20 May 2012 9:10 AM:

Re DonLochnagar's last posting,  I don't think his belief that '90% of the population would like to swap', is strictly true. The UK may not be the best place in the world (and I've lived in many different parts of it during 40 years as an expat) but there are things to recommend it. Fantastic theatre, galleries, museums, history, etc., not everything in the UK is bad. As for people moaning, in my experience most people moan about things in their own country. I'm sure the  Spanish moan about the immigrants in their country too. Don't forget that although the British refer to themselves as 'expats' most of them are immigrants in all but name.  I should also clarify my last post. I meant 'time to leave the forum'.  I felt the mood of postings was changing.  Glad to have been part of the discussion!

Thread: No Brits please!

--------------------------------------

19 May 2012 11:43 PM:

I sense the mood is changing here. Time to leave!

Thread: No Brits please!

--------------------------------------

13 May 2012 2:39 PM:

You're right, Midasgold, it's only polite to try to learn enough at least to get by.  I have a hearing problem which makes it almost impossible for me to learn a foreign language (although I can read more than I can speak).  We considered moving to Spain but my inability to learn the language was one of the reasons we changed our minds.  Added to that, my husband is 'foreign language blind' apart from a few words of Arabic learned when he was in the Middle East 50 years ago! I remember travelling in Mexico years ago and faithfully learning various phrases and questions, the problem was that people answered me - at speed - and left me none the wiser.  The last time I was in Spain I spoke to an Englishman who has been there for over 30 years and runs a v. successful business. He still can't speak Spanish but relies on his daughters to work with the public as they are bilingual. We expect foreigners coming to the UK to speak English and it's a sign of the tolerance of the Spanish that they don't get more upset at the number of expats who don't learn their language.

Thread: No Brits please!

--------------------------------------

13 May 2012 12:49 PM:

Thank you Markfish and summer70, nice to get sensible replies.  I'm not really trying to 'stir up' a debate but just think it sounds vaguely snobbish when people say they don't want to be where there are too many Brits, as though they see themselves as slightly superior!  My husband and I were expats for almost 40 years and lived in 14 different countries round the world.  I confess that we mostly mixed with other expatriates, be they British or whatever. The thing that held us all together was a common language (English) rather than nationality.  If we lived in Spain I know I would probably mix more with English speakers as I don't speak Spanish - other than shopping Spanish(!) learned when we lived in Central America. I know from experience how difficult it is to deal with officialdom in a foreign language and wonder whether those who wish to live the 'spanish life' really give much thought to this.

Thread: No Brits please!

--------------------------------------

12 May 2012 5:40 PM:

I really can't get my head round the number of people who post questions about living in Spain and say they don't want to live anywhere that's 'Britishified'.  Also references to 'winging' Brits (that's 'whingeing' by the way).  I assume these people are Brits themselves?  It's incredibly arrogant to assume it's OK for you to move to a certain place but not for other Brits. If they find this ideal spot, will they move out when other British nationals decide it's a nice place and move there too?

Thread: No Brits please!

--------------------------------------