I've lived in Spain for over a decade and have also lived (briefly and many years ago, in France and the UK).
As some of you already know, I have decided to go back to the US since I am a firm believer that Europe is definitely overrated (and Spain even more so). I'm not returning to the US because I think it is some paradise - far from it, but I definitely agree with what several people have said here time and time again that if you are really ambitious and "alpha" style, US is still a much better place in many respects. After living in European countries for so long, I just don't agree with all the fantasies people have about this place.
You can disagree with me, obviously, because I am not going to take it personally like many Europeans do when you even dare give a different opinion. These are obviously MY observations but many people who have lived here can agree with me:
1. "Spanish people sleep siesta". Err, not really. At least, not in any major city. I don't know many people here, old or young, who actively have a siesta time. In fact, most Spanish people I have met tell me that it's an old thing, but not really the done thing anymore.
2. "Food in Spain is very good". OK, this is quite controversial and I've been through this many times on here with people who take this way too personally. On the whole, I find Spanish people are EXTREMELY PROUD of their food (almost to a fault). Personally, I think the food is OK, but nothing spectacular and it can be very repetitive. Almost all menus carry the same dishes on a frequent basis. Now me personally, I'm not a foodie...how can I be? I'm old school Protestant...food just isn't on my agenda as a lifestyle. I see Lunch as a chore, a way to get me to my next step and I'm relieved when I finish because I want to get back to work.Spanish, like their Italian and French cousins, on the other hand, LIVE TO EAT. Meals are long and there is way too much "table talk" (sobremesa as they call it) for my liking. I like to finish my meal and LEAVE. I don't really have a favorite dish and can eat anything depending on where I am -- adaptability, but I still prefer things like meat pies or buttered vegetables which are not so easy to get in Spain. A lot of their food is drenched in oil and don't even think about having lots of choice in supermarkets.
3. Related to #2 -- NOT ALL FOOD IS FRESH in Europe. I'm tired of hearing Americans and others idolize Europe and say "ohh they love to eat fresh". You can find canned vegetables and ready made meals just as you would in the US. But on the whole, it is true that they do make meals much more of a SOCIAL or family event. I just can't figure out how they tolerate so many family members or extended social circles all enjoying the meal. I could never enjoy a meal in a crowded table, let alone with extended family! Not all things are fresh here - you can also get chicken injected with antibiotics and the meat is crap for the most part unless you go specifically to a butcher shop and pay higher prices (which is also the SAME as in the US). If you buy a "regular" steak here in any supermarket, it's basically water and shrinks when you fry it. So no, dear Americans, stop idolizing the food. You can eat well ANYWHERE in the Western world today if you know where to look and have the time to make the right foods or use the right ingredients. Many Spaniards will even think that we don't have olive oil in the US and comments like "ohh here we eat very well unlike you Americans who eat junk food" get old REAL FAST. They all seem to have the same opinion about things in life and are quite smug and content in their ignorance.
4. Wine -- nope. In fact, most Spanish people drink WATER with their meals and wine is usually had on special dinner or lunch occasions. Likewise, more tourists ask for sangria than Spanish people, who drink more beer if they go out.
5. I don't find Europe (and I have traveled extensively throughout the continent) to be "more intellectual" than the US. Not at all. You can find intelligent and dumb people in every country...and not all Europeans know "a lot about geography and other countries". I've met French, Italians and Spanish who couldn't even tell me what the correct US capital is. Ignorance, unfortunately, is universal.
6. I also don't think that the quality of European democracies are better than the US. In the US, for all its major problems (And we have many), there is still much more representative democracy than in Europe and I would never trade the American political system for ANYTHING in Europe. Sorry. Most European "democracies" are basically run like a low-cost comedy service. Lots of useless Parliamentary banter and people who have nothing to lose because they have no stake in anything making important decisions. They call that "multiparty system" but that enables lots of clowns like Podemos Pablo Iglesias or Syriza in Greece to be in politics. The US sucks too, politically, but next to most European systems it is still a much more functioning, well-oiled machine.
7. "Europeans get more holidays and free healthcare". Nope..nothing in life is free. Europeans pay higher taxes, true, in exchange for single payer health system. The health system in Spain is very good, actually, but I honestly don't see most Americans tolerating having to go on waiting lists or being told what doctor they must visit or being seen for just 5 minutes for minor things (doctors in Spain's public system are timed with each patient, just as the NHS in the UK). As for holidays/vacation, yes, many Europeans have a lot more vacation than Americans, but it comes at a price: generally much lower salaries, lower productivity and anyway, what good is having so many holidays if so many people are broke? That's not to say the American middle or lower classes are in great shape, but to think ALL Europeans have paid holidays and live a great lifestyle is an exaggeration.
All in all (I don't want to write longer than this since I could write a book), I don't think any place on earth is a paradise and I don't think living in European countries is more "culturally enriching". Traveling is enriching, but if you are curious, there are hundreds of ways to get culture that don't involve living in Europe. I will retain great memories of my experiences living in Spain, France and the UK...but I'm not easily impressed and I do think the US is a much more dynamic place to be. It may not be so charming or historical, but if you are a "go getter" and are passionate about your work (and I love my work and love TO WORK) then there is no better place to be.
Walkable? Yes and No. There are places in Spain and other Euro countries that are NOT walkable. If you live outside major city centers...for example, Valencian towns...not having a car is not really an option. There are dozens of US cities, on the other hand, where having a car is not necessary and even if it is, the COSTS are much LOWER than in Euroland.
Living here for so long and speaking the language fluently gives me an insight into how things really are. Spain gets old, believe me. MOST SPANIARDS will say the SAME. When they find out I am from the US, most ask me, "what the hell are you doing here?" And they're right! I am grateful for the experience gained here, because it has given me a whole new perspective on life, but I feel like I have wasted many years in this country since there is NO possibility to get a decent high paying job in any field unless you "know the right people" and come from the "right family". Now, you get that in the US too but not as bad as here.
Do move to Spain if you:
Love skinny but rude, dark haired smoker women, are not ambitious, are not motivated, want public transportation, like soccer, like late nightlife(they are the best in the world when it comes to late night options, I'll give them that), like fried food, the beaches aren't great for surfing but hey they are topless! Want to escape a society filled with violent crime, want to learn the language, like to argue with Brits over which language is better American or English(I stopped hanging with these types of people because it gets annoying and is juvenile), want less social pressure to get a career get married have a family etc, would like to teach English, there is so much work here if you are motivated and resourceful you'll never have to worry about not having work in the teaching English field...but it is low pay and soul-destroying.
No matter where you are from, if you are very serious about things and like things to be done properly, Spain will eventually annoy you. But if you have a "happy go lucky" attitude you'll do very well in this country.
As for me, I actually agree with the Spaniards: come here to visit often, have a damn good time enjoying cheap alcohol and historical cities...but don't live here and don't raise your kids here. The education IS TERRIBLE. Now, the US has nothing to brag about in most public schools but AT LEAST there are truly brilliant people living in the US and contributing. Here? Nope. This isn't a country for ambitious people or brilliant minds. Never was, never will be. If you're ok with that, by all means, come! If not, it's a great place to visit for a brief spell.
As some of you already know, I have decided to go back to the US since I am a firm believer that Europe is definitely overrated (and Spain even more so). I'm not returning to the US because I think it is some paradise - far from it, but I definitely agree with what several people have said here time and time again that if you are really ambitious and "alpha" style, US is still a much better place in many respects. After living in European countries for so long, I just don't agree with all the fantasies people have about this place.
You can disagree with me, obviously, because I am not going to take it personally like many Europeans do when you even dare give a different opinion. These are obviously MY observations but many people who have lived here can agree with me:
1. "Spanish people sleep siesta". Err, not really. At least, not in any major city. I don't know many people here, old or young, who actively have a siesta time. In fact, most Spanish people I have met tell me that it's an old thing, but not really the done thing anymore.
2. "Food in Spain is very good". OK, this is quite controversial and I've been through this many times on here with people who take this way too personally. On the whole, I find Spanish people are EXTREMELY PROUD of their food (almost to a fault). Personally, I think the food is OK, but nothing spectacular and it can be very repetitive. Almost all menus carry the same dishes on a frequent basis. Now me personally, I'm not a foodie...how can I be? I'm old school Protestant...food just isn't on my agenda as a lifestyle. I see Lunch as a chore, a way to get me to my next step and I'm relieved when I finish because I want to get back to work.Spanish, like their Italian and French cousins, on the other hand, LIVE TO EAT. Meals are long and there is way too much "table talk" (sobremesa as they call it) for my liking. I like to finish my meal and LEAVE. I don't really have a favorite dish and can eat anything depending on where I am -- adaptability, but I still prefer things like meat pies or buttered vegetables which are not so easy to get in Spain. A lot of their food is drenched in oil and don't even think about having lots of choice in supermarkets.
3. Related to #2 -- NOT ALL FOOD IS FRESH in Europe. I'm tired of hearing Americans and others idolize Europe and say "ohh they love to eat fresh". You can find canned vegetables and ready made meals just as you would in the US. But on the whole, it is true that they do make meals much more of a SOCIAL or family event. I just can't figure out how they tolerate so many family members or extended social circles all enjoying the meal. I could never enjoy a meal in a crowded table, let alone with extended family! Not all things are fresh here - you can also get chicken injected with antibiotics and the meat is crap for the most part unless you go specifically to a butcher shop and pay higher prices (which is also the SAME as in the US). If you buy a "regular" steak here in any supermarket, it's basically water and shrinks when you fry it. So no, dear Americans, stop idolizing the food. You can eat well ANYWHERE in the Western world today if you know where to look and have the time to make the right foods or use the right ingredients. Many Spaniards will even think that we don't have olive oil in the US and comments like "ohh here we eat very well unlike you Americans who eat junk food" get old REAL FAST. They all seem to have the same opinion about things in life and are quite smug and content in their ignorance.
4. Wine -- nope. In fact, most Spanish people drink WATER with their meals and wine is usually had on special dinner or lunch occasions. Likewise, more tourists ask for sangria than Spanish people, who drink more beer if they go out.
5. I don't find Europe (and I have traveled extensively throughout the continent) to be "more intellectual" than the US. Not at all. You can find intelligent and dumb people in every country...and not all Europeans know "a lot about geography and other countries". I've met French, Italians and Spanish who couldn't even tell me what the correct US capital is. Ignorance, unfortunately, is universal.
6. I also don't think that the quality of European democracies are better than the US. In the US, for all its major problems (And we have many), there is still much more representative democracy than in Europe and I would never trade the American political system for ANYTHING in Europe. Sorry. Most European "democracies" are basically run like a low-cost comedy service. Lots of useless Parliamentary banter and people who have nothing to lose because they have no stake in anything making important decisions. They call that "multiparty system" but that enables lots of clowns like Podemos Pablo Iglesias or Syriza in Greece to be in politics. The US sucks too, politically, but next to most European systems it is still a much more functioning, well-oiled machine.
7. "Europeans get more holidays and free healthcare". Nope..nothing in life is free. Europeans pay higher taxes, true, in exchange for single payer health system. The health system in Spain is very good, actually, but I honestly don't see most Americans tolerating having to go on waiting lists or being told what doctor they must visit or being seen for just 5 minutes for minor things (doctors in Spain's public system are timed with each patient, just as the NHS in the UK). As for holidays/vacation, yes, many Europeans have a lot more vacation than Americans, but it comes at a price: generally much lower salaries, lower productivity and anyway, what good is having so many holidays if so many people are broke? That's not to say the American middle or lower classes are in great shape, but to think ALL Europeans have paid holidays and live a great lifestyle is an exaggeration.
All in all (I don't want to write longer than this since I could write a book), I don't think any place on earth is a paradise and I don't think living in European countries is more "culturally enriching". Traveling is enriching, but if you are curious, there are hundreds of ways to get culture that don't involve living in Europe. I will retain great memories of my experiences living in Spain, France and the UK...but I'm not easily impressed and I do think the US is a much more dynamic place to be. It may not be so charming or historical, but if you are a "go getter" and are passionate about your work (and I love my work and love TO WORK) then there is no better place to be.
Walkable? Yes and No. There are places in Spain and other Euro countries that are NOT walkable. If you live outside major city centers...for example, Valencian towns...not having a car is not really an option. There are dozens of US cities, on the other hand, where having a car is not necessary and even if it is, the COSTS are much LOWER than in Euroland.
Living here for so long and speaking the language fluently gives me an insight into how things really are. Spain gets old, believe me. MOST SPANIARDS will say the SAME. When they find out I am from the US, most ask me, "what the hell are you doing here?" And they're right! I am grateful for the experience gained here, because it has given me a whole new perspective on life, but I feel like I have wasted many years in this country since there is NO possibility to get a decent high paying job in any field unless you "know the right people" and come from the "right family". Now, you get that in the US too but not as bad as here.
Do move to Spain if you:
Love skinny but rude, dark haired smoker women, are not ambitious, are not motivated, want public transportation, like soccer, like late nightlife(they are the best in the world when it comes to late night options, I'll give them that), like fried food, the beaches aren't great for surfing but hey they are topless! Want to escape a society filled with violent crime, want to learn the language, like to argue with Brits over which language is better American or English(I stopped hanging with these types of people because it gets annoying and is juvenile), want less social pressure to get a career get married have a family etc, would like to teach English, there is so much work here if you are motivated and resourceful you'll never have to worry about not having work in the teaching English field...but it is low pay and soul-destroying.
No matter where you are from, if you are very serious about things and like things to be done properly, Spain will eventually annoy you. But if you have a "happy go lucky" attitude you'll do very well in this country.
As for me, I actually agree with the Spaniards: come here to visit often, have a damn good time enjoying cheap alcohol and historical cities...but don't live here and don't raise your kids here. The education IS TERRIBLE. Now, the US has nothing to brag about in most public schools but AT LEAST there are truly brilliant people living in the US and contributing. Here? Nope. This isn't a country for ambitious people or brilliant minds. Never was, never will be. If you're ok with that, by all means, come! If not, it's a great place to visit for a brief spell.