Someone said to me the other day that most Brits will return to the UK in the end, sooner or later. Although. I think that this negative comment is an exaggeration; I do believe that the novelty of Spain can wear off to the point that the good points just aren’t enough. Unfortunately, for those who watched the place in the sun programmes, their expectations would have been so high that they return with a bad taste in their mouth. The problem is there are many myths about life in Spain. These myths are based on what Spain used to be but things change and so has Spain. Here are just a few of them:
The Cost of Living is Cheaper
This was true up to about five years ago. Nowadays, when it is all balanced out, it is on par with the UK and sometimes more expensive. Food shopping may appear to be cheaper but this is only because there is less than choice than in the UK. If you were to buy the same basic products in Tesco or Asda that you buy in Mercadona, you would spend about the same maybe even less if you buy ‘value’ products. To eat out is just as expensive as the UK. In fact, eating in Beefeater and Harvester can be cheaper than a inland venta in Spain. International food is more expensive than in the UK. Standards have improved so much in the UK that to get the same level of quality and standards of service, you are expected to spend a lot of money. An example is, when I returned to the UK last month myself and two other friends ate out in a contemporary Indian restaurant with quite a sophisticated menu. The bill came to about 40 pounds in total. The same in an equivalent restaurant in Marbella would be at least double that price.
Household bills are also on a par. During the summer you use a lot of electricity trying to keep cool with air conditioning and during the winter it can get freezing indoors and there are few cost effective methods of keeping warm.
Petrol is slightly cheaper than in the UK but you will use more petrol driving around and getting lost because of poor road signs. Car insurance is cheaper too but that is because they don’t make as many claims in the UK since scratches and knocks to your car are expected.
People Are Friendly
If you have children then you will notice a difference as people are warmer and accommodating to children. However, in the service industry people are no different to in the UK. In fact, when I go back to the UK you can see how much customer service training pays off. Here staff are often very unprofessional in letting their moods affect them at work. Everyday, I come across surly staff who throw my shopping down the end of the counter and then stand there impatiently waiting for me to pay them. I get fed up of having to be the one that greets the sales assistant and not the other way around.
The Mañana Attitude is Better than the UK Rat Race
The mañana attitude is great when you are on holiday but living with it is a different thing. Sometimes you feel like you are wasting your life waiting in on people who never show up or stood in the so called queue at the post office whilst the counter staff just can’t seem to get their act together. And not once has anybody apologised for making me wait. Although, the sun and all the rest of it might make you feel like you are living a long healthy life, most of what you gain will be spent waiting.
Good Weather for 365 Days a Year
Yes we do get plenty of sunshine but there are some days where it’s as grey and dreary as the UK.And when it rains, it can get pretty torrential for days on end. And to be honest, when the weather is bleak it really makes a difference to the look of the place.As for the sun, continuous hot weather can wear you out when you can’t get anything done after ten thirty am because it is simply too hot. The heat can be dehabilitating and after a while you do anything to escape it.
Pensioners Are Better Cared For
Argue this one with the average Spaniard. It is the same situation as in the UK except the families have no choice but to take care of their ageing relatives. And knocking down pensioners homes as they have done in Vera is not an example of a caring government.
The Spanish Lead A Healthier Lifestyle
The Mediterranean diet is healthier and the Spanish do tend to get out and have a stroll at the weekend. However, obesity is on the increase in Spain too and many children are driven unnecessarily to school. On the whole it is a healthier lifestyle than in the UK because there aren’t convenience food choices in the supermarket and children still play out.
Spain is Safer For Children
People like to believe that they are moving to Spain for the benefit their children. Of course, there are the obvious benefits but it is not the child safe haven that people like to believe. The Spanish are a child loving nation but children are at the same risks as they are in the UK. Unfortunately, many parents are naïve to think that their children can run free in Spain just like children did in the seventies in the UK. That is not the case. There is the case of the 5 year old girl that disappeared in Huelva and there have been various attempts to snatch girls along the coast this year. You still have to have your wits about you like you would do in the UK.
Spanish Lead A More Simple, Less Materialistic Life
Oh, the Spanish lead a simple life within their means, without the trappings of fancy cars and extensions. This is what we ‘keep up with the the Jones’s’ Brits would like to believe. In reality the Spanish are just as materialistic as the Brits. They like nice clothes, houses and cars and can be quite envious of the successes of their neighbours and friends. Like the Brits, many young families live in debt to fund their lifestyle.
Towns and Villages Are Cared For By Their Residents
It is true that everywhere looks better when the sun shines. But on the grey days in Spain, reality really kicks in. I have never seen as much dog poo in my life until I came to Spain. Although, people’s apartments and houses are pristine inside many people don’t think twice about dumping their unwanted household items outside other people’s doorsteps. It can be anything from battered sofas to microwaves. In the village where we live we have to remind the cleaning department to come and clean our dirty dusty road.
Priorities Are In Order
We like to criticise the way things are done in the UK. However, a lot of things are done in Spain to keep up appearances. For example, local councils will spend money on carnivals and fireworks whilst people don’t have street lights or tarmac on the roads.
So you see, when you take the rose tinted glasses off Spain does not offer perfection. These days’ people are more informed than they ever have been so they are better prepared. However, coming over for weekends and holidays is one thing but living it is a whole different matter.