Our story about our life in Spain plenty of ups and downs but still here...
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Submitted by shar on Sun, 15/06/2008 - 22:20.
Your Name:
Sharon richards
Where are you from?:
Midlands
Where do you live now?:
Albatera Costa Blanca
Who did you come here with?:
Family (including children)
Why did you decide to come here?:
Fed up with the what life had to offer us in the UK more for the children than us but knowing the business we had run for over 5 years with partners could not sustain two families forever.
What did you leave behind?:
Family freinds which was the big wrench especially as my Mother had been diagnosed with Breast cancer a few months prior to us leaving the UK. We had a lovely 4 bed home in a nice area and a good income (at the time) nice cars a very good social life oh and a very fit body, which is a distant memeory and I am not talking about my husband (he came)! 3 kick boxing sessions a week and 3 gym sessions gave me this but I have been so busy since I arrived there has been no time to get this back and I do miss it especially when I wave ( all you women will know what I am talking about!!
What work do you do?:
I am a relocator/proeprty agent but basically match up people with property and help them with all the paperwork and issues that they wouldnt hear about or get help with from just normal estate agents this includes running an up to date website with information and advice on as many aspects as you can imagine to do with the move keeping both clients past and present up to date with all the changes that there are here in Spain
What made you choose this location? Did you know much about it before you moved here?:
We started our search in a place callee Mazzaron near Cartegena but inland where we initially bought a holiday home but this place we soon realized was not suitable for long term living with children and we also needed an international school where out eldest could do his A levels (he was too old to go to Spanish school) We visited several times and did lots of research and visited both the International schools and the Spanish state school and looked for somewhere for the children to carry on with their Martial Arts classes, we wanted somewhere very Spanish but well sitiated so everywhere we wanted to get to was easily accesible.
Tell us about the place you live? What's it like (a house, apartment, flat, etc)? What are your neighbours like?:
We live in whats called a Spanish finca (origanlly a finca was/is a plot of land with a little house on it called an Almacen or Albergue (country house) When we bought it, it was supposed to have been re formed, ( anyone living here will know what we mean) it was to a certain degree but not how we saw it with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, lounge/diner kitchen and terrace with a pool on a plot of just under 5000m2. We saw so much potential but not half as much as we see now knowing what we now know! The house is situated in a little hamlet of about 10 other houses mainly Spanish weekend houses but all similar plots but different shapes and sizes. After 4 years of very hard work lots of dust and mess we have updated the property with all the mod cons we were used to in the UK like efficient electricity for starters ( thats another story) telephone and internet etc the list is endless but we now have a lovely 5 bedroomed and 5 bathroomed house a new pool and bar and terrace area, we have replaced windows and doors but keeping with the rustic style. Just the garden and some finishing to do now along with putting the last bathroom suites. We live in the countryside just 5 minutes from the town of Albatera with all its amenities which include a 24 hour health centre gym, indoor pool, shops supermarkets and restaurants schools for all ages football music school etc. We are 15 minutes from the beautiful city of Elche, the city of the palms and 25 minutes to Alicante airport and 30 minutes to the coast of Guardamar and La Marina. We ahve a train station very close which takes you in the direction of Murcia or Alicante. We have a mixute of neighbours both expats and Spanish everyone is freindly but the houses are set far enough apart to be private and no one really bothers anyone else too much unless there is a problem or there is a delivery of a box of the latest crop.
What's the best thing about where you live?:
The views are superb of the mountains which surround our house, we hadnt realized at the time when we bought how lucky we were and how beautiful they were. The closeness to the coast airports and shopping in both Murcia and Elche but also the town is very Spanish still and unspoilt by the influx of foreigners unlike the coast we feel, however everyone is different and some people may disagree but for us we found what we had hoped for.
What have you learned about your area that you think other people should know?:
Where do I begin....Its all on the website really there is so much to tell that it will not all fit on here but you can read about this on the website
Is there anything you're not so happy about?:
Sometimes I am sad that I dont have much free time and also its hard to go anywhere locally without being accosted with some question about some aspect of life here or help with some paperwork or other even when I am trying to have a quiet time with my family or freinds, however I have a thriving successful business with a good name and this is the price I have to pay so I accept this.
How important do you think it is to be able to speak Spanish?:
Very! I have to say I have been lucky as my children were fluent very quickly because all their freinds are Spanish so they have helped me tremendously, I also have a fantastic solicitor who has helped my business and visa versa but I ahve no doubt the more my Spanish improves so will my reputation and that here is everything! In Albatera there are free Spanish lessons twice a week and next September there will be two levels as newcomers can find the classes a bit hard going.
Do you miss anything from your home country?:
My freinds and family but they visit and visa versa and our time together is quality as its in chunks instead of a rushed hour or 10 minutes!
Do you have any regrets?:
I have to say no
What's your best bit of advice for people thinking of doing the same as you?:
To do their research come out on as many visits as they can manage several times at least and speak to people who have gone before try to learn the language and dont have too many preconcieved ideas. Be prepared to work harder than you ever have before if you need to work and support your family. Have at least a few years income behind you whilst you get established. Most of all be realisitic there is no help here financially if you do not work or dont have a home and have not paid into the system.
What plans do you have for your future in Spain?:
To carry on with the business and hopefully help and advise people so they are more aware of what life is like here maybe expand maybe not but at least to carry on expanding on information I have just launched my new and improved website this year with a new forum which is growing in popularity anwering honestly questions from expats and wannabe expats
In your experience, what is the biggest mistake other people make when moving to Spain?:
Not being totally prepared for what life could be like and underestimating set up costs. You can really double or treble what you think it may cost you to relocate unless you are very frugal or very lucky.
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