What is your name?Paoma
What is your current age or age range?
40
What country are you native to?
England
What area of Spain do you current live (Providence, City, general area etc.)
Madrid
How long have you lived in Spain?
7 years
When you moved to Spain, did you bring your family? What do they think?
Yes, I brought my then 9 year old son who was a little reticent about coming but at the same time saw it as one big adventure.
Did you leave your family behind? How do you handle the separation?
I moved to Madrid because I had little family left in London. In fact my sister was already in Madrid and my mother had recently moved back to Madrid after 45 years in London!
What made you decide to relocate to a different country?
Tired of London. I needed a change. I was in a job that wasn't going anywhere, I had recently lost a sister and I had suffered a major medical problem all of which led me to wanting a change and a fresh start.
Why did you choose Spain, or what factors helped you to decide to choose Spain?
Family. I am half Spanish and half English. As a family we would come to Spain for our holidays every year so I was already familiar with it and I speak the language so it seemed like an obvious choice.
What other countries did you consider? Why didn't you choose those?
None
Was it difficult to get the documents you needed to live and/or work there? (residency and/or working permit)
Not difficult just long winded, lots of queuing, photocopies, phone calls, a bit of a headache really.
What was the most difficult part of the transition?
Sorting out the rental of my flat in London whilst I was in Spain. Not easy when you have tennants who don't know how to change a lightbulb!
What was the biggest mistake you made in the transition to living in Spain?
Bringing my English car to Spain and having to get Spanish numbers plates etc. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It's expensive and a nightmare
What was the easiest part of making the transition?
I found it easy to get a job because I am bilingual.
Do you plan on returning to your home country? Why or why not?
Some day I may return. I miss London a great deal but I know I would also miss Madrid a lot if I returned to London. I would like to have one foot in each city!
Do you miss your family, friends or old home and habits?
I miss my friends.
What do you miss the most about your home country?
My friends, a good cheap curry, marks and Spencers ready made meals (sad, I know. . .) and London buses
Are there the same recreational activities in Spain?
Spain is a more outdoors place to live.
How easy has it been to make new friends in Spain?
No, it's quite difficult at my age. Perhaps if I was in my 20s it would be a lot easier.
Do you have many friends from your home country in Spain?
no
What are your favorite activities that are available?
Skiing just 40mins away from Madrid. Booking an outdoor tennis court and being pretty sure you don't need to cancel because of rain.
What are the top ten things you miss about the place you left behind?
Friends Shopping Great exhibitions and museums Hyde Park International Restaurants M & S . . . My nephew Gorgeous countryside English Breakfast
What are the top ten things you DON'T miss about the place you left behind?
The cold unpredictable yet predictable weather The dim light The congestion charge traffic wardens The M4 taxi lane The rain
Do you speak the language of Spain?
yes
Do you think it is crucial to know the language in Spain, or can you get by with a handheld translation dictionary for a while?
I think you have to integrate and part of that is learning or trying to learn the language
Was medical insurance difficult to get before you went or after you first arrived?
no
Did you move to your new location after retirement, or are you currently working or looking for work?
looking for work
Do you generally earn your income the same way, or in the same profession, as in your home country?
no
How did you go about finding a job in Spain? Was it easy or hard to locate work and get a job?
I found it easy thanks to my languages and I am flexible, my priority was getting a job and not what kind of job
What types of sources did you use to find a job there? (agency, newspaper, website?)
agency, newspaper
What are the top ten things you like about Spain?
The weather The food Hotels are better Traffic wardens are nicer Fish is cheaper Meat is excellent
What are the top ten things you DON'T like or find strange about Spain?
Difficult question. There will always be things you don't like about a culture that's different to the one you were brought up in only because you are not accustomed to it.
Do you have plans to move again or travel in the future or what are your future business plans?
I would love to have a job or business that allowed me to move around without any impediments
Did you buy a new home or did you decide to rent?
rent
What is the average cost for housing in your area?
1200 per month
Was it difficult to find housing in your new country?
not too difficult
Is the cost of living comparable to what you experienced before? Explain the difference.
In Madrid it's cheaper than London but it's catching up!
List some things that are more expensive in Spain
Gas Telephone Travel
List some things that are less expensive in Spain
Food Going out to restaurants ciggies petrol rent
How do you feel about the local people? Are they friendly?
yes
What is the best thing about people in Spain?
they are lively, full of chat, and not afraid to make noise
Do you think you will stay in Spain, or it is not suitable for the long run?
I think I will probably stay in Spain
Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about Spain for people living there?
yes, http://www.kidsinmadrid.com is a great website for international families visiting Madrid or living in Madrid
Please enter the name of your Blog
kidsinmadrid.com
Please the url of your Blog
kidsinmadrid.com
