Actually the video title should be: 10 things I don´t like about living in Malasaña ( Madrid ). Most of the things you don´t like are not usually happening in most of the areas or cities in Spain. Anyway, it´s a pity you had a hard time. Take care!
Number 8, you are right, I've recently realize that we Spanish people, generally speaking, may be very nice and bubbly at work but after that we focus in our lives, I think that speaking English is hard for us and that can be one of the reasons why we hardly socialize with non Spanish speakers. And the point that has surprised me the most is the air conditioning one, I understand that it was your personal experience but, as a Madrid citizen, I can say that there is a/c mostly everywhere, except in very small shops (I guess), otherwise we wouldn't survive in summer with 40° 🥵
Morgan has sufrido el 'Vuelva usted mañana' del que ya escribió Mariano José de Larra en 1833. No ha cambiado mucho en casi dos siglos. Respecto a comprar de todo en un mismo sitio, hay grandes almacenes: El Corte Inglés, Alcampo, Carrefour. Y luego supermercados más pequeños centrados en alimentación, artículos de higiene, belleza,... En todo caso, estás invitada cuando quieras a regresar a Madrid por el tiempo que necesites.
Buenas Morgan! Conoces a MEGrisolano? Es una youtuber estadounidense que lleva varios años viviendo en España y ha viajado a cada parte del país. Te recomiendo pasar por su canal, puedes aprender mucho sobre curiosidades de España. Es posible que incluso podáis poneros en contacto algún día. :) Es un buen vídeo, creo que muchas de esas cosas que no te gustan tampoco nos gustan a los autóctonos (I mean local people). Un ejemplo puede ser la burocracia o lo del papel higiénico en bares o baños públicos. Es una pena que tuvieses malos vecinos, creo que no depende del país, a veces puedes tener suerte y tener buenos vecinos y otras veces no. Espero que la próxima vez tengas más suerte. Por cierto, España es muy diferente según la zona a la que vayas, el sur, el centro o el norte pueden ser muy diferentes en cultura, clima y costumbres. Recomiendo que pruebes a visitar el norte de España en verano (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria o País vasco) , hace menos calor que en el interior o el sur. Un saludo!
Interesting, there are ACs almost everywhere in Barcelona. Even though it's not as hot as in Toledo or Madrid in summer. Spain is certainly diverse in many ways (:
Overall impression is you may not have investigated enough during your stay in Spain, and most of your experience relates to the cultural shock of moving to a different country. 1 - public healthcare everywhere, generally, is slower than the private sector. It can sometimes take months to get an appointment with a specialist within the public sector and you may need to go through a GP first to be redirected, which is lengthy and frustrating, especially when you need a doctor TODAY. Most people I know in Spain use public healthcare for general checks/scans and emergencies, but resort to private healthcare often. As any public service it is much improvable, especially considering the amount of taxes paid. 2 - Opening bank accounts/transferring money within countries is a nightmare, wherever you go 3 - There are no huge convenient stores - you have probably not moved enough. Madrid has Ikea and Costco... 4 - Variety in products - just what? Shop local, go to the mercado, where people sell their own grow. What more variety than that can you get? 5 - Toilette paper - yeah, that sucks in Spain. I grew up going to the public toilet with a pack of tissues, it is what it is. 6 - Air conditioning - again, this is a problem in Spain because it gets reeaaally hot, but big cities have adapted better than other countries in Europe where it may not be such a necessity 7 - Metro thing - again...like metro everywhere...London, Berlin, Paris...And seats on public buses don't lean; they do on coaches and yes, people can be pricks. 8 - if you are a foreigner living in literally, everywhere, it is hard to form relationships with locals. It's a fact, it happens everywhere, and it sucks - it makes you feel disconnected and lonely. 9 - neighbours. That’s not fun what happened to you. Unacceptable. But again, it can happen everywhere. 10 - obviously living abroad changes you but you may not realize how much until you reconnect with your older self. It can be a shock, but it is not Spain-related; it would have happened everywhere you went
Don’t really get the first 2, it’s not that difficult and so much can be done online, for a all things or large supermarket why didn’t you try a Carrefour? Or Alcampo, those have large range or products and all in one stores. Number 5 of you don’t have toilet paper you can ask for it, it’s normal and they appreciate it to let them know. Number 6 that’s just crazy, there are AC in all the stores and it’s just not healthy sleep with AC, we use fam and they work perfectly. Number 7, just the long distance busses have those seats, and you can ask to pull back, the regular busses they don’t have that option. Number 8 it’s not the fact of that, it’s more that we Spanish expect and effort on the languages, if they do then it’s easy if they don’t it’s harder. Number 9 that happen if you from here or not that can happen, it happen to me too, sometimes you can find those type of people but for sure they complaint because you weren’t Spanish, pretty sure she wouldn’t complaint to a Spanish person, but that’s elderly people, glad you like Spain in general
Hi Morgan, a couple of things ive learned in the 25 years ive livec in spain. (im a former New Yorker and the subways are always packed in NY. ). There are plenty of hipermercados and in madrid youve got the big corte ingles with its supermarket in several easy tonget to places. True i wish there were more variety in foods, icluding potatoes. Spaniards ( probably because the homescare small) always meet prople in bars or cafes. On the states if younlive in the suburbs where 5he homescare large) youve got huge Tvs ( living rooms kitchens bedrooms backyards) where its comfortable to hang out. But here the culture is that you see peopke in your paseo or meet for hours sitting for coffee at a cafe. So peopkevarent used to the concept of hangouts at home. Finally, ive discovered the reason for one of the items on your list. Even soanish people sayv”its difficult to make new friends in xyz spanish city. Its also a super simple explanation. Here people tend to live near where they grew up. That means that they always have their gang around from preschool thru HS where they live. Add to that that their entire family cousins aunts nieces etc. also live nearby and on saturday you lunch with your inlaws and on sunday for ex, with your parents etc etc that their social calendar is always filled. So for example the peopke in this suburban city near madrid who i go out with are people who arent from here and dont have that situation of so many family and friends and no avail time (or need) to add more friends to their social calendar. It makes perfect sense if you look at it from that perspective. The other day a spaniard said that to me about spaniards in another city and i asked her to look at it from this perspective and she realized thats exactly why.
Hi! I'm a Spaniard and she's totally right about bureaucracy. If you need some government documents, whether if you go to the right office or you try to do it online, it's just always a pain in the neck
I'm Spanish and YES! Make sure there is air conditioning wherever you go in summer because you never know what the atmosphere of a specific place can be like!!!
Number 6 is the perfect definition of "Pasar una noche toledana". Toledo (and the center of the peninsula) in summer is an oven, and in winter a freezer.
Hola Morgan!! I think on the first affirmation I disagree. But I don’t get upset haha! You should specify if you got public or private insurance. On public insurance of Madrid you just make an appointment by internet then you go to your hospital on the date. Thats all, thats why I suspect you got private one jaja. By the way public insurance is not the best. But somehow it works and the appointments are not for mañana!! Haha With the second one, I agree totally is a bit messy because in Madrid many people apply for it them the offices are quite overloaded (dont really know if here it fits haha) I live in Madrid and I am not from here and it was the same for me to get it Third one, we have El Corte Inglés, only that store but you find everything there! Fourth. I agree. But probably because USA is importing so much international stuff and pay for it. Here when the product get not sold out they never sell again. Fifth sadly really. I tell you the reason. People steal it haha. Sixth. Agree. People thinks makes you ill. Thats why not so much people have it. But normally in the south of Spain they have it. Seventh. Truth haha Eight. We like long term relationships. Sadly truth Ninth. That just an experience in your apartment haha Tenth. Agree! You are not offending no one. If someone get offend because of such videos he should go to therapist haha. Is just entertainment
Haha thanks for your comment! I had insurance from the US because of my visa status. I think I just went to an annoying doctor lol it was a recommended doctor for foreigners! I miss Corte!!
Creo que tienes razón en muchas, aunque me llaman especialmente la atención 2. La 1, yo nunca he tenido ningún problema con el médico, cuando he estado mal he ido a urgencias y en breves me han atendido siempre. Y la de los vecinos, he vivido en varias casas y pisos, pueblo y ciudad y nunca he tenido problemas con los vecinos, y mira que he montado fiestas buenas .. almenos lo mío es en Valencia. Un saludo y vuelve pronto!
Quizá lo de los médicos es una cosa que pasa en Madrid... Ns Y bueno, siempre habrá vecinos idiotas jajajaja ---- Maybe the doctors thing is something that happens in Madrid ... Idk And well, there will always be stupid neighbors everywhere hahahaha
Yo con el tema de vecinos... xd Lo he puesto en otro comentario, hace un rato me han echado el agua de la fregona desde un 4° o 5° y ha caido en el patio. De vez en cuando me encuentro trozos de comida y una vez hasta un pañal xd
Lo de los médicos es 100% verídico. Yo he llegado a estar 3h esperando a que me atendiera mi doctora y eso que tenía cita previa Y con lo de los vecinos pues depende muchísimo en la zona en la que vivas y la edad que tengan. No es lo mismo vivir en un barrio joven que en un una zona donde solo hay viejos que solo se quejan porque no tienen nada mejor que hacer. Y por último, EL PAPEL DE LOS BAÑOS. Al haber trabajado en un restaurante, te cuento el secreto, la gente no sabe utilizar el papel higiénico y lo gastan todo en cuestión de minutos. Y si encima en un bar concurrido con poco personal, ya te digo que el menor de sus problemas es echar un ojo a ver qué tal están los baños. Un saludo y espero que vaya todo bien ❤️
No he terminado de escucharlo aún, pero tengo que comentar algo. No se en qué parte de Madrid has estado, Morgan, pero te aseguro que hay muchos supermercados que tienen de todo. Sin ir más lejos, CARREFOUR. Tiene alimentacion,k ropa, electrodomesticos, libreria... tiene de todo. Y en cuanto a variedad de comida.. tampoco se donde ha estado. Soy de Valencia y la verdad es que en el Mercado Central hay de todo. Por lo demas, estoy totalmente de acuerdo xd La burocracia (papeleo como digo yo) es un coñazo. Es muy pesado y muchas veces te4 mandan de un lado a otro para rellenar y conseguir algunos documentos. Y cuestión médicos, es tema aparte. Yo personalmente me enerva la organizacion de pacientes en el tiempo, aglomerandose a veces y te atienden media hora o incluso una hora despues (aunque eso era antes de la pandemia). Otra cosa es cuando pides cita y es urgente, y te citan para dentro de un mes.. y te quedas pensando.. "pues nada, me morire mientras espernado".
He estado en España y se que Carrefour tiene muchas cosas, pero no se si llega al nivel de las tiendas de los EEUU como Walmart. Carrefour se dedica mas a la comida, no es asi?
@@ashleyd4563 no he estado nunca en EU, pero se que Walmart es enorme por lo que veo en pelis y videos de youtube. Carrefour es enorme tambien te digo, y aunque tenga una gran parte dedicada a la comida, tambien tiene zona de ropa, electrodomesticos, cosas de cocina y baño, deportes y jardineria, etc.
Im confused. Did you know places like Carrefour or El Corte Ingles? You can buy a lot of stuff and they are selled together. Burocracy is a mindblowing in Spain (i cant imagine those situations with the language barrier!). The pandemic made all so much difficult! Please, dont apologie. You are so sweet, and its your expiriences.
yes I went to Carrefour and El Corte Ingles a lot! I'm sure it's me comparing it to the US where our country is built on convenience. Sometimes really nice but it also affects us in a bad way too!
If you get sick and want medicine you should just go to URGENCIAS. Easy, fast (it really depends on your condition) and they charge the medicines on your health card which makes them cheaper than bought on a pharmacy on your own.
A very narrow view of Spain . I live in Spain , only the burocracia is a nightmare . Everything else is as good as or better then the US or U.K. . I’ve lived in all three for many years . Oh, I forgot taxes 😂 not great here in Spain, but hey, in my opinion Spain rocks
When I was in Spain, I asked my host mom where I could buy scissors to cut my hair, expecting to go somewhere like a beauty store maybe. But she sent me to a store that specifically sells knives and scissors. I found the store it was in some back corner of a little street, probably one of the most surreal moments I've had
Couple of years ago in Barcelona I was at a small hotel and asked where I could get a adapter to charge my phone. Same thing. Was expecting to pay $20 USD but she didn’t speak any English. But my Spanish was good enough to find the tiny electrical store...it was under 1 €
I'm such a coward that I can't even kill myself. please encourage me to kill myself. I have to do it, I don't want to live anymore, but I don't have the mental strength to do it.
Yeah! Reverse culture shock video! That's huge. I could talk about that forever. Also, I feel ya on the distant thing with the Spaniards. I tried to make friends and they all kind of just looked at me like "yeah you're leaving so whatever".
Most documents and process in Spain can be formalized through internet. In Spain you have planty of shopping centres with, virtually, every shop you need, even with furnitures.
I live in the centre of Madrid and I hear you with the no centralised store thing (exceptions being Corte Ingles, but it is a department store, rather than an all in one) but outside of the centre of the city there are vast scale hypermarkets that might not be as big a large walmart, but are certainly as large or larger than anything we have in the UK - whenever I hire a car I like to stop off at one on the way back into town and indulge my hidden consumerist capitalist desires.
Everywhere I've been in Spain has had access to aircon (although it's not generally turned on in more rural areas). Ikea operates in Spain and the stores are just like the ones here. The hypermarkets such as Carrrefour will also stock practically everything (although I have to say that I love the small specialist vendors). In another video you said most people spoke English. Outside Madrid that certainly hasn't been my experience (although I guess if you stay in the tourist areas you'll hear more English than normal).
I agree with everything! I had the Spanish nationality since birth but i was born and raised elsewhere, when i came to live in Spain i needed an ID, it took me a full year to get that done.
@@HolaMorgan You look quite similar to a younger version of Lindsay Lohan. No joke. I've seen few of your vids. May I ask you from what state of the US are you? I'm just curious. Thank you. PS: I'm from Spain & I'm not offended at all. There are over sensitve people in this country.
I never lived in Spain but I visited there in 2019 for about two weeks and I loved everything about it I miss it so much too!!!! Cannot wait till they let people come back from the US.
Creo que el problema de las tiendas es porque vivías en el centro de Madrid; en el resto de Madrid o España no pasa esto; hay grandes superficies donde puedes comprar de todo; en cuanto a la burocracia sí es horrible y más en La Capital; lo del aire acondicionado es algo que tb me ha dicho mi marido que es extranjero, a mi no me importa pasar calor en verano jajajaja; y lo de tus vecinos es que eran unos amargados; besitos!
I agree with you about everything you said, but one of these things is actually an advantage. What you find as "inconvenience" is actually a beautiful thing, if you think about it. Instead of going to Walmart or Target that "has everything," and is everywhere the same, it is actually better to go to the smaller stores. You get to meet different people, usually people who actually own these stores and are more likely to be helpful to you, you get to support the local economy, instead of Wall Street, and you get a little exercise too, in the process. Is it "inconvenient"? Yes, it is. It also is more expensive. But you are gaining so much more in other ways, that I think it is worth it. It gives the country and its localities their special color and grace that the US does not have.
3.- Yes... There "convenience stores" in the american sense. Because they are large you'll find them in Shopping Malls that you need to drive to. There are a few "in" the city (not in Malasaña, though). In El Corte Inglés/Hipercor (usually together), Carrefour, Al Campo, etc. you can buy a can of tomato paste, a pair of jeans and pet litter. Batteries, meat, pillows and plants, too. But... You have to drive there. btw: There are some Costcos here too (but even farther out from the city center).
Lol the logistical part of it is not only hard for foreigners, is also traumatic for natives, when you do some paperwork you go to the place but then it turns out you needed an appointment first, so you have to go back another day 3 weeks later (because there isn't an earlier date), and when you go with an appointment you are missing a documment or you have to fill out some crap... It's just hell, if you need something urgent... Yeah that's just not gonna happen xDD
8.- I lived 3 months in a Kibbutz in Israel and felt the same. If you are obviously leaving soon, I guess people don't want to invest the time and emotions.
Agree with most of your points. However, I think part of the problem was down to where you were living. In Malasaña, gentrification has meant that a lot of 'everyday' stores have been forced out as landlords seek more profitable uses for property, namely the leisure industry, Air B'nB , etc. You're almost living in a theme park there! In barrios that aren't dead centre, you have marvellous market halls with fresh fruit, veg, meat, fish, eggs, etc. of all kinds. Then there's the 'Todo a 100' bargain stores (usually Chinese - run), many are now huge and sell absolutely everything! But you won't find them in the centre, for reasons mentioned above. Finally, the 100+ year old buildings you find in central Madrid do tend to mean everyone's literally living on top of one another, walls are thin, noise travels, poor insulation, etc., etc. I hope you get the chance to live in a barrio outside of the M30 ring road, you will be amazed at the comparative lack of stress. :)
Oh that’s such an interesting point I had not thought of that! Yes I can attest to the thin walls jaja. I could hear my neighbors in the next building😭 It’s beautiful but comes at a price!
4.- Again. You won't find that much variety in neighborhood stores. They just don't have the real estate for it. If you try the larger stores you will find many brands and types. In 05:59 the girl is holding a box of store-brand Carrefour cereal. Because of the street in the background I'm almost certain she bought it in the "Carrefour Express" small neighborhood stores. Those are not the large Carrefour I mentioned before. btw: Spain exports a lot of food.
It also depends in the part of Spain you live. For example in the Basque Country you have no problems for scheduling a medical appointment online. Maybe the closest thing to big convenience be store it's El Corte Ingles or Eroski. With toilet paper it's easier to be lucky in cinemas and coffee shops than in bars. For burocracy always consult the regions calendar beforehand. About transport I've never experienced in Bilbao the lack of space in the subway as in London.😂😂😂
El Corte Inglés and Carrefour have all the things. Maybe those were hard to access from Malasaña? (Don’t know as I’ve not spent any time in Madrid ...)
I think your comments were balanced and quite fair. I’ve been living in Spain for coming up 20-years now and it is different from say the UK where I’m from. It’s a beautiful country with an incredible history but can also be extremely insular. Older people in particular haven’t travelled outside of their country like ever and believe that everything Spanish is the best. It’s very much a case of us having to adjust to the Spanish way of doing or thinking. I think that we extranjeros are more tolerated than welcomed. It’s a very insular country and slow to change. Just my opinion of course and like you I love Spain and my life here.
Change your doctor. There fixed. You had a very shitti* doctor. That never really happen to me. The bank thing is annoying for everyone. They only work mornings so if you work mornings you cant just go... and i have had to send my own mother in my place a few times fot that reason Ive heard that many of the food they sell in America is ban in Europe so thats why u wont find it in Spain. It has to pass many health tests... cant remember what its called. So you wont find most things you look for.
The issue of the paper at the toilet is due the bar is always full and is used a lot of time. Is normal to be finished rapidly. Spaniards goes a lot to the bar/pubs.
Your doctor SHOULD NOT SAY THAT! If it is important HE/SHE JUST MUST TO TAKE or send you to the Emergency. Should had change a doctors. The store to be specialized and in different place WE LIKE and WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. You keep the brain trained by remember about what you need and where to find who to organize time for it etc.. about neighbours this can happening to anybody, and everywhere.
I've lived in Cairo, Egypt before and your experience sounds similar to mine. Regarding logistics, your criticisms are not just a first world problems attitude. The whole manana, that's just the way things are culture just scratches the surface. I've never been to Spain. But if I had to guess, Spain probably has a lot of corruption and lack of transparency. You might not notice it unless you tried to start a business or were raising kids there, but if you were in one of these situations, you'd realize real quick just how broken the machine is. A lot of it is probably the people's culture and outlook. Regarding convenience, the attitude in the US is if you don't like something, how can I make it better so you'll buy from me rather than my competitor. Hence some one came up with more convenient/better products to beat their competitors. In Spain, I'm guessing their attitude is if you don't like it, too bad, that's just the way it is. Perhaps it's societal laziness.
Number 6 - lack of air conditioner. This is not a Spanish 'problem, ', but an European 'problem'. You're dealing with buildings that are hundreds of years old, as opposed to American buildings that were built yesterday, so to speak. The residential buildings are not optimised to build AC units. Same with lack of elevators, especially if you live in the downtown areas as they're the oldest. You'll see this in London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, etc. It sucks but it's called the Old World for a reason! Totally agree with the bureaucracy, that's a unique Spanish cancer that we don't seem to want to get rid of.
Mu son has a favourite thing about Spain. During the winter the shops close on Saturday afternoon till Monday morning (not supermarkets). He loves the way the weekends are a time for families. The other plus is that when you have a stop for coffee it's possible to sit for ages. No hassle for you to move. Bureaucracy unbelievable as we're all agreed.
you maybe get a neighbours who just simply fazzy or do not like foreigner's or do not like tourists or just do not like Americans or/and Germans....etc. but it is NOT general at all for Spain all over.
Hi, a Spanish person here. I don't think everything in here is completely untrue (and somethings are actually on point). We have big stores where you can buy everything (we call them "hipermercados") but you are not going to find any in the center of the cities, you allways have to go to the suburbs and normally it's a long trip to get there, and anyway they are not as big as in USA. The first time I got into a Walmart in America I almost have an anxiety attack. Also, old people are pretty rude in Spain compare with other countries, I don't know why but it's true. I'm sorry for any foreigner who have to deal with them. And yes, people are unpunctual and don't have the same sense of personal space as the rest of the world, which explain why we had such a bad time in Spain with the coronavirus. We can't stop touching eachother.
L.O.L. Bureaucracy is worst for foreigners, but for locals is a lot easer. With your National ID the DNI you have an electronic system validation that allows you to do lots of official stuff and paperwork just inserting your ID into your PC and working online, or even with your smartphone if it can read NFC, you don't even need to have all your papers with you for example when driving your car, as you can connect your smartphone to the databases that include everything you need to show on a traffic stop. About the variety of food it is your appreciation because the part of the city where you live in, but in fact is the opposite that you describe, the term food deserts is something from the USA not in here. For example MercaMadrid is the second biggest fish market at the world only behind Tokio. In my area at Madrid I have at least 6 really big Costco like supermarkets in a 5 minute reach. What you call a random bank holiday, is a very well known and expected day for all the people, and we all know those days before the next year starts because we plan our holidays in advance with some of these days. It would be like if a Spaniard is getting annoyed because the 4th of July at USA there are some business closed. The Air con thing is funny, because we do have lots, even at the subway or public buses, when a heat wave hits we are really prepared for that on the contrary of countries like the UK or France, for example, because they don't count on having that kind of heat and thus they are the ones who are not prepared, and they don't have air con at public transport or hospitals or at home. I don't like air con, and much less sleeping with it on, I try to avoid it as much as possible, because I think it is not healthy, I hate getting constipated at summer because of it everywhere at Madrid.
Mmmm... 1- I think this is not a general Spain problem, more like that doctor was an a****le. 2- I mean, yeah, international bureocracy is a real pain. Banks are annoying to get to yeah, true pain. Managing international calls is a mess yeah, but whatsapp has a call function you can use with wifi or so... just saying. 3- Lol you make it sound like we don't have supermarkets here. I don't want to know exactly what you are thinking about when you say "get it all together"... 4- May be very european to say, but honestly what's the point of having 12 options if it's basically the same food? You may have put a bad example though. 5- True. Totally. 6- Well, yes. I'm not a heat person myself, summer can be hard. 7- That may be your american personal space concept, in spain there's less. Yeah, leaning the seat all the way back is not polite for us either. I would be pissed too. 8- Curious... people are usually welcoming and friendly here. I don't know, maybe you just got unlucky with your relationships. But depends on many things I guess. Might also be just cultural difference. 9- Well, neighbours can be annoying in any country. 10- It happens to us all.
Sorry but this is a video from a really spoiled american girl that cannot gt out of her consumerist bubble,. I mean it is not a personal attack but most of the things she complains about are really tied to a consumerist point of view. Yeah maybe groceries stores don't have all the crap they have in the US but produce is always fresh and the food in general is healthier and taste better. Yes there's not so much AC and a much smaller carbon footprint and so on. I know it's really hard for some americans to understand that some people can live without their opulent lifestyle and that living more modeslty means not living worse. But again, she seems like a nice girl I don't want to take a swing at her or anything
Whats the mail system like there? Because here in the US, especially with the pandemic; I order a lot online & just have it shipped to our home. I’m not understanding the issue with international calls; are you having to buy a burner phone to do this?
If you were being messed about by the doctor then you have a doctor problem. The system here in Catalonia is you make an appointment at the town's doctors office (cap). Normally you see your assigned doctor, though if not available then you will see one that is. They will have your medical notes and will be able to provide the needed help. The appointment may not be for a week or 2 though. Alternatively the urgencies may be able to offer more immediate assistance, or at least expedite getting an immediate appointment.
I had no difficulty with a doctor even on holiday-I went to the chemist and they referred me to the doctor,they ushered me into emergency,the doctor was brilliant and his Spanish was wonderful -it is not always so about English in England .There are hypermarkets in Spain as in many other places..I do not personally like them often .”Great for the environment “ Only in America could this be a dismissive statement .
Hi, about doctor I don't know how it is in Madrid, but in Aragon, you have an app where you make and appointment and you go that day an that is it, and usually You just need to wait 3 or 4 days
Le gusta a usted cocinar. ¿Cuántos tipos de aceite de oliva encuentra en sus "MALL" en USA? ¿Cuántos tipos de vinos para cocinar - dulces, secos, tintos, blanco, amontillados...- y a qué precio? ¿Cuántas presentaciones diferentes de azafrán, pimentón - dulce, picante, ahumado...-cuántos tipos de olivas, de encurtidos? ¿Cuántos de ahumados, de salazones? ¿Sabe algo de cuántas conservas de pescado españolas - y portuguesas- arrasan en bares de NY? No envidio nada sus decenas de tipos de ketchup's, de los cientos de batidos de frutas con los que acompañar un filete - tienen en USA, por cierto, buenas carnes - pero me da la impresión de que gente de un país donde cocinan y comen durante toda su vida - hot dogs, pizza, burguer...- como adolescentes, debería pensárselo a la hora de criticar la falta de variedad en los comercios de comestibles españoles. Este vídeo me está encantando.
I´m originally from Puerto Rico but decided to move to Spain (Seville). Originally it started for studies. And you´re right about logistics. For instance, when I went to do my credits transfer 1. Even though it was the same university (split in several buildings across the city) nobody knew everything and I had to go each different place to gather all the information. And not even that. I went this day where they gave me this papers to fill and when I went back the next day they told me something different and I was amazed that I had to tell the person that I was given that just there. and 2. They took a WHOLE YEAR to process that. While in PR (and USA) you just drop the papers at the main building and it´ll get processed in 2 weeks at most. Another time after I got my Student Visa I asked before leaving if I had to something more eventually (given the fact that it expired at the end of the year) and they told me that I was OK as long as I kept studying. Well, that wasn´t the case. It got expired and I had to deal with it. The worst part was telling this to a Spanish friend and being told by her that it was "my fault for not gather all the information". Excuse me? It wasn´t that I just left and didn´t care. I asked an employee of at the Immigration Department. Was I supposed to go beyond that to make sure? And things haven´t improved. For instance, I suffer from a chronical pain condition. And while it´s amazing that universal care is a thing it shouldn´t have to be so complicated. I have an appointment for a treatment in November (and I was evaluated on October. So I am supposed to suffer till then. Then I have an operation pending. Since April last year I was expected to start doing blood tests and such in preparation. It reached November and nothing happened. I called my General Doctor who told me to ask because things wouldn´t move forward if I didn´t. Not surprisingly it wasn´t until I decided to call that things started to progress. It´s unbelievable. A country so advanced in so many things yet so slow in others. Another example: there are pleny of logistics things you can do online. However, one thing is that and another the slowly process the administrations take to process.
Hi Morgan! Some comments for your viewers who might be considering coming to Spain (when possible again). 1.- The "mañana" attitude / Re: your doctor's visit. The problem might have been one of "system". As most of your US viewers might not know, Spain has a very strong public health system. Within it the appointment system is well adhered to (certainly the places in Spain I know).
I understand that, within a short term stay (a year?) you wouldn't have registered in the Seguridad Social and went instead to a private doctor. There are pros and cons to either approach, of course. Maybe that doctor was flaky. As can happen anywhere, there are all sorts. BTW: Anyone can go to the emergency for free.
Cada vez es más fácil que encuentres todo lo que quieras en un mismo sitio como ciertos hipermercados o bazares. Lamentablemente esto no es tan bueno. Antes podías encontrar de todo en las calles del centro de una ciudad. Tenías que salir de una tienda y entrar en otra pero estaban cerca unas de otras. Por el auge de los hipermercados y bazares ya no hay tantas tiendas pequeñas con lo que eso conlleva: menos gente tiene trabajo, la economía decae, las ciudades se marchitan, y el interés turistico tambien decae. Soy de una pequeña ciudad del sur, en la costa, donde muchos edificios historicos están en pesima situación y las calles llenas de locales vacios. He conocido esas calles llenas de tiendas abiertas. Echo mucho de menos eso.
Hola, que tal?, como van?, Los mejores y más cordiales Saludos desde puente piedra, lima, Perú, ojalá que puedas venir en algún momento a mi país y que disfrutes mucho de todo por aquí, con la familia y los amigos, felicidades por tus vídeos...
Nunca me compraría un jamón de bellota en un sitios donde venden también excavadoras, ni un perfume en loa mi9sma tienda en la que venden estiércol y abono.
Bueno, eso de los vecinos es una historia personal que tuvo con sus ellos. No pretenderá que eso sea generalizable, no? Claro, igual tendríamos que conocer la opinión de los neighbours… Saludines
Aprendan a contestarle a los agregados..si no le gusta donde imigro pues vayase de donde vino..tan simple como eso..salida ay por mar, tierra y aire...si los espanoles hablan en voz alta esa es su cultura igual que nosotros. Siempre esta el que quiere mandar en casa ajena..ni se dejen. WEPA
Ah! Y es que yo no tuve que hacer papeleos en Estados Unidos? Ah y es que fue facilísimo cobrar mis cheques en un banco? En fin, cada uno conoce su país y le parece que en su casa es facilísimo,
@@HolaMorgan If you have any advice on learning the language or teaching English in Spain that would be great, also how did you go about finding people to live with? Thanks Morgan!
All i can say is you deffo right in all!! I hate bureaucracy here, its simply a nightmare, my neighbours (not all of them) are idiots, and I HATE there's no toilet paper anywhere!! 🙈 Some ppl on the bus put mobile phone on sound loud on (and i think on that moment... Im gonna kill him) Great video, i thought it was me complaining........
Holaa Morgan, I agree with most of what you were saying! I live in Galicia but the issues you experienced have been pretty similar for me. Especially with the legal paperwork...I almost had to go home because I couldn't complete everything in time even though I was getting appointments as soon as possible and doing everything they said. It was insane, I even had to fly to Barcelona and Madrid just to get a stamp...Luckily, the government gave a three month extension to foreigners because of quarantine and I barely made it hahaha BUt just like you of course the good outweighs the bad and I do love it here!!
As a spaniard there are (obviouly) things that I don’t like about my country, and some of this things I don’t like either 😕😖. What I really liked is the video 😄
I’m aware of the healthcare crisis in the US. But your several comments are coming off a bit rude. I will respect your opinions, but please respect mine as well. No place is perfect
Yes, its fairly easy. Depends on where you are coming from. I am from Canada and travelled to Spain with my dog and 2 cats. Number one: Go to a CFIA approved vet. They will fill out an Annex 11 form for you (which you can get online on the spanish government website for travel - pets section). The form is mainly filled out and signed by the vet with all your dogs microchip and rabies information. Number two: They must be microchipped (ISO compatible - so when you land, customs can scan your dog and the chip can be readable) otherwise you will need to purchase your own scanner for the particular chip. Number three: They need proof of a rabies shot at least 21 days before travel & not more than a year before travel. Beyond the above, because I flew from Canada, I was also required to have the CFIA (food inspection agency) stamp my Annex form no more than 24 hours before I left for Spain. Don´t ask me why this step was required!, it was a bit of a pain in the ***, but you may not have to do that if you are coming from a different country other than Canada or US as the requirements are similar. It seemed a lot more daunting when I was learning how to do everything on my own but now I wouldn´t even sweat it after doing it once before. For the actual travel by plane you must make sure to see if the airline allows pets in the cabin or in cargo - if your dog is more than 8 kilos then they might have to fly underneath the plane, so MAKE CERTAIN the airline is pressurized below for pets. There are some restrictions to the size of the animal carrier allowed in the cabin, the carrier must fit under your seat. Call the airline and talk to someone by phone and reserve your dogs space when you book your ticket. They will walk you through the process and give you more information. I flew Air Canada and only have amazing things to say about how everything was handled. They took all the stress and worry out of travelling with my 3 fur babies and updated me throughout the flight as to the pressure in the underneath cargo where our dog was. The cats flew with me and my husband in cabin. Once in Spain - it would be an excellent idea to go straight into a vet and get a pet passport. The pet passport is official for any country you want to fly into with your dog. SOOO much easier than all the hoops I had to jump in Canada, for 3 animals, as they don´t have this passport document there. All the best, and if you have any other questions let me know.
There is a well known piece of spanish literature written by an author called Mariano Jose de Larra talking about the heavy burocracy in this country , it is called "Vuelva usted mañana ". He got so fed up from it that he end up getting suicided. You can check the wiki .
@@HolaMorgan Then it should had been very satisfying to see it with your own eyes that the legend was true . You should have felt like a XIX th century real spaniard, that should be cool isn't it?
El Corte Inglés has like everything in one same place, the downside: it's quite expensive. Places like carrefour are more affordable
Not today, carrefour now has not the BEST prices not even good quality
I went there as well and you're right it was expensive!
There's Alcampo as well.
Actually the video title should be: 10 things I don´t like about living in Malasaña ( Madrid ). Most of the things you don´t like are not usually happening in most of the areas or cities in Spain. Anyway, it´s a pity you had a hard time. Take care!
Burocracy is all over Spain and most of the stuff (loud people, touchy people) is very general in the whole country (Im spaniard)
@@alvaroleon7860 Yep, I'm from Barcelona and most of the things she listed happen here too.
Lmao why are you butt hurt? What she said is all of Spain not just Madrid.
it happens in cities like Murcia too
Were you her neighbor?
Number 8, you are right, I've recently realize that we Spanish people, generally speaking, may be very nice and bubbly at work but after that we focus in our lives, I think that speaking English is hard for us and that can be one of the reasons why we hardly socialize with non Spanish speakers. And the point that has surprised me the most is the air conditioning one, I understand that it was your personal experience but, as a Madrid citizen, I can say that there is a/c mostly everywhere, except in very small shops (I guess), otherwise we wouldn't survive in summer with 40° 🥵
Morgan has sufrido el 'Vuelva usted mañana' del que ya escribió Mariano José de Larra en 1833. No ha cambiado mucho en casi dos siglos. Respecto a comprar de todo en un mismo sitio, hay grandes almacenes: El Corte Inglés, Alcampo, Carrefour. Y luego supermercados más pequeños centrados en alimentación, artículos de higiene, belleza,... En todo caso, estás invitada cuando quieras a regresar a Madrid por el tiempo que necesites.
He leído esta obra por Mariano José de Larra! Me gustaba
Nice video, just one thing, mediterranian food is the variest in the world, try to explore more spots next time :D
Hahaha yeah.. Don´t know how she lived in Spain but the food is incredible
I do love Mediterranian food!
Buenas Morgan! Conoces a MEGrisolano? Es una youtuber estadounidense que lleva varios años viviendo en España y ha viajado a cada parte del país. Te recomiendo pasar por su canal, puedes aprender mucho sobre curiosidades de España. Es posible que incluso podáis poneros en contacto algún día. :)
Es un buen vídeo, creo que muchas de esas cosas que no te gustan tampoco nos gustan a los autóctonos (I mean local people). Un ejemplo puede ser la burocracia o lo del papel higiénico en bares o baños públicos. Es una pena que tuvieses malos vecinos, creo que no depende del país, a veces puedes tener suerte y tener buenos vecinos y otras veces no. Espero que la próxima vez tengas más suerte.
Por cierto, España es muy diferente según la zona a la que vayas, el sur, el centro o el norte pueden ser muy diferentes en cultura, clima y costumbres. Recomiendo que pruebes a visitar el norte de España en verano (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria o País vasco) , hace menos calor que en el interior o el sur. Un saludo!
Interesting, there are ACs almost everywhere in Barcelona. Even though it's not as hot as in Toledo or Madrid in summer. Spain is certainly diverse in many ways (:
Overall impression is you may not have investigated enough during your stay in Spain, and most of your experience relates to the cultural shock of moving to a different country.
1 - public healthcare everywhere, generally, is slower than the private sector. It can sometimes take months to get an appointment with a specialist within the public sector and you may need to go through a GP first to be redirected, which is lengthy and frustrating, especially when you need a doctor TODAY. Most people I know in Spain use public healthcare for general checks/scans and emergencies, but resort to private healthcare often. As any public service it is much improvable, especially considering the amount of taxes paid.
2 - Opening bank accounts/transferring money within countries is a nightmare, wherever you go
3 - There are no huge convenient stores - you have probably not moved enough. Madrid has Ikea and Costco...
4 - Variety in products - just what? Shop local, go to the mercado, where people sell their own grow. What more variety than that can you get?
5 - Toilette paper - yeah, that sucks in Spain. I grew up going to the public toilet with a pack of tissues, it is what it is.
6 - Air conditioning - again, this is a problem in Spain because it gets reeaaally hot, but big cities have adapted better than other countries in Europe where it may not be such a necessity
7 - Metro thing - again...like metro everywhere...London, Berlin, Paris...And seats on public buses don't lean; they do on coaches and yes, people can be pricks.
8 - if you are a foreigner living in literally, everywhere, it is hard to form relationships with locals. It's a fact, it happens everywhere, and it sucks - it makes you feel disconnected and lonely.
9 - neighbours. That’s not fun what happened to you. Unacceptable. But again, it can happen everywhere.
10 - obviously living abroad changes you but you may not realize how much until you reconnect with your older self. It can be a shock, but it is not Spain-related; it would have happened everywhere you went
Don’t really get the first 2, it’s not that difficult and so much can be done online, for a all things or large supermarket why didn’t you try a Carrefour? Or Alcampo, those have large range or products and all in one stores. Number 5 of you don’t have toilet paper you can ask for it, it’s normal and they appreciate it to let them know. Number 6 that’s just crazy, there are AC in all the stores and it’s just not healthy sleep with AC, we use fam and they work perfectly. Number 7, just the long distance busses have those seats, and you can ask to pull back, the regular busses they don’t have that option. Number 8 it’s not the fact of that, it’s more that we Spanish expect and effort on the languages, if they do then it’s easy if they don’t it’s harder. Number 9 that happen if you from here or not that can happen, it happen to me too, sometimes you can find those type of people but for sure they complaint because you weren’t Spanish, pretty sure she wouldn’t complaint to a Spanish person, but that’s elderly people, glad you like Spain in general
Hi Morgan, a couple of things ive learned in the 25 years ive livec in spain. (im a former New Yorker and the subways are always packed in NY. ). There are plenty of hipermercados and in madrid youve got the big corte ingles with its supermarket in several easy tonget to places. True i wish there were more variety in foods, icluding potatoes. Spaniards ( probably because the homescare small) always meet prople in bars or cafes. On the states if younlive in the suburbs where 5he homescare large) youve got huge Tvs ( living rooms kitchens bedrooms backyards) where its comfortable to hang out. But here the culture is that you see peopke in your paseo or meet for hours sitting for coffee at a cafe. So peopkevarent used to the concept of hangouts at home. Finally, ive discovered the reason for one of the items on your list. Even soanish people sayv”its difficult to make new friends in xyz spanish city. Its also a super simple explanation. Here people tend to live near where they grew up. That means that they always have their gang around from preschool thru HS where they live. Add to that that their entire family cousins aunts nieces etc. also live nearby and on saturday you lunch with your inlaws and on sunday for ex, with your parents etc etc that their social calendar is always filled. So for example the peopke in this suburban city near madrid who i go out with are people who arent from here and dont have that situation of so many family and friends and no avail time (or need) to add more friends to their social calendar. It makes perfect sense if you look at it from that perspective. The other day a spaniard said that to me about spaniards in another city and i asked her to look at it from this perspective and she realized thats exactly why.
Hi! I'm a Spaniard and she's totally right about bureaucracy. If you need some government documents, whether if you go to the right office or you try to do it online, it's just always a pain in the neck
I'm Spanish and YES! Make sure there is air conditioning wherever you go in summer because you never know what the atmosphere of a specific place can be like!!!
Number 6 is the perfect definition of "Pasar una noche toledana". Toledo (and the center of the peninsula) in summer is an oven, and in winter a freezer.
Hello @Lidia Gomez
Hola Morgan!!
I think on the first affirmation I disagree. But I don’t get upset haha!
You should specify if you got public or private insurance. On public insurance of Madrid you just make an appointment by internet then you go to your hospital on the date. Thats all, thats why I suspect you got private one jaja. By the way public insurance is not the best. But somehow it works and the appointments are not for mañana!! Haha
With the second one, I agree totally is a bit messy because in Madrid many people apply for it them the offices are quite overloaded (dont really know if here it fits haha) I live in Madrid and I am not from here and it was the same for me to get it
Third one, we have El Corte Inglés, only that store but you find everything there!
Fourth. I agree. But probably because USA is importing so much international stuff and pay for it. Here when the product get not sold out they never sell again.
Fifth sadly really. I tell you the reason. People steal it haha.
Sixth. Agree. People thinks makes you ill. Thats why not so much people have it. But normally in the south of Spain they have it.
Seventh. Truth haha
Eight. We like long term relationships. Sadly truth
Ninth. That just an experience in your apartment haha
Tenth. Agree!
You are not offending no one. If someone get offend because of such videos he should go to therapist haha. Is just entertainment
Haha thanks for your comment! I had insurance from the US because of my visa status. I think I just went to an annoying doctor lol it was a recommended doctor for foreigners!
I miss Corte!!
Creo que tienes razón en muchas, aunque me llaman especialmente la atención 2.
La 1, yo nunca he tenido ningún problema con el médico, cuando he estado mal he ido a urgencias y en breves me han atendido siempre.
Y la de los vecinos, he vivido en varias casas y pisos, pueblo y ciudad y nunca he tenido problemas con los vecinos, y mira que he montado fiestas buenas .. almenos lo mío es en Valencia.
Un saludo y vuelve pronto!
Quizá lo de los médicos es una cosa que pasa en Madrid... Ns
Y bueno, siempre habrá vecinos idiotas jajajaja
----
Maybe the doctors thing is something that happens in Madrid ... Idk
And well, there will always be stupid neighbors everywhere hahahaha
Yo con el tema de vecinos... xd Lo he puesto en otro comentario, hace un rato me han echado el agua de la fregona desde un 4° o 5° y ha caido en el patio. De vez en cuando me encuentro trozos de comida y una vez hasta un pañal xd
Lo de los médicos es 100% verídico. Yo he llegado a estar 3h esperando a que me atendiera mi doctora y eso que tenía cita previa Y con lo de los vecinos pues depende muchísimo en la zona en la que vivas y la edad que tengan. No es lo mismo vivir en un barrio joven que en un una zona donde solo hay viejos que solo se quejan porque no tienen nada mejor que hacer.
Y por último, EL PAPEL DE LOS BAÑOS. Al haber trabajado en un restaurante, te cuento el secreto, la gente no sabe utilizar el papel higiénico y lo gastan todo en cuestión de minutos. Y si encima en un bar concurrido con poco personal, ya te digo que el menor de sus problemas es echar un ojo a ver qué tal están los baños.
Un saludo y espero que vaya todo bien ❤️
No he terminado de escucharlo aún, pero tengo que comentar algo. No se en qué parte de Madrid has estado, Morgan, pero te aseguro que hay muchos supermercados que tienen de todo. Sin ir más lejos, CARREFOUR. Tiene alimentacion,k ropa, electrodomesticos, libreria... tiene de todo. Y en cuanto a variedad de comida.. tampoco se donde ha estado. Soy de Valencia y la verdad es que en el Mercado Central hay de todo.
Por lo demas, estoy totalmente de acuerdo xd La burocracia (papeleo como digo yo) es un coñazo. Es muy pesado y muchas veces te4 mandan de un lado a otro para rellenar y conseguir algunos documentos.
Y cuestión médicos, es tema aparte. Yo personalmente me enerva la organizacion de pacientes en el tiempo, aglomerandose a veces y te atienden media hora o incluso una hora despues (aunque eso era antes de la pandemia). Otra cosa es cuando pides cita y es urgente, y te citan para dentro de un mes.. y te quedas pensando.. "pues nada, me morire mientras espernado".
He estado en España y se que Carrefour tiene muchas cosas, pero no se si llega al nivel de las tiendas de los EEUU como Walmart.
Carrefour se dedica mas a la comida, no es asi?
@@ashleyd4563 no he estado nunca en EU, pero se que Walmart es enorme por lo que veo en pelis y videos de youtube. Carrefour es enorme tambien te digo, y aunque tenga una gran parte dedicada a la comida, tambien tiene zona de ropa, electrodomesticos, cosas de cocina y baño, deportes y jardineria, etc.
@@esthu87 Yo vivo aqui y el Walmart es la horterada mas grande que he visto en vida..Madredelamorhermoso que stress de tienda!!
@@ashleyd4563 claro, es que aquí no queremos Walmart porque destruiría a todos los pequeños negocios
Alcampo también tienen de todo
Im confused. Did you know places like Carrefour or El Corte Ingles? You can buy a lot of stuff and they are selled together. Burocracy is a mindblowing in Spain (i cant imagine those situations with the language barrier!). The pandemic made all so much difficult!
Please, dont apologie. You are so sweet, and its your expiriences.
yes I went to Carrefour and El Corte Ingles a lot! I'm sure it's me comparing it to the US where our country is built on convenience. Sometimes really nice but it also affects us in a bad way too!
If you get sick and want medicine you should just go to URGENCIAS. Easy, fast (it really depends on your condition) and they charge the medicines on your health card which makes them cheaper than bought on a pharmacy on your own.
A very narrow view of Spain . I live in Spain , only the burocracia is a nightmare . Everything else is as good as or better then the US or U.K. . I’ve lived in all three for many years . Oh, I forgot taxes 😂 not great here in Spain, but hey, in my opinion Spain rocks
When I was in Spain, I asked my host mom where I could buy scissors to cut my hair, expecting to go somewhere like a beauty store maybe. But she sent me to a store that specifically sells knives and scissors. I found the store it was in some back corner of a little street, probably one of the most surreal moments I've had
in these places they would have the best knives and scissors in town, even for shearing sheep
Well there are many perfumeries where you can also get it :) But she probably wanted something authentic :D
@@Cokolin21 yeah tbf they were really good quality scissors 👌, I got two different kinds
Couple of years ago in Barcelona I was at a small hotel and asked where I could get a adapter to charge my phone. Same thing. Was expecting to pay $20 USD but she didn’t speak any English. But my Spanish was good enough to find the tiny electrical store...it was under 1 €
I'm such a coward that I can't even kill myself. please encourage me to kill myself. I have to do it, I don't want to live anymore, but I don't have the mental strength to do it.
Yeah! Reverse culture shock video! That's huge. I could talk about that forever.
Also, I feel ya on the distant thing with the Spaniards. I tried to make friends and they all kind of just looked at me like "yeah you're leaving so whatever".
Being European (Irish) - "You can get all those in one shop???"
“Lace of toilet paper everywhere “ jajajaja En el confinamiento fue lo primero que se agotó en las tiendas, será por algo...?
Hello @Moni Musi
Most documents and process in Spain can be formalized through internet.
In Spain you have planty of shopping centres with, virtually, every shop you need, even with furnitures.
I live in the centre of Madrid and I hear you with the no centralised store thing (exceptions being Corte Ingles, but it is a department store, rather than an all in one) but outside of the centre of the city there are vast scale hypermarkets that might not be as big a large walmart, but are certainly as large or larger than anything we have in the UK - whenever I hire a car I like to stop off at one on the way back into town and indulge my hidden consumerist capitalist desires.
Reverse culture shock video! :)
I will!! Thanks Ángela :)
Everywhere I've been in Spain has had access to aircon (although it's not generally turned on in more rural areas).
Ikea operates in Spain and the stores are just like the ones here. The hypermarkets such as Carrrefour will also stock practically everything (although I have to say that I love the small specialist vendors).
In another video you said most people spoke English. Outside Madrid that certainly hasn't been my experience (although I guess if you stay in the tourist areas you'll hear more English than normal).
The food options are more local and regional and I love it!! :)
they have some amazing food!
I agree with everything! I had the Spanish nationality since birth but i was born and raised elsewhere, when i came to live in Spain i needed an ID, it took me a full year to get that done.
Hola Morgan, do not look for excuses not to return to Spain!!!
THIS SUMMER YOU COME BACK!!!
🏖🏖🏖
Hi for everyone from Toledo!!!
Phillip 🐶🐕🐶🐕🤪🤪🤪😂😂😂
Haha I want to come back very much! Philip says hola!
@@HolaMorgan You look quite similar to a younger version of Lindsay Lohan. No joke. I've seen few of your vids.
May I ask you from what state of the US are you? I'm just curious. Thank you.
PS: I'm from Spain & I'm not offended at all. There are over sensitve people in this country.
@@todotraptv6344 haha i always think of the Parent Trap! do I look like Hallie or Annie hahah.
I've moved a lot but currently in Texas
I never lived in Spain but I visited there in 2019 for about two weeks and I loved everything about it I miss it so much too!!!! Cannot wait till they let people come back from the US.
wow so cool! me too:)
Creo que el problema de las tiendas es porque vivías en el centro de Madrid; en el resto de Madrid o España no pasa esto; hay grandes superficies donde puedes comprar de todo; en cuanto a la burocracia sí es horrible y más en La Capital; lo del aire acondicionado es algo que tb me ha dicho mi marido que es extranjero, a mi no me importa pasar calor en verano jajajaja; y lo de tus vecinos es que eran unos amargados; besitos!
I agree with you about everything you said, but one of these things is actually an advantage. What you find as "inconvenience" is actually a beautiful thing, if you think about it. Instead of going to Walmart or Target that "has everything," and is everywhere the same, it is actually better to go to the smaller stores. You get to meet different people, usually people who actually own these stores and are more likely to be helpful to you, you get to support the local economy, instead of Wall Street, and you get a little exercise too, in the process. Is it "inconvenient"? Yes, it is. It also is more expensive. But you are gaining so much more in other ways, that I think it is worth it. It gives the country and its localities their special color and grace that the US does not have.
You are talking About madrid’ groceries. There are so little. If you go outside madrid city, groceries are SO BIG. You should come to Parquesur.
I actually found the grocery stores outside of the city to be small as well! would love to go to Parquesur
3.- Yes... There "convenience stores" in the american sense. Because they are large you'll find them in Shopping Malls that you need to drive to. There are a few "in" the city (not in Malasaña, though).
In El Corte Inglés/Hipercor (usually together), Carrefour, Al Campo, etc. you can buy a can of tomato paste, a pair of jeans and pet litter. Batteries, meat, pillows and plants, too. But... You have to drive there.
btw: There are some Costcos here too (but even farther out from the city center).
Lol the logistical part of it is not only hard for foreigners, is also traumatic for natives, when you do some paperwork you go to the place but then it turns out you needed an appointment first, so you have to go back another day 3 weeks later (because there isn't an earlier date), and when you go with an appointment you are missing a documment or you have to fill out some crap... It's just hell, if you need something urgent... Yeah that's just not gonna happen xDD
Appreciate the candor and the self awareness / gracious attitude about living there and here!
thankyou so much Gene!
The light bill
8.- I lived 3 months in a Kibbutz in Israel and felt the same. If you are obviously leaving soon, I guess people don't want to invest the time and emotions.
Agree with most of your points. However, I think part of the problem was down to where you were living. In Malasaña, gentrification has meant that a lot of 'everyday' stores have been forced out as landlords seek more profitable uses for property, namely the leisure industry, Air B'nB , etc. You're almost living in a theme park there! In barrios that aren't dead centre, you have marvellous market halls with fresh fruit, veg, meat, fish, eggs, etc. of all kinds. Then there's the 'Todo a 100' bargain stores (usually Chinese - run), many are now huge and sell absolutely everything! But you won't find them in the centre, for reasons mentioned above. Finally, the 100+ year old buildings you find in central Madrid do tend to mean everyone's literally living on top of one another, walls are thin, noise travels, poor insulation, etc., etc. I hope you get the chance to live in a barrio outside of the M30 ring road, you will be amazed at the comparative lack of stress. :)
Oh that’s such an interesting point I had not thought of that!
Yes I can attest to the thin walls jaja. I could hear my neighbors in the next building😭
It’s beautiful but comes at a price!
4.- Again. You won't find that much variety in neighborhood stores. They just don't have the real estate for it. If you try the larger stores you will find many brands and types.
In 05:59 the girl is holding a box of store-brand Carrefour cereal. Because of the street in the background I'm almost certain she bought it in the "Carrefour Express" small neighborhood stores. Those are not the large Carrefour I mentioned before.
btw: Spain exports a lot of food.
It also depends in the part of Spain you live. For example in the Basque Country you have no problems for scheduling a medical appointment online. Maybe the closest thing to big convenience be store it's El Corte Ingles or Eroski. With toilet paper it's easier to be lucky in cinemas and coffee shops than in bars. For burocracy always consult the regions calendar beforehand. About transport I've never experienced in Bilbao the lack of space in the subway as in London.😂😂😂
El Corte Inglés and Carrefour have all the things. Maybe those were hard to access from Malasaña? (Don’t know as I’ve not spent any time in Madrid ...)
I think your comments were balanced and quite fair. I’ve been living in Spain for coming up 20-years now and it is different from say the UK where I’m from. It’s a beautiful country with an incredible history but can also be extremely insular. Older people in particular haven’t travelled outside of their country like ever and believe that everything Spanish is the best. It’s very much a case of us having to adjust to the Spanish way of doing or thinking. I think that we extranjeros are more tolerated than welcomed. It’s a very insular country and slow to change. Just my opinion of course and like you I love Spain and my life here.
Change your doctor. There fixed. You had a very shitti* doctor. That never really happen to me.
The bank thing is annoying for everyone. They only work mornings so if you work mornings you cant just go... and i have had to send my own mother in my place a few times fot that reason
Ive heard that many of the food they sell in America is ban in Europe so thats why u wont find it in Spain. It has to pass many health tests... cant remember what its called. So you wont find most things you look for.
oh god yeah the bureaucracy and the forms brought me down to my last shred of sanity.
lol it really tested my patience
The issue of the paper at the toilet is due the bar is always full and is used a lot of time. Is normal to be finished rapidly.
Spaniards goes a lot to the bar/pubs.
Your doctor SHOULD NOT SAY THAT! If it is important HE/SHE JUST MUST TO TAKE or send you to the Emergency.
Should had change a doctors.
The store to be specialized and in different place WE LIKE and WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. You keep the brain trained by remember about what you need and where to find who to organize time for it etc..
about neighbours this can happening to anybody, and everywhere.
I've lived in Cairo, Egypt before and your experience sounds similar to mine. Regarding logistics, your criticisms are not just a first world problems attitude. The whole manana, that's just the way things are culture just scratches the surface. I've never been to Spain. But if I had to guess, Spain probably has a lot of corruption and lack of transparency. You might not notice it unless you tried to start a business or were raising kids there, but if you were in one of these situations, you'd realize real quick just how broken the machine is. A lot of it is probably the people's culture and outlook. Regarding convenience, the attitude in the US is if you don't like something, how can I make it better so you'll buy from me rather than my competitor. Hence some one came up with more convenient/better products to beat their competitors. In Spain, I'm guessing their attitude is if you don't like it, too bad, that's just the way it is. Perhaps it's societal laziness.
Number 6 - lack of air conditioner. This is not a Spanish 'problem,
', but an European 'problem'. You're dealing with buildings that are hundreds of years old, as opposed to American buildings that were built yesterday, so to speak. The residential buildings are not optimised to build AC units. Same with lack of elevators, especially if you live in the downtown areas as they're the oldest. You'll see this in London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, etc.
It sucks but it's called the Old World for a reason!
Totally agree with the bureaucracy, that's a unique Spanish cancer that we don't seem to want to get rid of.
Mu son has a favourite thing about Spain. During the winter the shops close on Saturday afternoon till Monday morning (not supermarkets). He loves the way the weekends are a time for families. The other plus is that when you have a stop for coffee it's possible to sit for ages. No hassle for you to move. Bureaucracy unbelievable as we're all agreed.
you maybe get a neighbours who just simply fazzy or do not like foreigner's or do not like tourists or just do not like Americans or/and Germans....etc. but it is NOT general at all for Spain all over.
I think people don’t understand the AC dilemma because they don’t know just how COLD the AC in the US is normally
Hi, a Spanish person here. I don't think everything in here is completely untrue (and somethings are actually on point). We have big stores where you can buy everything (we call them "hipermercados") but you are not going to find any in the center of the cities, you allways have to go to the suburbs and normally it's a long trip to get there, and anyway they are not as big as in USA. The first time I got into a Walmart in America I almost have an anxiety attack. Also, old people are pretty rude in Spain compare with other countries, I don't know why but it's true. I'm sorry for any foreigner who have to deal with them. And yes, people are unpunctual and don't have the same sense of personal space as the rest of the world, which explain why we had such a bad time in Spain with the coronavirus. We can't stop touching eachother.
L.O.L.
Bureaucracy is worst for foreigners, but for locals is a lot easer. With your National ID the DNI you have an electronic system validation that allows you to do lots of official stuff and paperwork just inserting your ID into your PC and working online, or even with your smartphone if it can read NFC, you don't even need to have all your papers with you for example when driving your car, as you can connect your smartphone to the databases that include everything you need to show on a traffic stop.
About the variety of food it is your appreciation because the part of the city where you live in, but in fact is the opposite that you describe, the term food deserts is something from the USA not in here.
For example MercaMadrid is the second biggest fish market at the world only behind Tokio.
In my area at Madrid I have at least 6 really big Costco like supermarkets in a 5 minute reach.
What you call a random bank holiday, is a very well known and expected day for all the people, and we all know those days before the next year starts because we plan our holidays in advance with some of these days. It would be like if a Spaniard is getting annoyed because the 4th of July at USA there are some business closed.
The Air con thing is funny, because we do have lots, even at the subway or public buses, when a heat wave hits we are really prepared for that on the contrary of countries like the UK or France, for example, because they don't count on having that kind of heat and thus they are the ones who are not prepared, and they don't have air con at public transport or hospitals or at home.
I don't like air con, and much less sleeping with it on, I try to avoid it as much as possible, because I think it is not healthy, I hate getting constipated at summer because of it everywhere at Madrid.
Yeah.... Totally, about the toilet paperas thing... It's an issue. Girls here just carry tissues everywhere
Es que eres se EEUU, es normal que viniendo del tercer mundo no te adaptes a algo diferente
Mmmm...
1- I think this is not a general Spain problem, more like that doctor was an a****le.
2- I mean, yeah, international bureocracy is a real pain. Banks are annoying to get to yeah, true pain. Managing international calls is a mess yeah, but whatsapp has a call function you can use with wifi or so... just saying.
3- Lol you make it sound like we don't have supermarkets here. I don't want to know exactly what you are thinking about when you say "get it all together"...
4- May be very european to say, but honestly what's the point of having 12 options if it's basically the same food? You may have put a bad example though.
5- True. Totally.
6- Well, yes. I'm not a heat person myself, summer can be hard.
7- That may be your american personal space concept, in spain there's less. Yeah, leaning the seat all the way back is not polite for us either. I would be pissed too.
8- Curious... people are usually welcoming and friendly here. I don't know, maybe you just got unlucky with your relationships. But depends on many things I guess. Might also be just cultural difference.
9- Well, neighbours can be annoying in any country.
10- It happens to us all.
Sorry but this is a video from a really spoiled american girl that cannot gt out of her consumerist bubble,. I mean it is not a personal attack but most of the things she complains about are really tied to a consumerist point of view. Yeah maybe groceries stores don't have all the crap they have in the US but produce is always fresh and the food in general is healthier and taste better. Yes there's not so much AC and a much smaller carbon footprint and so on. I know it's really hard for some americans to understand that some people can live without their opulent lifestyle and that living more modeslty means not living worse. But again, she seems like a nice girl I don't want to take a swing at her or anything
Whats the mail system like there? Because here in the US, especially with the pandemic; I order a lot online & just have it shipped to our home.
I’m not understanding the issue with international calls; are you having to buy a burner phone to do this?
If you were being messed about by the doctor then you have a doctor problem. The system here in Catalonia is you make an appointment at the town's doctors office (cap). Normally you see your assigned doctor, though if not available then you will see one that is. They will have your medical notes and will be able to provide the needed help. The appointment may not be for a week or 2 though. Alternatively the urgencies may be able to offer more immediate assistance, or at least expedite getting an immediate appointment.
I had no difficulty with a doctor even on holiday-I went to the chemist and they referred me to the doctor,they ushered me into emergency,the doctor was brilliant and his Spanish was wonderful -it is not always so about English in England .There are hypermarkets in Spain as in many other places..I do not personally like them often .”Great for the environment “ Only in America could this be a dismissive statement .
How do you know that you are looking inside the handbag of a spanish woman? you will always ALWAYS find a pack of tissues in it!
Not everything is right really. I'm living here but not all is true
Hi, about doctor I don't know how it is in Madrid, but in Aragon, you have an app where you make and appointment and you go that day an that is it, and usually You just need to wait 3 or 4 days
I think your neighbor hated you because of the British and drunken tourism. They would confuse you with the tourists who disturb the neighborhood
Most of the things mentioned are not general and isolated things or uncommon
Le gusta a usted cocinar. ¿Cuántos tipos de aceite de oliva encuentra en sus "MALL" en USA? ¿Cuántos tipos de vinos para cocinar - dulces, secos, tintos, blanco, amontillados...- y a qué precio? ¿Cuántas presentaciones diferentes de azafrán, pimentón - dulce, picante, ahumado...-cuántos tipos de olivas, de encurtidos? ¿Cuántos de ahumados, de salazones? ¿Sabe algo de cuántas conservas de pescado españolas - y portuguesas- arrasan en bares de NY? No envidio nada sus decenas de tipos de ketchup's, de los cientos de batidos de frutas con los que acompañar un filete - tienen en USA, por cierto, buenas carnes - pero me da la impresión de que gente de un país donde cocinan y comen durante toda su vida - hot dogs, pizza, burguer...- como adolescentes, debería pensárselo a la hora de criticar la falta de variedad en los comercios de comestibles españoles.
Este vídeo me está encantando.
Your point 5 is interesting. Do you know, that toilette paper in germany was sold out when the pandemic started?
Sorry you don't have toilet paper maybe you should bring some with you
I´m originally from Puerto Rico but decided to move to Spain (Seville). Originally it started for studies. And you´re right about logistics.
For instance, when I went to do my credits transfer 1. Even though it was the same university (split in several buildings across the city) nobody knew everything and I had to go each different place to gather all the information. And not even that. I went this day where they gave me this papers to fill and when I went back the next day they told me something different and I was amazed that I had to tell the person that I was given that just there. and 2. They took a WHOLE YEAR to process that. While in PR (and USA) you just drop the papers at the main building and it´ll get processed in 2 weeks at most.
Another time after I got my Student Visa I asked before leaving if I had to something more eventually (given the fact that it expired at the end of the year) and they told me that I was OK as long as I kept studying. Well, that wasn´t the case. It got expired and I had to deal with it. The worst part was telling this to a Spanish friend and being told by her that it was "my fault for not gather all the information". Excuse me? It wasn´t that I just left and didn´t care. I asked an employee of at the Immigration Department. Was I supposed to go beyond that to make sure?
And things haven´t improved.
For instance, I suffer from a chronical pain condition. And while it´s amazing that universal care is a thing it shouldn´t have to be so complicated. I have an appointment for a treatment in November (and I was evaluated on October. So I am supposed to suffer till then.
Then I have an operation pending. Since April last year I was expected to start doing blood tests and such in preparation. It reached November and nothing happened. I called my General Doctor who told me to ask because things wouldn´t move forward if I didn´t. Not surprisingly it wasn´t until I decided to call that things started to progress.
It´s unbelievable. A country so advanced in so many things yet so slow in others. Another example: there are pleny of logistics things you can do online. However, one thing is that and another the slowly process the administrations take to process.
if you come again, I suggest you to go to "urgencias" people that is not urgent go there when your doctor doesn´t help you
Hi Morgan!
Some comments for your viewers who might be considering coming to Spain (when possible again).
1.- The "mañana" attitude / Re: your doctor's visit.
The problem might have been one of "system".
As most of your US viewers might not know, Spain has a very strong public health system. Within it the appointment system is well adhered to (certainly the places in Spain I know).
I understand that, within a short term stay (a year?) you wouldn't have registered in the Seguridad Social and went instead to a private doctor. There are pros and cons to either approach, of course. Maybe that doctor was flaky. As can happen anywhere, there are all sorts.
BTW: Anyone can go to the emergency for free.
Obama quiso copiar el sistema sanitario de España e implementarlo en Estados Unidos... por algo será 😊
Reverse culture shock would be really interesting!!!
coming soon!!
Cada vez es más fácil que encuentres todo lo que quieras en un mismo sitio como ciertos hipermercados o bazares. Lamentablemente esto no es tan bueno. Antes podías encontrar de todo en las calles del centro de una ciudad. Tenías que salir de una tienda y entrar en otra pero estaban cerca unas de otras. Por el auge de los hipermercados y bazares ya no hay tantas tiendas pequeñas con lo que eso conlleva: menos gente tiene trabajo, la economía decae, las ciudades se marchitan, y el interés turistico tambien decae. Soy de una pequeña ciudad del sur, en la costa, donde muchos edificios historicos están en pesima situación y las calles llenas de locales vacios. He conocido esas calles llenas de tiendas abiertas. Echo mucho de menos eso.
Hola, que tal?, como van?, Los mejores y más cordiales Saludos desde puente piedra, lima, Perú, ojalá que puedas venir en algún momento a mi país y que disfrutes mucho de todo por aquí, con la familia y los amigos, felicidades por tus vídeos...
Nunca me compraría un jamón de bellota en un sitios donde venden también excavadoras, ni un perfume en loa mi9sma tienda en la que venden estiércol y abono.
There’s a Costco and IKEA in Spain just not as much and everywhere like in the USA but overall great video really liked hearing of your experience
También puede usted pagarse una clínica privada española, atienden muy rápido.
Bueno, eso de los vecinos es una historia personal que tuvo con sus ellos. No pretenderá que eso sea generalizable, no? Claro, igual tendríamos que conocer la opinión de los neighbours… Saludines
Aprendan a contestarle a los agregados..si no le gusta donde imigro pues vayase de donde vino..tan simple como eso..salida ay por mar, tierra y aire...si los espanoles hablan en voz alta esa es su cultura igual que nosotros. Siempre esta el que quiere mandar en casa ajena..ni se dejen. WEPA
Ah! Y es que yo no tuve que hacer papeleos en Estados Unidos? Ah y es que fue facilísimo cobrar mis cheques en un banco? En fin, cada uno conoce su país y le parece que en su casa es facilísimo,
did you work in Maqueda, Toledo that summer?
Hey! Why don’t you change the light or the make uo girl?
Lo primero que has contado del médico no es mañana attitude es negligencia profesional absoluta.
Don't go to África you don't like warm weather
here It is not allow to build such huge places as in USA
Hoping to move to Spain after summer so I've just been binging as many of your videos as I can, they've been really insightful. Cheers!
This one seems pretty specific to issues she ran into ... but good to know what can go wrong or seem inconvenient when you’re new here!
@@shinyshinythings Definitely!
aw thank you so much Ryan! you're going to love Spain!! let me know if there's any video ideas you'd like to see
@@HolaMorgan If you have any advice on learning the language or teaching English in Spain that would be great, also how did you go about finding people to live with? Thanks Morgan!
All i can say is you deffo right in all!!
I hate bureaucracy here, its simply a nightmare, my neighbours (not all of them) are idiots, and I HATE there's no toilet paper anywhere!! 🙈
Some ppl on the bus put mobile phone on sound loud on (and i think on that moment... Im gonna kill him)
Great video, i thought it was me complaining........
the toilet paper issue really got to me lol
@@HolaMorgan por eso yo siempre llevo toallitas en mi mochila,. Pueden salvarte la vida!!
🤣🤣
Wait... Dont you have whatsapp call feature?
If you don't like bus pay a taxi 😝
You look like hailee steinfield😅
Lo del mito de “mañana” yo es algo que no lo entiendo, ya vienen con esa idea y lo aplican a todo.
Number 5, LOL, you're right hahaha
Lmao right? It really puts you in a compromising position hahah
Holaa Morgan, I agree with most of what you were saying! I live in Galicia but the issues you experienced have been pretty similar for me. Especially with the legal paperwork...I almost had to go home because I couldn't complete everything in time even though I was getting appointments as soon as possible and doing everything they said. It was insane, I even had to fly to Barcelona and Madrid just to get a stamp...Luckily, the government gave a three month extension to foreigners because of quarantine and I barely made it hahaha BUt just like you of course the good outweighs the bad and I do love it here!!
Hola! yes the legal paperwork is a nightmare! oh wow having to fly for a stamp.. i believe it haha. i love it there too!
As a spaniard there are (obviouly) things that I don’t like about my country, and some of this things I don’t like either 😕😖.
What I really liked is the video 😄
thank you so much:)
Public heathcare is much better in USA, I am being sarcastic
I’m aware of the healthcare crisis in the US. But your several comments are coming off a bit rude. I will respect your opinions, but please respect mine as well. No place is perfect
6 is sooo true
Does anyone know what it's like moving to Spain with a dog?
Yes, its fairly easy. Depends on where you are coming from. I am from Canada and travelled to Spain with my dog and 2 cats. Number one: Go to a CFIA approved vet. They will fill out an Annex 11 form for you (which you can get online on the spanish government website for travel - pets section). The form is mainly filled out and signed by the vet with all your dogs microchip and rabies information. Number two: They must be microchipped (ISO compatible - so when you land, customs can scan your dog and the chip can be readable) otherwise you will need to purchase your own scanner for the particular chip. Number three: They need proof of a rabies shot at least 21 days before travel & not more than a year before travel. Beyond the above, because I flew from Canada, I was also required to have the CFIA (food inspection agency) stamp my Annex form no more than 24 hours before I left for Spain. Don´t ask me why this step was required!, it was a bit of a pain in the ***, but you may not have to do that if you are coming from a different country other than Canada or US as the requirements are similar.
It seemed a lot more daunting when I was learning how to do everything on my own but now I wouldn´t even sweat it after doing it once before. For the actual travel by plane you must make sure to see if the airline allows pets in the cabin or in cargo - if your dog is more than 8 kilos then they might have to fly underneath the plane, so MAKE CERTAIN the airline is pressurized below for pets. There are some restrictions to the size of the animal carrier allowed in the cabin, the carrier must fit under your seat.
Call the airline and talk to someone by phone and reserve your dogs space when you book your ticket. They will walk you through the process and give you more information. I flew Air Canada and only have amazing things to say about how everything was handled. They took all the stress and worry out of travelling with my 3 fur babies and updated me throughout the flight as to the pressure in the underneath cargo where our dog was. The cats flew with me and my husband in cabin.
Once in Spain - it would be an excellent idea to go straight into a vet and get a pet passport. The pet passport is official for any country you want to fly into with your dog. SOOO much easier than all the hoops I had to jump in Canada, for 3 animals, as they don´t have this passport document there.
All the best, and if you have any other questions let me know.
There is a well known piece of spanish literature written by an author called Mariano Jose de Larra talking about the heavy burocracy in this country , it is called "Vuelva usted mañana ". He got so fed up from it that he end up getting suicided. You can check the wiki .
Yes! I actually read it in college!
@@HolaMorgan Then it should had been very satisfying to see it with your own eyes that the legend was true . You should have felt like a XIX th century real spaniard, that should be cool isn't it?