I became Spanish in some ways and remained English in others - Mrs Daykin talks about living in Spain (Andalucia) for ten years.
What was it like adapting to a new culture?
Quite scary - because we ended up in Spain and before we moved I'd been learning French for the last year because we thought we were moving to France. So I didn't even know the word for 'hello' in Spanish! So that was a bit of a shock to have to forget everything I had learned about French and learn about Spanish. The weather was really good, but it was about adjusting to being a new country. We did get introduced to quite a few English people over there, so that community opened itself to us quite quickly. They knew what to do, and where to go, and who we needed to get things done. |
What were the things you missed most about the UK?
Originally it was leaving my family. We were a fairly close family and I would see them regularly, so leaving was a big change. I was homesick for about the first weekend; I cried a lot that weekend but then I got on with it and I didn't regret it at all, I was perfectly fine!
Originally it was leaving my family. We were a fairly close family and I would see them regularly, so leaving was a big change. I was homesick for about the first weekend; I cried a lot that weekend but then I got on with it and I didn't regret it at all, I was perfectly fine!
In your experience, how would you describe English immigrant attitudes towards fitting into the Spanish culture?
Fits and starts - some people would adapt and adopt the Spanish culture; others would try and create their own England. They wouldn't learn the language, or expect to have to speak anything but English. Whereas where we were in Spain, it was really rural and the people there didn't speak a lot of English so we definitely had to speak the language. So you have two different views I think - some people fit in and adapt and others don't. I was sort of middle of the road: I wanted to learn Spanish and I wanted to fit in with their culture, but the timings of the day I always struggled with. obviously they have siestas in the afternoon and they would always eat later - I remained very English with my food times, I wanted breakfast at English breakfast time, lunch at English lunch time and dinner and English dinner time! Whereas the Spanish would eat at 9pm or 10pm at night. So, I adapted in some ways and became Spanish, but remained English in others, I would say!
How would you describe the Spanish attitude towards English migrants, in your experience?
People were really welcoming, they would try and help us. they would leave us gifts - because where we were was so rural there were a lot of allotments. So you'd come home and there'd be things on your doorstep - tomatoes, flowers, courgettes, that they would leave. I didn't experience any negativity at all.
Fits and starts - some people would adapt and adopt the Spanish culture; others would try and create their own England. They wouldn't learn the language, or expect to have to speak anything but English. Whereas where we were in Spain, it was really rural and the people there didn't speak a lot of English so we definitely had to speak the language. So you have two different views I think - some people fit in and adapt and others don't. I was sort of middle of the road: I wanted to learn Spanish and I wanted to fit in with their culture, but the timings of the day I always struggled with. obviously they have siestas in the afternoon and they would always eat later - I remained very English with my food times, I wanted breakfast at English breakfast time, lunch at English lunch time and dinner and English dinner time! Whereas the Spanish would eat at 9pm or 10pm at night. So, I adapted in some ways and became Spanish, but remained English in others, I would say!
How would you describe the Spanish attitude towards English migrants, in your experience?
People were really welcoming, they would try and help us. they would leave us gifts - because where we were was so rural there were a lot of allotments. So you'd come home and there'd be things on your doorstep - tomatoes, flowers, courgettes, that they would leave. I didn't experience any negativity at all.
What did you find most interesting about the Spanish culture where you lived?
It's interesting because there are remnants of feeling left from the Spanish Civil War - not towards us, but between neighbour and neighbour. There is distrust there, which is really interesting and there's a lot to uncover there. People forget that the civil war lingers for the Spanish. Times were very tough then and cities were destroyed. The rural Spanish like new things, they don't seem too keen on history and heritage. If they wanted to move into the town, they would get a new house in the city and leave their old house in the country to go to ruin. Churches are maintained but other buildings and older part of towns and buildings in the countryside are often left to just get older and lie empty.
Would you go back?
We still have our house there - my husband is there now doing some maintenance. I can't wait to go back - I am jealous that he's there now!
It's interesting because there are remnants of feeling left from the Spanish Civil War - not towards us, but between neighbour and neighbour. There is distrust there, which is really interesting and there's a lot to uncover there. People forget that the civil war lingers for the Spanish. Times were very tough then and cities were destroyed. The rural Spanish like new things, they don't seem too keen on history and heritage. If they wanted to move into the town, they would get a new house in the city and leave their old house in the country to go to ruin. Churches are maintained but other buildings and older part of towns and buildings in the countryside are often left to just get older and lie empty.
Would you go back?
We still have our house there - my husband is there now doing some maintenance. I can't wait to go back - I am jealous that he's there now!