Why it makes sense to fully immerse into the Spanish community.

As a trusted real estate agent here in the beautiful Marina Alta area of Spain, we have an obligation, not just to help our clients find their dream home in Spain, but to give our best advice on how to settle in to it. 

Moving house is daunting for everyone, especially those moving to a different area, let alone a different country!

Integration is a key factor in how well you will settle. Even if you really value your privacy and don´t particularly want to be socialising seven days a week, it is still important to feel part of a community, in order to feel a sense of belonging.

Why is it important to try to integrate?

1) Community and friends are your extended family.

Most people relocating are leaving their friends and family behind and starting a whole new chapter. You will quickly make friends within the ex pat community but you should also be open to making friends with the locals.

2) Emotional support.

Your first weeks and months are a time of exciting new challenges and every day is a learning curve. However, most ex pats have, at some point, also experienced homesickness. The culture shock is, for most, a very welcome one, but for some it can be overwhelming and you can be left feeling a sense of loneliness. Having new friends around can help to combat this.

3) Practical help.

Your support network will help to get you up and running. You will find that you will learn a lot from other peoples experiences and knowledge. Especially your Spanish neighbours. 

4) Changing perceptions.

Even if you can´t speak Spanish, local people will be happy to help you. Even though some don´t speak English, we all speak Spanglish! It is important to “break the ice” otherwise they will shy away from you and the perception, on both sides, is that you don´t want to communicate.

5) A more enriched life.

By immersing yourself in the community, even in a small way, you will feel a sense of acheivement and belonging. The weather is not the only the reason you moved to Spain! 

How to integrate in your local community.

1) Immerse yourself in Spanish culture.

Make a conscious effort to participate in local events, festivals and traditions. On moving into the village of Llíber, we went to watch the Easter procession. I stood outside the church and before I knew what was happening I found myself volunteering to carry the statue of the virgin around the village. Although the mood is rather somber, my family were highly amused that, after a long search to find out where I had disappeared to, there I was slowly marching with the villagers. The locals also found it amusing and it still causes laughter and conversation among ex pats and locals alike.

2) Learn the language.

Making friends among the ex pat community is relatively easy but acquainting yourself with the local people is more challenging. Nobody is suggesting that you set yourself unacheivable goals, but just by learning the basics you can make yourself seem so much more approachable. Your confidence will grow and you will find yourself passing the time of day with everyone. You will be amazed by the reaction you get just by pointing at the sky and saying “que buen tiempo” (great weather) or "¿como esta?" (how are you?).

3) Respect the way of life.

We hear complaints from ex pats about; the shops closing in the afternoon for siesta, timekeeping Spanish style, the noise during fiesta time etc. You have to, not only get used to it, but try and embrace it! “Siesta time”, when we first arrived in Spain, was baffling, especially as we are not retired. That is, until we tried it! In the summer when it is uncomfortably hot, going home for a nap is a wonderful hour of respite. That 20-30 minutes is all you need to recharge your batteries. It is not for the Spanish way of life to change for us, it is for us to accept the cultural differences and embrace the diversity!

4) Family support.

For those with children, integration is essential, for their educational needs and social skills. Also for the older generation who need more help and support. A lot of the older generation here in Spain, have “almuerzo” (brunch) together. They congregate in groups of men or women (on Sundays they go together). The benefits of this custom are many. The social interaction is essential, they support each other and they ask questions about why anyone might be missing. This is all done without fuss or intrusion into anyones privacy. 

How privileged it is to be accepted and welcomed by your Spanish neighbours. You don´t have to learn fluent Spanish just sit at the bar and have a coffee or a beer, smile and you will find someone will engage with you. 

Don´t lose sight of why you moved to Spain. This is a whole new book of adventures, learning and enrichment.