8 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE MOVING TO SPAIN / American living in Spain | precious pioneer
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- Before moving to Spain, you're going to need a survival guide! Living in Spain has been a wonderful experience, but here are 8 things that I knew before moving to Spain! This is the perspective an American living in Spain.
IG: @PreciousPioneer - Zábava
I’m a native Spanish speaker and your Spanish sounds so amazing. I love the way you speak! Reminds me a little bit of Argentinian accents. You’re doing great, keep it going! 👍🏼
Wow thank you so much 🤍
I’m from Spain and I’m glad that you’ve liked Spain so far💗
thank you so much 🤍
Your Spanish sounds quite natural! Congrats!❤
You are a really nice, articulate and intelligent woman. Welcome to Spain¡ My best whishes, I hope my compatriots are treating you well.
Wow, thank you so much 🤍✨
Please continue to share your experience! How was apartment hunting/ finding accommodations? Did they help you at school/did you have to do it once you touched down or where you able to arrange it from the States? Sorry if you've talked about this before 😳🙏🏾
This was very interesting to watch, thank you! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I’ll post more content related to housing, thanks for the recommendation. 🤍
Thank You sooo much for the Information🤗
Of course so happy to help 🤍✨
I love this!! You explained everything clearly and without judgement. Would love to see you back in Spain!
🤍✨ I hope to be back!
Hello Syd, how r u? I follow ur channel
Great Information
So proper to know as I moved to Africa and so many things to know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi there! I'd love to see a video of your experience with racism in Spain as a Black woman. I'm a spaniard living with my wife in San Francisco (California) and we're planning on possibly moving back to Spain, my wife is also a Black woman and by living with her I noticed certain stupid racist tendencies that I had culturally and they worry me for her and our possible children. Again I'd love to see a video of your experience or being able to read it somewhere. Thanks for reading and keep up with the good job!
I completely understand! This video is challenging for me to make because talking about race is a sensitive topic. In short, one thing in Spain is you feel safe. That’s never a question, like it could be here in the states. You can walk the streets at night and cops won’t stop you. There is however what I call early 2000’s racism. Where phrases, black face, and other derogatory remarks exist and thrive. Though intentions are most often harmless it can still make you feel excluded, sad, or different that you’re seen as ugly or ignorant. It’s a fine line truly. I hope this helps! Best wishes to you and your wife ✨🤍
Donde los robos son más habituales es las las ciudades más grandes....yo he vivido siempre en ciudades más pequeñas y me han llegado a devolver o dejar en un bar cercano el bolso, el móvil, la cartera.....hay sectores de carteristas muy concretos que trabajan en zonas muy concurridas de estas ciudades , mercadillos, el metro....
Es como igual en todas ciudades largas.. Nueva York por ejemplo:)
How was the walkability in various cities in Spain particularly Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia? I like don't like driving. Outside of nyc I haven't found anywhere in the USA that can be easily navigated without a car.
I haven’t been to Madrid. As far as the other two you can get to most places by metro or bus. It’s super easy to navigate. You can even take trains to other cities. I feel like the transportation system is my favorite thing. Depending on where you live walking around is pretty feasible. You can always walk to your local grocery store or coffee shop (10-15min) tops.
Im moving to spain, always wanted. ❤
best of luck with your travels!
Your spanish is perfect!!!!
aw thank you so much!
Para la comida hay más tiempo...es tiempo de familia y un poco de descanso intermedio....tenemos a veces 5 momentos de comida al día...un desayuno, ligero para tus pautas estadounidenses, pero suficiente, porque habitualmente tomamos un café con el famoso pincho de tortilla a media mañana, un cuarto o media hora....luego comemos, nuestra comida más familiar y sin tanta prisa del día, luego a media tarde un tentempié, a veces, la merienda o el tapeo con amigos...y la noche por fin, con la cena....3 horas más o menos entre cada ..haz cuentas...Nuestra comida suele ser casera , con buenos productos frescos, verduras, pescados, carnes, hortalizas y frutas....bien alimentados y sin demasiados excesos ...supongo que tardas un poco en acostumbrarte, pero si comes habitualmente fuera, te darás cuenta que lo normal es que las cocinas abran un periodo limitado de tiempo,.....al menos en Europa eso es lo normal....y ni siquiera tenemos los mismos horarios en todos los países europeos...
Nice video! How did you go about learning the language? How long did you live in Barcelona? Are you still in Spain? What it easy to get a job?
Hi! I had a friend who only spoke Spanish. And I practiced everyday, though it was embarrassing at first. Every restaurant, every moment only Spanish. Even if I had to Google it fast. Just assume no one speaks English and you’ll find yourself learning phrases. I live in Barcelona for a little over a year and moved to another city in Spain. I’m not in Spain anymore, my visa had expired. It was nearly impossible to get a job in Spain because of paperwork but easy in the US. Hope this helps:)
@@PreciousPioneer I appreciate the info! Good luck in the US
Yes, please make a video about your experience with race.
Soon soon. 🤍
Ok so basically i need to buy a few faux fire place…. Heaters,,, big blankets cause i hate being cold
Do you regret at all your choice of Barcelona, among other cities in Spain?
I am going to visit probably this summer, my timeline was pushed back a few months. I wanted to be there next month to avoid the busy summer, but my income stream wont' kick in until June. It's going to happen though, God willing.
Not at all. I really wanted to be close to the the sea and Mediterranean. But to be honest if my culinary school was in another city I would have gone either way. I really did love living there. But, tbh everywhere else is super easy to reach by train. Best of luck with your travels!
@@PreciousPioneer Thanks for responding. Hopefully I'll look you up or eat somewhere your recommend when I get there. Can't wait to start travelling and looking fwd to putting a lot of mileage on my Bonvoy card.
Best~
@@eQuariuz
A good advise to seem a polite and respectful person interested on regional culture : greet to whoever people you meet or date on catalán lenguage : si us plau (please) bom dia (good morning) bona tarda (good afternoon) moltes Gracies /merci (thank you) voldries dir-me quant és, si us plau (how much it's cost, please)
With these couples sentence in catalán you obtain a better attention, because you convert a personal really interested on the land that you visit, not just a typical tourist that's don't care ir he visit London, Marseille or Bratislava.
Pickpockets are mostly in Barcelona, is a very international city, but this is a recent years stuff. Happily in the rest of the country is not happening at all.
About heaters and climate, that also just happens in the Mediterranean area…cause is not usual cold temperatures so buildings are not ready. But the rest of Spain is not like that…
I’m done with America and very much interested in moving my family to Spain
It’s honestly a beautiful experience 🤍 best of luck to you and yours
Please, don't come, we are tired of expats expelling us from our own cities. You'll find that everyone hates you.
Can you compare the cost of living in America vs Spain.
In Spain, you can find living accommodations at any price point. You don't need an extensive process like in the States such as 3x rent and background history. Food is a fraction of the price. I had a part-time waitress job on the weekends. I made about 300 euros every two weeks and I was living fine. I had a room in an apt with two other people for 200 euros. And my other expenses for food and fun were my leftover 100 euros. If you're under 25 your Metro passes are super cheap.
Great videos! Do you have any videos going more into depth about being Black in Spain?
Thank you! I don’t but I can create one:)
@@PreciousPioneer That would be awesome! ☺️ Thank you!
You made that video yet?
Please also share your views on how they treat muslim women with headscarfs and their tolerance towards other faiths. Thank you 🙏
Wait. So did you move back to the states?
My student visa expired, i was there for school:)
@@PreciousPioneer oh ok. Got you
@@PreciousPioneer if you wanted to stay more , would you?
La cuestión de los ladrones se da mucho en Barcelona, no en otros sitios. No es normal en España.
i'm sure you're right. with any big city, you have to be a little careful of your belongings in the street.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA ARE YOU JOKING?
@@mickybcn7453 No.
Where the hell do you live? You must have rented a really old cheap appartment. Modern buildings are prepared for cold with central heating which reaches all the rooms. Anyway, have a good time in Spain
Oh welp, I lived in various AirbnBs all around. Some in the city, some in Gracias, some in Barceloneta. I had an apt in La Pau. But a lot of them had finicky heating or air systems or none at all lol. Haha but maybe it was just my luck or the places I chose 😅… views were always amazing though
I am allmost not wanting to go anymore watching this video.
im sorry to hear that, it’s not for everybody. I knew many people who hated it. But I think going to a new place is about being open to new experiences. My perception is solely based on my life. If you go with an open mind you tend to find beautiful things wherever you go 🤍
You have a great Spanish accent. I've just discovered this channel. Have you done any videos in Spanish?
Wow, thank you! Um, no videos entirely in Spanish yet, I’d love you study a bit more and work on my fluency before creating Spanish content. ♥️
If you knew about these before, would you have come to Spain?
most definitely, i like to experience things for myself.
La burocracia tiene su función...en Estados Unidos no es necesaria porque apenas tenéis servicios públicos....pero nosotros si los tenemos, de bastante calidad, y pagados por nuestros impuestos ..para que estos sean correctamente gestionados se necesita esa burocracia😊, ya ves ....
Sí entiendo, gracias!
Europeans do not play about their holidays....LOL
Hahaha they certainly don’t 😆
Had to move on from your content because you spoke way too long about coffee.
Ok
I lived in Barcelona on and off for 3 years. I recently moved back thinking I would love it but then was quickly reminded why I left. I will be leaving again soon and I can't wait to get out of here. Where to start, first of all, once you get over the initial fact of "yay! im in Barcelona!" and look around, the city and most Spanish cities are of slightly third world quality. How so? First of all they have a grimy vibe. Barcelona stinks to high heaven of literal poo and raw sewage everywhere. You will be walking and you will get a whiff of the raw sewage and you will literally want to throw up. Its that bad, I have no idea how the city can tolerate that as acceptable. Secondly, if smelling poo everywhere you go isn't bad enough, Barcelona, and many Spanish cities have the worst air quality of Europe. You can smell the smog and car exhaust everywhere, all the time. You can get used to it, but then if you leave and go where the air is clean and then come back, you will see how disgusting the air smells, and thats on top of the poo smell! And secondly, the streets are filthy in many areas with vomit and other bodily fluids all over the place. Most places you go are so crowded with people everywhere walking every which way, that its not even fun. In the so called tourist places, there is a good chance you will get pick pocketed or robbed or scammed if youre not careful. NEVER eat at restaurants on las Ramblas with the exception of McDonalds or Burger King if you must. Also, after a while the never ending giant concrete city blocks that go on and on and on in every direction will begin to get to you. They are ugly and for the most part grimy looking. Also Spanish building quality is shoddy at best and apartment buildings not maintained very well. Paper thin walls, rickety elevators, if youre lucky to have one, and cheaply made. Spanish apartments have an off quality, 60's or 70's-ish vibe. Not modern looking or feeling at all. Don't believe me? Go look at the electrical wiring in front of most buildings. You will see its typically a hodge-podged gerry-rigged mess with hundreds of exposed and tangled wires going every which way. It's probably a fire hazard and if thats how they do the electrical wiring you probably dont want to know whats in the walls or how they do things like the plumbing or the quality of the water faucet pipes. Most apartments have neither air-conditioning nor heating, meaning they are miserable to be in the summer and the winter. Yet they are expensive for some reason. Secondly Barcelona is dotted with what I call slum shops and slum cervecerías which comprise of crappy convenience stores 5 on each block, crappy Chinese junk stores, and crappy no-name eatery-bars, where you couldn't pay to even eat some tortilla chips and salsa. The economy of Barcelona and Spain is an absolute joke. There is very little industry and innovation here. Most jobs are menial service jobs supporting the tourist industry. Hotel staff, bar tending, cleaning, etc. If you've been dying to live in a country with a 15%+ unemployment rate, then Spain is your place! Nobody makes any money here. Even highly skilled people like engineers and IT experts makes wages that are typically reserved for unskilled people in other countries. For example, A job that might pay 120,000 Euros in Germany, will net you around 27,000 a year in Spain. And after they take out their 48% taxes out of that, you'll be lucky if you're left with 1400 Euro a month...as an engineer. Thats why, in Spain most people hustle to get by and very few people ever get their own place. 45 year old roommates anyone? For guys thinking they're going to come to Barcelona for all the good looking girls, think again. STDs are rampant in Barcelona and most women here are tatted up smokers aged prematurely because of the sun damage and chain smoking. Which brings me to the weather. In summer and for most of fall, Barcelona temperatures are unbearable. And keep in mind most apartments do NOT have AC. As soon as you walk outside you will be drenched in sweat. Sticky, muggy and sweaty and too hot, wherever you go. Its not fun at all, trust me. I for one CAN NOT wait to leave Spain again, and this time, I will not be coming back. Now, don't get me wrong, Barcelona and Spain is a fine place to visit for a weeklong getaway trip, but to live there? No way! So yeah, thats my hones 2 cents on living in Barcelona
You make it sound like it's a bad thing :) except for the bad smell.
Sorry for you. May i know where u from?
Bon vent i barca nova, i no tornis mai mes.
Wow! Tell us how you really feel! 🤣
Did you visit any other parts of Spain, other than Barcelona that might be nicer? Canary Islands? Andalusia?
Don't forget to take your medication before go to bed,you are very ill against Spain.