Bienvenido Mitch, welcome back to AFN. I remember reading some of your posts on the other site and you sure know your stuff, you'll be a valuable re-addition to this site. I for one look forward to gaining some knowledge from you sir! Great to hear things are working out for you in Spain, It's a country that's close to my heart as my parents have lived there for several years. They re-located there after my dad lost his job in Dallas, i'm UK based so it's a bit easier to nip over and see them now! I agree with your view on the Spanish way of life, although not canna related, i like their pace and attitude to life and family, I like the fact that when i go for a meal at night you see whole generations of the family around the table eating and drinking, from little toddlers to grandparents, nobody bats an eyelid that you've brought a child out at night to socialise with the family, something you can't do much in the U.K due to our social attitude to alcohol, i.e after 7pm the idiots come out drunken violence is never far away. When i go over to Spain my mum usually arranges to have a nice chunk of sticky black hash waiting for me, nothing better than sitting on the balcony with an ice cold beer, juicy joint watching the boats go by......heaven!
Any way Mitch great intro (looking forward to part 2!) and amazing pics, Glad you're here mate
Thanks mate, I agree with you also, It seems very family orientated. I like the amount of public play areas for kids/parks, it's odd to see children out late at night playing at first.. but as you say it's something that just can't happen in England.
It's swings and roundabouts of course, neither country is perfect, and it definitely takes some adjustment to settle in.
We have some english 'neighbours', who have been living here 10 years+, and they basically said if you can get one task a day done here, you're doing well.
Whereas in england you could set out with a list of tasks in the morning, and have everything ticked off by lunchtime. There's little sense of rush or urgency here, which can be very frustrating at times, depending on the situation.
I don't think work/business is prioritised as it is back at home, things have happened that would NEVER happen in england.
An example of this is we went through what can only be described as an ordeal to get the internet.
Go to orange shop.
Us: We'd like to get some internet please, a contract or pay as you go dongle, anything..
Them: Ok sure, but we need a passport and bank account details.
Us: Here you go..
Them: Oh, no it has to be an EU passport
Them: Good bye
*So I leave the shop, go to the car to fetch my British passport. I return to the shop*
Us: Here you go
*Lady checks passport, and asks colleage 'is the UK in the EU?'
Us: Yes, trust us we are both part of the EU, now can we get some internet, pretty please
*Lady calls her boss to check
Them: Sorry, No actually you need a Spanish passport, Why don't you try Movistar or Vodafone across the way
* I'm in disbelief.
Now, if this was in england, there would be no red tape to break through to get the internet.
But what would never happen in a million years, is sending £500+ worth of business to a competitor, they wouldn't even let you leave the shop without swearing to help you, biting your arm off for some contact details etc
Rant over, we have internet now.
But aside from niggles, I'm loving spain right now. The food is great, we have a veg garden going. Fruit trees around the property. Great wine for 1 euro a bottle. The weather is awesome now, you can forget that sunshine makes the plants grow sometimes in England.
And of course the best reason is there are very few places in the world we could do what we are doing, so thank you Spain, I love you really.
And we now plan our days around everyone elses siestas. I still can't nap in the day time, but considering our workload that's a good thing.
I'll work on part 2: The beginning, this evening.
Thanks everyone. Muchas gracias
and oh yeah let me say with great pleasure WELCOME to AFN glad to have you!!
