Quote: (08-12-2016 03:43 AM)kirdiesel Wrote:
Finally someone who tells it how it is!!!!!!
Ive never been to Spain but finally someone who drops some real experiences on how it is. This man has had 10 years of experience in Spain and I believe every word he is saying. I have been in Germany for 5 years and have experiences some of the same things you mentioned. It seems it is better here especially in terms of making money and moving ahead in life. As a math major why dont you move here and make some big bucks? They are always looking for people like that here and you don't even need German!
Thanks for your input bro.
No problem. This is the truth for many people who have LIVED here as opposed to just coming here for 2 weeks as a tourist.
With regard to your question about Germany, at this point I have decided to just go to the US. I can always come back when I want.
@lime:
ABSOLUTELY. Spaniards hate it when they are compared to Latin Americans, but the truth is that a Spaniard, whether he likes it or not...a born and raised Spaniard culturally DOES have more in common with a Mexican than with a Canadian or German. That's another one of the problems I neglected to mention about Spain: a really false sense of superiority with respect to Latin Americans. Many , many Spaniards mock the "Latino" accent...when Spain would be the Mexico of Europe if it were not for all that European Union money.
The defeatist attitude is definitely real. Franco lasted FORTY years in power and nobody did a damn thing about it. Fidel Castro FIFTY/SIXTY years of Castroism and Cuba is very similar to Spain...passive attitudes, the "qué será será" that I find absolutely annoying and just unacceptable.
And yes, THEFT is VERY common here and is seen as normal. I was robbed by North African thugs ages ago in Madrid and the police said "why were you out walking alone so late"? RIDICULOUS. The police here are a joke too but that's another story for another time.
Almost all tourists to Barcelona have been robbed at least once and the authorities don't do anything about it. There are countless stories of this all over the place so I need not belabor the point.
@Rocha:
I never said your interactions will be "bad". Most Spaniards are actually pretty good at faking they like you...kind of like the stereotype about "passive agressive" regions in the US. All I am saying is that just because it LOOKS like a happy place with sun and beaches, it is not all fun and life here can be very depressing as well. I am not blaming anyone for frustrations - simply pointing out to the fact that I'm done with Spain. There is nothing wrong with that and I am entitled to not like Spain. It seems with some people that any criticism of Spain turns into a highly charged issue, as if some blasphemous beliefs were being uttered.
With regard to Portuguese, DEFINITELY. But my post was about Spain, not Portugal. Portugal is much, much worse.
People in Spain work hard, but working hard is stupid if you are not productive. Spaniards are not productive and DO NOT CARE to fix the system. That is my criticism of Spain. People just DON'T CARE. They know they are not productive but look at the politics. STILL no government. What kind of "serious" country is that?
@stavastano:
So you lived in Spain for ONE YEAR versus me for MORE THAN TEN. Who has more experience? Right.
Politics are "debated". If you call what you see in Spain a "debate", then I'm sorry but you have never seen a real debate. Here after 4 minutes discussion, you are either labeled "facha" or "rojo" and not much else gets said. C'mon this is so easy to see unless you yourself are a poor debater or don't come from a country where there are good and real debates. Can you name anything close to Oxford Union debates in Spain or US Parliamentary College Debate teams? NO, you can't because it doesn't exist here.
So they don't like "being lectured by a foreigner". But they sure like to dish it out against foreigners. At least Americans don't openly bash you in your presence. If you teach here, they will speak like you do -- they will say to your face "American food is shit" (it isn't, that's just your ignorance coming out)...America has WAY MORE VARIETY of food for ALL tastes than Spain could ever dream of. ALL ingredients are available for a wide range of cuisines. Try finding some "exotic" ingredients in a normal Spanish supermarket.
If any American insulted an immigrant's food in a professional work setting, that American would be fired on the spot. In Spain? Not only will they act unprofessionally in a work environment, but their bosses will ALSO agree. It's the "old boys network" here all the way.
Spanish women? You must be joking. They are LOUD, dress SCANTILY and are just as feminist as any American or British girl. At least in Britain or the US they aren't so hypocritical when it comes to going out with a guy. Hint: there's a REAL reason why Spanish men are so thirsty for Northern European women. Better attitudes, better looks, less complexes. I find many more Spanish women closer to a man--lots with really short hair or tattoos, loud...AWFUL language using cuss words...even South American women point this out. You clearly don't know Spain well.
Did I say America was a "democracy"? It was never meant to be. It is a Constitutional Federal Republic...a representative system. Yeah, Bush and Clinton...how about Reagan? How about BILL Clinton? Or Lincoln? Many presidents have had humble origins. In Spain? You can't name ONE. NOT ONE. Oh, sorry, yes you can: FRANCO the dictator.
You say: "American food is shit. Just like all the other anglo countries."
That's just an ignorant statement that doesn't even need a response. See above.
I do have my own business here and yes I agree you can stand out DEFINITELY. But I can always get that when I want. Planes exist. I don't need to be close to Paris...or Berlin or Rome. If you live well, 8 hours flight makes no difference to a 2 hour flight. Nothing is stopping me, but when you live in a country for so long you start to mature about it and see it for what it really is.
ENVY: ABSOLUTELY. Spanish are EXTREMELY ENVIOUS. No disagreement there.
I feel like you need to live in Spain longer to appreciate what I have posted.
@Beirut:
I disagree about individualism. In the US the individualist is respected a LOT MORE than anywhere in Europe, to be fair, not just Spain. Even in places like Ireland, standing out is not well seen. Europe is far more intolerant of individualism than the US. That's why non-conformists and dissidents fled this place and went to America.
Suburbs: Right, ok. I agree but not ALL of the US are suburbs. We have cities and towns too, you know?
No two Americans are alike because if you were to ask a group of Americans about a comment on your dress, you'd get different responses. In Spain, people are much more fashion victims and will definitely have more of a herd mentality. Those are not just my words...a LOT of thinking Spaniards say the same. It is called "borreguismo" in Spanish. Look it up and you will see plenty of posts written by Spanish people about that national trait.
You say: "You cannot really criticize a country for "being perpetual students on minimum wage jobs" when your job is private tutoring. That to me is pretty much the cliche job for a perpetual student on minimum wage. Which isnt necessarily a bad thing. Some people find happiness in a more relaxed life, others in the pursuit of wealth."
No, because in my case it is the business I run...so I make a salary above the minimum wage. Precisely this is why I meet so many people here and can have the authority to speak on these matters.
I did NOT mock Spanish for spending Christmas with their families. I mocked them because MANY do it just out of PRESSURE and "el qué dirán" (what others will think) than personal feeling.
Things I did wrong? When you have a purpose, when you are clear, when you know what you are talking about, that's what's important. Nobody is perfect. I am sure there may be mistakes, but why dwell on the personal negatives?