too keen of daily showers and leave the garbage all week long in the streets, and Italians... Aaahhh... the good old prejudices and stereotypes, we would be lost in this world without them!!! We all know that Spaniards are lazy unreliable procrastinators who like to throw down goats from bell-towers when we wake from our long siestas, just as Brits are these tattoo-covered drunken teethless thugs dressed up in footy shirts and Americans are fat and ignorant people with no sense of style who carry a gun in one hand, the Bible in the other and a hot-dog in between. French are not too keen of daily showers and leave the garbage all week long in the streets, and Italians…

Aaahhh… the good old prejudices and stereotypes, we would be lost in this world without them!!!

]]> By: Ben http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/comment-page-1/#comment-35059 Ben Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:57:14 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/#comment-35059 @wow, Luke, what terrible bad luck. I think things are indeed better these days... @wow, Luke, what terrible bad luck. I think things are indeed better these days…

]]> By: moscow http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/comment-page-1/#comment-35056 moscow Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:23:27 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/#comment-35056 @Ben, Thank you very much for your comment about the 'magnana' attitude. I have lived in 3 countries outside Spain: the UK, Germany and Russia. I have to admit to a certain unease when I hear or read comments like the one above about "magnana". Granted, Spaniards are, in general, more relaxed than Germans. They have a slightly different attitude what 'time' is concerned from that of Northern Europeans. However, I find it always astonishing how some people's preconceptions seem to preclude their capacity to analize reality with objectivity. It is as if what they observe does not become truly internalized unless it conforms to prejudice. Thus, they even will look out for the bits of reality that confirm previously and deeply set believes. People are conservative. They don't want anything to alter perceived wisdoms. That would generate instability. Insecurity. Most people prefer to have a firm set of believes that will remain as a sort of anchor throughout their lives. That American woman can't wait for the day when she will be safely back home in the USA - possibly tucked away in bed - and in surroundings she feels much more comfortable with. And who can blame her? @Ben,
Thank you very much for your comment about the ‘magnana’ attitude. I have lived in 3 countries outside Spain: the UK, Germany and Russia. I have to admit to a certain unease when I hear or read comments like the one above about “magnana”. Granted, Spaniards are, in general, more relaxed than Germans. They have a slightly different attitude what ‘time’ is concerned from that of Northern Europeans. However, I find it always astonishing how some people’s preconceptions seem to preclude their capacity to analize reality with objectivity. It is as if what they observe does not become truly internalized unless it conforms to prejudice. Thus, they even will look out for the bits of reality that confirm previously and deeply set believes. People are conservative. They don’t want anything to alter perceived wisdoms. That would generate instability. Insecurity. Most people prefer to have a firm set of believes that will remain as a sort of anchor throughout their lives. That American woman can’t wait for the day when she will be safely back home in the USA – possibly tucked away in bed – and in surroundings she feels much more comfortable with. And who can blame her?

]]> By: luke http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/comment-page-1/#comment-35044 luke Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:10:30 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/#comment-35044 @Ben. Yeah you don't want your kids to get into bad crowds. Both of my brothers-in-law got into gangs in Madrid, one ended up on heroin, going to prison and commiting suicide and the other took so many drugs that he's now in a mental hospital with chronic schizophrenia. I think there was a hopelessness in parts of Madrid during the 70s and 80s which led to many people taking heroin. Now there is employment and more optimism, who knows what is around the corner... @Ben. Yeah you don’t want your kids to get into bad crowds. Both of my brothers-in-law got into gangs in Madrid, one ended up on heroin, going to prison and commiting suicide and the other took so many drugs that he’s now in a mental hospital with chronic schizophrenia. I think there was a hopelessness in parts of Madrid during the 70s and 80s which led to many people taking heroin. Now there is employment and more optimism, who knows what is around the corner…

]]> By: ValenciaSon http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/comment-page-1/#comment-35042 ValenciaSon Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:51:02 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/#comment-35042 Just looking at the changes and the pace of change taking place in Spain, how can anyone characterize Spain as a country of procrastinators just because they encounter a few along the way. I could apply that same logic to every country if that were the case. Just looking at the changes and the pace of change taking place in Spain, how can anyone characterize Spain as a country of procrastinators just because they encounter a few along the way. I could apply that same logic to every country if that were the case.

]]> By: Ben http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/comment-page-1/#comment-35039 Ben Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:04:16 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/#comment-35039 @Mrmark - I'm not sure about the 'bad barrios' of Madrid. People moan about Vallecas but I thought it was pretty nice! Then again, after Hackney... @marc - yes, it drives me mad when people mention the 'mañana' thing, as it really does not exist any more, not here in Madrid at least. @Mrmark – I’m not sure about the ‘bad barrios’ of Madrid. People moan about Vallecas but I thought it was pretty nice! Then again, after Hackney…

@marc – yes, it drives me mad when people mention the ‘mañana’ thing, as it really does not exist any more, not here in Madrid at least.

]]> By: marc http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/comment-page-1/#comment-35037 marc Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:19:39 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/#comment-35037 I don't understand the initial comment the writer when she makes mention of Spain's "mañana attitude". I have never found the Spanish to be procrastinators, at least no more so then the French or Dutch or British. An American prejudice of Mexicans dumped indiscriminately on wrong continent? I don’t understand the initial comment the writer when she makes mention of Spain’s “mañana attitude”. I have never found the Spanish to be procrastinators, at least no more so then the French or Dutch or British. An American prejudice of Mexicans dumped indiscriminately on wrong continent?

]]> By: Mrmark http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/comment-page-1/#comment-35032 Mrmark Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:02:50 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/#comment-35032 You lived in Hackney and Brixton Ben? Surprised you didn't move to Moss Side Manchester after that! I never thought Brixton was that bad myself (I lived a little while in Stockwell), but I've heard a lot of dodgy things about Hackney. Perhaps (if they still exist) you can compile a "bad barrio" list on Madrid? You lived in Hackney and Brixton Ben? Surprised you didn’t move to Moss Side Manchester after that! I never thought Brixton was that bad myself (I lived a little while in Stockwell), but I’ve heard a lot of dodgy things about Hackney. Perhaps (if they still exist) you can compile a “bad barrio” list on Madrid?

]]> By: Ben http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/comment-page-1/#comment-35028 Ben Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:28:53 +0000 http://www.notesfromspain.com/2008/04/28/can-families-move-to-spain-and-survive/#comment-35028 @Luke - Madrid definitely seems safer than London - we don't have too many random shooting incidents compared to London for example, and people are free to look around on the Metro without fear of accidentally staring at the wrong sort of nutcase. Little things like that make a difference! Of course your kids are still likely to go out and get drunk/take drugs if they fall in with the wrong sort of teenage crowd, and Madrid does have an increasing feeling of urban hostility at times, but nothing like my experience of living in Hackney and Brixton many years ago. @Luke – Madrid definitely seems safer than London – we don’t have too many random shooting incidents compared to London for example, and people are free to look around on the Metro without fear of accidentally staring at the wrong sort of nutcase. Little things like that make a difference! Of course your kids are still likely to go out and get drunk/take drugs if they fall in with the wrong sort of teenage crowd, and Madrid does have an increasing feeling of urban hostility at times, but nothing like my experience of living in Hackney and Brixton many years ago.

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