Little Britain

[Nalle]

That's just the point I am making.
The E.U. want conformity from the member states.
This means everything eventually.
We cannot sympathize with those involved in the Valencia land grab ( and I do) and then complain when other E.U. regulations are introduced that effect
things like our TV .
It's all or nothing !!!

AMEN to that. One of the most sensible comments.

Thanks Brian

[Dirty Harry]

Little Britain

Hello Sunshinegal. I completely agree with you!

[sunshinegal]

Hi Dirty Harry, thanks glad to see someone's on the same page as me :P

[tangobrian]

Me to sunshinegal!!!

[sunshinegal]

Hi Dirty Harry, thanks glad to see someone's on the same page as me :P

Me to sunshinegal!!!

Finally! Brits in Spain that want to live the Spanish life! haha we are few and far between by the looks of it but I think if we stick together we may even recruit a few people to our movement lol!!!

[Dirty Harry]

Hi Sunshinegal.
Yes. Probably just a few of us with that same feeling. People need to realise that if they looked at it from the UK side - people coming to the UK from outside - British people expect that they should speak their language, since they are in the UK. So all the foreigners should learn to speak english! So WHY NOT the other way around?!?!?!? When WE are the foreigners here in Spain, then WE should learn spanish, no? Only logical.

[tangobrian]

I think that by at least trying to learn to speak spanish , learning about the spanish culture and taking part in the spanish way of life ...... We are showing "respect " to the spanish people and the country that we now live in !!!!

[Apple Annie]

Thank goodness. I am not alone. People that see it the same way as me.

I know some find it harder than others to learn a new language. I get by but my husband is more a hands on person rather than interlectual. But he is learning words rather than sentances and the Spanish appreciate that he does at least try. We actually have some very good Spanish friends and we are never stuck for conversation. Gets quite hilarious sometimes trying to explain things and then I have to resort to my ever present dictionary.

I am still at the stage that for important things I take a professional translator with me but for every day things I am always able to make my self understood.

I do not find it easy, I am sure that as you age it takes a lot longer for things to sink in, but I will not give up. If you learn 1 new word a day then by the end of the year that's 365 (366 this year).

Annie

[tangobrian]

It is appreciated by the spanish if we at least try !!!
Yes it does get very funny sometimes with our spanish and their english.
Last week we had presents of Homemade Gazpancho soup, Figs and a bottle of Brandy from three of our spanish neighbours .
I sat drinking a single malt whisky (10 years old) with another.He got a little "weary"
My next door neighbours live in Madrid and next time they are back for the holidays we will be viewing the family photos. Ours and theirs !

[sunshinegal]

It is appreciated by the spanish if we at least try !!!
Yes it does get very funny sometimes with our spanish and their english.
Last week we had presents of Homemade Gazpancho soup, Figs and a bottle of Brandy from three of our spanish neighbours .
I sat drinking a single malt whisky (10 years old) with another.He got a little "weary"
My next door neighbours live in Madrid and next time they are back for the holidays we will be viewing the family photos. Ours and theirs !

Too right tangobrian and annie, when I first came here I spoke basic spanish and worked in a bar, within weeks I had a group of spanish friends ready and willing to correct me and help me improve my spanish, we had some laughs but struggled through, now 5yrs later I have a Spanish boyfriend who still finds occasion to correct me but I see it as a learning experience instead of criticism. The spanish people find it very respectful (and relieving!) that the foreigners take the time to learn and try speak the language. I very much enjoy taking part inthe busy spanish family dinners, and there's nothing as refreshing as having a debate the spanish way!! I would renounce the English way of life any day to have the Spanish life - family comes first, work is very near the bottom of the priorities rather than the English (read AMERICAN) way of parents missing the first steps, words, school plays etc for fear of missing a client call etc. noooooo... and god forbid you ask them to work through their lunch!!!

No Spain is my home now. And I'm very grateful for that.

[phat wheels]

[QUOTE I would renounce the English way of life any day to have the Spanish life - family comes first, work is very near the bottom of the priorities rather than the English (read AMERICAN) way of parents missing the first steps, words, school plays etc for fear of missing a client call etc. noooooo... and god forbid you ask them to work through their lunch!!!

No Spain is my home now. And I'm very grateful for that.[/QUOTE]


That's because they have not had to hand over a huge part of their income in various taxes. Virtually everything you can think of in the UK from a new passport to getting your bin emptied has a premium price tag. The Spanish have had in the past a pretty laid back lifestyle to match their pretty laid back expectations, both on an individual level and a governmental level. Not for much longer! I think the Spanish, on the whole, do already have the usual Western aspirations, they have a socialist government so that means spend and tax, and in time the EU will impose unification of taxes as well as laws. As I said earlier, I hope the Spanish have the strength to resist, and protect their culture from all the evils that await the over-regulated and over-taxed society.

[tangobrian]

I totally agree with sunshinegal and annie.
Unfortunately I also have to agree with Phatwheels!!!!
Spain will gradually have to change and become one of the districts of the Greater E.U.
It is happening now and there is nothing that will stop it.........unless the E.U. should disintegrate . Can't see that happening in my life time but you never know?

[Mick94]

Since I am not 'English' I have no idea what an 'English' way of life is. But, having been here now for 14 years, I have seen this Valencian Community improve through EU membership and decline due to excessive development.
I may be a lone voice, but I agree with strong autonomous regional government (Valencia, Murcia, Basque Country, Castille etc) and for those regions to make up a federal EU. The nation state is a fairly recent innovation in historical terms.
Indeed, England has only been as much for around a thousand years and is easily predated by many others (including my own)

[tangobrian]

Since I am not 'English' I have no idea what an 'English' way of life is. But, having been here now for 14 years, I have seen this Valencian Community improve through EU membership and decline due to excessive development.
I may be a lone voice, but I agree with strong autonomous regional government (Valencia, Murcia, Basque Country, Castille etc) and for those regions to make up a federal EU. The nation state is a fairly recent innovation in historical terms.
Indeed, England has only been as much for around a thousand years and is easily predated by many others (including my own)

If this means the destruction of the national differences and cultures of member states then I believe that it is a backward step not progress !!
It may mean an improvement in materialistic things. .Cars , television , mobile phones etc but to destroy a culture is a big price to pay.
The EU should improve health care , schooling etc .....but leave it there !
That was the original concept of a European common market when we joined
It is now a glorified super states of europe.

[Nalle]

If this means the destruction of the national differences and cultures of member states then I believe that it is a backward step not progress !!
It may mean an improvement in materialistic things. .Cars , television , mobile phones etc but to destroy a culture is a big price to pay.
The EU should improve health care , schooling etc .....but leave it there !
That was the original concept of a European common market when we joined
It is now a glorified super states of europe.

In a far (or not so far) future, when it is the United States of Europe....
What will the oficial language be? Far too expensive to keep so many oficial co-languages. Wouldnt it be funny if they made it Finnish?