Saludos from Chicago! I've spent the last couple of days reading the last 2 years worth of posts and will now chime in.

My DH Victor and I have spent the last 7 years in Chicago (we met in Madrid when I was teaching English). He teaches GED and ESL, I'm an admin. asst.

We're tentatively planning our return to Spain late next summer, August or September, and I'm trying to do what I can to prepare. We'll have some money saved from the sale of our house here. There's a possibility that my company can find me a position in one of their Spanish branches, but I frankly think it's unlikely.

I guess I'm looking for reassurance that we will find jobs, an apartment, etc. I have EU status through my parents (British), so all the legalities will be in order.

I guess we will need to make sure we get our marriage registered, renew our ID cards, figure out some banking transactions. Anything else?

With about six months to prepare, are there any skills you'd recommend us studying? I'm reasonably fluent, and Victor has a reasonable command of English now. I'm worried about my spanish writing skills. Graphics? Web design? Another language?

Thanks for your thoughts and any recommendations you can make that will help us plan. Did any of you expats bring a container of stuff?

Thanks again,

Coco

hey Coco, welcome to the board!

ok, been out of the u.s.a. for a while now so i will need clarification on what "DH" means. last i knew it was "designated hitter" but i am guessing your use of it is "dear husband"?

a lot to take in from your post but since you have about 10 months before you make the jump, a good bit of advice is to spend a lot more time here on the forums.

i know you have been reading a lot over the past few days but it takes a LOT more time and research, after all, this community has been around for years.

this type of broad posts tend to intimidate many members since they touch on sooooo many diff. topics.

you have asked about...

- work.
- marriage.
- housing.
- id cards.
- banking.
- packing and shipping.
- etc...

... all in the same thread

you should separate your questions and post them either on already existing threads on the topics or start new topics if you can't find a thread on what you are interested in..

always a good idea to keep them in the corresponding forums as well.

also, try and make your questions as specific as possible.

not to worry, you will get used to posting.

remember, there are a ton of peeps here ready and willing to help you out, just have to make it as easy as possible for us

saludos,
jer...

Heh, my reaction to the post is a bit different from Jer´s. I saw:

-EU status
-Speaks spanish
-Has money
-Has teaching and admin skills

All I can think is, what more could you possibly need? Sure, there are various details you will work out when you are here, like getting registered and setting up bank accounts, but these are minor and very do-able.

Most of us came here with fewer or none of the above, and we´ve made it work out just fine. I say focus on how you´ll unload (or ship??) your belongings and come on over here!

(But of course, Jer is right, we are here and are happy to answer whatever questions you have).

Thanks so much for the welcome!

I know I covered a lot, but a life change like this is a little overwhelming. Unlike Victor (DH = dear husband), I'm a planner, tipica yanki, no?

We're coming over at Christmas to spend 2 weeks with the family. Is that too soon to be getting bureaucratic stuff done like renewing residency cards, etc? I have a lot of specific questions to ask about cost of living, job prospects, banking etc, while we're there. Oh, and a lot of pulpo a la gallega to eat. And calamares. And vino tinto. Excuse me, I'll have to take a moment here.