The Cheap In Madrid Blog (CiM) interviews Don Graham, a British expat originally born in Northern Ireland and who lived near London most of his life. He moved to Spain many years ago, originally to the South, and then moved up to Madrid. He works as a programmer for an English Investment Company and due to his job profile is able to work from just about anywhere with an internet connection. He met his wife in Madrid nearly 4 years ago and they got married in Colombia, though they still live in Madrid.
CiM: What brought you to Madrid?
Don: A move away from the South of Spain.
CiM: How long have you been living here and have you visited Spain before?
Don: 5 years and yes..CiM: What did you know about Madrid before arriving?
Don: I had visited Madrid before I moved here, really liked it hence I moved here. However I can’t say I knew too much about it.
CiM: Is Madrid an easy/cheap/friendly city to live in?
Don: Easy yes, cheap…not really. I compare it to London which is famous for being expensive and I would say Madrid is now becoming as expensive as London. I would say it is pretty friendly. It has a great city feeling, without being a massive cramped city like London.
CiM: Any pet hates about the city? (What would you change..)
Don: Not really directly related to the city, I think they have done a great job.
CiM: What did you adopt from the city? (habits, food…etc)
Don: The usual you get from Spain, enjoying the tapas culture and the great social experience of going out and having cañas.
CiM: Was it easy to find a place to stay?
Don: Yeah, there are loads of great websites advertising apartments. Also if you have good connections finding a place is easy.
CiM: What would you advise young couples coming to settle in Madrid?
Don: The same thing I would say when you move to any city. Look for some social groups, whether it be a football team, intercambio’s or a business network.
Making connections will always make life easier when moving anywhere. One that goes a long way and this is the same no matter where you go in the world… Try and speak some of the languages even if you can’t say more than hello. It makes a difference and people appreciate the effort.
CiM: Is it easy to socialize with Spaniards? Have you made friends?
Don: Yes and no, depends on your social scene. The intercambio’s are great to meet people, or a sporting club, however meeting Spanish people is a little hard if you don’t speak a level of Spanish. I have made lots of friends, Spanish and other expats.
CiM: Have you perceived preconceptions/stereotypes about English people here?
Don: Of course! The English have a reputation everywhere.. We are cold, football hooligans etc. People have sterotypes for all nations so this doesn’t surprise me. Generally it has only been silly jokes within the football team so nothing to worry about.
CiM: In your blog you mention that your experience of Colombia, Bogota was ¨cushioned¨ by having a family there…however, what does mainstream society not know about Colombia that doesn’t come up in the news….
Don: Well there is so much to tell people that I had to create a website to do it! That’s how much people do not know of Colombia, hence www.showmecolombia.com. It is such a diverse country that it has something for everyone.
CiM: What do you miss about Bogota that you cannot find in Madrid?
Don: Well to be very honest I don’t miss Bogota at all. Madrid for me is better (I’m from London and I think Madrid is also better than London in some ways). However this is only because for me Bogota is not the best place in Colombia. If we were talking about Cartagena, San Andres, Santa Marta, Bucaramanga etc then I could give you lots of examples.
CiM: Language: How well do you survive with(out) Spanish?
Don: My Spanish is not perfect to say the least, however I get by. Most things can be done with a low level of Spanish, I find.
CiM: Economic situation/Jobs: Any thoughts…
Don: What can I say! There are less jobs but that doesn’t mean there are no jobs, it is just whether the people want to do them. Also I think the government needs to help people start businesses. Due to my job and my skills it has been easier for us to try other means to make money or try new projects. We have these websites: www.labodadelanovia.com and www.showmecolombia.com. Although it is easier for me as I work in this, does not mean other people can’t do it. People should really try and find other means to make money if they are unable to find a job.
CiM: Any long term prospects of settling permanently here?
Don: Yes and no, due the cost of living, the economic situation and the fact that I like to live in other places, I could see myself moving away. (Colombia for example) But having said that, Madrid is my home and I’m very settled here for now.
CiM: One of the more prominent tags from your blog is Bucaramanga…Im curious what is it?
Don: Bucaramanga is a city in Colombia, It is a place I would probably like to live in when/if I move to Colombia. You can get more information here.
CiM: The best of the city and Madrid in one word?
Don: Vibrant
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments