In part 1 and part
2 of our 5 part series on relocating to Spain, we recommended
obtaining a Spanish National Insurance Number & a Spanish
residence card; we also touched on health insurance and
the ownership of property. We also discussed learning some
conversational Spanish, acclimating to the "mellow" lifestyle
and car ownership & driving. In this edition, we look
at you can set about becoming more "Spanish".
Having moved from your country of
origin to set up a new life in Spain, you're initially faced with
several hurdles to overcome before you can fully integrate into
your new home. Now that you have taken the huge step in moving from
the comfort of the country you have been used to for most if not
all of your life up until now, it's time to take the plunge into
the great unknown and set about integrating into the very different
lifestyle you have chosen to be a part of. Life in Spain, especially
in the hot, southern province of Analucia can be a wonderful
experience if you go about it the right way. Let's look at some
of the wonderfully exciting ways to join the thousands of other
foreigners who have made a successful life for themselves in Spain.
One of the first and most important
things to be done once you have unpacked your belongings and spent
your first day in your new home settling in, is to go out and meet
your neighbors. Depending on where you have chosen to live,
they may be Spanish, or of another nationality. Finding out exactly
who you are living amongst is a great way of starting out life in
Spain the right way. Be bold and go knock on some doors in your
street, or apartment block.
Don't be put off by stares of incredulity
as the doors are opened by their owners. Greet them with the biggest
smile you can muster and a "¡Hola! Buenos dias."
That's hello, good day in Spanish if you didn't know. But you are
in Spain, so you should know at least that and a fair bit more Spanish
besides! That's the key to being accepted by your Spanish neighbors.
If you can stumble over some phrases in Spanish, they will return
your smile and more than likely invite you in for a drink and a
"tapa", or snack.
Better still to go armed with a bottle
of good wine or two and you will have made a friend for life!
The Spanish people are very sociable
and love to get together for gatherings of family and friends and
neighbors. are often included. Be prepared to be invited to lots
of these informal get-togethers once you have gotten to know and
be accepted by your Spanish neighbors. They love to lay on an absolute
mountain of home-cooked and prepared food as well as plenty of drinks
of all descriptions and then stand around or sit in large groups
talking away, usually all at once! It is a wonderful experience
and as long as you can muddle your way through at least some Spanish,
they will all want to talk to you and find out more about you.
You probably won't understand much
of what they're saying to begin with, because once they know you
can say a few words in their language, these friendly people will
assume you can understand everything they say and will proceed to
gabble unintelligibly away at you without coming up for air! And
not just one at a time, either! You'll have to constantly remind
then to slow down so that you can understand at least some of what
they're saying. But they laugh at themselves for doing this and
there will always be someone who will be happy to translate anything
difficult into English for you.
Be sure to reciprocate by inviting
your neighbors. to your home once you are settled and a little more
comfortable with this. It makes for a great social life and these
new friends will always be there to help you if you need it.
Getting to know your new Spanish neighbors.
and making friends with them is the first and probably the most
important step you can take in becoming integrated into the Spanish
way of life. Once you have made it over this first hurdle, the rest
comes much more easily as you now have friends who can help you
with anything that would be difficult had you not taken this important
and enjoyable step into the unknown! Life in Spain is a wonderful
experience for any foreigner that has taken the time to properly
integrate themselves into their new society.- Terry
Didcott
