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The funniest (and truest) tweets about the problems of living in Spain

The Local
The Local - [email protected] • 2 Sep, 2020 Updated Wed 2 Sep 2020 09:00 CEST
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Guiris in Spain are taking to Twitter to vent their frustrations about life in the country. Here The Local has selected some of the funniest and truest tweets.

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Life in Spain is pretty fantastic, right? First there's all that sun, then you've the friendly people and the cheap food and drink. But even in paradise, there is always going to be that occasional, unbelievably frustrating Only in Spain moment. 

When that happens, where else to go but Twitter? And whether it's late nights, loud neighbours, or the difficulty they face in finding their favourite foods, it turns out Spain's guiris (foreigners) have found plenty to grumble about.

Here's The Local's compilation of complaints about Spain on Twitter. 

One of the hardest things to get used to in Spain as a foreigner is time-keeping and the Spanish habit of always arriving at late.

Woe betide you if you actually turn up on time:

Some guiris manage to get the hang of it.

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Timing is also hard to deal with when it comes to mealtimes and the nocturnal nature of the Spanish.

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And when it comes to getting things done, especially bureaucracy, don't look to Spain for efficiency.

Then there's the language problems.

 

Oh what a difference an 'ñ' makes!

 

And what happens when you get so used to saying things the Spanish way that your friends back home think you're really strange.

 

Getting the hang of the local customs can be tricky too.

And what is it with those light switches??!

 

 

Let us know on Twitter (@thelocalspain) any particular #spainproblems of your own.

READ MORE: Seven habits you will never be able to truly master like a Spaniard

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#members #life in spain

Comments

The Local 2020/09/02 09:00

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[email protected] 2021/03/01 23:42
As one who's been living in Spain for 18+ months, I'm still caught off guard when someone says 'Buenos dias' around 5 pm ... yes, at 17 hrs. at least twice I've heard it ... la siesta is what it's always been ...a slice of Spanish culture but 'Buenos dias a las 5'? <br />
[email protected] 2020/02/13 16:47
And then there's the inevitable pushing the door into the cafe and going nowhere because it 's meant to be pulled. It's like fighting my way in and out all the time. Add that to the realization that I'm either losing my fingerprints or just downrite inept since it takes me so long to open those plastic bags needed to contain and weight your produce.
[email protected] 2020/02/13 13:07
In Australia we switch lights on in a down direction and of course off is in the up direction On=down off=up.<br />In Spain one turns the "lights up" and then turns the "lights down". My theory is that started with lanterns where one turns the wick up or down.
[email protected] 2020/02/13 11:50
My first here in Spain was full of enthusiasm for learning the language and embracing the community. Four months later Christmas arrived. I gladly went around the local town wishing everyone 'feliz navidad y ano neuvo'. Yes I had missed the subtly of the n in ano which is something completely different. I was impervious to the laughter and persistence of my new neighbours repeatedly repeating the expression correctly. There was much merriment and no one was offended. For the uninitiated ano means ar*ehole. After finding out my error I spent the first week visiting all of my haunts repeating my greeting correctly, to much amusement of the towns folk. Bless them all.<br /><br />I now have hearing aids <br />Kris (Montroy, Valencia)
[email protected] 2019/08/01 21:17
Lol! So true :) Can't wait to return!!

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