12 Things I HATE about Living in Spain
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- čas přidán 14. 05. 2024
- After 150 very positive videos about life in Spain, I hope you permit me this one video about the aspects of Spanish society that frustrate me. And I hope this video is constructive and helpful for those looking at living here or who do live here.
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Hola, Spain lovers! We're James and Yoly. James is a New Zealander, and Yoly is from Spain. We both live in Madrid. Our channel gives you a local insight into life in Spain and helps you experience this country like a local when you come to live (or visit!).
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⏩ CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:56 Canned White Asparagus
02:32 I Can't Vote
04:14 Torrefacto
06:19 Touristification
08:43 Spam Phone Calls
10:41 Racism
13:47 Banks
15:55 I'm Not Dutch
17:15 Nepotism
18:59 Working Relationships
20:44 Bureaucracy
23:39 The Long Spanish Goodbye
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There is nothing more Spanish than complaining about Spain. You are one of us, James
Seems to be an international thing, I always say the same about Germany. 😀
😂😂
@@joe743kay but he is complain about Spain not about New Zeland so it still applies
@@joe743 it was a joke...
@@youssef24231 Hey Youssef! I was trying to make a joke, not a point :)
I am a Spaniard living in USA, and I also can't vote since I am a resident, not a citizen. Not being able to vote unless you are a citizen of that country is pretty standard, not just exclusively an issue with Spain.
Is called constitution , and I love every time I see an immigrant trying to change the constitution😂stupids
He is English he always complains... that is the first problem.
One of the foundations of the nation is no taxation without representation. I'm thinking, you pay tax, you vote.
@@sazonao I think it makes sense that foreigners don't get to vote. Imagine if any person in the world could vote for any country in the world. That could get pretty messy.
@@GreatWaterCircus I don't think it works that way. I have never met a Kiwi who referred to themselve as "English". The only people who are proud to be English are those from England. Same as an Argentinian would not say he's Spanish, just because they share a language^^
I love long goodbyes. I am a french expat living in the US and when you leave a party here, you barely say goodbye, and it always gives me such a sad feeling. From having fun, drinking and eating with a bunch of people, you just leave all that, all of a sudden, like a thief. I can't wait to move to Spain for the long good byes 🙂
SAN MARTIN DE LOS ANDES ARGENTINA
Italian
in the UK, totally agree!
Am from.Costa Rica, moved to the states when I was 11.. (am 46) my poor American Husband hates the long goodbyes lol. 6 yrs married and I finally dont have to remind him to say goodbye to people. the whole wave to the world as you walk out irks me. go and physically say Good bye.
Well that's rich because the quick goodbye or literally just leaving without saying goodbye is precisely associated with french culture in Brazil. We call it "the french exit" when you leave a place discreetly without saying goodbye to people. I think in English people say the "the Irish goodbye" or something
@@freekingfreaking246 That is rich, considering how much Brazilians know about the French culture. 🙂
You are like a kiwi version of me! I've been living in Catalunya for 12 years, am married to a Spanish national and have a 9 year old son. We share very similar gripes about Spain despite absolutely loving it as a place to live and raise a family. I especially resonated with the long Spanish goodbye. My wife is the absolute queen at this, sometimes even insisting that I get up and put on my coat as we need to get home as it's school tomorrow...then proceeding to start a new conversation which will inevitably last for another 20 minutes by which time I am sweating in my coat and wishing I had just stayed sat down and grabbed another beer!
😆😆😆
This also happens in Portugal hehe
This was so funny! I absolutely agree that the long good-byes are true, despite this, I still do it here in the U.S., maybe it's in our DNA
My political family sez hold my beer. On Christmas it took 30 full minutes JUST TO SERVE DESSERT. Goodbyes of less than an hour are considered terribly impolite.
I'm black and I would try Conguitos when I visit Spain ...the chocolate and the white chocolate ones. How do they taste? It doesn't offend me. I feel secure in my blackness that I don't care about ignorant, racist people. We are all humans and all of us have red blood. Color differences are only skin deep. We all just have to be happy with the way God made all of us unique and celebrate that! It seems like the Spanish laissez-faire attitude about race is the way to be. I think we are too touchy about race in the English-speaking world, especially in the US.
Generally, white liberals are the ones who get most offended or triggered
It's a chocolate-coated peanut.
There should be no blacks in Europe. Go back.
They taste delicious and Spaniards are not racist. You'll love Spain and you'll love conguitos
Exactly! Just as was banning Uncle Ben´s and Aunt Jemaima´s images...
The thing about Baltasar's black face in Spain is that it is a tradition carried over from a time when there weren't many black people in Spain. Now, evidently, there are plenty of Africans who can fill the role (and be much more convincing). My point is that I don't think Baltasar's blackface is racism as such. It is simply characterization. This is a clear example of anglosaxon sensitivities being applied to other nations where the context is vastly different and thus the same conclusions cannot be reached. The reason blackface is such a big deal in the US is that country has a much more recent history of very holstile racism against blacks and minstrel shows were common to mock this race. The same cannot be said for Spain. All that said, if it was up to me, I'd always pick a real black man to play Baltasar, my primordial reason being that it needs to be as convincing as possible for the children attending the parade (and let's be honest, the black make up is not very convincing...)
Spain benefited in the slave trade. A lot of money was made and brought to Spain to build the country. So, don't go about saying there were not lots black people in Spain. Spain is generally a racist country!
@@jameshashim8869 nah, not really
buddy. do the world a favor and look up anti-black imagery.
Like I often say to many englishspeakers online: "your country isn't the center of the world".
The level of entitlement of certain english speakers is outragerous.
Many USA's people and England's people love indentitarian ideologies, identitarian beliefs....They see racism on everything, everything is racist, everything is an insult to black people....Give me a break!
To combat racism with racism is wrong.
To combat xenophobia with xenophobia is wrong.
CULTURAL SHOCK exist and it's important when discussing cultural issues.
People need to educate themselves before accusing others.
Every ethnicity has different expression and reasons.
To apply the mindset of your country to the rest of countries is wrong (and it can even be considered racistz xenophobic, suoremacist and imperialist).
1-USA's people and England's people consider black skin and red lips are racist...however, it's considered a beautiful traditional art in some latin countries (Cuba, Brazil etc).
USA's people and England's people need to consider the fact that the british empire didn't get along with Portugal and Spain.
Historical bigotry is dangerous.
2- Spanish people have DNA of Europe, North Africa and Middle East. The white race is the combination of Europe, North Africa and Middle East. Arabs was already in Spain in 700 and Cleopatra had greek ancestry.
Some spanish people have natural brown skin.
Black people aren't the only people on Earth who have brown skin.
3-It isn't black face. It's cosplay (costume + play).
These men don't have natural white hair.
These men don't have natural orange hair.
It's a cosplay. Why do people only complain about characters that have brown skin or are black?
To put a bad connotation on everything that a race (in this case, white race) do is racist. Racism is discrimination based on race. Everybody deserves to be judge by who she/he is.
Say no to racism.
4- Spain, Brazil and many other countries appreciate brown skin.
Tan products are very common in Spain. They aren't trying to change their race.
You couldn't have said it better. It's so weird that Anglo-Saxon culture is sooooo sensitive towards this kind of things when they're the most racist.
I have lived here for over 30 years and I agree with some of your complaints but I found it really surprising you did not mention the acustic level at which everything takes place. Conversations in restaurants, in the street, in a class, in a meeting. The whole country is shouting all the time and everywhere and me too now after so many years. My family hushes me when I go back for a visit.
We Live in a city no in ein cementery
😂😂
I am Spanish and I go for holidays to Portugal or France to avoid noises. I can't stand Spanish more than two people because this means shouting all the time. I hope you are not from the states because there is even worst.
So true
Absolutely, people are very loud. Mind you, I can be too, so I fit in 😂
El problema de tu versión del racismo en España es que lo estás viendo desde el prisma de tu país.
En tu país, en los países angloparlantes, tenéis una extraña obsesión con el color de la piel que nosotros no compartimos. Para vosotros es tabú hacer referencia o nombrar el color de la piel de una persona dado vuestro historial, viendo que hacíais obras de teatro en los que os burlabais de las personas negras usando maquillaje negro.
Pero eso en España simplemente, no hubo. Baltasar es un rey negro, y no había apenas negros en España hasta recientemente, así que sin problema nos pintábamos lacara. Y sabemos que no es por burla, es porque el personaje es negro.
Nosotros no tenemos problemas en hacer referencia al color de piel de la gente, porque saber que existe y hacer comparaciones no es racismo ni burla.
¿Que los conguitos se llaman así porque las personas del congo tienen la piel oscura como el chocolate? Vale, ¿y qué? Yo soy blanco como la leche - exacto, como la leche. ¿Ves que no hay problema?
No nos importéis vuestro racismo, no lo queremos.
Its not only about how you experience colour, but also how people experience you, and people that look like you. If you look like the problem, its not enough to say that you are not.
@@mrienamel ¿Si me veo como el problema? Connotaciones negativas basadas en percepciones subjetivas sobre mi apareciencia o forma de ser...
Ah, racismo con pasos extra.
Lo dicho, no importéis vuestro racismo.
@@alguienmasraro915 I´m not saying I´m perfect. I come from a culture where black face was accepted as cultural celebration. And tbh, I didnt see it as an issue for a long time, I didnt see the figures as black people, but black fictional characters the same way smurfs are blue fictional characters. What I was trying to point out with my comment was, that its important to realize your prejudices and privileges.
@@mrienamel Me parece muy bien que te des cuenta de lo que te dé la gana, pero en mi cultura no hay "black face". Así que no nos lo importéis.
@@alguienmasraro915 what would you consider this? czcams.com/video/aRablU35bOI/video.htmlsi=ifeJUGSc9epQoa1V&t=759
As a Brazilian I had to jump in and comment. Spam calls are so constant here that we usually don't answer the phone if we don't know who is calling.
You haven't been to the USA!
@@gauchoparaguayo True! I never answer the phone. And thankfully my carrier has the feature to identify probably spam calls which are 99% of calls.
In Mexico is the same, but add kidnappers and scammers to the mix 😂
Same in Russia ahahah. So we have lot of services that tag calls like spam or scam
As a Brazilian, Spain is exactly the same. I got spam calls a few days after getting my number. Interesting, Brazilian bureaucracy is getting better in the last decades, while in Spain it's a nightmare.
I'm from the United States and have been living in Spain for 4 years. Your number 12 made me laugh. I've made up a Spanish word for that long period of goodbyes after you're done having drinks or a meal with friends. I call it the "sobrecalle"...jajajaja. I always point out to them...especially if it's in the dead of Summer or Winter when it's blazing hot or freezing cold, that we could still be in a temperature controlled environment enjoying another drink. Instead, we are usually on the street a few meters from where we were sitting inside talking for another 45 minutes to an hour. I love Spain! I love the sobremesa! I don't care for the sobrecalle.
We just don't want to say goodbye
Curious Marshall, have you tried leaving an hour earlier, it would be a bit frustrating if this happened everytime.
Love it!
I'm just that person to be like, "Well I gotta go bye". My GodMother still lives in Spain, so I'm familiar with the goodbyes. I just say, "Nice seeing you I have an early day bye". And I'm gone. ☺️
@@marcgarrigosmane166 I always listen out for the 'reset timer' phrase and try to muzzle the person about to say it - it never works! At some point in the attempt to say bye and leave, someone will utter the phrase 'pues nada' ('well, nothing' !?) and at least another hour is added to the ritual. (As a lifelong procrastinator I can't really complain about that one!)
In the USA there was a brand of pancake mix which was called "Aunt Jemima". The box featured a small illustration of a black woman wearing a bandana on her head. People complained about an illustration that suggested a domestic servant; so the manufacturer changed the illustration to a younger black woman with neat hair and a pearl earring. No one complained -- except the company's "diversity" officer. So the illustration was removed and the brand's name was changed to "Pearl River Milling Co." Very catchy, right? Sales have declined and a large factory has closed -- costing 500 jobs.
James. For US citizens when yo take Spanish citizenship, they ask you to sign a document where you say you renounce your citizenship. You sign a document of alligeance to the king and to obey Spanish law. As far as the US, renouncing citizenship must be done by going to a US embassy and signing papers stating that you desire to renounce your citizenship and a couple of other procedural steps. Unless you do this, you are still a US citizen. So the US is happy, Spain is happy and hopefully you will be happy enjoying dual citizenship.
That’s good advice but I think he’s from New Zealand though
I'm watching this video now and the part about racism struck me particularly. I moved here with my two teenaged boys, both black, almost 6 years ago. One of the biggest reasons we moved was because of safety and racism concerns in the US for black teenagers, particularly boys. We have no regrets.
That racism section was pathetic. Spain for the time being ignores this type of idiocy, but no doubt in time will bow to the wishes of these Woke snowflakes.
LOL By far the most dangerous thing for young black men in the US is other black men not even close.
This is because casual ignorant racisim. Same people doing black face will be the first to defend you against any racist treat, even if it means defending you against police.
This is because people dont see the insensitive casual racism as racist. They come from a cultural prespective when this only means tradition. Kids love the guy doing blackface because represents a good black african king and have good perception of the black man, as a honest good hearthed man that cares for Jesus...often is the favourite of spanish kids.
The blackface issue...well the term in itself is not known for most people. Think about this:
A white guy dresses up as a black man and does blackface to teach children black men are good and help Jesus, and we are all diverse. Strange and cringe, but this is the reality of it. It comes from a time there were not black men in Spain at all.
@@davidprietogomez7254 The black King is the children's favorite for all the right reasons.
LMFAO the biggest threat for young black men are other black men it's not even close and the data on police brutality doesn't support your BS.Funny you moved to a country that's 90% WHITE!
The phenomenon of 'torrefacto' was created during the Spanish Civil War in 1936 - 1939 when the devastated country had a great shortage of coffee. The practice of adding sugar at the final stage of the roasting process was meant to increase the weight of the roasted beans in up to 20%
That's what I knew! Also it requires less amount of coffee to get the same darkness and bitterness
Is Torrefacto sweet, having sugar in its composition?
@@JamieZarrr just the opposite.... because is not a cover but it is burnt so it adds an even more bitter flavor to the roasted beans. So it requires less amount of powder to get a dark, thick coffee
@@pianomeetups thanks. Do you like torrefacto coffee?
The international boycott kept inventions like this alive. Need and hunger for the normal population while the system and the elite is never affected. Horrible.
I don´t think you´re thinking logically about some of the problems.
1. If someone calls you to sell something, you can simply hang up. Especially if you know what it is.
2. You don´t have to get torrefacto, you can choose to get something else.
3. You don´t have to eat something you don´t like.
I think your problem, James, is that you´re still thinking about wanting to please other people.
That is to say, you care about their opinion of you.
Would it not be a lot easier to just let go and solve all of those problems by one simple solution?
This will of course require some adjustment towards how you express things, but I´m sure you´ll get the hang of it.
It's nice to get views on CZcams. What is the purpose of this kind of video? "The things that I don't like from X". Who cares?
I would love to hear your thoughts on the "oposiciones" system! As a musician, no matter what my qualifications I only get work on the current quality of my work (we say "you're only as good as your last gig"). Mike in Chipiona.
Hi James, I’m 60+ and lived the first third of my life in the UK, the second third in Spain before returning to Scotland for latest 20 years and I can’t wait to return to my beloved Spain for my ‘golden’ years. With all it’s idiosyncrasies Spain is still one of the friendliest and best countries to live in. Love the videos and your enthusiasm.
I agree.It's my "Happy place".
@@beckynelson6786 Probably not if you happen to be a black person?
Scotland basically all my life, I want to live in Spain but yikes I have to learn Spanish.
@@davidjoseph5942 get a life.
@@davidjoseph5942 I have 2 black friends from Cuba living in Alicante, Spain, for more than 20 years. They never suffered any racism at all.
My "Long Spanish Goodbye" turned into a marriage. I'm Irish American and I married a Castellana in college (Colorado St Uni). At first I didn't realize she was really attracted to me. I actually thought, "D@mn she is going to be a fine wife for someone." Either way we were set up on a first date on her request by a mutual friend. It was a dance and by the end of the date I was feeling overwhelmed because she is so gregarious and affectionate and assertive. I really am a very mellow laid back stoic guy - very Colorado. Any way by the end of the first date I was starting to suspect that I had signed on for more than I realized. There was already a second date arranged the following night and at the end of that I agreed to meet her at lunch after class the day after tomorrow which in turn became a standard lunch date with periodic evening dates. I could go on and it is a comedic story with bags being left at my apartment and keys being exchanged but this is a you tube comment so I'll get to the point. We were married that year and on her dayplanner she actually has a count of the days we've been apart after 23 years. 36 days in total after 23+ years. I love her. I love her with all my heart but she will never ever say "goodbye." When Spaniards say "I Love you," they mean "I love you forever and for all eternity and we will never be apart until the end of space time or reality folds in on itself."
I would pay for your love story to be made a movie❤
@@davidrm110 What a nice thing to say. Thank you. I wonder about everyone’s love story. My father ended up marrying the boss’ secretary and her mother and father met at a political rally at the Univ Valladolid.
Really? Tell me in a few years.
I was set up via a marriage agency and asked to choose four girls from their list. The girl I went on a first date with happened to be a TV news presenter. After the rstaurant closed early, we adjourned to a bar which was almost deserted (there was a soccer match on.) By the time we parted we had even agreed on the wedding date. That was back in 1989. We'ere still togteher!
@@alejandrayalanbowman367 That is fast. As I implied in my comment I think she had marital intentions on day 1 but I needed to be convinced. "Bowman" doesn't sound Spanish so I assume your wife is Spanish. That is my case. I think you'll agree that the Spanish people are masters of family and love. Amazing wonderful people. I'm very happy you're still together!
You didnt mention Taxes. Last year i paid more than 200% of my income taxes. It was because of fixed taxes on social security and almost 0 income of my startup. But it is crazy how hard to start bussines in Spain compare to USA.
@@olgagarcia6239 la sanidad pública (y otros servicios públicos), debido a la necesidad de impuestos, va en contra de la idea del empresario emprendedor, las bajadas de impuestos obviamente ayudan mucho más a los adinerados y así Madrid se llena con sede de empresas (Ayuda básicamente ha creado lo más cercano a un paraíso fiscal en España)
@rcia6239 Claro, la sanidad de España es gratis como se paga con el dinero de los demás te parece que no cuesta nada, cuando te están sangrando a impuestos, lo que provoca que la productividad esté estancada desde los años 90 y seamos cada vez más pobres. Pero oye si alguien menciona que los impuestos son altos es malo malísimo!!
@@olgagarcia6239 Y ya lo que decía el del comentario ni lo mencionas porque no te interesa. En España si abres un negocio pagas impuestos aunque no generes beneficios, casi parece que quieren que te hundas, es una barbaridad que no se hace en ningún país gestionado por gente con cerebro pero hay que pagar la sanidad no?
@@rubenmozota4992no gobernaba un señor que bajo los impuestos en los noventa?
Los impuestos son necesarios, eso es indudable, pero no como parte de un emprendimiento. Debería ser un % sobre facturación, no una variedad fija vendas o no vendas, desde el primer mes de vida del proyecto.
13:32 sorry but its actually you who are unwilling to change your mind you see someone painting themselves black and automatically think minstrel shows from America 100 years ago while its clearly not the same thing
Spain: We have an awful lot of bureaucracy.
Germany: Hold my beer.
I deal with both German and Spanish bureaucracies. NOTHING compares to the hermeticism of the Spanish one. I'm a native Spanish speaker and most of the time I have no idea what they're trying to say. It's very unnerving.
@@natanielcostard
As I don't have the comparison, I can't say anything about it. It's just, that we Germans are known for our bureaucracy. 🙂😁
@@keapfundheller8130
ACONCAGUA ARGENTINA
> Italy has entered the chat
Greece: Im joke to you?
As an Italian I find that your description matches at 98% with Italy too (most of all southern Italy). Maybe the little difference is in coffee and in pillows. Speaking of the origins of our proximity, I initially thought of the Roman empire and our common Latin origins but I realised that Southern Italy has been a Spanish domination until 1861, so it's Italy that has followed and imited spanish society and not viceversa.
Interesting!
Italian food is much better than Spanish
@@realsociedad3858 A juzgar por tu comentario es evidente que en tu casa comes mierd@
Southern Italy under Spanish domination until 1861? That's simply not true at all.
@pablomartin6415 You have to notice that the Royal House of the Regno delle Due Sicilie (the latter name of the State that was in southern Italy) still was a part of the spanish Royal family. When I talk about a spanish domination, I mean in terms of costume and uses in the upper class of the society with, in some way, ends to be what is considered elegant, sophisticated. I'm Italian and I still think that part of Italian people are still similar, by they way of living, with spanish people.
As a matter or fact, Southern Italy belonged to the Spanish empire for longer that They've been Italian.
It is interesting to hear his rant about banks in Spain. I have a bank account in Spain and in "my" village I have my personal banker. The service is great! I can truely say that I never had a better service from any banker. It is true that service varies a lot from excellent to terrible. But has nothing to do with big corporations.
The bigger the corporation, the worse the tratment. The same is true regarding the population of the village/city. The more populated, the worse It becomes.
Awesome picture of my country, James. I just returned from living abroad for some years now, and I'd say (as a spaniard) that torrefacto and nepotism have been the ones I realized I hated the most. This one particularly as it makes it really difficult to find a job if you spent some time abroad and could not cultivate the art of casual networking.
Painting a white man from Baltasar is common in small towns, but it is because it is not always easy to find black people who want to participate, because in the towns there are already few people per se, and even fewer black immigrants, plus many of they tend to practice another religion and are not interested in participating in Christian celebrations. As a Spaniard, I think that the problem today is the media, which tends to exaggerate the news or distort it to generate controversy and sell more newspapers.
Sound like the New Zealander who made this video is a left leaning fan of the communist socialist party in NZ, Lucinda Ardern etc.
@@farialfigar Es una tradiccion de un personaje semificticio no representa una raza, son como las geisas japonesas que se pintan de blanco sin quererr parecer occidentales
And coming from an anglosaxon from New Zealand, where they commited genocide of local population, hahaha, it is hilarious. We are proud of mestizaje. This guy should not make us culprit of his own insecurities and traumas with race.
@@kami-neko Relax, whites in New Zealand are already only 60% and lose 10% of their population every 5 years to other ethnicities, in a few decades an Anglo-Saxon on these islands will be like a Venusian on Mars.
In the United Kingdom itself, they are a minority in London and the major cities. That is racism/genocide to be a minority in your own country of origin and not the skincare of a fictional character.
Tal cual. Mi preferido era el rey Baltasar y se notaba a leguas la pintura, pero ya me dirás tú, de donde íbamos a sacar a un negro para la cabalgata en un pueblo de España en los años 90'.
Los niños ni nos fijábamos o no le dábamos importancia, solo queríamos nuestros juguetes xDD. Hoy en día llaman racismo a lo que era normal hace un par de décadas. Progreso lo llaman algunos...
In Germany, SPAM phone calls without prior consent of the called person, are illegal. If a company would do that, they had to pay a high penalty fee and the authorities will even shutdown entire call centers. If you receive SPAM calls without prior consent, you can report those online. If are called, you can ask the caller when and how you gave contact them permission and they have to answer that to you and if they cannot, again, that's illegal and you report them as well.
How do you enforce that against international calls? That's impossible.
You seem to be talking about an entirely different thing. From my own perspective as a person living in the UK, the overwhelming majority of spam phone calls come from India/Pakistan and Nigeria/Ghana. Nothing the British government can hope to do.
I suppose the only reason you're different is because nobody outside of Germany speaks German. But I am 100% sure people in Portugal get them from Brazilians, and people in Spain get them from Latin Americans, and people in France/Belgium get them from Francafrique.
@@asoton957First of all, I was referring to the video content and the Spanish phone spam comes from Spanish companies (or international companies available in Spain) that want to sell Spanish people contacts, so nothing about that is out of reach for Spanisch authorities. Have you even watched the video?
Second, German law enforcement will contact law enforcements of other countries for cooperation, e.g. multiple Indian call centers were closed that way, because call center spam is illegal by Indian law as well but of course this law cannot get enforced, if nobody reports those call centers to Indian authorities. And I can understand, that you as a private person cannot file a criminal complaint with Indian authorities against Indian call centers, but your local authorities can do that, because nowadays nothing works without international cooperation in various areas. Something like human trafficking, illegal pornography or money laundering would have long been completely impossible to combat if police authorities did not regularly work together worldwide.
And third, of course your authorities can block the number block registered by a certain call center, so calls from that block won't even make into your country anymore. You may think "But those people just fake their caller ID" but that just means that you lack technical understanding how the phone network works. The number that is displayed to you on the phone is a text string that can be arbitrarily chosen. It doesn't even have to be a numeric value. The caller ID can be "Your Uncle" or "The Police" or basically whatever you want it to be and your phone will just display that in its display. But that is not how routing works through the phone network. The caller ID is like DNS name but routing works on the base of routing destinations that are more like IP addresses. On your phone, you can only block by caller ID but authorities can block by phone network ID and this ID cannot be faked, it is set by the phone company, not by the caller.
@@asoton957 I don't know about the UK situation, but Latin Americans call Latin Americans, Brazilians call Brazilians and nobody calls Germans. That's just facts.
The problem is spam calls from India
@@sayuas4293And why would people in Spain get more spam calls from India than people elsewhere in Europe? Think about it. This video clearly says that those spam calls are a prom typical to Spain. Also those calls are about switching to a different phone provider, so how would Indian spammer sell Spanish phone contracts for Spanish phone companies? Have you even watched the video and listened to what the guy says about this issue and about the spam calls?
Un vídeo interesante James, se aprende mucho sobre España a través del punto de vista de un extranjero. Simplemente me gustaría puntualizar que no considero que el pueblo español sea racista, es quizá uno de los pueblos históricamente más mezclados a lo largo de los tiempos. Por aquí pasaron desde íberos, celtas, vascones, tartesios, fenicios, griegos, cartagineses, romanos, visigodos, musulmanes, judíos... Todos somos hijos de mil culturas.
Posteriormente cuando el Imperio se dedicó a colonización, el español se mezcló con el pueblo indígena tanto en América, como en Asia o África.
Y a día de hoy España acoge tanto a la inmigración marroquí, como la que viene de latino-américa, de Europa del este, China y del África Subsahariana entre otras muchas. Y aquí se respeta la diversidad cultural.
Nada tiene que ver que por la Navidades la gente se pinte la cara de negro, con que aquí seamos racistas. Una razón tan sencilla como lógica es que aquí en tiempos de Franco y durante la post-guerra, no había nadie de color, vamos de ningún color. Así que el pintarse la cara de negro no deja de ser algo circunstancial. A día de hoy bien es cierto que tiene poco sentido ya, pero esto no es EE.UU y no tiene nada que ver el "blackface".
Y los Cojonodos con mayonesa, se salen!
Tal cual, muy acertado tu comentario.
Aqui veo 2 cosas o bien, tienes el tipico punto de vista woke de USA respecto al racismo, o bien tenia que rellenar por rellenar contenido.
Porque decir que aqui somos racistas y que los 2 puntos sean porque los putos conguitos sigan a la venta con ese nombre, y porque en "ekis" carrozas de reyes magos se pinta a baltasar y sus pajes de negro... es... un absoluto meme.
Thanks for this video James. Question? I am 44yr old Australian (Irish/ EU Citizen) I am an ocean yacht Racer and winter Skiier. I am interested to get your thoughts on where may be the best place to look to live in Spain? I am thinking either buying a catamaran to live on or a small house/apartment on the coast where it is warm and not far from an Airport. Any recommendations of areas to live?
Mallorca?
Wherever those orcas that sink ships don't live...
New Zealand is actually named after the Dutch province of Zeeland, not to forget that the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, is located on an island by the name of Zealand (Sjælland in Danish), which makes it all rather confusing, and could be the reason why they may think New Zealand is an island in Northern Europe.
No, they clearly have in mind the province Zeeland and James, lacking empathy and quick to ridicule, attributes a hyperbolic position to them.
Nah, we just don't know where New Zealand is
Hahaha, so they would know about all the stuff you mentioned but wouldn't know about the country New Zealand?
@@GHJ322 actually I think most european know Zeeland more than New Zealand xD, doesnt help that he does actually look a bit like a dutch person too :D
Nueva zeLANDA suena como HoLANDA . Creo que esa debe ser la confusion xd
I am Dutch... and we have a province called Zeeland. A quick search tells me "In 1642 Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to discover New Zealand, calling it Staten Land. In 1645, Dutch cartographers renamed the land Nova Zeelandia after the Dutch province of Zeeland"....
by the way we love your channel: we are fond of many places in Spain but especially Donostia San Sebastian: we've visited this fantastic town almost every year for the past 3 years in a row, and your channel has been a great help.. Eskerikasko for that (and indeed, some Basque words open doors)! The pintxos places that you pointed out, we visited them all and they are fantastic!
By the way ... Salamanca must be our second love.... and also interesting: Canfranc...and... so many great places in Andalusia... Ronda... and... I can go on and on and on.
By the way: in the Netherlands and Belgium we have the fresh asparagus. I agree with you on the canned ones, not my cup of tea, but if you're ever in the south of the Netherlands or Flanders/Belgium: give the fresh ones a try, the way they are prepared here. Completely different!! White gold we call them.... Agur!
Yes, The Dutch export a lot of their white asparagus to Germany where the Germans devour loads of it in season. It is usually boiled in water with a touch of added sugar and served with melted butter and slices of boiled ham.
@@joesoy9185 The best white asparagus comes from southern Germany
You should to read recent studies about the first Europeans in New Zealand. From New Zealand researcher. It was found a tree originally from New Zealand with more than 500 years in Galicia, Spain.....
I live in Denmark, on an island called Zeeland, almost close to Austria, that some people mix up with Australia 😂
@@arnodobler1096 Don't say that to anyone living in the Rheinland!
I like this video for a few reasons:
1. I like all of your videos - you're a great... is presenter the right word?
2. As a tourist, I'm guilty of seeing Spain as sun, sea and sangría. I often idealise it and think it must be incredible to live there. While I'm sure it is incredible to live there, it's good to be reminded that, actually, all countries have their challenges!
3. The video is balanced but honest and *actually* addresses things you hate. So many videos with this title are just clickbait and they list all the things they love instead!
Thanks for making content :)
As a Spaniard I hate "torrefacto" coffee. I am not able to have a coffee in a Spanish bar without adding two sachets of sugar and half a liter of milk. Everything changed since I discovered Italian coffee. There are many Italian restaurants in Spain where you can have a good coffee, most of them use a brand of Italian coffee called Lavazza (it is usually indicated on the door) and so I already know that it is a good place to have coffee.
De acuerdo en todo salvo en lo de los espárragos (están realmente cojonudos) y la cuestión del racismo. Creo que hay, más o menos como en toda Europa, pero yo no habría elegido esos casos anecdóticos, sino más bien cierto aire de superioridad que los españoles tienen a veces con comunidades como la hispanoamericana. Respecto al blackface, ese es un concepto importado de los norteamericanos, porque allí se utilizaba para realizar números cómicos donde se burlaban de los norteamericanos negros. En España Baltasar es el Rey Mago más querido, no hay intención de burla sino todo lo contrario, siempre ha sido el rey mago que todos querían ser. Es como si acusáramos de edadismo a Melchor por ser un joven disfrazado de viejo. En realidad hoy en día ya no es como antes porque hay muchas personas negras que pueden disfrazarse de Baltasar, pero antiguamente en España ver a alguien no blanco era realmente una rareza. Lo que quiero decir es que hay que tener en cuenta la intencionalidad con que se recrea la Cabalgata, que en ningún caso es burlesca sino conmemorativa y no verlo con perspectiva anglosajona. Es como si acusaran a la Semana Santa de racista porque los penitentes van disfrazados del KKK.
Algo parecido ocurre con las fiestas de moros y cristianos, y temo que llegara un momento en que se nos impondrá la forma anglosajona de percibirlo, que esta distorsionada por su propia historia,en vez de intentar entender la intención y el sentido de la celebración.
Recuerda que la cultura anglofona heredó una buena porción de puritanismo. Eso está muy fuerte en mucha gente de estas últimas generaciones. Tiene que ver con ser una persona correcta santona etc...
Absolutamente de acuerdo con este comentario.
Creo que tus observaciones sobre el racismo son una proyección. Si existe el término "hispanic" como lo utilizan en USA es precisamente por la ausencia de racismo que permitió la mezcla de españoles con los indios y los negros.
La visión anglosajona es muy puritana y esconde un racismo subyacente que se pretende enmascarar y crea fenómenos como la aproximación woke a esta realidad, que tus comentarios me recordaron.
Si hay algún tipo de racismo o "xenofobia" en España es el que ocurre entre las propias naciones que conforman el Estado. Siendo canario la glotofobia y exotización que se sufre por parte de los peninsulares es tremenda, por no hablar de las políticas neocoloniales. Es imposible ir a la península y que no se rían de ti, incluso sin maldad o sin intención. Creo que ocurre, sobretodo, al norte del paralelo 40, o como dicen mis amigos andaluces "de Despeñaperros pa'rriba" y la causa principal es la poca exposición a variedades lingüísticas diferentes a la propia que existe en esas latitudes del Estado. Un ejemplo ilustrativo: lo que para ellos es "muyayo" no es mas que un sonido "ch" característico de las variedades canarias y caribeñas que son incapaces de diferenciar del sonido "y" al que sí están acostumbrados y que los hablantes de dialectos como el canario si saben diferenciar. Quedan muchas mentes colonialistas que siguen pensando que hablar una variedad lingüística distinta a la propia es ser analfabeto.
Correcto, muy cierto lo que dices…el racismo existe entre “las propias naciones que conforman el estado” pero también se extiende hacia hacia personas de otras naciones del mundo. Lo que se dice de Baltazar, con su cara pintada de negro, lo puedo ver como tradición o hecho sin mala intención…pero decir que no hay racismo en España, cuando lo experimente personalmente (hice 3 meses de turismo) en la region de Cataluña y lo en innumerables ocasiones con tratos vergonzosos a los “sudacas” y otros extranjeros, es extremo…es agresivo y sin filtro alguno…
10 years ago when I was applying for my NIE it was a nightmare. I had a job and was ready to start paying my way in tax, but that wasn't enough to get them to make the process easy. The NIE people told me I needed the medical card first, the medical card people told me I needed the NIE first, the NIE people then told me I needed a tax number first, the tax office told me I needed something else first. Then I learned a trick, I would say "but they told me to come here" and it was like a magical phrase, suddenly they could help me. Go figure 🤷🏼♀️
The worst thing you didnt mention is the cita previa 😅
At least since the pandemic, many services that moved online have stayed there and it makes it a little easier 😊
True!!!!
I experienced the same 10 years ago. I had a job offer but for the contract I needed a NIE. For getting a NIE I needed a signed job contract. It was a “círculo vicioso” 😂
@@kleinstadtcharme
BARILOCHE USHUAIA
A R G E N T I N A
Como español que he tenido que ayudar a gestionar NIEs para otras personas, estoy de acuerdo contigo. En general, esa frase que has dicho "me dijeron que viniera aquí" ayuda mucho. Otra cosa que ayuda mucho es presentar siempre algo, aunque no sea exactamente el papel que piden... Y cuando sepas que te falta algún papel, presentar más cosas de las que te piden para aturdir al funcionario. Y cuando te digan que no, seguir yendo y presentando cosas cada dos días hasta que se cansen de ti.
The Cita previa is a real nightmare.
So enjoyed your video😊 I lived in Madrid, Spain, for 22 yrs and while I had a wonderful time there (I do not live there anymore) and absolutely love the country and the people, I do indeed agree with a lot of your “hates” and wouldn’t want to live there full time again. I especially agree on your points on racism and nepotism. With regards to your hate of “I’m not Dutch”, I must say that when I have encountered such commentaries (I’m Norwegian), I’ve really put it down to a lack of education or lacking (as in bad) education, which I find sad. Unfortunately, Spain is still very much a class society, you mentioned encountering such commentaries in hairdressers, waiters and taxi drivers, and though I’m sure you can encounter them amongst more privileged classes too, not everyone has the same access to the same level of education in Spain. It’s very often a question of finances and social background. I used to have a fabulous cleaning lady who was once surprised they didn’t speak Spanish in the UK, or that they didn’t have beaches in London. She came from a poor family and was taken out of school at a young age to start to work. Such stories, though less common now, will most likely surprise people from other countries considering that Spain is a European, mostly modern country.
Estoy de acuerdo con casi todas. Burocracia, despedidas interminables y café torrefacto. En cambio… los espárragos cuanto más gordos mejor 😅
I ADORE SPAIN. I love the northwestern A Coruna, Galicia, the Astorias, Pais Vasco, Rioja, Catalonia, Andorra, Andalucia, Madrid, and every part in between. The best and most diverse people who are from the same country. I love the geography, the Med, the Atlantic, the north sea, the mountains, the beaches. I love the food, the wines, the Flamenco, the art, the essence of Spain, it's customs, it's culture. Everything that is Spain.
Me encanta que hagas a Andorra española😂😂😂
@@onzo9212 Si, yo tambien. Yo se la historia y razon algunos espanoles vaya Andorra-es para occultar del dictador. Yo se que Andorra es su propio pais. Visito alla para comprar y... Mais, para mi, es iqual como los gentes piensan en Galicia, Pais Vasco, Asturias, Andalucia, Castilla y Leon. Ellos sienten independiente de Espana-pero todos son Espanoles.
Perdona me si te ofendes y perdona mi Castillano. No esta perfecto.
Yo sabe que eres Andorran primero pero en mis ojas eres Espanoles tambien. Es como tenemos 50 estados pero todos somos Americanos.
?Me entiendes?
Andorra is NOT Spain 😉
@@DianeJardimStratton72 Thank you, I know! I have had to show my passport four times going in and out while shopping there when I lived in Spain for four years.
I know the history of when the Spanish fled to Andorra la Vella from Franco. How they are the mountain people who thrive due to no taxes and incredible shopping outlets.
For this American, I listed Andorra with my favorite parts of Spain because, although I need a passport to visit, puedo habla Castillano cuando alla.
Considering my love for Spain, I listed it as part of my favorite places I visited in Spain.
All my love to the Andorrans.
I believe Andorra is more well known because of the many references to it in the many websites I have commented on.
I LOVE SPAIN AND I LOVE ANDORRA. And man is she cold in the winter.
God bless Andorra which is not Spain!
Never returning to that sheethole of cwack dentists.
Number 12 happens to Cubans too, probably to most Latin American countries. I live in the US but I was born and raise in Cuba, and recently visited Spain, and it felt like I belonged there, like I was born there, there are so many cultural/behavioral similarities that you feel at home, with the good and also bad things. Loved your video.
Of course you belong there, Cubans are our brothers!!
MONTAÑAS LAGOS FIORDOS NIEVE GLACIARES BOSQUES
CHILE ARGENTINA
LA ESCANDINAVIA DEL HEMISFERIO SUR
AURORA AUSTRAL
@@ManuelGrau
MONTAÑAS LAGOS FIORDOS NIEVE GLACIARES BOSQUES
CHILE ARGENTINA
LA ESCANDINAVIA DEL HEMISFERIO SUR
AURORA AUSTRAL
España y Cuba son hermanas. Hace poco más de 100 años éramos el mismo país y mucha de nuestra gente iba de acá para allá. Los cubanos siguen siendo españoles en esencia, la mayoría tienen un padre, una abuela o bisabuelos españoles y como tú dices, tenemos muchas cosas en común. Me encantaría visitar Cuba algún día, cuando salgan de esta situación que espero sea pronto. Un saludo desde España ❤🇨🇺
Viva Cuba y España
I went to a post office in rural France and when I asked to buy stamps to send postcards in Australia she kept correcting me and saying Austria. That woman had NO idea where Australian was.
😂😂😂 we sent postcards from St Michel France post successfully to Australia 🇦🇺
I found the opposite here (Murcia) with the bureaucracy and banking. Everything I've had to do here from dealing with internet companies to buying my house has been fantastically efficient and pain less. In stark contrast, I lived in Australia for 10 years and EVERYTHING over there was a complete nightmare. A torture. No other country I've lived in compares to how bad it was in Australia.
Zeeland is a región in Netherlands and you look Dutch so that one is easy. When I first got here they thought I was saying 'Hollanda' instead of 'Irlanda', but that was my bad pronunciación. I changed how I say Irlanda and now I don't have that problem.
There's nothing I hate more than American 'identity politics' being applied to European cultures. Non-Europeans need to mind their own business on that one. We are extremely proud of our cultural identity in each European nation. If you want to come and live in Europe then respect the culture.
The voting rule is absolutely fantastic. Just look at recent results in the UK. Entire council regions have been seized by Islamic voting blocks. This would be a disaster for Spain. Dual citizenship and voting rights is a terrible idea. This may be hard to understand for people coming from 'new' countries like New Zealand or Canadá or the U.S, where there's no real ethnic or cultural identity, and is incomparable to Europe.
As a Spaniard, I find it interesting hearing foreigners complaining about the same things as I do 🤣
I fully agree with what you said about spanish bureaucracy, it's a hell of a nightmare. I got to know german bureaucracy, which is way more efficient and faster!!
Non siete diversi da brasiliani portoghesi colombiani ecuadoreni siete la fottuta copia sputata SIETE L UNICO PAESE AD AVERE SIA UOMINI SIA DONNE “SIA STUPIDI/E” CHE BRUTTE CESSE RARE ALLO STESSO TEMPO,E TE LO STA DICENDO UNO CHE HA VERAMENTE POCHISSIME PRETESE ESTETICHE questa vostra convizione che l europa vi osservi ammirata è totalmente la vostra favola della buonanotte dato che superate addirittura l italia con la crisi economica
In Germany the rule is ;
"Ordnung muß sein".
My favourite ;
"Aber schnell" ! 😠
Love from Norway 😄🇳🇴
And German bureaucracy is whack, still! Estonia has one of the most streamlined and simple bureaucratic systems in the world, and that is by design. Also most of it is digital. But The Netherlands is also pretty neat.
@@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131
CHILE ARGENTINA
THE SCANDINAVIA OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
AURORA AUSTRAL
Germans would disagree.
As a Spaniard. I feel you with the god damn spam calls. I'm a student and they ruin my expecience in class. Last time they called and I was in class, I picked up the phone and told them I worked at another, rival enterprise, just so they'd shut up. Even recommended them another, better offer. They hang up and haven't called me since.
Existe algo llamado la lista Robinson donde si pones tu número o tu casa es ilegal que te llegue publicidad, te apuntas y a lo mejor te llaman dos veces más como máximo. Les dices que estás en la lista y te cuelgan pidiéndote perdón.
Si fuera un latino ; peruano boliviano , hondureño , mexicano , ni te pasarías por acá pero como es Blanco y habla inglés 😅
Can't you just ignore the call? I never answer my phone unless I know for sure who it is.
Los latinos fueron los habitantes de la región del antiguo LACIO en lo que hoy es Italia. Tú eres HISPANOAMERICANO no latino. Qué bien habla inglés este tio, por cierto.@@mandarinmanuela8005
@@AntoineM1312 Eso hago yo. Luego compruebo si es spam, y entonces devuelvo, o no, 21:56 la llamada. El problema está cuandl esperas llamadas de gente cuyo número desconoces.
Good to know the coffee is bitter. I am from Brazil and really like good coffee, Funny note on this is that I gave up sugar in my coffee after visiting NZ. Funny, But true. I liked I've been watching your videos because I am planning a trip to Spain this year, and you are definitely my go-to reference. Will buy your guide if the trip is really confirmed. why I like your comments? I like the sincerity that comes through your voice. It sounds really, not a fake tone to advertise something. Love to see your food videos and wonder how can you be so thin eating all that... Thanks for your work, and my regards to Yolly and the baby!!!
The "I'm Not Dutch!" part made my day 😂, because I live in the Netherlands, and I also want to emigrate so much. There are tens of thousands of Dutch citizens, living in Spain. Spain is one of the most favorite destinations for immigrants from this Northern European country, so everything is logical.
That goodbye problem is just called having a Spanish wife my friend.... It comes to my mind the countless hours I have spent waiting for my mother or wife to say goodbye to a friend, family member, neighbor, or even someone they don't like.
My grandpa (may he rest in peace) used to have a saying that read "La representación de la eternidad son dos mujeres despidiendose" - "The representation of an eternity is two women saying goodbye to each other."
It does sound like your wife has taken you to parties or dinners and after agreeing to leave has had you waiting for hours while she "said goodbye." It only gets worse with age, believe me.
Cheers!
It's like the Long goodbyes in the Upper Midwest of the US. The inching to the door continued conversation on the doorstep etc...
Seguramente es heredado de España, en México tenemos exactamente el mismo problema, es desesperante e irse pronto puede ser considerado poco amable.
Igual en Puerto Rico
My mum has done this forever . I'm British raised, and it drives up the f-ing wall. "Shall we leave soon?" .... 45 minutes later. 😢
Bye,bye,bye😂
Talking about the long goodbye, there was a film called "L'ange exterminateur (El ángel exterminador) by the brilliant film director, Luis Buñuel. It is about a gathering in a house where strange things happen and also the people cannot leave, but there is no physical restraint. As they are reaching the door, they turn back for one reason or another.
I saw the film when I was 12, but it made a huge impression on me, Luis Buñuel is a genius.
Love the films of Luis Bunuel
Sounds like an introvert's nightmare.
If this may make anybody interested in the film, events follow an unexplained surreal logic which is like the coating of a bitter pill. The core of the movie is the thesis that high class people see themselves as culturally and morally superior to the masses, but if they had to endure a phase of hardship, isolated from the sources of their luxury and social power, all that would soon be proven to be only a slight varnish hiding the same ruthless, rude, animal ways they find despicable in others. It's worth a watch.
Downloading. Thanks!
Looks like an interesting film. The original isn’t in French, it’s a Spanish language film, El Angel Exterminador.
Thanks James. Only twelve is very generous of you. But it is very interesting to know how a foreigner lovingly hates approximately the same aspects that we natives suffer (almost) with resignation. For almost all of these vices we have developed antidotes that make them more bearable. For example, never accept asparagus with industrial mayonnaise, only with olive oil, fresh eggs, a little lemon and freshly made at home.
Regarding goodbyes, there is a joke in Spain about visitors who take a long time to leave home and it is when the hosts say "let's go to bed because these gentlemen will want to go home."
With or without the right to vote, you are truly one of us.
I'm from Igualada, and I love the celebration. Been enjoying it since I was a kid and intend on acting in it as a "patje" this next year's 5th of january. The story is that just like Santa Claus in other cultures, "Els Reys Mags", the three wise men, have been observing the kids from a hidden place to see if they are good and well behaved kids or bad kids. So if you've been a good kid and ask the three wise men for presents, whatever you've writen in your petition letter, you'll get. But if you've been a bad kid, you won't get the presents that you've asked for, instead, you'll be gifted with a bunch of coal (edible) as a punishment.
The night before, there's a parade that ennacts the arrival of the three wise men in the city. So there are the three main carriages, one for each king: Melchor, the one with the white beard, Gaspar, the one with the blonde beard, and Baltasar, the black one. And in between the main carriages, there are the "Patjes" and their chief Master: El Patje Faruk, who were the black servants that acompained them in their visit to baby Jesus. Now, while in the parade. The "patjes" interact with the kids and the parents in the public. They ask things like: "have you been good this year" "have you been doing your homework", things like that. And after the parade, or during it, some kids get a visit from a patje to their home.
It's so fun and I know I have missed a lot of cool stuff since the lore of this celebration is very extensive.
For Beauacracy wait until you need to use a notary here, the Spanish take this to the complete next level. When my dad died I needed to get a paper signed and notarized saying that I agreed not to contest his will. In the US my local bank always did the notary free of charge. When i asked the notary how much it would be, i got the usual Spanish answer, it depends. When they found out it was for an inheritance for an estate and it was in the US and it needed to be translatedm the price went through the roof. Since it was needed for International Law it had to get a special seal from the University of Notaries and when i finally got it back a simple paper turned into a huge folder full of ribbons and wax seals that to me appeared to look like something Columbus had when he sailed on behalf of the Queen of Spain. I never heard but I'm sure the Missouri estate judge was highly impressed.
You really made me laugh !!!!
🤣🤣🤣 But here in Portugal is even worse but without the ribbons. I have lived in Italy, France, Portugal and Spain. The bureacracy in Portugal is a nightmare. Spain for me is the least bureaucratric of this four countries. So consider yourself lucky.
What is Beauacracy meant to be?
No se cuando formalizaste esa herencia, pero en la administración española hace siglos que no se utilizan las cintas, lacres y timbres. Y también tenemos firmas y certificados electrónicos 🙄
@@mariadelmargarciaherrero7434 y aún así, lo convertimos en una pesadilla en lugar de hacerlo más fácil y barato. Con el lacre, al menos se acerca un poco más a lo que cobran.
I've lived in Spain for 2 months now and I already relate to things on here like bureaucracy, banks, the spam phone calls, being mistaken for being Dutch and more. I purposely try to say perfectly IRLANDA but they still think I said HOLANDA haha. In all seriousness though I love living here, it's the best decision I have made. At the end of the day no country is perfect so really when you choose to live somewhere (or stay in the country you grew up in) you're just accepting what nonsense you wanna deal with daily and we chose to deal with Spain, the good and the bad
Lol. That reminds me that when we were in Thailand, we were asked if we wanted our spices Thai hot or Swiss hot.
I often get exactly the same...but it doesn't matter because you are "inglesa" anyway!
As a Spaniard in Australia I get told all the time that I should like burritos because I'm Spanish
Good point. It’s bad and good in every country. They important thing is to be happy what ever we are.
My brother in law migrated from Spain to New Zealand (the reverse of James) and normally you need a reference from the police of your country of origin to get residency, however he was given a pass on this as the Spanish police are apparently notorious for never actually sending out the references.
i'm still watching the video. i noticed in the past couple of years myself that when i visit mexico city, my birth city, is getting ruined by gentrification. and it is getting brutally expensive. it is not just the chain coffeshps and hipster vegan hippie burger joints. it is the whole mentality. social media is partly to blame in my opinion.
i live in innsbruck, austria now, and it is starting now here too. austria has an excellent coffee culture, and this summer the 2nd starbucks will open here. starbucks is a symbol to me that historic european centres are getting ruined by chain companies. soon all city centres will ook the same. in the UK it already happened a long time ago. i lived in the uk from 2004 to 2009 in oxford and london, and most UK city centres look the same, with all the same chain shopas and restaurants in every city with just a handful of old traditional shops somewhere hidden.
gonna continue watching now. thanks for sharing this video. will visit spain (Madird+Granada) in july with my family.
I'm a Spanish that lived in the Netherlands for a decade and a half and going from their modern and efficient bureaucracy to the nightmarish hellscape of Spain's was really really hard.
Why are you going back to Spain then? Is there any way to fix the bureaucracy? Have you tried to write to moncloa?
@@YonaMcCrum The Netherlands is pretty harsh when it comes to people with disabilities, specially in the educational front. Spain is way more inclusive and socially protective. At the same time Spain is very self centered and, even when the solutions to our problems are right next to us, like our dutch neighbors, we just don't seem to be willing to make the effort to modernize and improve. I hope this changes some day.
@@carlosmoreira8835, how are people who are disabled treated?
@@Neville60001 they're very segregationist. If your son or daughter is not perfectly neurotypical they will not want them to follow the regular school system and they all go directly to special education, no integration with other kids without disabilities. I think integration, specially on those first formative years, is hugely important for kids with disabilities but also for neurotypical kids who will result in a more empathic and open minded population. I'm not opposed to special education schools in certain cases or if it's optional but I think it's cruel to not even give a chance to these kids.
@@carlosmoreira8835, that sounds like what I went through growing up here in Toronto in the '70's as a black boy on the spectrum. That does _not_ sound like what I've always heard (and thought) the Netherlands to be.
This was great! I loved my time in Spain and long to return. Nothing in this video makes me think less of that country. Some travel CZcamsrs are relentlessly sunny about the countries they visit, and I end up not trusting their assessments. (In fact, one managed to get an official invitation to visit North Korea. He gave a glowing review! I'm not kidding.) Somehow, by being honest, you make me want to go back to Spain even more. I feel like I have a greater understanding of the culture every time you post a video.
By the way, when I was in Cordoba in 2019, I wrote to you for restaurant recommendations. You got back to me right away, and I'll always appreciate it. Thanks.
Regarding 11. Bureaucracy,, you are absolutely right, bureaucracy should be simpler.. sometimes there is no list of documents and that those necessary to carry out a procedure depend on each region, locality, the official you are assigned or about the time of day..., Lol when you conclude that it is wrapped in some kind of mystery. And the same with the difficulty of language. It is also the same for the Spanish people.
But there really is a reason for this, and that is because 1st), there are several levels of administration (state, regional and local) with a complex system of distribution of competencies, which means that there are differences in the requirements that are requested, especially at the local level, 2nd) The complex language is a consequence of the fact that the administration is very legal and is highly influenced by administrative law and legality (it is even included in the Constitution itself, our Magna Carta) and it is very difficult to deviate from positive law , very normative (continental type unlike the Anglo-Saxon legal system which is eminently customary or based on custom)
The good news is that there is improvement little by little in both issues, since aid for carrying out the procedures is already being collected on the portals of almost all administrations and efforts are being made to make the language more understandable for all citizens. , as it should be because the administration is there to serve the citizen, not to complicate their lives.
Sorry for my English.
OMG, I'm SO GLAD I watched your video! Thank you!*
A friend gave us some espresso from South America and is smells HORRIBLE. Once I ran it through the burr grinder, it smelled EVEN WORSE! I was convinced it had been contaminated with chemicals or something. Wouldn't go NEAR it!
But it looks like perhaps it wasn't "spoiled," but rather roasted according to this tradition or custom.
Even so, I'm still not going to use it. Pretty happy with my 1/3 light roast mixed with French dark roast to produce a really nice espresso for my morning latte. Been making my own espresso for almost 40 years now, but this is the first I've ever heard about this.
*Funny coincidence is that my kid is living in Spain this year. But they haven't told me about this coffee to avoid!!! Oh and my kid is having the best time over there. Gracias!!!
I'm from Spain living in England and here the spam calls have increased also. It made me laugh when you talked about the long goodbyes because this is so true. When I talk to my mum on the phone, I have to hang up because otherwise she will continue talking and talking haha, don't like it either. Customer service is terrible, but not only in Spain.
As a Spaniard myself, I can't help but feeling pushed away every day more and more by tourists or expats living in my city. I understand that what you're trying to do is celebrate your love for Spain and how beautiful our culture and traditions are and that's not such a big deal as you're not doing anything wrong at all, although I do feel slightly disappointed about the current situation in my country. It is really heartbreaking seeing everybody around me (family members, friends, etc) trying to make a living and just praying everyday hoping to afford a house while there are foreigners coming here and buying their summer houses because it's so much cheaper than in their homecountries. I am not trying to say that you are the problem and I don't want people to feel that way, although it is extremely frustrating to see foreigners taking advantage of their economical position and buying houses here for other people to rent and benefit from it. The real-estate situation is extremely difficult nowadays for Spaniards, we can't afford living in Malaga and yet there's a huge percentage of properties owned by foreigners in la Costa del Sol, living the dream.. I am sorry if this comment sounds aggressive, but I think that our situation here is giving a bit "elephant in the room" vibes as no one seems to give a f* about it, honestly.
This is a problem in the UK too. People buying second homes and turning all accommodation into air b'n'b leaving nowhere for the locals to live.
Hola, está pasando en todos los sitios chulos del mundo: Costa Rica, Hawai,… llegan los de fuera con su moneda fuerte, compran las casas,… y suben los precios, tanto que los locales ya no pueden vivir allí.
Desgraciadamente, está ocurriendo en las costas de España y en las grandes ciudades.
i understand how you feel, we have this problem here in Canada also. In fact, we destroyed the country over this problem: to keep housing unaffordable we are importing a million indians per year because old people can't handle a reduction in their home equity or rental prices. Now everything is expensive and old people can't sell their homes to downsize into something affordable because nothing is affordable anymore, smaller condos are super expensive too.
This is a universal problem, every country wants to attract immigrants/expats to buy housing/real-estate. I will not lie to you, if i have an opportunity to move to spain/italy I would do so tomorrow, because Canada has been completely destroyed.
Hay colonias de rusos, alemanes e ingleses en España. España es el huerto de Alemania, ese fue el acuerdo de la UE. España sacrificó muchísimas vacas para poder entrar en la UE sin hacer competencia a Francia. Los políticos actuales siguen vendiéndonos y esto ya no es UE, es NOM. Presionar a agricultores para vender sus cultivos poner placas solares, joden el cielo y tenemos sequías y nuestro tesoro, que es el aceite de oliva, está por las nubes, hasta los alimentos están muy altos.
La clase política nos está vendiendo.
Dicen incluso que tener un huerto en casa es malo para el "camio climático". Verde y con asas...
El mundo está cambiando, nos están presionando, exprimiendo la sangre, y ¿hacia dónde? Tenemos que prepararnos, la especulación no es el camino, vamos a tener que trabajar duro.
El turismo es la nube de los restos que quedan de la feliz vida que fue la eclosión de una clase media y la posiblidad de una sociedad y un nivel de vida que podía ser y que no quieren. Estoy hablando del fin de la clase media y del estado de bienestar. El turismo es un caramelo, una atracción... muchos ya no se lo pueden permitir. Una distracción de lo que de verdad importa. Salir adelante en esta sociedad cada vez más difícil y tratar de que no se nos destruya el país y los tesoros que tenemos.
You are 100% correct. We are experiencing the same (although in a somewhat minor way) situation here in the USA, so I understand your concern. I don't know what the answer is, but your government should intervene and pass laws protecting their people.
My father once almost sued someone from a spam call because even when he told them to stop they kept calling and calling over and over again
Blackface is not considered racist in many countries. For example, I learned that it was considered racist in some countries not too long ago here in CZcams, and I'm over 50. I had to search why it was so, and I learned that a guy, long ago mocked black people, etc. That didn't happen in other countries. In my country it's a tradition during carnival to paint the face with different colors including black and nobody thought it was racist.
Notes from someone living in Spain for a little over 4 years, originally from Brazil and who also lived in Portugal for a few years:
1 - Espárragos: I actually like them!
2 - Voting for permanent residents: I'm on the fence about this one, but because I never had this problem, when I moved to Spain I already had my Spanish citizenship.
3 - Torrefacto: I couldn't agree more, this should not exist!
5 - Spam calls: I get them all the time too, but there's a trick I learned from my time working with telecom: the calls are machine generated and only connected to an operator when it hears something from the called person, so before saying anything when getting a call from an unknown, silent number, wait for 2 or 3 seconds and the caller machine will drop the call by itself.
8 - Being "Dutch": the original Zealand is in the Netherlands (you can't have a New Zealand without an Old Zealand, right?). And the Flanders (part if the Zealand) was part of the Spanish empire for some time, so Spaniards have more familiarity with this region when hear "Zelanda".
11 - Bureaucracy: it's bad in Spain, but it's even worse in Portugal and Brazil, so for me, the Spanish bureaucracy is an improvement. But my wife decided to naturalize just to not have to deal with Extranjería, which is the worst of them all (fortunately she was able to retain her original citizenship, since it's allowed for Iberian-American countries).
12 - The long goodbye: that's the same in Brazil, so I found this comfortably familiar!
The ones I didn't mention are even worse in the other places I lived, so for me it's an improvement.
After living in Spain over 3.5 years, including in Madrid, Granada and Logroño, a few of these are definitely on my list too! The one difference is that I never really noticed the long Spanish goodbye because it's very similar to the long goodbye where people continue to linger in Wisconsin in the US. Great video as always, James!
That is very interesting about Wisconsin!
Wow -- that's fascinating!
I'm from Spain and I definitely notice the looong goodbyes. It's a problem if you have an appointment but the group you are leaving with keeps talking
@@spainrevealed Try Greek food
As a Spanish person, I do hate white asparagus with mayo. Without the Mayo (and with a touch, "a literal touch", of olive oil) they are actually quite good.
In Navarra, and in some other places of the north of Spain, they eat asparagus that they buy raw. I live in the south and I have never seen a raw one, except the wild ones ( the green ones ). They are delicious in every way.
On the other way, it's perfectly normal that he cannot get used to them. A matter of taste, and maybe a cultural thing, since he hasn't grown up eating them.
Soy un español de 35 años y no tenía ni idea de lo del torrefacto, he tomado café solo en bares (aunque no frecuentemente) y pensaba que el café sabía así en cualquier país.
About the long goodbye my recomendation is (once again being politely and lovely and respectful with the person that are still in your house) you must start doing what you need to do: example: get your child pijamas, or if you need to go somewhere start to take your coat... do not complete the action, but start to do something of your next task... make anything that tells "i'm in a bit of hurry" but trying not to expel your guests XD.
Sometimes it's better to say something more directly. From "please go" to "now it's time for me to do this and this, let's continue next time, I enjoyed today very much, thank you."
My late father in law used to say to my mother in law: "honey, we should go to bed as this people surely want to go back to their home". First time I was shocked but it really works. LOL.
or just say you're leaving 1 hour before you really want to
@@richdakiwi yup, I made it a lot of times. However that requires planification and strong will, but sometimes a part of you want more and another not... and if children or its scheduling is involved XDDD cool pacience then!
Muy de acuerdo en muchas cosas, incluido lo de los conguitos. Ahora bien, totalmente en desacuerdo con lo de Baltasar. El blackface solo tiene sentido en la cultura anglosajona. Aquí carece de sentido porque disfrazarse es común, y eso incluye hacerlo de cualquier raza, no se hace con el fin d denigrar nada. Y en el caso concreto de Baltasar, hasta hace unos años no había gente de raza negra más allá de los jugadores de Basket. La gente desea convertirse en un rey mago, y el que tiene como favorito a Baltasar, querrá disfrazarse para parecerse lo más posible, del mismo modo que se puede disfrazar de Melchor sin ser rubio. Hay racismo como en todas partes, pero este en concreto no es el caso
Exacto, porque se supone que Baltasar era negro.
Santa Claus es un anciano con panza y con una gran barba larga y blanca.... y aquí donde vivo, muchos se disfrazan de Santa Claus observando esas características.... nadie se ofende por eso ni le llama racismo.
La gente tiene la fea costumbres de juzgar etnias ajenas en base a la vision de su propia etnia. Es un gran error, hay que entender la mentalidad, la intención, el simbolismo, la necesidad...que existe detrás de cada expresión cultural.
Lo de los conquitos no necesariamente es racismo:
1- En algunos paises latinos (Cuba, Brasil etc) representar a la raza negra de piel oscura y labios rojos es considerado un arte tradicional (estatuas, muñecas, decoraciones etc).
2-¿Por qué si se representa a un blanco está bien pero si se representa a un negro está mal?
¿No puede un blanco/europeo reprdentar a alguien de otras razas/continente? En otros continentes hacen eso, ¿por qué solo cuando lo hacen los blancos/europeos la gente lo llama racismo?
3- Tanto en España como en otros paises la gente alaba a las personas de piel oscura comparándolas con chocolate (o sea, algo que la gente ama) ...nadie se queja, nadie lo llama racismo, todo el mundo sabe que es una metáfora en sentido positiva, nadie se ofende.
@@marlenemurias269 Hay gente que se queja también de una celebración europea que celebra a San Nicolás (era un hombre que daba regalos a los niños pobres) porque la gente pinta la cara de negro.
Los extranjeros juzgan en base a lo que conocen (o sea, en base su propia etnia, aquello que escandaliza a su propia etnia, aquello que agrada a su propia etnia etc)....Es un error muy grande, sus mentes no "ven mas allá".
Los extranjeros no saben que ellos pintan la cara de negro porque están representando a los niños blancos pobres que trabajaban limpiando chimeneas (o sea, niños blancos pobres que trabajaban en condiciones duras y que tenía problemas de salud derivados de limpiar chimeneas). Los ciudadanos representan ese momento en que San Nicolás da regalos a los niños pobres que trabajan limpiando chimeneas.
Apropiación de cultura es algo que muchas personas anglosajonas creen que es algo censurable. No en nuestra cultura, qué yo sepa
@@enibeni2071 totalmente de acuerdo.
I loved your video, there is a lot of love within the things you hate from Spain. I truly appreciate your videos. Please, do never go home back, James, this is your home, and I hope it allways be.
And, on top of that send to home to those send you home, and I would love their home it is Hell!
Keep going James!!!
We had a treat here called Negerzoenen which were forced to change the name (it translates to the N word compounded with Kisses) Now they are just called Zoenen but are exactly the same. All they are are chocolate covered marshmallows on a wafer. They are quite sweet and kids love them. We still have Zwarte Piet but every year there are protests. If one doesn't know what Black Piet is, google Zwarte Piet and learn.
Great fun video from an unquestionable position of love for Spain. In Italy we share the 'long goodbye' where after a 3 hour dinner, people stand in the street, whatever the weather, saying goodbye for at least another 30 minutes !
You mean screaming goodbye. Spaniards don't actually speak, they start by shouting and escalate from there. In the case of the long goodbye, the half hour of screaming and clapping is particularly prominent when they are a large group standing directly under someone's window at 2am.
@@oxter11 I have this all the time in Palma old Town! Except that people 'shouting' for some reason are mainly from Sweden, Germany, England, The Netherlands or any other northern country and very rarely, Spain. Spanish shout mostly during the day when having their tapas in the near corner bar.
@@CarolaClavo And at night. There is a "bingo" in the street I live in, which closes at 4 a.m., and you can hear those goodbyes and excanges with taxi drivers very clearly. Most of us are NOISY, and many badly mannered.
@CarolaClavo I'm sure you do! Living in the center of the place where northern EU goes to party and get sunburnt attracts a certain crowd in a certain mood. I'm not in any tourism hotspot, just surrounded by locals who love noise
I found this hilarious.
As I have lived in Indonesia for the same time, I hear the exact same complaints from expats here.
My only comment about the "racism" issue is this: why do you, as a foreigner, want to change the cultural heritage of your adopted country?
It's an oxymoron to complain about "change" but you want some things to change.
It's a superiority complex they have! Going around the world feeling entitled to tell everyone how to live! Also, calling themselves "expats" because being immigrant is "low status" for them.
Tell that to Muslims in Spain.
my biggest problem, before internet, was it took two hours on the train if i wanted any english printed media.
Vivo en Quintana, ¡si te apetece un día nos vemos!
I am Spanish, I come from Madrid and I loved this video. I found it so funny. Please, don’t go home, stay and keep the good work 🙌🏼
The confusion doubt New Zealand being way up north might be because there is a part of the Netherlands called Zeeland.
I doubt they know where Zealand is. 😅They were "confused" about NZ actually is.
Pablo, I think instead of understanding Nueva Zelanda the people may hear "Holanda." It can sound the same to a spaniard that may not hear James properly. Just a thought😊
Very well explained! Bravo! Unless he only meets people with very low studies about geography......
@@DDiez-ed2bt I think in general Spaniards are not very good with geography. I’m from California but speak Spanish well because I’m from the border with Mexico. When I lived in Spain even though I told them I was from California they would ask me what life was like in South America, this included my young 22 year old roommate who was in college 🤣
It happened often too- I had to keep correcting them and telling them I have no idea what life is like in South America, it’s far away and a different continent. 🤣
@@beatrizramosrobles6992 the geography level isn't great. I grew up in Sweden, to Spanish parents, and every time I met somebody and they asked where I live they confused Suecia with Suiza.
Yes, as a former Spaniard who's just come back to Spain after a loooooong time abroad, I completely agree with everything. It's costing me my sanity getting used to all the nepotism, bureaucracy, the culture of work, the tourist traps, and the long etc. There has to be a light at the end of the tunnel for me...cos I am a funcionaria now! hahahaha
The long goodbye drives me nuts as well. I just want to give a big wave to the whole room, say, "good night everyone" and leave.
As a foreigner living long term in Spain I find most of the complaints to be generally very minor annoyances, especially concerning asparagus and the coffee, or annoyances that exist in most other countries, especially in Europe and the Mediterranean countries such as: inconsistent service, bureaucracy, short opening hours, tension between workers and owners, only citizens can vote, losing unique family run businesses, nepotism, etc. Actually I have found local businesses to often have worse service than the big companies. The Spanish are not racist.
Only citizens can vote...is there any country where non citizens are allowed to vote?
It's important to remember thet service is different. I know people from United states that toll me that service is very bad, tha wait and nobody goes to speak to them or bring them the cost of the food. In spain you have to call them,so they are not rude is just different
@kunas88: agree, Spanish are Not racist. He's just cooking it up here tho..
That black face celebration is common in Denmark.
Soy española y por lo menos donde yo vivo, un pequeño pueblo de La Rioja, gente negra no había prácticamente hasta hace unos 30 años. Tengo 25 años y mi madre siempre me a dicho que la primera vez que vio un negro tenía más de 30 años. Por lo que aquí el rol re Baltasar sierra lo han hecho pintandose de netro porque no había negros y ya se ha quedado como tradición. Hace dos años nuestro Melchor era un hombre negro maquillado de un tono de piel lanca y con barba falsa y nuestro Baltasar era una persona muy morena maquillada para parecer negro, por lo que contaron los organizadores después fue que habían elevido sus roles según el rey mago favorito del hijo. No veo cual es el problema, también hay muchos Baltasares representados por gente negra
El problema es que quieren exportar a todo el mundo su concepto de racismo para quedar ellos como los buenos de la película y que no se les relacione con el racismo "científico", que era de rubios de ojos azules. Como allí se pintaban la cara de negro para ridiculizar a los negros (blackface) quieren considerarlo racista en todas partes. Cuando resulta que franceses y, sobre todo ingleses y holandeses, han sido los más negreros y racistas. Que pregunten en el Congo Belga por las hazañas de su rey Leopoldo. Aquí esa ideología racista no triunfó nunca porque los 8 siglos de dominio musulmán, ser descendientes de los cartagineses (que eran judíos politeístas), el supuesto origen norteafricano de los íberos y la gran población gitana, hacían imposible que se nos pudiera considerar arios puros. Lo mismo que el mestizaje abierto con las tribus americanas (impensable para los germánicos). En resumen: ganas de distraer de su racismo histórico para repartir culpas a los demás. No esperes lógica porque es sólo activismo encubierto. Seguro que ni se lo ha planteado de modo crítico.
solomente es ''woke'' problemas, lo senta para me espanol ;)
El problema es que es un eco de caricaturas racistas llamadas genéricamente "Black Face" que eran usadas como propaganda de supremacía blanca en diferentes épocas y diferentes ubicaciones. Asimismo, es eco de otros fenómenos como la apropiación cultural en los cuales encarnar características relacionadas con las poblaciones africanas son vistas como aceptables por gente blanca mientras las personas negras que las viven son castigadas por ello, como peinados de procedencia africana, vestimentas o formas de hablar o hacer música. La idea de raza es un constructo europeo con el cual se excusaba la invasión y saqueo de países con poblaciones no blancas, historia de la cual España ha sido partícipe. El hecho que señalas en que tus padres o abuelos nunca han visto o que tú no sientes empatía por la gente negra que pide se descontinúen estas "tradiciones" solo indica que la historia que conoces y tu opinión del mundo están basadas en una educación euro centrista en la que no te has puesto ni ha pensar ni dos veces en la experiencia de personas que no se parecen a ti.
que no veas es problema dice mucho de como de extendido es el racismo casual en España. La gente a la que le afecta el racismo te está diciendo cual es el problema y sigues con lo de "no lo veo así".
@@dsansil El racismo es cuando una compañera de clase se inventó que yo le había dicho que "todas las ecuatorianas eran unas h*j*s de p*ta". Hay mucho resentido con ganas de joder por odio a lo "blanco" y hacen que no se pueden tomar en serio los casos de racismo reales. Cosa muy distinta del victimismo por color de piel. Lo mismo que obligar a traer gente que te odia por tu color de piel mientras se queja de que le hacen lo mismo. No convencéis ya. Si quieres que se te crea, graba esas supuestas agresiones. Y por cierto, con esa actitud de "hay que creerme porque yo lo digo" sólo fomentas el racismo. Igual es lo que quieres para que te den cosas gratis. La no-discriminación supone tratar a cada persona como individuo, no a favorecer a unos por un rasgo físico mientras se putea a otros. Un test de psicopatía es lo que habría que hacerte.
I'm from Madrid and you`re very right with all your comments. For me, the worst part is touristification, it's like an avalanche and local people are leaving Madrid because is too expensive. Yes there is some small nuances of racism, I think like any country and yes banks are too powerful. The target of a bank is to become reacher, not to care their clients with all kind of implications. Banks win.
As for you're not dutch. Most people in spain don't know about other countries. You say Nueva Zelanda and you're blond, most people think that you're russian and for russian we englobe people that are around Germany to the east of Europe.
Working relationships are always bad. Competition for a better salary.
I don't think I could agree more on all the topics you go through. I can tell you are one of us.. a saco! Also all your criticism really is coming from a place of care and gentleness. Really happy to have discovered you!
Great video. As a foreigner in Spain, this is spot on !!
However, just to be fair to Spanish hairdressers, Zeeland is a province in Holland 😉
The trouble with nepotism is that quite often the friend or relative that's hired is actually unsuitable for the job or straight up incompetent. Some other employee will end up doing their job for them, but can't speak up about it as it's their boss's friend.
That is a big trouble and it is related to some of the other mentioned problems
Given the fact that the growth of the economy and the creation of job posts has never been a main goal in any of our governments, it's more than normal and obvious the nepotism has absolute priority, given the Spanish mentality regarding the protection of our familiy members.
Your situation with New Zealand is similar to mine. I am from Macedonia (Eastern Europe) and when they ask me in Spain where I am from, when I say "Macedonia", they understand it as "Barcelona". I don't understand how they hear Barcelona instead of Macedonia, but there it is. :) I don't live in Spain, but I have been there many times, love Spain. Great country. Portugal too. Love the Iberian Peninsula.
Hey!!! Where'd he go?
One thing I love about Spain is the fact that the people are not overly sensitive about race and everything else we in the rest of Western society can find to be insulted about. If Balthazar was dark-complected then someone wears makeup to represent his complexion in the Christmas parade. No big deal. One thing I hate about NOT living in Spain now (I spent some years there) is that everyone in the US and most of Europe is hyper-sensitive about every possible thing. It's exhausting. We've taken all the -isms to the N-th degree and made normal life too difficult. I'll be returning to Spain ASAP.
I'm glad to read this and I couldn't agree more with your view. It's naive to think that Spain is a country free of racism (the real and harmful one, not this chocolate thing), wich it exists as in any other country in Europe (and anywhere else), but I'm afraid that this issues with "casual racism" look like more to an imported problem than a real discriminatory attitude from the Spanish people. I find way more racist asking to wich race group does one belong in every form or poll, as it happends in the US, when most of the times is irrelevant to the topic. Race is something that one never will be asked about in Spain, not even to play as Balthazar ;D.
bounce....
To an extent. However, especially in terms of racism, folks here are often simply blind to how what they say and do may affect others.
I remember when, some years back, I used the picture of a Suzuka of BabyMetal as the basis for a descriptive essay in English class. First, there was a cry of "Pero que fea, la china esa!", then jokes about her name. Similar things have happened when I use pictures of Black folks in the same kind of activities. Yet they all maintain that they aren't racist.
@@joschafinger126 don't take it personal, they even have racism among their different regions and cultures within Spain
@@tick_tack I know -my father-in-law would never, ever go to Catalonia on a voluntary basis like, say, to visit Barcelona 😉
Le voy a explicar un poco lo de el Rey Baltasar... casi nadie quiere aparecer en las cabalgatas, por ejemplo en mi ciudad, nadie cobra, son voluntarios participar.. cual es el problema? Bueno que la mayoría de personas negras en mi ciudad son musulmanes y no quieren participar, no solo eso, el único que dijo que sí, quería cobrar por hacerlo. Es que todo tiene algo detrás...
I'm Spanish and I can tell you the following:
- The matter of asparagus is a matter of taste and it's something personal. I personally let others eat them and go straight for the "Jamón" xD.
- Everything else... correct ^_^ . I think we all hate those things.
I hope you continue enjoying Spain.
P.S.: Torrefacto should be banned by law, it's pure poison.
I completely disagree about the Baltazar celebration. There is nothing racist about it in my opinion. The race is an issue in America and other countries where historically black people were forcefully brought from African continent and used and abused as slaves. Because in US black people are still mistreated and in many cases are discriminated upon - in America any black face is off limits - rightfully so! But in Europe blacks were never looked down at. They weren't discriminated as a group, so Europeans have nothing to be sorry about and also they love Baltazar and admire this character as a wiseman coming from a far away land, from a completely different culture. So, no, I disagree - dressing up as Baltazar or painting the face to celebrate this saint (Baltazar is a saint and is worshiped in Europe as a saint) has nothing to do with racism.
James I really appreciate you filming with more spanish and interactions with locals! It’s adding a whole new level of immersion and authenticity to your videos!
Agreed. We need more content that feature local Spaniards. Maybe some more interviews?
Camera, lens and locations in this video are really good. It totally pays off the extra effort. 👏
I did not liked it. You cannot ask only one person and then saying this is the representative answer.
Loved this video, still LOVE Spain!
Bureaucracy: we are US citizens, visited Spain to help our young adult daughter who lives there with illness. We needed to overstay our 90 day Schengen limit and tried to get the visa extension. Such bureaucracy! There is info online, and the very nice policeman at the National Police Station was very helpful, but it was very much trial & error. We did get the visa, our daughter recovered and we are back home, looking forward to visiting Spain again!
The permanent resident law is as fair as any law gets, for example you’ll get people that vote for laws that’ll change how the country is ran but as soon as it goes in a direction they disagree with they’ll disappear back to where they originally came from since they’re not citizens
You think that the Long goodbye is too long in Spain. Try it in Portugal. I met a Spanish girl living in Portugal for a while who was feeling , concerning the Portuguese farewell, like you are in Spain...exactly for the same kind of reasons that you gave. I think that Portuguese equally love to spend the most of their time with friends but they do it less often (mobility issues, saving issues, etc,..) so when they have the opportunity...it's all or nothing! Actually, the first "I must go" should be understood as a: "I should go, but I am so happy being here with you..."
Yo soy aquel negrito del África tropical y canto la canción, la canción del colacao
... Tenemos una edad ya... 😅😉
Ya te digo..😂😂
Your last one cracked me up! Our family is from Cuba and Spain. My grandmother always says, " la despedida es más larga que la visita."
Absolutely agreed on the torrefacto coffee. It is the closest thing on Earth to licking an ashtray. What a joy is to be abroad and get served actual coffee...
Hey there, born and raised in Spain here, I really laughed with your video! It was really funny and believe it or not, I agree with you in I think all of the topics, except for the one of being Dutch (really?) and I think most of my friends would agree too. But I don't hate asparagus so much. I don't love them either, I rather have other things. Oh, and also, I have never done that of the long goodbye. But I guess some people do, maybe it depends on the area or age of people? Maybe that's why some people do the "Bomba de humo" and go away without any notice, also known as "despedirse a la francesa".
Ironically, a few on the list is actualy what I love about Spain lol The long Spanish Goodbye is what I am definitely used to as an Armenian.. Nepotism is such an icon of a family oriented society such as Spain and Italy that many individualistic me-me societies are not used to such as the United States, UK and Austalia.. Some on the list are global issues such as not being able to vote as a permanent resident, touristification, bureaucracy and lack of customer service.. Spain holds a very very VERY special place in my heart for personal reasons and many great childhood memories as a lived in Madrid for one year. Te amo Espana... Great channel..
Gracias😍
I am spanish living in an anglo country. I could not disagree more on the racism and the torrefacto. Regarding the racism, Spain does not have the historical racism stigma of northern european/anglos, (slavery comes to mind) this translates to an innocence/naivety towards skin colour hard to understand from those coming from abroad. Its a mind bender, but think about it, Spain is a mediterranean country, threfore people never fell neatly within the black vs white labels. As a consequence I think that skin tonality was always considered less of a deal, a tan being rather admired. Regarding torrefacto, Spain happens to be one of 2 or 3 countries in the world were cheap espresso is a given anywhere. Were I live, people spend fortunes in Starbucks and call it coffee. Torrefacto comes usually as MEZCLA 80/100 not that big of a deal, and I actually love it.
Yep, coffee is constantly good in Spain (although I'd rate Portugal higher) at a reasonable price. If it doesn't meet James' requirements, there are specialist coffee places dotted around Madrid. Certainly a lot better place to get coffee than say England. Of course James is from New Zealand (home of the flat white) so maybe he's used to a higher standard. Agree with his aversion to white asparagus though. Seems to be found across Europe, but in Britain we prefer the fresh green stuff.
Gracias
Loving your hate, James
Yet Spaniards lose their sh*t if anyone says they look more "Mediterranean" (Aka North-African) than European. So yes, racism is a thing in Spain. Absolutely a thing! That "innocence/naivety" notion is just wishful escapism.
@@ImeldaFagin just an opinion.
The long goodbye resonated with me, a Brit in Poland. It's the same here. Maybe not an hour, but half an hour for sure. It also happens on the phone. When I hear, e.g. my wife start saying "Dobra...dobra...dobra (okay, alright)" I know she'll be off the phone within fifteen minutes. It used to drive me nuts but now I just know it'll be 15 minutes after the dobras have started.
Great vid! Spain, like every other country, is not perfect. Some of your complaints are not serious (white asparagus is delish, though the coffee is terrible), some are so true (the bureaucracy!!), one is wrong (as a New Zealander married to una española, tienes derecho de pedir nacionalidad española), and if you don't want tourists to go to the places you love, don't tell anyone about them. Keep up the good work. As a kiwi who has spent 35 years in Spain, it's great to watch your videos. Keep up the good work!