Today Cheap in Madrid is talking to expat Dave Cardillo from Florida. He’s the manager of the coffee shop and English language bookstore J&J Books and Coffee.
CiM: When did you first move to Madrid?
Dave: On September 17, 1999. September 17 is my “Spanniversary.” That’s what my friends and I call it. I was 27, and I’d never been here before.
CiM: Why did you choose Spain?
Dave: I had been to the ’98 World Cup in France and loved it and wanted to come back to Europe. My plan was to go to Germany. This was before the euro, when they still had the peseta in Spain. With the same amount of money I could stay in Spain for 4 months or Germany for one. Also, winter was just around the corner…
CiM: What big differences and changes did you experience after you arrived in Madrid?
Dave: A lack of customer service in all aspects of life. I tell people, if you’re not used to it after a year, you should leave because it’s never going to change. When I first got here, I went into restaurants and bars expecting the waiter to come over first. Now I know I should just continue talking to my friends and when the waiter feels like coming over he will. It’s the exact opposite of in the US.
CiM: What habits have you come to adopt?
Dave: I eat on the Spanish schedule, with light breakfasts and dinners and when I can I like to have the full “menu del día” lunch.
CiM: 5 Facts every Guiri needs to know before arriving in Madrid?
Dave:
1. Learn basic vocabulary. You should know how to order coffee and beer and how to book a room.
2. There’s a cheap shuttle bus from the airport to the city center for only €2. It’s much cheaper than taking a taxi and you don’t have to walk as much as with the metro.
3. Research Madrid on websites and blogs before you get here.
4. Research apartments and neighborhoods online before you get here. Get an idea of the area you want to live in. You don’t want to end up at the end of line 5. Look at prices and maps. Expect to be apartment hunting for at least a week. It takes some people up to a month.
5. Save as much money as you can beforehand, because even if you get a job right away, you won’t be paid until the end of the month. So be prepared.
CiM: Can you recommend any English Services in Madrid:
Dave: The US Embassy. People never go there but they solve problems. I was waiting a long time for an important package with medical supplies that I needed urgently. I went to the US Embassy and they tracked it down and had it delivered to me. Everyone should register with them when they get here, even if you’re just here for two months. Everyone should also do the empadronamiento. That has nothing to do with the immigration department. It’s the way to start the legalization process because you can later prove you’ve been here four years.
CiM: 3 things you miss about home.
Dave: Buffalo wings, Publix supermarkets (they’re big in the south) and bagels.
CiM: Can you recommend an interesting film about Madrid?
Dave: Abre los ojos
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