"Move back to Britain - No way" - any other Albion ex-pats seen Telegraph article

[Chesney Christ]

You work hard, play by the rules then you are are criminal and should be locked up. If you're the oppisite then you you are a right minded law abiding citizen and entilted to bleed the tax payers dry.

Do you believe literally EVERYTHING you read in The Daily Mail?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Which westernised countries have worse ratios of gun deaths per capita?

No need to use westernised. You simply need to ask which countries.... there are not that many.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

That is simply nonsense. There is much more willingness to address guns on the Democrats side than on the GOP side. Pretty much nobody is talking about an outright, across-the-board ban on all guns, if that's what you mean.

The problem is that the NRA has a lot more money than sense (but not paranoia).

Point taken, I would agree that as political parties the Democrats are doing more to try to control and reform gun ownership - ‘issue’was the wrong word.

What I was trying to say is that as individual gun owners there are both Democrats and Republicans who believe in their right to bear arms, what that split is would be anybody’s guess as the NRA probably do not collect that information.

The across the board ban would never get off the ground– the best that can be hoped for is some sort of compromise where the type and numbers could be regulated, so at least items such as assault rifles could be banned / restricted.

 

[Jbanged]

Been in Spain for over 5 years now. If I'm honest the first 2 years I suffered with homesickness a lot. I was also living with other xpats at that time and doing as people have mentioned above... Drinking in Irish pubs and generally only socialising with Brits.
It was when I returned to England one summer and all my mates asked are you speaking Spanish fluently yet, I couldn't say yes. I was so embarrassed. When I returned to barcelona I changed flats and lived with Spanish speakers only. I now speak Spanish fluently have a good variety of international friends and am not homesick anymore. Infact I can safely say I have a better style of life here now than I did in England, I wouldn't move back.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Been in Spain for over 5 years now. If I'm honest the first 2 years I suffered with homesickness a lot. I was also living with other xpats at that time and doing as people have mentioned above... Drinking in Irish pubs and generally only socialising with Brits.
It was when I returned to England one summer and all my mates asked are you speaking Spanish fluently yet, I couldn't say yes. I was so embarrassed. When I returned to barcelona I changed flats and lived with Spanish speakers only. I now speak Spanish fluently have a good variety of international friends and am not homesick anymore. Infact I can safely say I have a better style of life here now than I did in England, I wouldn't move back.

Interesting story of contrast. And well done for getting to such a high level of language in such a short space of time.

 

[Blues Rock DJ]

I love living in France, good weather, good food, good wine, good times!

I'm finding it hard to integrate with the French as you can't have the banta with them that you do with the English. There is quite a sizable English community here, all very active 'outdoors' type people so evenings are spent cycling, playing football, touch rugby, climbing etc but always ends up in the pub, which isn't a bad thing at all!

No idea how long I'll stay for though, I do miss a few things at home, but the longer I'm here the less I miss.

difficult to see what difference your life is to that over here.....do you speak French, or exclusively mix with fellow Brits ?

 

[jamie (not that one)]

It is really difficult to move back after living away. It's the small things like tomatoes tasting bland, it being overcast every day and paying over the odds for most stuff that annoyed me. Madrid is a capital city and has the capital city mentality but I am happier there then I was in the UK. Streets are cleaner, people more chilled and moan about less inane shite. I love visiting home though.

 

[Jbanged]

Interesting story of contrast. And well done for getting to such a high level of language in such a short space of time.

Thanks, trying with Catalan... Going to take me longer!

 

[Gregory2Smith1]

I love living in France, good weather, good food, good wine, good times!

I'm finding it hard to integrate with the French as you can't have the banta with them that you do with the English. There is quite a sizable English community here, all very active 'outdoors' type people so evenings are spent cycling, playing football, touch rugby, climbing etc but always ends up in the pub, which isn't a bad thing at all!

No idea how long I'll stay for though, I do miss a few things at home, but the longer I'm here the less I miss.

I know what you mean with banter,their humour is more slapstick than sarcastic

I also find the French a little regimental,lunch at 12,gouter at 4 then dinner at 8

football is very different here to,other than ligue 1,the French don't care about the lower leagues

Toulouse's nearest rivals Bordeaux are 2 and a half hours away,so there's no regional banter whatsoever

and all the games are played on Sunday,so Saturday's here are really different

been here for 5 years,no problems at all,but I do have a French wife and all of our circle of friends are French

I find them very helpful and friendly,helps if you like Ricard mind!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Thanks, trying with Catalan... Going to take me longer!

I've heard the third language in easier than the second.

Also, can I ask how you got up to speed to quickly. It obviously involves lots of practice so how did you do this? Did you just speak Spanish every time you could with anyone available or did you do something more structured? Apologies for being nosey but the wife and myself are learning German and after the initial course she has just hooked up with some 'tandem' partners; the idea that she speaks English and wants to learn German and hooks up for a coffee with people who want to do the reverse. First 30 mins is in German and the second is in English. I'm simply curious how others approach this.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I do miss a decent curry though. Germans just dont do spicy food. I've had stronger tasting mayonaisse than their mustard.

 

[tinycowboy]

Toulouse's nearest rivals Bordeaux are 2 and a half hours away,so there's no regional banter whatsoever

I lived in Toulouse in the mid 1990s, right in the centre. Lovely place, gets hot early on in the year, food and accommodation is cheap. Have been back as a tourist. It's one of those places that is quite nice for a day, but reveals itself over a longer time period (although you could say that about many places). I used to busk in the centre, used to find the police a bit scary...

 

[RandyWanger]

I find them very helpful and friendly,helps if you like Ricard mind!

It's more Chartreuse and Génépi‎ in this part of France ;-)

I guess it helps having a French wife, my friends joke and say I should get a French girlfriend then I'd fit in more...