how to move abroad - tips for catalunya please

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so, i now live in barcelona, i feel a bit helpless and timid. any ilxors here? i have to get a flat a job a mobile a scooter and a bank account. oh, and a job.

what do you do to start a new life in another country where you can barely string three words together? whats the general procedure?

― ambrose (ambrose), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Flash people in the streets, this will cause some communication. Although I am not sure it will make you any friends. wink wink

― nathalie (nathalie), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Just out of interest, what are you doing there in the first place if you're in that situation?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 9 January 2004 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

If he tells you, he'll have to mailbomb you.

― nathalie (nathalie), Friday, 9 January 2004 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow - this is awesome ambrose!

You could try to find a language school or translation agency and see if they have cheap classes. You could get to know some people through there, or at least get some pointers, and maybe even find a job if you're competent at another language besides english (like Spanish?)

This sounds scary but exciting! I went to Barcelona this past summer and fell in love with it - good luck there!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 9 January 2004 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Failing that, surely Barca must be full of Brit expats who can point you in the right direction? Maybe a good thing to do is to track down a bar where they all hang out and get some advice (and possibly some much needed translation skills).

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 9 January 2004 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

PJ miller to thread fo sho.

― chris (chris), Friday, 9 January 2004 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Further to that, there's a really good bar in the Barri Gotic, can't remember that name of it but it's in (I think) the time out guide. The owner is Catalan but lived in Birmingham for 12 years and moved back with his brummie wife, basically he does the food, his wife the bar, and it's full of locals watching english footie - me and G loved it (apart from the abysmal 0-0 draw between West ham and spurs)

They were very friendly in there though

― chris (chris), Friday, 9 January 2004 17:33 (twenty-two years ago)

CAall Ivan, he was asking after you in an email today. I will text you his number

― Ed (dali), Friday, 9 January 2004 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Fight bulls. Wherever you encounter them.

― andy, Friday, 9 January 2004 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Bullfighting is Sooooo Andalucia.

― nickn (nickn), Saturday, 10 January 2004 05:35 (twenty-two years ago)

ed! dont text me! i dont have a phone! you cant text a non exstent phone! send me an email! this cafe has a computer!

i have come to barcelona becuase it is boring in both buckinghamshire and hertfordhire, which is where i have previously been based....

the plan? er....pass

but i already mssed surgeon and i-f! theres some good music here, at least.

― ambrose (ambrose), Sunday, 11 January 2004 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

There's a book called 'Work Your Way Around the World' that might help. Only had a quick browse through it in the bookshop, but it looked good, if a little general. I think the hardest part is getting the guts to actually leave your old life, and as this is the part I'm trying to achieve at the moment, I need all the help I can get. Good luck!

― stephen. s (yaye), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Catalunya's government actually offers free language classes for immigrants, although I'm not sure whether you have to be official/legal or not.

― hstencil, Monday, 12 January 2004 03:36 (twenty-two years ago)

ambr0s3, wh4t 1s d3 C4t4l4n gr1m3 5c3n3 l1k3? 3nj0y!!!!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Can you pick up Rinse out there then?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Who is Catalunya and why do you want to move her? (sorry)

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 12 January 2004 06:03 (twenty-two years ago)

i can pick up rinse by buying some headphones and plugging them into the audio out bit of this easyeverything computer. meanwhile, i have decided to turn my back on music, at least until i have a flat. It feels strange, when you are caught up in the torrent of music, desperately trying to not fall behind, then just saying, fuck it, i wont listen to anything for 4 months, wont even hear anything, and see what happens. it feels liek the world is going to end, but it doesnt i guess. although, the hermetic approach doesnt always bear fruit. the stereo mcs locked themselves in a box for 10 yrs to make their last album, and it was awful.

― ambrose (ambrose), Monday, 12 January 2004 09:20 (twenty-two years ago)

did you get my email?

― Ed (dali), Monday, 12 January 2004 09:22 (twenty-two years ago)

you could always go to meetup.com and see if there's any themed meetups that interest you. totally dorky, sure, but i'd probably give it a shot...good luck!

― colette (a2lette), Monday, 12 January 2004 10:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Ambrose, try Wall Street Institute for dead easy teaching jobs. They used to take just about anybody but two big chains collapsed last year, leading to a glut of teachers. There are quite a lot of English/Irish/Scottish/Australian bars which might need staff. There is a free magazine in English (can't remember what it's called - BCN something) which has advertisments for jobs, flats, etc. You can usually get it in bars, bookshops and so on. Another possibilty is Citibank on Plaza Catalunya (Triangle building) because they have an international call centre there. Hope this helps.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Monday, 12 January 2004 14:08 (twenty-two years ago)

colette did you get my email?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 12 January 2004 14:11 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1558685375/qid=1073938457//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i0_xgl14/103-6488581-8266208?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

This has all kinds of good stuff in it, from how to get a phone line or bank account, to what its like as a foreigner working in Barcelona. From what I remember it sugests learning Castillian before Catalan.

― David Beckh0u5e (Dave Beckh0u5e), Monday, 12 January 2004 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

cheers for the tips people....

― ambrose (ambrose), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 13:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I am very jealous, I hope everything is cool for you!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 13:07 (twenty-two years ago)

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