Ok, I am a quasi-student who is taking a year (at least) off. I came up with this half baked idea to move to Spain for a year or so. I spent about a month is Spain last summer, so why not live there. Advice on anything at all is apreciated. Is is difficult to get an under-the-table job, in say Madrid?
Posts: 8 | Location: NH, USA | Registered: 26 May 2001
Hola "Antonio" (may as well give you a Spanish name since you are almost a Spaniard ). I personally would like to congratulate you on your decision, while I did what you did a few years back, I did it as a student which made things much easier (due to my student visa) but that way requires you to be in a study abroad program which can get expensive. The bad news is that currently in Spain it is very difficult for Americans to get residency and to work "legally". As for your month stay in the summer, their is a huge difference between a 1 month summer visit and living here long term, as things are Americans have a limit of 3 months to be here as "tourists" (or "temporary visitors"). I am legally here because I have dual citizenship for having been born in Scotland, even though I left there for NY when I was 2 months old so I hope that others on my message board who have lived your situation more closely can advise you as well. The only sure "ins" seem to be marrying a Spaniard or getting a job through a US or foreign company that is willing to send you to an office of theirs in Spain. While that is the "theory" of the situation, the good news is the "reality" of the situation (at least as I see it day to day in Madrid) is quite different. I have many friends who have thrown caution to the wind and have been here illegally for many years. I am not saying this is ok nor am I encouraging it but I feel that you should know the way it really is here. Keep in mind that if you are caught here illegally, you can be sent home and banned from returning to the European Community for a number of years (the exact number I am not sure of). Back to the good news . Work in Madrid (under the table-cash in hand) is pretty plentiful in one field and one field only, teaching English! Many think that they can easily get bar work but do not realize that their are just not that many job offers in that field to absorb the demand. Many of the language schools here will hire you illegally and pay you betweent 1,500 ($8) and 2,500 ($13) pesetas/hour. The best paying jobs however are usually given to those with English teaching experience and/or a degree and certification (TEFL, TOEFL, etc) but some centers are willing to train you as well and pay less while you learn. I work with a school here that hires Americans, Brits, Aussies, etc... right off the plane and can usually give you the hours you want teaching English. They also organize activities and fun things to do with their teachers to incorporate them into life here in Madrid. You can visit them online at www.oleidiomas.com/canterbury and if you tell them I (jeremy) sent you, they will trewat you well (I hope ). The best thing to do would be to phone them since they may not be into answering you via e-mail. Another good place to look is the "Ex Patriate Caf�" which is run by an American girl named Tracy Moral, she can probably help you or advise you on teaching jobs in Madrid. She also has some helpful links on her site. No matter what you decide to do, I wish you all the luck in the "mundo". hasta pronto amigo, jer...
Thanks for the information, could you impart me with a bit more? Well, I basically slaved away all summer to have the money to move, in fact I was working so much I didn't even think about Madria. Well, now I am. The first thing that crossed my mind is I’m not able to speak Spanish as well as I though that I could –in fact I speak it much worse than I had thought (its amazing how these things manage to slip your mind). I am mildly conversant, at best. How lenient, or desperate, are these English schools? I have enough money that I could live for a few months without working, and in this time work heavily on my language skills. Teaching English sounds like something I would find a lot more interesting and enjoyable than serving up the old Bacardi & Coca-Cola and San Miguel. Im sure this would please my parents as well, as they are both educators. Any other words of encouragement; moving to another continent by yourself, ain’t easy!. Thanks for your time, Jer.
Posts: 8 | Location: NH, USA | Registered: 26 May 2001
Hey Anthony, I thought I was pretty detailed in my post but I now realize what you want. You want more encouragement to make the jump over to Spain
First of all, if you come to Madrid, take a Spanish class while here, no matter how basic, it will help a lot!
I am well aware that moving to another country on your own is tough but in my opinion, if you are going to try it, do iut and if it does not work out you can always go back. I have both American and British nationality so it is a lot easier for me to live and work here as a European citizen and member of the EC.
So, while I would love to tell you not to worry about anything, I have friends here who are American and they are haveing a very tough time due to the fact that they have no legal work permit here and very little chance of getting one. It seems that lately Spain (and Europe in general) is becoming more and more closed to non EC members making your (and other American's) dreams a bit impossible. Now, I have never seen a cop ask an American for his/her papers and deport him/her so I would not worry about that. You could probably live here forever without papers but it would be a difficult existence (unless you marry a lovely Madrile�a )
Congrats on your ticket. I think the airline desaster has lowered prices and you got a good deal. Also, flights after Sept. 9th are usually much cheaper than in the Summer months. January is also a good moth to fly, after new years the prices plummet. My mom got a round trip NY-Madrid for $310 a few years back
Well, at least my Madrile�a is lovely
Saludos, jer...
p.d. Drop me an e-mail or a private message from this message board if you want to get together for a tapa while you are here.
Hey Anthony, Congrats on your decision. I am doing somewhat the same thing as you, but only six months. Where did you get your ticket so cheap? I can't find anything close to that $220.
ben
Posts: 3 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: 20 September 2001
). I personally would like to congratulate you on your decision, while I did what you did a few years back, I did it as a student which made things much easier (due to my student visa) but that way requires you to be in a study abroad program which can get expensive. The bad news is that currently in Spain it is very difficult for Americans to get residency and to work "legally". As for your month stay in the summer, their is a huge difference between a 1 month summer visit and living here long term, as things are Americans have a limit of 3 months to be here as "tourists" (or "temporary visitors"). I am legally here because I have dual citizenship for having been born in Scotland, even though I left there for NY when I was 2 months old so I hope that others on my message board who have lived your situation more closely can advise you as well. The only sure "ins" seem to be marrying a Spaniard or getting a job through a US or foreign company that is willing to send you to an office of theirs in Spain. While that is the "theory" of the situation, the good news is the "reality" of the situation (at least as I see it day to day in Madrid) is quite different. I have many friends who have thrown caution to the wind and have been here illegally for many years. I am not saying this is ok nor am I encouraging it but I feel that you should know the way it really is here. Keep in mind that if you are caught here illegally, you can be sent home and banned from returning to the European Community for a number of years (the exact number I am not sure of). Back to the good news 
. Work in Madrid (under the table-cash in hand) is pretty plentiful in one field and one field only, teaching English! Many think that they can easily get bar work but do not realize that their are just not that many job offers in that field to absorb the demand. Many of the language schools here will hire you illegally and pay you betweent 1,500 ($8) and 2,500 ($13) pesetas/hour. The best paying jobs however are usually given to those with English teaching experience and/or a degree and certification (TEFL, TOEFL, etc) but some centers are willing to train you as well and pay less while you learn. I work with a school here that hires Americans, Brits, Aussies, etc... right off the plane and can usually give you the hours you want teaching English. They also organize activities and fun things to do with their teachers to incorporate them into life here in Madrid. You can visit them online at 
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
making your (and other American's) dreams a bit impossible. Now, I have never seen a cop ask an American for his/her papers and deport him/her so I would not worry about that. You could probably live here forever without papers but it would be a difficult existence (unless you marry a lovely Madrile�a 
