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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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 Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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| SaratheSlytherin wrote: |
| Sashadroogie wrote: |
Yip, immigration laws 'suck'.
I remember when I was a wee lad I wanted to travel round North America, working my way across the continent, will o' the wisp. Maybe do a bit of construction work, wait tables ( my knowledge of the language being passable etc.) to pay my way along my epic travels. But, goddarned it, wouldn't you know it, I couldn't even get a tourist visa to enter the US legally, and Canada wasn't much easier. Construction and hospitality sectors were crying out for manpower at the time, but still no way of fixing a job. Ludicrous. Apparently, I fitted a high-risk profile. Immigration were much afeared that I would never return home, on account of my age, gender, skills, or whatever. And this for a country that does not have anything to match the extremely generous social welfare benefits that the EU boasts and has to defend for its own citizens... Sucks majorly.... |
I clarify that I am not putting Spain down, it's just an unfair law. I'm not going to digress into the subject of immigration, because this is not the forum, but I will say this: Just because I'm from USA does NOT mean I support our immigration policy. Our laws are completely unfair as well, in my opinion. And I reiterate that this is coming from a North American. A lot of people hate us simply for being North American, but what I wish people would realize is that the individuals from a country, and a country's laws, are not one and the same. |
Hey, don't worry. I'm far from anti-American, no matter how fashionable it has become these days. I, as many other a poster on the forum, work with a rich multi-national mix, which I enjoy. But the point is, all countries have immigration laws, and to call them unfair or stupid is to miss the point. The laws exist - and we have to work around them as best we can. US citizens have trouble coming to the EU to teach English, EU citizens have trouble going to the States to work full-stop. Hatred doesn't come into it. That's just the way it is, even if we don't think it is just. |
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jr1965
Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Posts: 175
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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I am just curious about something. I hope you don't mind all my questions, and I am digressing, I know.
We all know how difficult it is for North Americans to legally work in Spain and other European countries. I am not sure that this is because they dislike us, |
Sara � As the poster above says, getting a visa to work legally in Spain has nothing to do with Spaniards liking or disliking people from the U.S. In the same way that Spaniards (or any non-citizen or green card holder) can�t just land in the US and get a job that allows them to work legally, people from the US can�t just land in Spain and expect to get hired. That said, I have met a few Spaniards and Italians (mostly students) working under the table in the U.S. city I live in, but it�s mostly in cafes or maybe waiting tables. Not exactly the glamorous life.
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| but it makes me wonder how Europeans in general feel about us. |
The reality, as you say, is that wherever you go, you�re going to meet people who don�t hold a terribly high opinion of the US, especially given our political record of recent years. BUT in my experience, I�d say that 9 out of 10 times, when people in Spain found out that I was from the US, they had questions, or wanted to tell me about their experiences visiting some place in the States, or about relatives who lived here, etc. In other words, people were genuinely curious to meet someone from the States.
Forget about what �Europeans in general� think. Europe�s a big place! Get to know people one-on-one. Learn some of the local language, show an interest in and a respect for the culture (wherever you happen to be) and people will treat you well most of the time.
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| I've heard that if you're a North American, that you have no chance of being accepted socially in Spain. No chance of making friends there. Is that true? |
Definitely NOT true.
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| Spiral I remember that you're married to a European guy (from Czechoslovakia, right?). I'm just asking out of curiousity. I've heard that no guy from Spain would ever take an American woman seriously as a girlfriend, or wife. I am asking this with all respect... is that true? |
I can�t speak for Spiral, but I�m an American woman married to a Spanish guy and he takes me pretty seriously... 
Good luck to you! |
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SaratheSlytherin
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 137
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:07 am Post subject: |
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Sara � As the poster above says, getting a visa to work legally in Spain has nothing to do with Spaniards liking or disliking people from the U.S. In the same way that Spaniards (or any non-citizen or green card holder) can�t just land in the US and get a job that allows them to work legally, people from the US can�t just land in Spain and expect to get hired. That said, I have met a few Spaniards and Italians (mostly students) working under the table in the U.S. city I live in, but it�s mostly in cafes or maybe waiting tables. Not exactly the glamorous life.
I understand... that's why I'm hoping that CIEE or something similar needs me. I wrote to them btw.  I hope I hear back soon.
| Quote: |
| but it makes me wonder how Europeans in general feel about us. |
The reality, as you say, is that wherever you go, you�re going to meet people who don�t hold a terribly high opinion of the US, especially given our political record of recent years. BUT in my experience, I�d say that 9 out of 10 times, when people in Spain found out that I was from the US, they had questions, or wanted to tell me about their experiences visiting some place in the States, or about relatives who lived here, etc. In other words, people were genuinely curious to meet someone from the States.
Thank you for your answers. I hope I didn't offend anyone when I voiced concern about being disliked. I've heard stuff like "Europeans don't like us," but I always thought that was baloney. There are of course stereotypes about us, but not all of us fit them. So much for stereotypes eh??
Forget about what �Europeans in general� think. Europe�s a big place! Get to know people one-on-one. Learn some of the local language, show an interest in and a respect for the culture (wherever you happen to be) and people will treat you well most of the time.
Oh, no problem, I speak fluent (almost perfect) Spanish. In fact, that's what I studied in college: Spanish and Biology. I am trying to learn some catal�n, however, since I'm going to Barcelona.
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| I've heard that if you're a North American, that you have no chance of being accepted socially in Spain. No chance of making friends there. Is that true? |
Definitely NOT true.
I'm glad.
| Quote: |
| Spiral I remember that you're married to a European guy (from Czechoslovakia, right?). I'm just asking out of curiousity. I've heard that no guy from Spain would ever take an American woman seriously as a girlfriend, or wife. I am asking this with all respect... is that true? |
I can�t speak for Spiral, but I�m an American woman married to a Spanish guy and he takes me pretty seriously...
Wow!  So... if you don't mind my asking... how did you meet? Did you meet in Spain? Were you able to find work there? If I may ask?
Good luck to you![/quote]
Thanks |
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SaratheSlytherin
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 137
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:11 am Post subject: |
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| Sashadroogie wrote: |
| SaratheSlytherin wrote: |
| Sashadroogie wrote: |
Yip, immigration laws 'suck'.
I remember when I was a wee lad I wanted to travel round North America, working my way across the continent, will o' the wisp. Maybe do a bit of construction work, wait tables ( my knowledge of the language being passable etc.) to pay my way along my epic travels. But, goddarned it, wouldn't you know it, I couldn't even get a tourist visa to enter the US legally, and Canada wasn't much easier. Construction and hospitality sectors were crying out for manpower at the time, but still no way of fixing a job. Ludicrous. Apparently, I fitted a high-risk profile. Immigration were much afeared that I would never return home, on account of my age, gender, skills, or whatever. And this for a country that does not have anything to match the extremely generous social welfare benefits that the EU boasts and has to defend for its own citizens... Sucks majorly.... |
I clarify that I am not putting Spain down, it's just an unfair law. I'm not going to digress into the subject of immigration, because this is not the forum, but I will say this: Just because I'm from USA does NOT mean I support our immigration policy. Our laws are completely unfair as well, in my opinion. And I reiterate that this is coming from a North American. A lot of people hate us simply for being North American, but what I wish people would realize is that the individuals from a country, and a country's laws, are not one and the same. |
Hey, don't worry. I'm far from anti-American, no matter how fashionable it has become these days. I, as many other a poster on the forum, work with a rich multi-national mix, which I enjoy. But the point is, all countries have immigration laws, and to call them unfair or stupid is to miss the point. The laws exist - and we have to work around them as best we can. US citizens have trouble coming to the EU to teach English, EU citizens have trouble going to the States to work full-stop. Hatred doesn't come into it. That's just the way it is, even if we don't think it is just. |
It's not fair, but I see your point. I said earlier, but I wrote to CIEE and I'm waiting to hear back from them. I'm hoping to work around them.
There are a lot of things about US immigration laws I would change if I could. I don't mean to offend anyone but if the illegals (here in the US) are working and sending money back to their families... I personally think it's admirable. But we are all entitled to our opinions. I am very opinionated myself I'm not gonna lie to you. Sometimes if you're direct it hurts people's feelings but I am not shy about expressing an opinion if people ask.
I looked at the boards and a LOT of people have asked about CIEE... I didn't realize that!! I didn't mean to be redundant, but... I'm learning about Europe.
Where ARE you from Sashadroogie, if I may ask? And how did you come to speak Nadsat? lol. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| Hey opinionated rocks! That's what a forum like this is all about. Of course, we just need to support those opinions. And as for directness, I live in Moscow and folks don't come much more direct than here. No shyness allowed, heh heh. This is where I learnt all my Nadsat, by the way. The same place as Burgess did ultimately, I guess. As to where I am from.... I'm a citizen of the world, but I think my visa is about to expire soon.... |
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SaratheSlytherin
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 137
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Sashadroogie wrote: |
| Hey opinionated rocks! That's what a forum like this is all about. Of course, we just need to support those opinions. And as for directness, I live in Moscow and folks don't come much more direct than here. No shyness allowed, heh heh. This is where I learnt all my Nadsat, by the way. The same place as Burgess did ultimately, I guess. As to where I am from.... I'm a citizen of the world, but I think my visa is about to expire soon.... |
You're from Moscow? Or you live there? I'm just curious where are you from originally?
Ahhh I should have known!! That's right... Nadsat comes from Russian!
I have never been to Russia but I did read A Clockwork Orange. It was a creepy book... but really good.
Saludos
Sara the Slytherin |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:25 am Post subject: |
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Yes, I am currently living in Moscow, but I prefer to keep my exact whereabouts secret. Various intelligence agencies may be monitoring my postings! Also, I don't want to give to much away about my identity either. Sorry  |
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jbrannan
Joined: 13 Feb 2013
Posts: 25
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 5:08 am Post subject: |
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| Is CIEE's program in Spain geared toward young applicants or are there older people who participate? |
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