It's been eye-opening in the year since I started actively planning to move to Spain that I've come across a lot of people writing or recording “Don't move to Spain!” videos but from the POV of an American who won't budge. I lived in Japan for several years and the most miserable expats were always whining about the lack of American conveniences in spite of new conveniences such as the greater Tokyo area being extremely walkable.
We once told someone we never buy coffee from St*rbuck$ in Spain. Why not, he exclaimed, even if it's more convenient?? We stared at him in amazement. There are dozens of great independent coffee shops we've found here that are far superior, we told him. Your argument makes no sense.
Rusty Spanish aside, it's pretty clear to me that a *lot* of people in the U.S. have no idea what bureaucracy actually looks like any more. Sure, we can use a machine in Walgreens to renew our car tags, but try navigating an issue with the IRS (currently on month 2 of waiting for a response!) and see how it goes. Once you've done that, you can level up and take on a healthcare company.
I liked this. I suspect that this "the grass is greener where we came from" is not unique to Americans.
Understanding "how things work locally" is part of the package. Emphasis on "package".
When we headed down to South Africa we did not do enough research on conditions for tourist visas. We had to dig ourselves out of that hole. It was inconvenient. We then had to micro-manage the process to get a retirement visa. We had a lawyer help us, and looking back, that was a necessary part of the of the process.
Things are different here and other places. If we were at home in Switzerland, we'd be occupied with figuring out some local something or other.
It's been eye-opening in the year since I started actively planning to move to Spain that I've come across a lot of people writing or recording “Don't move to Spain!” videos but from the POV of an American who won't budge. I lived in Japan for several years and the most miserable expats were always whining about the lack of American conveniences in spite of new conveniences such as the greater Tokyo area being extremely walkable.
Great points, Rocco!
We once told someone we never buy coffee from St*rbuck$ in Spain. Why not, he exclaimed, even if it's more convenient?? We stared at him in amazement. There are dozens of great independent coffee shops we've found here that are far superior, we told him. Your argument makes no sense.
He's moving back to Chicago next year.
Primero, gracias por mi saludo!
(man, I hope I got that right. lol.)
Rusty Spanish aside, it's pretty clear to me that a *lot* of people in the U.S. have no idea what bureaucracy actually looks like any more. Sure, we can use a machine in Walgreens to renew our car tags, but try navigating an issue with the IRS (currently on month 2 of waiting for a response!) and see how it goes. Once you've done that, you can level up and take on a healthcare company.
I liked this. I suspect that this "the grass is greener where we came from" is not unique to Americans.
Understanding "how things work locally" is part of the package. Emphasis on "package".
When we headed down to South Africa we did not do enough research on conditions for tourist visas. We had to dig ourselves out of that hole. It was inconvenient. We then had to micro-manage the process to get a retirement visa. We had a lawyer help us, and looking back, that was a necessary part of the of the process.
Things are different here and other places. If we were at home in Switzerland, we'd be occupied with figuring out some local something or other.