"Spain is different," is a typical phrase you hear from Spanish people when talking about their culture. Indeed, there is a lot to learn and understand for those arriving in Spain for the first time. Below are the main cultural habits for expats to understand, and the best ways to deal with Spanish time management, tapas, weather, and communication. Time management and at the workplace Are Spanish always late? People usually get out of the office late, and to this extent it's quite cultural. The lack of productivity, the lack of organization, but also the good practice includes leaving the office later than the normal time. It is probably another inheritance of the over exploitation of … [Read more...] about Understanding Spanish culture
Archives for August 2011
World Youth Day: Between faith and criticism
The most serious criticism is not aimed at the young pilgrims who came to the Spanish capital to “display their faith” but rather at the planning, organization and financing of a “mass religious event” which could have been done at lower cost, with less religious aims, with less participation of the public sector, without the presence of ethically questionable companies and with the aim of addressing more closely the problems that affect Spanish society and the world today. Although the degree of self-financing of the event was significant it is sensible to ask the Catholic organizations involved to think about how they organize such gatherings. In most cases, there are things that could be … [Read more...] about World Youth Day: Between faith and criticism
Moving to Spain: A guide to get you started
As Expatica article ‘Managing your move abroad' points out, the basic things to consider during relocation are visas and permits, vaccines for family members, restrictions or taxes on shipped household items, taxes due when you ship your car, vaccines and quarantines for pets and insurance. Relocation services Find out what you can expect from by making a checklist and how to work with a relocation firm. If your company is relocating you, look at it from the HR manager's perspective on Expatica HR's Relocation section. Also, consider relocation consultants who can help you plan your move with maximum efficiency. Taxation Tax rules vary across the world for foreign-earned income so make … [Read more...] about Moving to Spain: A guide to get you started
Visas and residency permits for Portugal
Schengen Portugal is part of the Schengen Area, made up of a group of 25 European countries that have abolished all border controls between them. The countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. With a Schengen visa, you are able to travel freely amongst these countries. Who requires a visa for Portugal? In order to enter you may need a visa and a passport, or just an identity card. Nationals from the EU, Switzerland, Andorra, and Liechtenstein will only need their identity cards. … [Read more...] about Visas and residency permits for Portugal
Zapatero: a pope’s best friend
A mock “Popemobile” was present at Wednesday evening’s demonstration in central Madrid against the pope’s visit. In it, a skinny man in late middle age dressed as the pontiff was blessing the crowd of protesters around him in jocular fashion. Then, looking slightly jaded, the faux-pope put down his crosier, pulled out a cigarette and smiled as he took a deep drag. It was a funny moment, but it seemed to me the real pope had every reason to be as satisfied during his marathon Spanish visit as this imposter. No doubt Benedict XVI and those who think like him will disagree. After all, it was he who decried Spain’s “aggressive secularism” last time he came to visit, less than a year ago. … [Read more...] about Zapatero: a pope’s best friend
Mourinho’s second coming suggests serious title tilt for Real Madrid
“Por qué?” he asked. “Por qué?” came the question again. It was a moment to define José Mourinho’s first season at the home of Spanish football’s most successful club Real Madrid, where in recent years silverware has been lacking. Coming after the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against their eternal rivals FC Barcelona, his comments were an attack against UEFA and the purported unfair treatment dished out to his players who had seen themselves down to 10 men for the fourth time in as many clashes in El Clásico last season. It was also during a run of games that would see the two teams meet four times over the course of three weeks and this was exactly the reason why the … [Read more...] about Mourinho’s second coming suggests serious title tilt for Real Madrid
Barcelona seek to extend Liga dominance
With respect to the other 18 clubs in Spain’s top flight, the one and only major debating point at the moment seems to be: will Barcelona be good enough to again thwart the ambitions of Real Madrid? Certainly that’s how many other pundits see the forthcoming season in Spain. The headline in the annual guide to La Liga published by the Spanish sports daily As was: “The first two and then all the rest.” It sums up the current situation in the top flight of Spanish football. Not since Villarreal had their ‘año milagro’ in 2007-08 and finished second behind Real, has anyone broken the hegemony of the two giants of Spanish football. In fact, apart from when Villarreal upset the odds, … [Read more...] about Barcelona seek to extend Liga dominance
Football strike threat highlights Spanish cash shortfall
There remains a very real danger that the Spanish football season will not kick off as planned this weekend. Last Thursday, the Spanish players’ union announced that its members were downing boots for the first two games of the new season, unless the Spanish league leans on clubs to pay back-wages owed to many players at La Liga’s top clubs. The football players’ association (AFE) president Luis Rubiales told a press conference that 200 first and second division Spanish league players are owed wages, some going back a number of years, totalling over €50 million. He called for the Spanish football league (LFP) to put in place a larger emergency fund to help players not being paid by their … [Read more...] about Football strike threat highlights Spanish cash shortfall
In Catalonia, the fringe is setting the agenda
The last Catalan elections saw a shift both to the centre-right and to moderate nationalism, both embodied by Artur Mas’s Convergència i Unió (CiU). Although Mas didn't win an absolute majority, as president of Catalonia he has been able to implement austerity measures, revise the existing legal corpus and get moving on his favourite issue of a new fiscal pact with Spain; all well within his mandate, the statutes of his parties and the legal framework. However, there is another, key matter Mas might have lost control over, handing it to the radical fringe: Catalan identity and whether or not Catalonia will continue to be part of Spain. Mas has certainly sought to continue the … [Read more...] about In Catalonia, the fringe is setting the agenda
Anarchy in the UK, headed Spain’s way soon
A number of commentators in the Spanish media have pointed out the differences between Spain’s indignados and the young people involved in the looting in London and other British cities. In doing so most point out the similarities between Spain and Britain: both countries are in the midst of recession, subject to severe public spending cuts, have high youth unemployment rates, and where the mainstream parties are widely regarded as out of touch with, or powerless to do anything about, the situation. “So what do the English do,” asks John Carlin in El País, “they go out and steal flat-screen televisions and trainers… and the Spanish? Well, what the indignados have done,” is to stage … [Read more...] about Anarchy in the UK, headed Spain’s way soon