In defence of the British in Europe.
’Expats’ in Spain eh? You think you know what they’re like, don’t you. Well here’s a perspective you’ll never get on CH4, BBC, Sky or ITV.
A short and personal thread :
’Expats’ in Spain eh? You think you know what they’re like, don’t you. Well here’s a perspective you’ll never get on CH4, BBC, Sky or ITV.
A short and personal thread :
After the CH4 piece the other night, I’d have to turn over quite a few rocks before I found the people interviewed. I don’t recognise these people a part of my community. They are outliers.
Lesson 1: It was wholly unrepresentative of the majority of UK in ES.
Lesson 1: It was wholly unrepresentative of the majority of UK in ES.
The overwhelming majority of Brits in Spain are not pensioners. Nor did they vote “like turkeys for Christmas” in favour of leaving the EU. Working age families account for about 70% of resident UK nationals in Spain.
Lesson 2: We were not responsible for #Brexit
Lesson 2: We were not responsible for #Brexit
So who are they? Are they monoglots? Are they rich? Do they hate ‘forrins’? Do they carry the torch of English exceptionalism into their gated ghettos?
Lesson 3. Of course not. We’re a diverse bunch of people. As diverse as anywhere else .
Lesson 3. Of course not. We’re a diverse bunch of people. As diverse as anywhere else .
Do you know what an ‘Intercambio is? Literally, an interchange. Every decent sized village & town near me has one. It’s where English speakers (not just Brits) mix with locals so both sides of the language divide brush up and move from pleasantries to functional bilingualism.
The truth is, almost everyone I know speaks enough day to day Spanish. A good number are fluent - out of necessity. Children go to local schools - totally fluent from as early as 6. They pick up local accents, dialects & idioms. Indistinguishable.
Lesson 4: We’re not monoglots.
Lesson 4: We’re not monoglots.
So, the good life - a place in the sun?
Not so much.
We work.
In my region, the local economy is dependent of tourism. Many people I know set up businesses that directly or indirectly serve tourists. It’s hard graft, long hours, fiercely competitive and low paid.
Not so much.
We work.
In my region, the local economy is dependent of tourism. Many people I know set up businesses that directly or indirectly serve tourists. It’s hard graft, long hours, fiercely competitive and low paid.
So when you see a British pub: full english breakfasts, Guinness & Carling, pasties & chips, remember the people that scrape a living serving the ‘needs’ of, sometimes very badly behaved, British holiday-makers.
So here’s a short list of occupations of UK citz I know: Lawyer, accountant, vet, teacher, doctor, physiotherapist, beautician, builder, personal trainer, painter & decorator, nurse, restauranteur, mechanic, receptionist, landscape gardener.
Oh. One more thing - integration. Almost everyone I know contributes positively to local life, giving their free time and money to local charities, clubs & societies.
Lesson 5. We do integrate, we're part of our local communities
Lesson 5. We do integrate, we're part of our local communities
One last point. It takes guts to leave your country of birth to seek new opportunities in another country. For any immigrant anywhere it’s the same.
We’re not lazy or entitled - we’ve risked everything to make a new life for our families. We work hard, invest, and contribute.
We’re not lazy or entitled - we’ve risked everything to make a new life for our families. We work hard, invest, and contribute.
Hi @C4Ciaran
I'm intrigued how you put your report together.
How did you make contact with the subjects of your report?
Why, and by what method, were they selected for interview?
Do you think your report was reflective of the UK citizen population resident in Spain?
I'm intrigued how you put your report together.
How did you make contact with the subjects of your report?
Why, and by what method, were they selected for interview?
Do you think your report was reflective of the UK citizen population resident in Spain?
