Are "guiris" liked in Spain, or just tolerated?
According to The Curmudgeon there isn't a general rule. Most "guiris" speak little Spanish, but they have purchasing power. So are we liked or just tolerated?
The Curmudgeon is a "guiri" - a Northern European immigrant to Spain - but he does not fit the stereotype of a sunburnt person who wears sandals with socks, a "kiss-me-quick" hat, and totally inappropriate clothing, who speaks only English (or German or French) ever more loudly in order to be understood.
[Image courtesy of YouTube]
"Guiris" have a well-deserved bad reputation, in the opinion of The Curmudgeon.
"I am different!"
The Curmudgeon says: "I reckon I am different. I speak fluent Spanish and I didn't immigrate to Spain for the sun, sand and sangria.
"I moved to this country because I loved the people, the lifestyle, the relative lack of stress and the low prices for most things."
The Curmudgeon first came to Spain aged 20 to spend his year abroad, a compulsory part of a university languages degree. He was in San Sebastian in 1970. Franco was still alive, so it wasn't looking promising.
Bahia de La Concha [Spain.info]
But he was fascinated back then with a Spain that was repressed, slightly backward with no video shops, little western influence, no contraception and the omnipresence of the deadly "chaperone"!
"When my girlfriend from university visited me she spotted straightaway that I felt at home."
The pair later married, had two children, travelled extensively in Spain and bought two properties in Ronda (Malaga).
Piso Blanco, Ronda [Paul Whitelock]
"After 30 years together it all unravelled", confides The Curmudgeon. "I had a nervous breakdown, was made redundant from my job as a schools adviser/inspector and got divorced. It was 2005 and I was not in a good place."
But, Spain, in particular Ronda, rescued him.
Now 20 years later, The Curmudgeon is a Spanish resident, is re-married, he has a lovely house and a vibrant social life, mainly with Spanish people.
Spain, nowadays
The dictator, General Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain with an iron fist for nearly four decades, has been dead for 50 years and is now, deservedly by my reckoning, a disgraced figure.
[Photo: BBC]
These days Spain is one of the most advanced and sophisticated democracies in Europe and the economy is booming under the socialist government of Pedro Sanchez, a formidable, likeable, and English-speaking politician who is prominent on the European and world stages.
Pedro Sanchez [Photo: El Mundo]
There are some areas of Spain, chiefly on the coasts and in the islands, that are over-run with foreigners. "These are places we avoid," stresses The Curmudgeon.
"If we wanted to mix with our own, we wouldn't have emigrated", he adds.
"I like most things about living in Spain, although I do have a moan from time to time [Ed: a lot in actual fact, hence the nickname]. Usually about the bureaucracy, shocking customer care services, lack of punctuality, litter, and the dearth of good plumbers and electricians!" he concludes.
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Note: This article is a re-working and updating of an article published previously by Eye on Spain in the thread " 'Guiris' galore ".
Are guiris liked in Spain or just tolerated?
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Links to other articles of interest:
"Guiris" galore - Eye on Spain
Is the Spanish word 'guiri' (foreigner) offensive? - The Local
¿Por qué llamamos guiris a los extranjeros? Los orígenes se remontan a la familia de Felipe VI - El Confidencial
Por qué los españoles llamamos "guiris" a los ingleses: la historia de un curioso enfrentamiento e insultos entre España e Inglaterra - La Razon
What is a guiri? It's what the Spanish call us foreigners - but is it good or bad? - Secret Serrania
© The Curmudgeon
Pictures:
BBC, El Mundo, Paul Whitelock, Spain.info, YouTube
Thanks:
anon., El Confidencial, Eye on Spain, La Razon, Paul Whitelock, Secret Serrania, Spain.info, The Curmudgeon, The Local, Wikipedia
Tags:
BBC, bureaucracy, dearth of good plumbers and electricians, divorce, El Confidencial, El Mundo, Eye on Spain, General Francisco Franco, "guiri", immigrant, " 'Guiris' galore ", lack of punctuality, La Razon, litter, Montejaque, nervous breakdown, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sanchez, redundant, Ronda, San Sebastian, schools adviser/inspector, Secret Serrania, Serrania de Ronda, shocking customer care services, Spain.info, The Curmudgeon, The Local, university, Wikipedia, year abroad, YouTube