Having lived in Spain for so many years now, Dutch expat Joke has amassed a wealth of experiences, some of which she shares with us here. She talks about things like the cost of living in Spain, her family's real estate business, and her favorite things to do there. Joke also shares some tips on adjusting to the local way of life in the country that's her home now.	Joke Niestadt

-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

Friends who live in Jalón, about living in Spain: Wonen in Spanje, www.edwincokky.web-log.nl/wonen_in_spanje/

Dutch or Belgian Expats: Expat Blogging, www.expat-blogging.blogspot.com.

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

Our Real Estate Agency: Homefinders España, www.homefinders.es