Much of our citizenship has been expelled from our country in different decades for different reasons. From the political reasons after the civil war to the economic reasons that still today make a large part of our youth continue to look for field beans in other countries.Many of today’s recent emigrants are no longer so young.
At least part of the diaspora left in an easier way, without having to feel expelled from Spain and more as a personal choice to achieve better professional or economic status, or simply to be one of those young adventurers that Fátima Bañez spoke of when she was Minister of Labour, Social Security and Migration.
This second group can usually return with the ease with which they left the country, without drama and without having to do too many numbers.
Of the first group to be expelled, a large proportion are eager for a fixed possibility of return to their city, their region or simply their country, but they still have in mind the image of that country they left behind when they decided to emigrate and they remember the last few months of doubts, problems, finding a job and the heartbreak of having to pack your bags and leave the only place you’ve ever known, leaving family and friends behind.
This week, one of those emigrants who appears to be among those who would only be returning to Spain for their retirement announced that she and her British partner have decided to bring their return to Spain forward by two decades.
Every time this happens you ask yourself a lot of things.
To return as a retiree it is somewhat more or less commonand since Brexit, many families have chosen to return to their country, perhaps because of doubts about the British economy, because of the new opportunities arising from Spain, or because of the changing environment and the Loss of the sense of belonging that was taken from us in 2016with the referendum on leaving the European Union.
Most who return do so as soon as they have them Safety net of a British nationalityacquired through their prolonged stay in the country, assuring them that should there be any problem upon their return, they can return to Spain. One of these problems could be adapting to the country or the way of working.
In the last five years I have seen many people returning home and with the first families who have returned I have to admit mine unbelief before this decision. He gave them a maximum of six months to tuck in and return to the stable United Kingdom, and in neither case was that the case.
Most returnees do so once they have the safety net of British citizenship acquired through prolonged stay in the country.
The doubts that we emigrants have dissipate over the years. Sons and daughters are born, we support them at work or we buy their first house. The initial shock of the new culture, new language and new ways of working passes more or less quickly, but that is felt by those of us who have spent several decades abroad, in addition to being better adapted to the “new” country “our Spain” has changed a lot.
The changes are in every respect and while some things of 90’s Spain are missing, the modernization and progress in many other areas is appreciated.
I won’t comment on everything that frustrates even those of us who decide to leave our country, but I would like to highlight some of the improvements that can be seen in a more modern, European country, but at the same time still retains many traditions or customs at which are appreciated.
After more than three years without a vacation in Spain, these days I enjoy the proximity of the Spaniards, the fresh products, the spontaneity of the people or the fact that in a city where you don’t know you, the neighbors greet you.
Changes over the past two decades are taking Spain by force Convergence with the rest of the European countriesand while wages are still not consistent, the cut seen in minimum wages is far from on track.
Those of us coming from the UK miss very much the days when a pound sterling would be exchanged for 260 pesetas or more than 1.5 euros and on many occasions the bargain that was coming to Spain has ceased to be with many products in the shopping basket, sometimes more expensive than what is paid in the British Isles.
Many British tourists have been complaining about this in their tabloids for a number of years the price increase in Spain or now about limiting the number of drinks they can have at the “all-inclusive” establishments they usually visit. The approaching parity with the euro has resulted in a loss of purchasing power and they have become much less attractive as tourists for the Spanish tourism sector.
For those of us still in the UK, there is existential doubts at this moment: should we return to our country at a certain age? Is it really as good as it seems when we return on vacation? Has the economy recovered and can we be attracted to work in similar positions?
UK pensions are nothing to write home about and if the UK continues with the current trend and is it again “sick man” of Europe as it was in the 70’s, maybe our dream of retirement and a future in our country in the future doesn’t exist. Perhaps we are doomed to seek our retirement in Bulgaria or Romania as this is starting to become a trend and returning to our country will never happen.
Return plans… where are they? You’ll have to wait and see what happens or take the risk and buy a one-way ticket without further ado.
