Respuesta :
Is living in Spain still a dream to many retired European people as it was twenty years ago? How is the current economic crisis affecting on Spanish people´s lives? There is no doubt that the current economic crisis has provoked that the debate about the advantages and disadvantages of living in Spain has different aspects than five or ten years ago.
It has generally believed for a long time that living in Spain has a lot of advantages. In the first place, it is a fact that Spanish food is considered one of the most delicious, healthiest and richest of the world. In the second place, needless to say, weather in Spain is nice. We can enjoy more sunny hours a year than any other European country. In relation to the weather, an additional major advantage is the great number of beaches that tourists can visit and enjoy. The number of northern European tourists who come here every year and even live in Spain illustrates that fact. Another very convincing point in favour of living in Spain is, of course, Spanish temperament; we are considered funny, friendly, affectionate and party-loving.
However, many people argue that the standard of living in Spain has fallen considerable during the last five years because of the current economic crisis. Many people feel that the called “welfare state” has become an illusion that is to say that all the social achievements about working conditions, gender discrimination and so on, have dissipated overnight. Nowadays, Spanish newspapers write about the rise in the number of hungry children who cannot have breakfast properly. Not to mention, the figures of unemployed people and the cases of political and economic corruption, which are staggering our faith in the system. What is more, there is the general feeling that corruption is something genetic that is polluting all the people from Mediterranean countries such as Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain.
In conclusion, it is obvious that we are living crucial moments. However, as all the world knows the famous saying: “Spain is different”, oh yes!, we are different. I am sure we will be able to rise from our own ashes. As Otto Von Bismark said: “ Spain is the strongest country of the world, Spanish people have tried to destroy it for ages but they have not got it yet”.
Remember I do this so you don't have to ;-)
It’s time to put on the sarcasm font and start “complaining” about living in Spain. Lots of people complain about living in Spain, just look at any online forum, but let’s give them a platform for their complaints here should we as only forum owners and their invented six alter egos read forums these days. So for all of you out there who over the years have complained loudly, repeatedly and in the echoey chamber that is an internet forum let’s give you a voice. The 17 worst things about living in Spain:
Number 1: The Zenlike challenge that is bureaucracy. Not too sarcastic here it should be treated as such because otherwise you might just go on a “spree”.
Number 2: Having to put up with all of these holidays. You just cannot get into the groove of working here because there are too many opportunities to have barbecues with friends, go out for something to eat and stay out late because there is no work tomorrow.
Number 3: That you may have to enjoy the rain because it might be the last time that you see you for quite a long time. I want to be able to complain about the weather. It’s not fair.
Number 4: Having too much fruit and veg in your garden at various times of the year when you get a windfall. Oranges, plums, apples or whatever you are growing because things grow so easily here. Make it a challenge mother nature please.
Number 5: Having to put up with children and families in restaurants because they are allowed in and welcomed with open arms. It’s really annoying when it should be more like a Catholic Mass with whispering and reverence for the food and having to put up with disapproving looks when you make a sound over 5 decibels.
Number 6: Having to put up with people coming and visiting and absolutely loving it and envying you for a living in Spain. Why can’t they just leave us alone in our misery as described every day in the Daily Mail?
Number 7: Not getting the opportunity to buy loads of coats, raincoats, umbrellas and hats to keep out the cold and wet. Please climate, come on, give us a chance of being fashionable with rainwear.
Number 8: Not being able to get awful food in fast food stores everywhere and having to put up with that home-cooked rubbish that takes forever to cook that they do in the majority of bars and restaurants when you want a menu of the day. Can they just not do quick tasteless food?
Number 9: Not being able to spend enough on a bottle of wine to impress people when you visit their houses. They always know they only cost you a few euros for whatever you bring round.
Number 10: Getting woken up every day by bells from a church or fireworks as another pointless Catholic Fiesta goes ahead in your neighbourhood. We want peace and quiet not happiness and celebrations!
Number 11: Having to put up with those endlessly long straight motorways with no other traffic on them and driving your car through cities with little congestion. We want road rage please. It’s what keeps us edgy and alive.
Number 12: Having to put up with coffee that isn’t from Starbucks or Costa Coffee and only costs between 1 Euro and €1.50. When will the Spanish learn they can make much more money by overcharging for a huge polystyrene cup of froth and sugar rather than sticking to actual coffee?
Number 13: Cities are just too small. There is no huge sprawling city like Mexico DF, Shanghai or Calcutta where you can get lost. This in turn means that you are never far from nature. Nature yuck! We have spent years trying to get away from it in the rest of the world with sprawling cities and now we have to be near to it again.
Number 14: You have to start drinking later because the pubs open much too late and where is the 11 o’clock bell meaning you have to leave so you can get ready for work the next day? They just carry on forever… and they do lock ins!
Number 15: And speaking of alcohol why is it so cheap here for Pete’s sake. You would think they wanted us to get drunk every now and again or something.
Number 16: The roast chicken shops. Why should we have to put up with the gorgeous delicious smell of roast chicken as we walk down the street in every Spanish town? Thoughtless for foreign vegetarians… (There aren’t any Spanish vegetarians are there?)
Number 17: Having to put up with your family. In other countries we don’t have to put up with our family why should it be so in Spain? Family picnics, family days out, family reunions and more. We want more solitude.
So as a favour to you all I suffer it. I put up with all of this rubbish just so you don’t have to. Am I not soooo kind?
So what would you add? What are more of the worst things about living in Spain?
It’s time to put on the sarcasm font and start “complaining” about living in Spain. Lots of people complain about living in Spain, just look at any online forum, but let’s give them a platform for their complaints here should we as only forum owners and their invented six alter egos read forums these days. So for all of you out there who over the years have complained loudly, repeatedly and in the echoey chamber that is an internet forum let’s give you a voice. The 17 worst things about living in Spain:
Number 1: The Zenlike challenge that is bureaucracy. Not too sarcastic here it should be treated as such because otherwise you might just go on a “spree”.
Number 2: Having to put up with all of these holidays. You just cannot get into the groove of working here because there are too many opportunities to have barbecues with friends, go out for something to eat and stay out late because there is no work tomorrow.
Number 3: That you may have to enjoy the rain because it might be the last time that you see you for quite a long time. I want to be able to complain about the weather. It’s not fair.
Number 4: Having too much fruit and veg in your garden at various times of the year when you get a windfall. Oranges, plums, apples or whatever you are growing because things grow so easily here. Make it a challenge mother nature please.
Number 5: Having to put up with children and families in restaurants because they are allowed in and welcomed with open arms. It’s really annoying when it should be more like a Catholic Mass with whispering and reverence for the food and having to put up with disapproving looks when you make a sound over 5 decibels.
Number 6: Having to put up with people coming and visiting and absolutely loving it and envying you for a living in Spain. Why can’t they just leave us alone in our misery as described every day in the Daily Mail?
Number 7: Not getting the opportunity to buy loads of coats, raincoats, umbrellas and hats to keep out the cold and wet. Please climate, come on, give us a chance of being fashionable with rainwear.
Number 8: Not being able to get awful food in fast food stores everywhere and having to put up with that home-cooked rubbish that takes forever to cook that they do in the majority of bars and restaurants when you want a menu of the day. Can they just not do quick tasteless food?
Number 9: Not being able to spend enough on a bottle of wine to impress people when you visit their houses. They always know they only cost you a few euros for whatever you bring round.
Number 10: Getting woken up every day by bells from a church or fireworks as another pointless Catholic Fiesta goes ahead in your neighbourhood. We want peace and quiet not happiness and celebrations!
Number 11: Having to put up with those endlessly long straight motorways with no other traffic on them and driving your car through cities with little congestion. We want road rage please. It’s what keeps us edgy and alive.
Number 12: Having to put up with coffee that isn’t from Starbucks or Costa Coffee and only costs between 1 Euro and €1.50. When will the Spanish learn they can make much more money by overcharging for a huge polystyrene cup of froth and sugar rather than sticking to actual coffee?
Number 13: Cities are just too small. There is no huge sprawling city like Mexico DF, Shanghai or Calcutta where you can get lost. This in turn means that you are never far from nature. Nature yuck! We have spent years trying to get away from it in the rest of the world with sprawling cities and now we have to be near to it again.
Number 14: You have to start drinking later because the pubs open much too late and where is the 11 o’clock bell meaning you have to leave so you can get ready for work the next day? They just carry on forever… and they do lock ins!
Number 15: And speaking of alcohol why is it so cheap here for Pete’s sake. You would think they wanted us to get drunk every now and again or something.
Number 16: The roast chicken shops. Why should we have to put up with the gorgeous delicious smell of roast chicken as we walk down the street in every Spanish town? Thoughtless for foreign vegetarians… (There aren’t any Spanish vegetarians are there?)
Number 17: Having to put up with your family. In other countries we don’t have to put up with our family why should it be so in Spain? Family picnics, family days out, family reunions and more. We want more solitude.
So as a favour to you all I suffer it. I put up with all of this rubbish just so you don’t have to. Am I not soooo kind?
So what would you add? What are more of the worst things about living in Spain?
