interview

Many People have asked me what it is like Living in Spain, Madrid Spain.  What is the life like here? Here is an interview from 2014.  That can give a feel of the day-to-day experience of life here.  Hope you enjoy.  Feel free to leave a comment or question and I will get back to you as soon as I can.  All the Best!

About you,

Q: Where are you originally from?

A: I was born on the eastern coast of the United States and spent most of my life living and running my business in Atlanta, Georgia.

Q: Where are you living now?

A: Now I live in Madrid, Spain.

Q: Have you visited or lived any other country?

A: The only other country I lived in was Santiago De Chile for about a year. Other countries I have visited are Ireland, Great Britain, Italy, France, Morocco, Turkey, India, Mexico, Australia, and Canada.

Q: How long have you lived in Madrid?

A: I have lived in Madrid for about four and a half years. I have been residing in Spain for close to 6 years.

Q: Did you move with a spouse/ children?

A: No, just myself, two suitcases and a large carry-on. Hahahah! I have a lot more now.

Q: Why did you move to Spain?

A: I was looking to create a new lifestyle. My business was changing, my values were changing, so I decided to wind things down, reduce my living expenses, which took about two years and moved to Spain.

I have always loved Spain. The culture, the architecture, and the history. Came on a holiday with a friend and cried with I had to leave. I think I lost my heart here.

The crazy thing is that I moved here without knowing Spanish or any real understanding of day to day life in Spain. I thought to learn the language and the culture would be my new job. Having had a job that occupied my time 45 to 50 hours a week. I figured I had time in my day.

Honestly, It was scary, hard, lonely, but beautiful, heart-opening all that the same time, those first nine months.

I would do it all again but with a better background of the language 🙂

About Madrid
Q: What do you enjoy most about Madrid, how’s the quality of life?

A: What I love most about Madrid is that it is a large city. It feels like other European cities with the mixing of people from different cultures, which I love. It has interesting shopping, a dynamic nightlife, world-class music, art, and museums.

Being from a western culture the energy of Madrid feels recognizable as a place to do business and build a life. They have excellent transportation systems. By taking the buses or metro, you can easily get from one place to another. Now that I have a feel for the city, I rarely get lost.

As far as the quality of life, as I mentioned, I’ve got all the conveniences of a big city, shopping, and night-life mixed with a blend of small town traditions, old neighborhoods, parks, and markets.

I don’t have a car, so I walk everywhere. Many times this means carrying more than I can handle, like my groceries, and dry cleaning which is a challenge.

The change in my lifestyle was dramatic at first. I have had to slow down and have more patience.

In 2008 the crash, “The Crises” as they say here, is still present in the larger than an average number of unemployed.

It has been difficult as in nearly every other country. What I notice here are the people have this sense it-will-eventually-work-out. I don’t know if that comes from their long history of seeing change. It seems to shape what they care about. They care about the things they can control and the ones they love; the things close to them.

The things they hold most dear to them are their families and friends. Anything that can create harm to them, on a basic level, community level they band together and support each other. On the national level, lack of healthcare, education cuts, or cuts in services will cause them to go to the streets and let their feeling be known.

Q: Any negatives? What do you miss most about home?

A: There are always negatives no matter where you live. If you read or become a part of any community, you learn what doesn’t function or what is unfair. It is like any other country.

What helps is not to compare the countries I have lived in. Remembering they are all just different.

What I miss, besides my family, and some old friends, I would have to say some of the big holidays in the States. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Fourth of July. They have always been my favorites.

I make sure I budget into my yearly budget a trip home to visit family and friends, and that makes a big difference.

Spain has so many festivals and holidays. Little by little I am learning about them and the areas in Spain that hosts’ them. A few I have visited, and I already have a few favorite.

Q: Is Madrid safe?

A: Like any city, there are certain parts that I will not go alone especially depending on the time of the day.

Madrid is a safe city. But as in any large city, you should always be aware of your surroundings no matter where you are.

As a woman, I can safely walk in the city center during the day and evening and not have to worry about being in any danger.

About living in Madrid, Spain

Q: Which are the best places/suburbs to live in Madrid as an expat?

A: I think the neighborhoods near the city center are always better to start when moving to another country. It is true the center has more tourists and a bit more expensive but I found it was easy to live and understand that area being a foreigner. As much as I love the authentic culture of Spain, it is nice every once in a while, to feel at home with the other foreigners around you.

Then get to know the city and the neighborhood, barrio that speaks to you.

Q: How do you rate the standard of accommodation in Spain?

A: To visit Spain the accommodations are many, and plenty of options. I have found many 3 star hotels (a rating I would never consider in the US and other countries) to be a great value. Less modernized and the beds could be a little hard but spotless. Particularly the case in towns and smaller cities outside the larger ones the 3 star are the best value.

Of course, you should always look at the reviews of the hotel to get a truer picture.

Q: What’s the cost of living in Spain compared to home? What is cheap or expensive in particular?

A: Living in Spain is definitely much less costly than my lifestyle was in Atlanta, Georga. Of course, I do not own anything in Madrid. Even with the loss I take on the dollar, I find my expense much less, and my quality of my life is much more in a different way.

For Example, An average apartment in the city can cost you 200,000-500,000 euros. The size might be 80 sq. Meters, two bedrooms, one bathroom, hallway, and a kitchen, dining/living room on the small end. The higher the floor, with an exterior view, pool, parking and an elevator it will be more expensive. Most Spanish live in spaces like these. What we might consider an apartment, not a free standing home.
– I don’t need a car.
– Healthcare is less expensive here than in the US.
– I find the fruits and vegetables are less expensive here. The Spanish seem to eat what’s in the season and what’s grown in Spain. Less expense in processing and transporting.

When I add all those saving up it makes living here a real value.

Q: What are the locals like; do you mix mainly with other expats?

A: I have many new friends; many are from the Expat community in Madrid, others are local Spanish and some from my boyfriend.

The internet is helpful with locating others living in different countries to connect.

All my new friends are like minded. We cherish living an abundant, full life contributing where we can with open minds. It is interesting how living your life, the one you dreamt of attracts others doing the same.

Q: Was it easy meeting people and making friends in Spain?

A: It was easy to make expat friends. It’s difficult making Spanish friends, as my Spanish is still a work in progress. I know it will come 🙂