-Where were you born?

Auckland, New Zealand

-In which country and city are you living now?

Brisbane, Australia

-Are you living alone or with your family?

My husband & I with our 2 Kiwi dogs

-How long have you been living in Australia?

4 years

-What is your age?

37

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Australia?

4 years ago - needed a change of pace.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

No, it was simple.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

No

-How do you make your living in Australia? Do you have any type of income generated?

I was lucky, when we decided to move over to Australia I managed to get a transfer through my role at the time in finance. My husband, however, resigned in NZ and came over - he had 4 job offers within the first day of ringing around - a positive attitude goes a long way.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

 Do I speak the local language - Australian - sometimes!!!

 I think it is very important to immerse yourself in the culture when you're living abroad. I spent 15 years travelling and living in countries like Thailand (5 years) Spain (12 months) Chile (8 months) USA (2 years) Canada (18 months) Egypt (6 months) and I loved every single minute of being submersed in different cultures, the food, traditions, customs, food, language - ooohhh I just soak it all up and enjoy the beauty of what all cultures have to offer.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

Sure I miss home, I mean New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries of the world! Thankfully with Sykpe, Facebook and the likes communication is a lot easier now that it was when I started travelling 20 years ago.

My favourite thing to so in NZ is to go "Pipi Collecting" along the white sandy beaches for dinner! Yumbo!

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

I started a new Internet-based business late last year, www.globalkidsoz.com.au. Even though I have chosen to settle in Brisbane for the time being, I can't get travel out of my mind...this is a fabulous way that I can still immerse myself in learning about other cultures while still having both feet firmly planted on the ground in Brisbane. I love what I do - by sharing different multicultural resources with the education sector of Australia, I get the amazing opportunity to continually learn about other cultures and countries through my work. They say that if you are able to find a job that you're passionate about then you're one lucky person - well, I feel that is exactly what I am...one very lucky person indeed!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We bought our house when we first arrived in Brisbane 4 years ago for around $330k. We have since put in a swimming pool, done extensions and  landscaped. But prices are still reasonable in many parts of Brisbane if you're willing to take the time to look.

-What is the cost of living in Australia?

 Reasonable 

-What do you think about the locals?

The people of Brisbane have been so accommodating and welcoming to us - we know all our neighbours and even had friendly introductions from neighbours across the street when we moved in - it's a lovely community feel here.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Australia?

Positives - I love the weather.

Negative - I love the weather - as it means I don't get back to New Zealand as often as I should!! 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Australia?

Never compare all the great things about New Zealand to the bad things about Australia. If you're talking to an Australian, make sure that you're positive about both countries and not just NZ. After all if you have chosen to live here then there must be plenty of great things to talk about! This goes the same about every country!

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Australia?

My website is www.globalkidsoz.com.au and www.recycledmats.cm.au

My facebook pages are www.facebook.com./globalkidsoz.com.au

www.facebook.com/recycledmats

www.facebook.com/jstranan 

-Where were you born?         

Hull, UK

-In which country and city are you living now? 

Montoro, Córdoba, Spain

-Are you living alone or with your family?

With wife and two daughters

-How long have you been living in Spain?

Five years

-What is your age?

38

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Spain?

We were just sick of the rat race and we made the decision to move sooner rather than wait to receive our state pensions - which probably would be worth nothing in 30 years' time!

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

Luckily we didn't need any.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived? 

A lot of people (not only the English) are under the impression that the European Union health card (it was blue?) is valid - but I soon found out its validity is only for 30 or 31 days.

-How do you make your living in Spain? Do you have any type of income generated?

We decided, like many others, that the only way to make a living was to work for ourselves and become self-employed. We found a country house to buy with the intention of running it as a B&B, until we found out it had no water! We ended up (after living two years without water with temperatures of 45 degrees!) giving the house away. Five years later we are still paying the price for our stupidity.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

As my daughters are fluent I have learnt a lot from them. I still don't have the confidence to say I am fluent! But I know that if I didn't speak the language now, I would not be working.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

My wife does but after being in the UK for a couple of weeks this year, I know I miss nothing.

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

Now I am working, I plan to try and recuperate my losses! The truth is, if we had been working from the start the whole experience would have been so much more pleasurable.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

The market is dead at the moment so it is a good time to buy. A three-bedroomed flat could be negotiated for around 100.000 E (there is actually one on ebay.es at the moment, I just looked!)

-What is the cost of living in Spain?

It used to be a lot cheaper, but the prices are slowly creeping up! From my recent experiences in the UK, the food is still around a third cheaper.

-What do you think about the locals?

They are really different, once you get to know them and speak the language. I have found this the case in many countries.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Spain?

The main positive, obviously, is the weather. The community spirit is something else I have noticed. When my grandmother said she used to borrow a spoonful of tea from her neighbour, I never believed it happened! Here I do it all the time, only for wine and Jamon!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Spain?

NEVER BUY. FIND WORK. Always, always, always rent. Give yourself time to find out 1) If you like the place 2) If supporting yourselves in the future is viable. If I had rented first I would still be living like a king. The mistake was taking advice from people I didn't know. In hindsight I would have spent at least a year renting before I found people trustworthy enough to work with.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Spain?

I am now working for a local company that manufactures and maintains olive oil extraction machinery. So if anyone is planning to buy an olive farm (something I planned to do originally!) you can see our products in Spanish at www.industriasdelarosa.com

-Where were you born?

London, England

-In which country and city are you living now?

El Puerto de Santa Maria in the province of Cadiz, Spain.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

My husband Marcus and our 2 children, Blewes 8 and Deven 6

-How long have you been living in Spain?

4 years

-What is your age?

39

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Spain?

We always wanted to relocate to another country and decided on Spain. After making many inspection trips covering the whole coast of Spain from Barcelona down to Valencia through the Costa del Sol and up towards Huelva, we discovered El Puerto de Santa Maria, a very, quaint traditional Spanish town with a great ambience and gorgeous beaches.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

No need for visas as it is part of the EU.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

It's quite easy to get social security cards, so that you can benefit from the Spanish national health service or even better pay for private medical care, which if you shop around is not as expensive as Bupa.

-How do you make your living in Spain? Do you have any type of income generated?

When you are a foreigner and live in a relatively small town (like we do) it is near on impossible to find work.  To start off, we set-up our own drive-thru carwash (the 1st of its kind in the province). We have since sold this and having bought land, built our own house and set-up business here, we decided to set-up Luz Concierge where we help and advise other British people who wish to move here, having done so much ourselves and fallen down many holes, in this very complicated bureaucratic system, we help and advise others on all aspects, from renovating properties, acquiring licences, sourcing schools to contracting reliable builders etc...  whatever your need we have either done it or know how to.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

Yes, we do speak Spanish.  In the beginning we did not speak a word, we are self taught and have loads of Spanish friends (which is very important if you want to integrate into the community).  The dialect here is very different from text book Spanish and is full of phrases, here there is a phrase for everything.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

Of-course, I miss them loads, but our house is an open house and all family and friends visit regularly.  Now, having lived here for 4 years, we have some great friends and the kids are a great source of meeting new people.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

Who knows what the future will bring.  For now we are very content with our lives here and the kids are really settled.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We bought land and privately contracted a constructor to build our house, which we designed.  With the economic crisis, house prices have dropped but it still does very much depend on the area that you choose.  To give you an idea a 3-bedroom terraced house would cost approx 300,000€.

-What is the cost of living in Spain?

Still good in comparison to London, but it has increased.

-What do you think about the locals? 

The locals are really friendly and appreciate it if you try to speak their language.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Spain?

The positives are a more tranquil life, great climate, outside living, fresh, fresh fruit & vegetables and quality time with the family.  The negatives, the bureaucracy, the bureaucracy and the bureaucracy!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Spain?

Do your research and it is advisable to use a company like us at Luz Concierge to help you through the frustrating Spanish system, our website is www.luzconcierge.com.  We give honest advice and tell you how it really is. 

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Spain

www.LuzConcierge.com making your transition as smooth as possible. 

-Where are you from?

Melbourne, Australia

-In which country and city are you living now?

Madrid, Spain

-Are you living alone or with your family?

Living with a girlfriend

-How long have you been living in Spain?

Almost 10 years

-What is your age?

33

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Spain?

I was living and working in London and met a Spanish girl... The rest is history.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

No, not at all, as long as you have an EU passport. If you have an Australian passport only you are eligible to a maximum of 3 years.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Being fairly young when I arrived it never entered my mind. The Social Security system works better here than in most other developed countries I have been to so you just have to empadronarte at the local council office and apply for SS status. If you want private health (which is advisable to avoid long waiting lists for specialists) you can find rates as low as 25€ per month.

-How do you make your living in Spain? Do you have any type of income generated? 

I work for a hotel company and have been doing so for the last 9 years. For the first year I worked as an English teacher as I didn't speak the language. That was great and it allowed me to get to know the city well and make some contacts. One day I was walking past a 5* hotel close to one of my classes, I left my CV and the following day I was serving drinks in the bar..... Being a native English speaker really helps in Spain as very few people speak it well.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

When I first arrived in Spain I used to go to bars with hand-written notes that my girlfriend had prepared for me to show the people working in bars because I didn't know how to order anything. I always had to carry around large notes in my wallet because I didn't understand the price of anything so ended up most days with a pile of change in my pockets.

The ability to adapt to any culture or society is the difference between obtaining a fulfilling experience as opposed to merely surviving – I merely survived for the first 6 months but then I experienced Madrid. You have to learn the language as soon as possible. Sometimes I used to wake up in the morning and think I'll never learn this *&%$!¿ language but one day something clicks and it seems to make more sense. You've just got to stick with it. It also helps if you have a partner or group of friends native to the country which was my case. I didn't know anyone who spoke English and I avoided meeting them for the first few years. Spain is a country where you can learn the language by simply going to bars and enjoying yourself. Spaniards love English-speaking foreigners and it is very easy to make friends as people are generally curious here and will do almost anything to talk to you.

Language is an integral part of feeling a connection to any given destination. Not only is it important to learn the correct grammar but it is just as important to learn the local slang. As in most countries, if you make an effort here the locals will reciprocate.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

Sometimes. I miss the space and natural beauty of Australia more than anything and of course family although I am used to seeing them only every now and then.

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

Yes, I am hopefully moving to Asia in the near future as part of an expat transfer agreement with my company but this current recession is making it more difficult to predict when….

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

Yes. I bought an apartment about 6/7 years ago just before the boom. I paid a fair price for it considering and I was lucky to buy just before housing prices went through the roof. Now, prices are slowly coming down but no one has access to cash to be able to buy so there are plenty of bargains on the market. In central Madrid expect to pay approx. 4500€ per m². So a 2 bedroom apartment at around 75 m² will set you back around 350K€. Unfortunately the average wage in Spain is a long way from making it a good country for first home buyers, hence the shocking amount of 30-40 year olds still living with Mum and Dad!

-What is the cost of living in Spain?

As in most countries…some things are cheap and others aren’t. If you make 2000€ per month you’ll be ok. Anything less and you’re walking up hill. Housing, petrol, clothing and restaurants are expensive. Supermarkets, bars, cars, hotels and going out are cheap.

-What do you think about the Spaniards? 

Spaniards are fantastic. They are helpful and love a good foreigner. If you make no effort to communicate in their tongue you can expect to see the worse in them. They are pacific, outgoing and passionate people so try to integrate… it’s definitely worth the effort.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Spain?

Positive – Great weather most of the year. Clear blue skies even in winter. Great food and wine. Great people. Fantastic language. No rules… This is anarchy! If you like the ‘no worries’ approach to life then you’ll love Spain.

Negative – Fairly expensive since the introduction of the €. Dense traffic jams. Lack of availability of foreign food and wine produce. Traditional hierarchical working culture. No beach in Madrid!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Spain?

Enjoy it to the maximum… You will always find things to complain about but there are very, very few countries that can offer you the lifestyle that Spain can. Find a Spanish girl… they’re great. Go to as many bars as possible… no two are the same – try Mezquita (La Alhambra) Beer. If you are a native English speaker… take advantage of it.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Spain?

www.cricketinmadrid.com

-Where were you born?

I was born in England.

-In which country and city are you living now?

I am living in Almerimar, Spain

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my wife Sands and our three cats Moreno, Saidi and Oscar.

-How long have you been living in Spain?

Full time 4 years, but owned and visited for 8 years

-What is your age?

45 

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Spain?

I always thought we would end up living abroad, just didn't really know where. For a long time I thought it would be America as I had been to school there and we had a family property in Florida.

Then I got involved with a company that had business over here in Almerimar. I visited the project a few times, and liked the area. In particular it seemed full of potential and a good place to invest in a second home in Europe.

Bought 'at the right time', and started visiting more. I then got involved in running a company in Barcelona, so for two weeks of the month commuted from the UK and for two weeks from Almerimar.

Then decided that I really didn't want to be in the UK and working, so sort of semi-retired to Almerimar. Of course, the first thing that happened is I got a contract to work in the US so was in the US for 6 weeks and Almerimar 6 weeks for about 18 months. 

Finally managed to get here full time, where we live a simple, cheap life with our cats and friends. I do some internet-based work, and run a number of sites of my own. 

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

Not at all.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Not at all.

-How do you make your living in Spain? Do you have any type of income generated?

I earn my money on or through the internet. I have a number of successful blogs that I run, and I provide advice, hosting and content for a number of clients.

I also run Google Ad Words campaigns for a number of clients, and advise on Internet use, exploitation and marketing.

My clients are spread all over the world, which is the beauty of the internet and a good job as well as in my experience Spain is not as addicted to the Internet as many other parts of the world.

My tolls are the broadband connection (way too slow and expensive in Spain), a number of Mac computers, my iPhone, Camera, CamCorder, Microphone and Mixer, and my two Harley Davidsons which I use when I am involved in running bike tours around Andalucia. 

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? 

I can get by in a restaurant or bar, but no, I am not fluent. We have embraced the culture and traditions fully though, as in my view that is crucial, and the most important aspect of living abroad!

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? 

Never. I could happily never go back to the UK ever again! I have a very small family (just my parents) and they are in good health, so they like coming out here to see us, which is great.

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

Grow old and drink red wine!! I think planning is over rated and just stresses people out. We are more than happy here, so for now that is good enough. I will continue with the blogs and work that I do for as long as it interests me and then I will stop and either find something else that interests me, or just sit and watch the world go by!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it? 

We own a three-bedroom penthouse apartment overlooking the golf course, marina, nature reserve and mountains.

We paid around £60,000 for it before the introduction of the €.

-What is the cost of living in Spain?

It is pretty cheap, but is extremely good value. We get tapas included with the drinks here in Almerimar, and with the Menu del Dia and abundance of local fresh produce, it is a good place to live within a budget.

-What do you think about the Spanish? 

I love them. This is their country and I am grateful that they are happy to share it with us. So long as you embrace their cultures and traditions and try to communicate, they are fine. 

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Spain?

Positives: sun, climate, pace of life, quality of life, cost of living, people, traditions and cultures, the diet, the wine!!!

Negatives: none 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Spain?

Do not come over and bring your old way of life with you. You will be disappointed and disliked. Embrace the opportunity that living in a new country offers you.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Spain?

Well of course my own:

• www.almerimarlife.com is a blog on our life as an expat in Spain

• www.almerimarlifestrays.com is a blog my wife runs to help support the stray animals here in Almerimar

• www.chrismarshall.ws is my personal technology based blog

• www.morenosworld.com is the blog we set up for our cats!!!

And as a general site for expats I love:

www.expatlifespain.com, which gives good news, tips and advice.

-Where were you born?

Bishop Aukland County Durham, UK

-In which country and city are you living now?

Barcelona, Spain

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I'm married with 2 kids - Jack who's 3 and Sophie who's 1 & 1/2

-How long have you been living in Spain?

Almost 10 years! (which wasn't the plan - Barcelona is a hard place to leave!)

-What is your age?

I'm 31.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Spain?

After I finished University (English in Liverpool) I didn't know what to do, so my cousin suggested a TEFL course, and that's how I ended up here. I wanted to learn another language, and Spanish seemed to have the appeal. The original idea was to stay in Spain for 2 years (a year in Barcelona then a year in Madrid, Seville, etc.) and then go back to England, but I'm still here!

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

Nope. EU citizen, so it was all taken care of by the school I first worked at.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Being young-ish, I never even thoought about that, but the first time I fell ill (quite seriously) I was lucky enough to have my girlfriend to help with the paperwork and got social security/NHS medical cover which was much better than I expected, being in a foreign country.

-How do you make your living in Spain? Do you have any type of income generated? 

When I first arrived, I didn't have a mobile or internet connection, so I went to the local library and trawled the yellow pages for English Schools. I suppose I arrived amid the boom as I got 5 interviews within the first week, and got all of the jobs, so just decided on the best working hours (I ended up doing 16h till 22h). I then branched out into an apartment rental agent (meeting and greeting tourists in rental apartments) which is part of what I do today. I have also recently set up an SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) firm here in the city, as I saw a gap in the market after being duped by someone here, too.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? 

After almost 10 years here, I'd be an idiot if I didn't speak Spanish, but I don't speak Catalan, although I understand it. I think it's very important for foreigners living here to try and adapt and learn the language, as it helps to integrate yourself and become part of the community.

I remember once having a coffee outside with a friend when I first arrived and although I ordered the coffees in English (apologetically), I said "Gracias" (even thogh the majority of people think that would be a lame/half effort) and the waiter was really chuffed. It's surprising that if you make the effort then it's appreciated, even if you think you might sound daft.

Other Barcelona ex-pats have posted on here that sometimes it's difficult with Catalan, as they are a very proud nation, and I can totally agree with that - I still often get replied to in Catalan, despite it being obvious that I'm a foreigner speaking Spanish, but I'm cool with that - as long as we undertand each other, then it's great! On a personal note, it's funny to hear my little boy come home from school (all national institutions are in Catalan) singing songs in Catalan, that I have no idea about!!

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

Of course I miss my family and friends, although it's usually them who come and visit me from various points of the UK rather than me venturing home! The local geography of Barcelona is great in that you can ski, beach, camp in the countryside and hike in almost a 1 hour radius. Plus it's usually hot most of the year ;o)

-Do you have other plans for the future?

Tough one considering we're in the middle of a recession. As long as I can keep our heads above water then I'll be happy. I'd like to see the growth of my SEO venture in the coming 12 months as online advertising is huge especially as so many traditional methods are falling off the map (in no way disrespective there, quite the opposite, as I've been a victim!). Travel - I'd love to go home more often, especially as I have young kids, and my wife is Peruvian, meaning it's difficult for her family to get visas, etc., but we'll see!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

I was fortunate enough to buy an apartment with my wife just before we married (2003) but since then the repayments on the mortgage have rocketed through the roof, and Spain has the current un-enviable total for number of people on the dole in the whole of Europe, which makes things even harder. My mortgage repayments have gone up around 700 Euros since January 2008, and that's minimum wage in Spain.

-What is the cost of living in Spain?

It's odd, as these kind of things I look at more nowadays more than before. Sometimes local stuff is very cheap (like if you go to a supermarket in England the tomatoes are almost always from Spain, hence here they're twice as cheap - my parents notice this kind of thing!) and then you get the odd kind of retail/outlet shop, but for a big European city, I suppose it's normal prices. The one thing I will say (but not harping on) is that the cost of renting/buying your place is ridiculously high in comparison to minimum wage and there are frequent protests about this in the city. A very high percentage of over 30's still live at home in Spain.

-What do you think about the Spaniards? 

From a strictly personal point of view, it's hard to break into a group of friends here, unless you're invited. Once you're "in" a group of friends, they'll bend over backwards to help you out in any situation, but that initial step is often hard to take and I've still not been able to put my finger on why.

Barcelona has a load of immigrants, so "locals" can mean a different thing here. The absolute locals often get annoyed at the tourism invading their territory, but tourism is the major income/industry for Spain and won't really go away, so they have to accept it. That said, I've always felt completely welcome here, and even before I spoke Spanish (I didn't speak a word when I first arrived) I never felt like the stupid English bloke who couldn't communicate!

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Spain?

Climate is obviously the big one (being an Englishman) but also the location of Barcelona within Europe itself - it seems to be so central and there are so many low-cost flights in and around Barcelona that you can be almost anywhere in Europe from Barcelona in around 3 hours or less. Plus wat I mentioned earlier about being able to experience all different aspects of nature within such a small radius is great.

Negatives - well anything to do with adminsitration or paperwork always takes aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaages, but if you can live with delays, it's no biggie.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Spain?

The Spanish (and Catalans) are very laid back in comparison to other cultures where I've lived, so be prepared for delays on anything you need to do and try and plan anything major (like a wedding!) well in advance! Also, it's a great help to try and learn a bit of the lingo before you come  - it's NOT what I did, but I think maybe I would have got a better head start if I'd've known a bit more how to communicate before I got here, as people would have taken more notice.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Spain? 

Obviously I'll say my own sites here!

http://www.bcn-rentals.com is the apartment agency.

My blog is http://www.barcelonasights.blogspot.com (I recently won thebloggersguide Best European Blog Award, and have qualified for the final to be the best city blogger!)

My other site is http://www.barcelona-seo.com.

-Where were you born?
Leicester, UK

-In which country and city are you living now?
Formentera del Segura, Alicante, Spain

-Are you living alone or with your family?
Husband and wife, daughter lives close by.

-How long have you been living in Spain?
3 years

-What is your age?
57

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Spain?
About 10 years ago decided we would like to like a Mediterranean life style, climate and quality of life.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
No

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
We are registered for state health care.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
We are always learning, and think it is important.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
We sometimes miss our family, but with distances no object these days it is not a problem to return to visit.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
Maybe in the distant future we will move to Australia.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We own our 1-bedroom apartment. Property prices are now falling in Spain and a 1-bedroom apartment close to the coast is easily obtainable for about €80,000.

-What is the cost of living in Spain?
Compared to the UK it is very much lower.

-What do you think about the Spanish?
The locals are great and are often nicer people than fellow expats.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Spain?
The climate is better, it's cheaper to live, it has a more outdoor lifestyle, better healthcare than the UK.

Negative - the attitude to animals, the constant new building when there are already thousands of empty unsold properties.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Spain?
Adapt to the local way of life, eat the local food, dont try to buy "British". Accept that Spain is a noisy country.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Spain?
A Brit in Spain, http://a-brit-in-spain.blogspot.com, is a blog of events and information in the lives of two Brits living on the Costa Blanca in Spain

AngloINFO Costa Blanca, http://costablanca.angloinfo.com/forum/, is an information website, with forum and information.

-Where were you born?
I was born in Schiedam, the Netherlands, but I moved from there about 20-plus times. In my teens I also was in an English boarding school in Switzerland for 2 years.

-In which country and city are you living now?
Alfaz del Pi, Costa Blanca, Spain

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I’m living with my Dutch boyfriend Jan.

-How long have you been living in Spain?
I've been living here for 12.5 years now.

-What is your age?
48

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Spain?
My father, his wife and my half-brother moved here before me and asked me to come and help them with their business.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
No problem.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
As soon as you work you get "Seguridad Social." The choice is yours to get extra insurance, which I did.

-How do you make your living in Spain? Do you have any type of income generated?
When I arrived my father had equipment (machines) with children's toys, to place at bars and restaurants. This was for children to buy toys or chewing gum. These were placed all over Benidorm and inland in bars and restaurants. We bought new toys, did them in balls and went all over the place to fill these machines with new toys and sweets. We gave the bar or restaurant owner their share.

In the meantime I had Spanish lessons twice a week. After 3 years of hard work he sold the business to a Dutch couple. I could stay in Spain by doing house cleaning jobs. Because of language problems it was hard to find a job. After a few years he started a Real Estate Agency. When this business grew, he needed somebody to do computer work. This is when I started working in our family's real estate agency, called Homefinders. We help people to find the property they search for. If we don’t have the property on our books we go round the area and search for it. If we can’t find it, we go to our colleague Estate Agent and look through their books. My work is to update our database and website. I still like living and working in Spain.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
It is very important to speak the language, but this is still very hard. When you work, it is hard to follow classes; most of them are during the day.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I don’t really miss home; I think my home is here. My sister from Holland comes here regularly with her 2 sons. Her husband is nearly always working. My mother I see once every 2 years and we have contact through the webcam.

My recreational activities are going to the gym 3 times a week and Saturdays we go hiking in the mountains around us. Sometimes I follow a course in trinkets (jewelry) making or mosaic making. I am also a member of a Dutch club, Club Los Holandeses. Here we do all kind of activities like ping pong, darts, bridge and more. We also celebrate all the Dutch holidays here.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I like living here and my plan is to stay here and make everything about this my homeland.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
At the moment we rent a small house with 1 bedroom and a little garden. We pay € 360,- a month, which is cheap, but the house has no luxury at all. We painted the whole house and installed air-conditioning. My sister who lives here as well, pays about € 600,- for a 3 bedroom apartment.

-What is the cost of living in Spain?
The prices here are different than in Holland. For instance when we go and eat in a restaurant, everything is much cheaper. Local groceries are also cheap, but when you want something special from abroad this changes to expensive. This is also with renting property. The prices have reached the roof; this is because of tourism in this area. But the wages are extremely low in this part of Spain, if not the lowest.

-What do you think about the Spaniards?
They are a kind and proud people. They appreciate it when you try to speak their language. Not many speak English.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Spain?
The positive is the climate, it is here in spring and fall during the day like summer in Holland. About 4 or 5 o’clock in the afternoon, you must put something on, but nearly never a coat. In summer it is hot and dry, most of the time we spend indoors, with or without air-conditioning. The tourists are on the beach, we don’t go. The winters are soft and nice. When we drive 4 hours we go skiing in the "Sierra Nevada."

We have also a beautiful inland, where you can walk and hike.

Negatives, I don’t know so many, maybe going to the doctor. That could improve here. That is why I have an extra insurance.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Spain?
Adjust to the local people. That is the best way to survive here. I have seen so many people, who wanted to change the things here, for instance "mañana." A lot of people cannot stand this and want the Spanish people to change and do things their way. This does not work. The only thing that happens is that you are waiting for them to do things your way. The people who wanted to change the customs here are the ones who are not living here anymore and who have gone back to their native countries. The best thing to do is accept the way Spanish people are and accept them.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Spain?
All the blogs I know are in Dutch.

Mine, about living and working in Spain: Joke in Spanje, www.jokeinspanje.web-log.nl

Friends who live in La Nucia and are traveling around Europe for about 3 years: Goose en Birdy op pad, www.born2bealive.web-log.nl

The Dutch Community Club: Club Los Holandeses, www.holandeses.nl

-Where were you born?
Balham, London, England

-In which country and city are you living now?
Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucia, Spain

-Are you living alone or with your family?
With my wife Esther & children Raul & Katrina

-How long have you been living in Spain?

5 years

-What is your age?
45

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Spain?
My wife is from Valladolid, Northern Spain, and having visited many times we began to talk about living in Spain one day. We considered that if we did not make the move when the children were young we would probably never make the move. My wife was quite comfortable living in London, she had been living in England for 9 years but we both thought that the children and ourselves could have a better quality of life in Spain. We haven’t been disappointed! We actually found Jerez and the Costa de la Luz by taking a holiday there and we both knew it was the place for us.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Not required, as I am a European citizen, I just applied for residency.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
No, we took forms 301 but got our social security cards very quickly.

-How do you make your living in Spain? Do you have any type of income generated?
We came here with the idea that my wife would probably find work much quicker and easier than myself. I was prepared to do pretty much anything to start off with, so as to integrate and help me learn the language. After many trips taking our CV's to agencies, hotels, car hire services, etc., but to no avail.

I ended up getting a job through my Spanish teacher at the time, who knew the owner of a metal design company who was looking for a welder and fabricator. I had experience in this field as I ran my own ironwork business back in the UK. I got a 6-month contract. I then went on to work for a removals company, driving and interpreting, as a lot of the work was in the American naval base in Rota. In between this my wife got a very good job with an import/export company.

Now we are running Spanish Sol-utions, our successful Relocation Company, helping people who also want to move to this beautiful part of the world!

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
Yes, but I am still a long way from perfecting it. On a personal note I get very frustrated if I cannot make myself understood or understand what someone is talking to me about. It is a case of respect and integration, I came to Spain to enjoy the culture and enjoy everything Spanish, and without speaking the language I don’t think you can do that. For me it is a must and I would recommend for anyone serious about coming to live in Spain who wants to get the most out of the experience, start to take lessons before you come!

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Of course I miss my family and friends, but although we don’t see as much of each other as I would like, the time we do spend together is quality time and we make the most of each other and our time together. I really do not miss much about England but I do see Spain following the same route for the good and the bad. I would say it is about 10 years behind, if not less.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I have always liked to travel but since I got married and had children and moved to Spain our holidays are spent between my in-laws in Valladolid and my family in England.

My business allows me to travel locally and I feel privileged to live and work in this beautiful part of Spain. An unspoilt coastline and diverse countryside with so much to see and do is fantastic. Developing our relocation business and helping people make the move to Spain a happy experience and spending time with my family are my immediate plans. I want to take the kids to Disney, Orlando next year though!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We rented for the first 5 months at a cost of 500€/month for a 4-bed house (we overpaid) but you only learn that afterwards. We then bought the same 4-bed house we live in now in Jerez. I do not have any thoughts about selling but it is probably worth 3 times what we paid for it. I get the feeling that is pretty much similar to the housing market in most of Spain.

-What is the cost of living in Spain?
It has gone up a lot in the years since we have been here and the wages have not. I went to England in March and was shocked at the prices of transport and eating out. In that respect here in Jerez and the surrounding area is much cheaper.

-What do you think about the Spaniards?
I live in a Barrio and the people are on the most part very friendly but I do find that as most of the people have all their family living very close their need for friendship is not high on their agenda. The other thing I would say about Andaluces that I have met in general, they will welcome you into their lives but only to a point and there it stops. The other thing that I have just about got used to is the bluntness of the people, they don’t hesitate to ask you things like how much you earn, how much you paid for your house/car, or what your mortgage costs are, etc.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Spain?
The Spanish mentality to enjoy life, fiesta, siesta, etc. The weather and the outdoor life. Tapas, wine, the food, ferias. The passion, the pride of Andalucia. Slower pace of life.

Negatives: Bureaucracy, corruption, customer attention. Dog crap, litter, and ignorance. Spanish driving.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Spain?
Learn Spanish and forget all about how everything worked in your particular country because it works differently in Spain.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Spain?
For anyone interested in moving, relocating, retiring or investing in Spain, I would seriously advise them to look at www.spanish-sol-utions.com. We can help in every step of the way to moving and living in this beautiful part of Andalucia.

www.eyeonspain.com

-Where were you born?
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

-In which country and city are you living now?
La Orotava, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I am living with my Canarian girlfriend and we have daily contact with her local family.

-How long have you been living in Spain?
Since November 2005 until the present.

-What is your age?
I am now 30 years of age.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Spain?
Let’s just say that it was not something I planned. I was swept off my feet by a beautiful Spanish girl, and the rest is history. I lengthened my stay several weeks to spend more time with her. We were soon separated for 2 months and I had time to think what I would do.

I suppose what really influenced my decision to move was that I had no job in Australia, no friends to speak of & essentially no life (or so I thought). I was so optimistic that I thought it would be easy to make a new life in another country, especially a beautiful island. I love cycling, and I thought it was a better place to cycle than where I was previously living.

In hindsight, true love makes you do crazy things, and moving to another country is one of the best examples of exactly how overpowering it can be; I think love is by far the strongest drug of them all. What motivates anyone else to move 20,000km away from their home?

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
My father was born in the UK, so I was able to apply for a British passport. That entitles me to live & work within the European Union. Since the Canary Islands are an autonomous region of Spain, it was easy enough to get the initial paperwork.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
It was difficult. If you work for yourself, you need to pay ~€240/month into the social security system before you can get any health benefits. Otherwise, you have to pocket all the medical expenses yourself.

-How do you make your living there? Do you have any type of income generated?
This is the difficult question. My field of expertise is “Science research of Materials”. Most of the jobs in Tenerife are poorly paid & associated with the tourist industry. With that in mind, in the beginning it was extremely difficult for me because I knew I didn’t want to waste my skills.

Initially I sent out my curriculum to several schools. Pretty soon I landed a job teaching English in a school. On day one I was surrounded by some thirty 3, 4 and 5 year olds! My first teaching session lasted all of about 10 minutes. I had a panic attack after I was told that the following day there would be no assistants. The horrible working environment didn’t exactly improve my outlook for all the other jobs either. I never returned after lunch – only to inform the secretary that I wasn’t prepared enough.

So began a period of about 2 or 3 months during which time I did much soul-searching & I eventually decided that if I was going to live here, it definitely wouldn’t be working for someone else. I quickly realised that with a decent computer & a broadband internet connection, I was not confined to working for people in Tenerife. So I initiated three of my own ventures, more or less simultaneously – two of which I continue to pursue:

1. Having a huge passion for cycling, and after half-convincing myself that Science never really did anything for me, I decided to initiate a cycling webpage www.Tenerife-Training.net. The idea was to offer challenging guided tours of the island for the multitude of tourist visitors. The idea is not as stupid as it sounds, because this place is so unique. After working on the website content for the last year (up to 80 hours a week, working for peanuts), and promoting it every possible way I know how, I’m finally able to make some money renting out top-quality road & mountain bikes to genuine bicycle enthusiasts. It offers a place where serious cyclists can come to train, all year round, with climbs going from sea level all the way up to 2300m in one ride! I provide both the information and the bikes to make it all happen. The biggest hurdle is that all businesses take time to get of the ground, and especially travel-related ones. There is a lengthy delay between the time people first encounter my website, to the time they actually arrive and rent a bike for a week…
2. I noticed that almost 50% of local businesses still did not have websites and they could do with a new logo. Hence I tried to edge my way into the field of graphic & web design by quickly creating a website called “www.DoctorWebDesigns.com”, making some nifty business cards and then doing door-knocking enquiries at a load of retail shops. There was almost zero demand for it - many shop owners didn’t see the benefit of a website. I never made a cent & hence I never renewed the url I created.
3. Attempting to use my knowledge of advanced materials to benefit my lousy income, within a year I created my own world first prototype invention: an advanced alumina ceramic brake & gear line housing for bicycles: www.vertebr.ae. This is being aimed at cyclists with more money than sense, and I have already sold several kits. Yes they’re quite superfluous for the ordinary rider, but they do work very well indeed. Truth be told, I have been so busy with idea number one, I haven’t had time to promote this product as much as I’d like but I’m convinced that there is a tiny niche market for it. If both professional and recreational cyclists alike buy carbon fibre wheels worth up to US$5000 a set, then why not this invention I thought?!

The first 3 months was the hardest time period. It felt like I was a child. I started with an extremely limited vocabulary (i.e practically nothing). The process of learning a new language goes something like this: lots of guessing, quickly followed by lots of mistakes & embarrassment, then numerous new attempts, several new corrections, somewhat less embarrassment, finally leading to significantly more communication. But really, that’s the only way to learn. I never went to any language classes, but I have recently attended a local Spanish driving school, and the theory lessons have helped to significantly boost my vocabulary & understanding of Spanish spoken at the normal (rapid) pace.

I miss the open space of Australia more than anything. Sometimes I feel claustrophobic here. I really feel trapped at times. With the population density, it not only feels like a crowded island, it is. Even though I used to live in the city of Sydney, with 3 or 4 million people, there were always places I could go to get away from civilisation. Here it’s not so easy. I have been fortunate enough to visit Australia twice in 2 years. I felt like I just had to go. But running a business and travelling are mutually exclusive. So when I went to Australia for 2 months to take a break during the quiet season, it was detrimental to the business.

I think all expatriates suffer from some degree of homesickness. But somewhere along the line, I lost all sense of hope for a better future. Eventually the continual negative thought cycling led to chronic depression, and prozac treatments which continue to this day. It's something which I never thought I would be susceptible to, never ever! Possibly this was because my initial expectations of “an island paradise with my perfect girl” were not met. I’m convinced that moving to another country precipitated that condition, which was until then in a latent state. This was magnified by insufficient planning during the irrational "love-struck" phase. At least that's my scientific analysis...

My favourite past time in Australia was cycling, but after 2 broken wrists in as many years, riding on the road with traffic has definitely lost its appeal.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I have already travelled extensively around the world, but I would still love to travel to Tanzania and Bhutan, as well as Australia whenever I have the opportunity.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I’d rather not think about that yet. I’m still concentrating on regaining 100% financial independence first!

-What is the cost of living in Spain?
Like anywhere, that depends on where you live and what you eat.

-What do you think about the Canarians?
I think Canarian people are incredibly patient, extremely kind & generous, but they need to protect their intrinsically beautiful island (which until now has been their biggest asset) from overdevelopment. They generally despise English foreigners that conglomerate in the South, essentially creating their own “mini England”. German business owners here in the North are not respected much at all either, because they take all of the wealth out of the country, and take advantage of cheap local labour.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Spain?
Positive aspects: I’m close to mountains and black beaches. Great Spanish food. Relatively cyclist-friendly drivers. Generally people are very friendly.

Negative aspects: Continual cloud cover in the North of Tenerife. Lack of money. Lack of big city nightlife. Living on a small island equals an eventual lack of new places to discover, and the feeling of “sameness”. Distance from home. Feeling of claustrophobia.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Spain?
Contrary to popular belief, Tenerife is not an island paradise. There is no money about, because tourists come here with the knowledge that it is a cheap package holiday destination, so they don’t want to spend a lot of money. Realise that with most ordinary jobs, you’ll be competing with South American workers, who’ll work for next to nothing.

With so much construction going on, it’s getting uglier all the time. There are new ugly buildings and cranes erecting more everywhere you look. Much of the “culture” shown to the tourists is completely fake. Be especially aware of falling into that terrible state of depression when moving to any other country.

-Do you have any favourite Web sites or blogs about Spain?
My blog is about the life of an ex-research scientist who now runs a pro bike hire business in one of the most extreme training zones on the planet... the third largest volcanic island in the world. Tenerife: a place where flat roads don't exist!

Also, this place could not possibly be located further from my original home in Sydney; it’s the antipode of Sydney. This blog is dedicated to my life integration in this new culture:

http://tenerife-training.net/Tenerife-News-Cycling-Blog/category/spanish-island-life/

You can find other website links & links to other relevant blogs on that site.