Originally Posted by chuckd
going to Spain is cool and all, but to move there and get jobs seems like a waste of time . I'm no expert, but I spent 2 months in Spain living with a family and taking spanish this summer, and have lived out of the US for 3 years ,just to clarify that I am completely ignorant.
You want to leave Texas, fine, but why move out of country when you are ill prepared to do so? The whole thing about moving to Europe, while a great fantasy, is in reality just that, reality. No matter where you go, be it Britain, Spain, Oklahoma, etc, once the novelty wears off, you are back where you started. Same $h!t, different address. Except more difficult with a language barrier.
If you are going for practical purposes, learn spanish then by all means go.
If you are going because it seems like an interesting thing to do, then buy a house in the US and take a long vacation there.
That being said, I forget where exactly, but there is a 'village' if you will, where the whole place is a kind of haven for wealthier/ business Spanish people to practice English. They hire people who know no Spanish and all they do is interact with the spaniards. May be something to consider.
I appreciate the advice, and I do agree our preparedness level is not where it needs to be yet (which is why we have alloted a decent amount of time, and may add more..and why im posting questions on FT
)
That being said we do have friends that live currently there(and a family here that is very supportive), and in that have a support group, and we both have been to Madrid several times before and are familiar enough with the city to navigate it with confidence.
Its not so much of an "Interesting Thing to Do", as it is a feeling that we both jive better with European culture and way of life(not to sound too xenocentric), and new adventure and life experience even if only for a couple of years, either of us could always return to the U.S.
I know that once the "honeymoon" wears off it life will return to some sort of normalcy, but the point of going isn't for a temporary high, but to get to know life in a Spanish/European culture, learn the language(s) meet the people and grow from the experience(can you tell I want to go into Anthropology
)
I am looking into TELF certifications, I have a contact at the World Tourism Organization and am exploring in opportunities there. My mother is checking out the various American schools. We are going to make sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed.
Thanks for the Post!