specifically Barcelona...
things i'd like to know about are
taxes
safety
attitudes towards Americans
Will my electronics equipment work? I understand the plugs are different...are there converters?
what side of the road do they drive on? steering wheel on what side?
Do most folks speak English?
Do they have english TV stations?
Will my Verizon Cell phone work?
what's the work ethic of native Spanish folks?
does everyone take August off? Vacation time?
is it easy to travel to France, Germany, Italy, Morocco?
quality of healthcare?
is smoking allowed in bars?
anything else you my wife and I might want know before deciding on picking our life up and moving....
2006-12-09 09:01:48 · 14 respuestas · pregunta de Rick 2 en Sociedad y cultura ➔ Otros - Sociedad y cultura
Muchas Gracias! thanks to all who answered my question. I found some very helpful information here and to those that suggested I learn Spanish... I fully intend to.
2006-12-10 09:30:55 · update #1
Please permit me to answer your question and make sure that you are free of any doubts whatsoever:
1. As an american citizen you are still required to pay for your income tax even if you plan to reside in Spain.
2. It is highly cutomary to check where you walk and please, at all time, make sure that you walk where there is a signal light or a traffic officer near by.
3. You can talk politics but only in Spanish. remember that the less you mention politics the better you are off any day of the week.
4. If your appliances are of 110 or 120 v, then in Spain you will have no problem because their voltage is either 220 or 240.
5. Im not to sure if the driver's seat is on the right hand side just like london because here in the united states it is on the left hand side.
6. Most of the people do talk English, in the hotels like HOLIDAY INN, but it is highly recommended that you only speak Spanish when you are in the streets. This way you can fool them and nothing will happen to you.
7. In most of the U.S. hotels, like HOLIDAY INN, you can find American channels so that you can feel as if you were back at home.
8. Your cell phone WILL NOT work in Spain because you will be required to get a new chip from a nearby dealer. I highly do recommend that you go to movistar and get yourself a cell in which when you move to Spain, all you need to do is to just change the chip and that's it.
9. Most of the businesses open around 9 a.m. and close around 7p.m. providing you with eight hours of work and two hours of "siesta"or rest.
normally the business will have the following type of business hours monday thru friday:
9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
3 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
10. Because you will be transferred to Spain, I highly suggest that you ask your boss when you will be able to get your vacations. If he says in August "Yes", then you are fine. if not, whatever time is acceptable.
11. Yes it is very easy to travel to france, germany, italy and morocco. You can travel by car and it will a lovely experience that you can share with your loved ones.
12. Before you go to Spain, please make sure that there is an affiliate in Spain that you can use when you get there.
13. Smoking is not allowed in any bar but you have to verify it when you get there.
14. Constantly write down something in a piece of paper and make sure to do it every single day and please hide it.
15. From time to time, call your friends and/or your in-laws to tell them that you are feeling fine.
16. Remember to get your visa from the consul and please answer only the questions that they give to you without providing any additional information.
17. VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW THIS: YOU MUST SPEAK SPANISH WITHOUT ANY ACCENT WHATSOEVER.
I wish you the very best of luck.
2006-12-09 11:44:36 · answer #1 · answered by soar_2307 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
attempt to circulate to Barcelona or the Balearic Islands, the east coast is get used to tourism. do not complication approximately your race, we are very heat with absolutely everyone :) Sorry for my english. Kisses!!
2016-12-11 05:47:56 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speak in spanish, first...................
2006-12-09 09:10:17 · answer #3 · answered by lucastelo 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
First of all you should learn Spanish.
2006-12-09 09:05:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
sorry no ingles
muy apenas estoy aprendiendo el español
pero hay paginas de yahhoo en ingles solo pincha en la bandera de euu en la parte final de esyta pagina
2006-12-09 09:05:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
with all due respect, I would like very much to answer this beautiful question of yours.
first off, before you venture to any foreign country, I highly recommend that you learn Spanish in a Junior College or
you can buy a tape from Berlitz but one thing is for sure:
The Spanish people in Spain do critize the U.S. citizens
if the spanish words are not pronounced properly.
Once you have mastered the language of Spanish, then I highly recommend that you do the following:
1. go to the nearest consul of Spain where you are living and keep in mind that their office hours are fixed. they are the best ones for you to get some advice from.
2. once you get your visa, I highly recommend that you ask your boss to give to you a month or two so that you can see with your own two eyes everything that you need to know.
while in Spain, jot down everything that comes to your mind but please make sure to lock it up in your suitcase.
4. once you have returned back home, and that you still want to be transferred to Spain then you talk with your boss about it and see what he has to say about it and please do not forget to ask for a promotion and an excellent salary, in dollars, that will beat the euro.
5. if you plan yo return to live to your neighborhood, then don't sell your house but if you don't plan to return to the same neighborhood then my recommendation is for you to get a real estate agent and to rent it so that you can get some side income.
think about it.
this is my advice.
2006-12-09 10:12:49 · answer #6 · answered by conde_c_b 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You should learn Spanish first. Once you do it you will have a whole lot more opportunities to go anywhere you want to and to learn more about the people and the country. English has become an international 'business' language but, specially in Spain, they have a lot of respect for our language. In the European countries most people speak two or more languages, but we have a saying that goes like "wherever you go you should do as they do." and they speak Spanish. I'm sure that you will enjoy more your stay if you start learning some Spanish first. Good luck!
2006-12-09 09:49:13 · answer #7 · answered by fandango 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Lo siento son muchas preguntas y no hablo ingles....
2006-12-09 09:05:28 · answer #8 · answered by DIEGO 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
By a dictionary and use it!
You most learn spanish.
Para que entiendas toda la info. porque en España hay angloparlantes pero pocos.
Good luck!
2006-12-09 09:05:24 · answer #9 · answered by . 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
1. You should learn Spanish, there´s a lot of people who don´t understand English, and most of those who understand it, prefere to be talked in their language. Here in Barcelona there´s also another language, catalonian, and there are a lot of people who want the independence, but if they notice you have maked an effort for learn Spanish, they would talk you in that language (the only thing is that sometimes they wouldn´t know one word in Spanish and they would said it in catalonian, but it´s very similar, and you´ll undersand it).
2. I don´t know if plugs are different, but of course that if they´re you´ll find converters in any electronic shop.
3. We drive in the left side of the road, but do you have international driving license?
3. Most of people still have holidays in August, but not all, and a lot of people is starting to get other months (like July) because travels are cheapper.
4. If you wan´t to travel is easy, but you have to have time for that, and also there´s a lot of interesting places to visit near Barcelona.
5. Smoking is allowed in some bars, but not in all (better if you asked when you came into one).
6. About attitudes towards Americans, if you´re agree with the politics of your country, better don´t talk about it because you´ll find a lot of people who disagree. If not, it´s all ok.
7. About safety, there aren´t to many problems, but you have to take care when you´re in the bus or in the metro (there are some thiefs who stole the tourists), and also in the gothic quartier.
8.About TV I think there are some English channels in satellite TV, and also there are two channels 3 and k4, that can be listened in English (I don´t really know how to do, but I suppose that if you called to the company the´ll explained you). Also you´ll find some cinemas with "original version", and if you bought any DVD film, you can chose the language.
If what you want is to listened the news, there are also some English newspapers, and if you go to a pub, you could also find English magazines.
2006-12-09 10:04:13 · answer #10 · answered by chat noir 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋