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How do you navigate your expat identity in Spain?

Anne-Lise Mty

Hey guys in Spain or wanting to move there,

Fellow expat Stephanie has sent us a piece about how she navigates between her British-ish and her French-ish identity and we thought we would share it with you.

Her opinion piece is featured on our magazine:
Opinion: Does being an expat mean IÂ’ll always be the outsider?

We would love to know what you think!

Happy Thursday,
AL

See also

Living in Spain: the expat guideEnglish speaking real estate agents in OviedoShould I enter Spain with a Spanish or the Canadian passportRendering a garden wall.Going to the Malaga area to get a DNI card
Andyviola

Of course you will be an outsider. Even little things like the way they shout at each other in Spain in conversation.. English are very different. Only if you immigrate very young will you be subsumed totally into their ways.

Writerman

Short answer, yes. Three entirely different cultures at work: French, British, Spanish. As Andyviola wrote, when they simply talk they shout. It's in the blood. Try being in a car and holding a conversation with a Spanish male. It's utterly deafening!
Noise and dirt in all its many forms are part and parcel of Spanish life. Not in the U.K. or France would these be tolerated. The French are a very prissy lot but their streets, apart from some areas of Paris, are very well kept as are public spaces.
We graft ourselves on to their country and culture but we are different and those differences mean we will always be outsiders. It is we who have to try to fit in but that fit is never perfect.

Andyviola

Indeed.

And TOUCHING is not taboo in Spain!

The waiter leaned heavily on my shoulder when he served someone else!

Johncar

quote. “ Noise and dirt in all its many forms are part and parcel of Spanish life. â€

Maybe I misunderstand the post, I hope so !

Not sure how that relates to my Spanish town, noisy yes a bit, but the roads and public spaces are swept and the rubbish bins are emptied every day, including Christmas Day and national holidays.  The  public areas, including roundabouts are always planted up with seasonal flowers and are well maintained. 

PS  The IBI / council tax is a third of what I was paying in U.K. with a similar property, in a similar town 34 years ago, where the cleaning services were no where near what I experience in my town now.

kittycat1

Let just not dramatize.. please,
Not everything in Spain is as bad as it seems..


NHS - Public Health - is excellent here:


Hospitals & Farmacy Network all along Spain-
Medical - Non-Medical - Clerical Staff-
~ brilliant professional- accurate service, always-no matter what-
:up: