This month, CiM Blog interviews an expat who hails all the way from Canada and who also has Spanish roots about half an hour´s drive from Madrid. His name is Daniel Arenas(DA) and he is also a local Ambassador for Madrid´s chapter of InterNations.
CiM:What brought you to Madrid?
DA:I came to Madrid in 2007 after the Montreal based advertising agency Pixman
Corporation decided to open a European office in Madrid.
CiM:Had you visited the city before?
DA:Yes, the first time I set foot in Madrid was in 1997 and then pretty much
every year after that. My father is from Olombrada, a small village
between Segovia and Valladolid, and 1997 was my first opportunity to come
and meet that part of my heritage.
CiM:How long have you been here..?
DA:I have been living in Madrid for 5 years.
CiM:What did you expect or look forward to when coming to Madrid?
DA:I already knew Madrid when I came here to live, but as a tourist. Every single trip from 1997 to 2007 were short 2 to 4 week experiences. So my expectations where basically more about what it would be to actually live in the city, to steer away from the typical tourist bars, restaurants and streets. I guess I was really looking forward to melting in my barrio, going to the local market for groceries, going out in local bars and
restaurants…
CiM:Any difficulties finding a place and settling in?
DA:Not many, because I came here with my company’s support, things where
fairly easy, although I did find the local flat rental practices abusive…
3 to 4 months of cash advance, plus a bank guarantee…
CiM:You have travelled extensively, what can you find in Madrid that is nowhere else?
DA:At the Pixman Corporation I was responsible of supporting business
development in the EMEA territory, this allowed me to travel extensively
all over Europe, India, Kazakhstan, Ivory Coast, Japan, Australia and many
other cool locations.
CiM:What do you miss the most about Canada?
DA:My immediate family: Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters. Also, winter Sports or should I say, accessibility to them… I would only have to drive 1 hour to 2 hours to get to a great resort… In Madrid things start to get interesting in the Pyrenees, a good 5-6 hours away. Lastly,the ease of doing business, administrative hurdles are minimal, if you have a business idea, you will not only find it easy to get it rolling, but you will probably find institutional support.
CiM:Your job as a freelancer in the advertising sector: Are there many opportunities for freelancers like you in Madrid?
DA:I fell into freelancing when the Montreal Company I worked for went out of business and closed. At that moment I found myself in a situation where jobs where not only scarce but also very low paying. Freelancing seemed like the most logical avenue in a country where most businesses were and still are afraid to hire because of the tough labour regulations that protect workers more than they protect the labour market. Naturally, a lot of businesses, even those in the advertising sector, avoid hiring because of this situation, even if they need the help. Freelancing is the logical way to tap into that necessity. I can only reckon that the same situation arises within other sectors of the economy.
CiM:What would you say is essential to make the most out of the living in Madrid?
DA:Having an open mind and flexibility to embrace difference, Spain is different..
CiM:How do you perceive the cost of living in Madrid?
DA:Compared to other big capitals in Europe, with the exception of Lisbon and Athens, Madrid is a pretty good deal. The cost of living is low for everyday necessity products. I’m always pleasantly surprised when I go the local market to buy fruits and vegetables. Alcohol and restaurants are also lower than in other big cities.
CiM:What would you change about the city…?
DA:Nothing really… I love it the way it is. Changing it would probably mean making it more like Montreal and if I ever get to that point… I should probably move back…
CiM:Your parents are respectively Spanish and Peruvian: Did you maintain the Spanish language while living in Canada?
DA:Yes, Spanish was the language at home at all times. English and French where the languages spoken at school and with local friends.
CiM:You speak French and English as well. Do you use French a lot in the city, socially and professionally?
DA:Yes, my social circle is made of many expatriate people from Canada, France, the US and many other places, so English is used a lot. With French it is either with Montreal or French people. Professionally, English is used a lot, I have maintained my professional network alive and many of my contacts are in Europe and abroad, English is usually the main language.
CiM:You are a local Ambassador for InterNations: How did that come about?
DA:I belong to the InterNations community since 2007, at the beginning I joined because as you probably know, it is not always easy to meet new friends in a new city. Internations helped me build an interesting and diverse social network. In 2011 I decided to go to the next level and got involved as an Ambassador. I not only wanted to keep meeting new people from all around the world but also to help the organisation that had been so important for me during my first years here in Madrid.
CiM:Any interest and hobbies that you have been able to maintain while in Madrid (skiing, surfing)?
DA:I snowboard in winter so I brought my snowboard along when I moved. As I mentioned before, because of Madrid’s geography, any serious snowboarding involves 4-5 hours of travelling and so day trips are not possible.
CiM:You seem like a keen football fan? What do you think about the sport and the spectacle as seen in Madrid and Spain in general?
DA:I must say that football has been getting into my veins at a very gradual pace, five years after moving here, it is only recently that I went to see my first live football game while in Bilbao for work. That experience changed my perception of the game and raised my level of interest for the game. I think football is a great show and that the players are not only amazing athletes but also great actors… As for the importance the game plays in the country, I must say that I sometimes don’t understand the level of passion and sometimes violence the game unleashes.
CiM:You attended ESIC Business & Marketing School in Madrid: Was the
experience rewarding, given the present economical situation in Spain?
DA: When Pixman Corporation closed its doors, I was left with two options: stay in
Madrid to keep working here, which meant finding another job, or go back to Canada. I decided to stay in Madrid but in order to raise my employability potential and to get a better knowledge of the business environment; I started an MBA at ESIC. Was it worth it? In retrospective I must say that it was, not only academically speaking but also
personally. An MBA changes the way you think about business, it raises your potential and you see opportunities in a whole different way. I am convinced that as years go by, I will find whole new ways in which that MBA will benefit me. In any case, should I one day move away from Spain, the MBA experience will tag along with me.
CiM: During the Christmas season…do you usually go home?
DA:Yes, I went home for a month and just came back this mid January 19th.
CiM: What are you favourite holidays in Spain and which do you
miss from Canada?
DA:There are so many holidays in Spain that I am really not certain which ones are my favourite… If I had to chose… I would say all those holidays that happen to fall in summer. CiM: Any plans for staying long term?
DA:Yes, 2011 was pretty encouraging for me business-wise as I continued to work in the Event Marketing business and started to mix digital and social media to my work. 2012 is really looking good with my first agreement signed with a Madrid Social Media agency. I will be working as a community manager for various corporate accounts. My objective is to eventually design social media strategy for various brands.
CiM: Books you recommend about the city or Spain in general?
DA: Every year I get my hands on the “Guia Metropoli – Comer y beber en Madrid´´, it’s a great restaurant, bar and nightlife guide with the latest openings in the city. Its a must have if you want to impress that date of yours. ‘’Homage to Catalonia’’ by George Orwell for me is a great book to get a glimpse of the Spanish Civil war’s stakes and realities through George Orwell’s personal account of his experiences.
CiM: Madrid in one word: Home
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments