Why I Left Spain
"I am firmly convinced that Spain is the strongest country of the world. Century after century trying to destroy herself and still no success.” — Otto Von Bismarck
Today I bring a more personal post to you.
Sun, beaches, good food, beautiful people. Spain is a dream destination for many. Yet, here I am, away from my beloved country.
Spanish culture emerges from a rich history. Home to an ancient empire stretching continents and oceans. Cradle of renowned artists and several languages. It is perfect in some regards. But it could be better on others. Like every country, to be honest. Let’s delve into it.
Known and bad is better than unknown and good
Hofsede Country Comparison Tool offers a nice overview of the culture of a country through six metrics. Power distance, individualism, motivation towards achievement and success (MTAS), uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation, and indulgence.
I won’t go into details on these axes, but I encourage you to check them out. Here’s a comparison between Spain and the U.S.
Spaniards prefer familiar stuff. Duh. Everybody does. But this is specifically true for Spain, if we compare it to the U.S.
We have a really high score on Uncertainty Avoidance. We dread the unknown. There’s a Spanish saying that conveys the same thing as the title of this section.
It explains why starting your own business in Spain is a niche thing. Most young people wish to become civil servants. Working for the government gives you financial security for the rest of your life. You won’t get fired unless you kill someone.
Jokes aside, being a funcionario is the Spanish dream.
The most Spanish sin
Unamuno, a celebrated Basque author from the 19th century, used to say that envy is the most characteristic trait of Spaniards. I have lived most of my life in Spain and I can attest to this. If you stand out in any way, get ready for criticism.
People will make assumptions about you to explain your success. Got a promotion? Maybe your dad knew the company owner. Enjoying a lavish lifestyle? Drug dealing it is. Don’t even dare to share that you’re doing well. That’s arrogant. The only way to fit in is being mediocre and complaining about everything.
Envy comes in three flavours: corrosive envy, healthy envy, and preventive envy. Corrosive envy is the feeling that you get when you desire what someone has and it makes you angry. This is especially true for wealthy individuals in Spain. Spaniards hate the rich. They believe they’re wealthy because they exploit their workers, avoid taxes, or pollute beyond their means. While this is true in some cases, there are many reputable wealthy people.
Healthy envy isn’t really envy. I prefer calling it admiration. It’s looking up to someone. Wanting to be like someone because you like their skills, qualities, or possessions.
Preventive envy is the funniest kind. People in Spain buy lottery tickets because of this. In case someone they know get to be winners, they’ll get some prize too. This is a common practice with colleagues at work. Imagine your colleague wins 10 million euros. If you don’t buy some tickets you’ll have to stay in your 9-5 while they drink piñas coladas in the Maldives. Doesn’t sound fun, right? Preventive envy acts like an insurance.
But it’s not my fault
There are some systemic issues in Spain. Wages are shit compared to other European countries. Our retirement pension system is unsustainable too. These are problems that fall beyond the control of the population. Only politicians can do something about it — and they won’t any time soon.
Faced with these circumstances, Spaniards dwell in helplessness. They play the victim card and blame everything on the rich or on the government. Most of them don’t even try to improve the situation by changing the things they can control. Not finding a job? Change careers, maybe there’s no room for the 537,021st Law major in this market. Learn a new skill that is in demand. Vote with your feet. Do something, but don’t cry, because nothing’s going to change soon.
Spanish have access to a wealth of social aids and subsidies. Some people make a living out of this and have no incentive whatsoever to find a job. Unlike the U.S., Spain has a public retirement fund. You’re forced to contribute to this fund when you start working. Retired people receive their pension from it. New workers pay for new retirees.
Sounds familiar? This is the same structure as a Ponzi scheme. Except that you’re forced to invest in it if you don’t want to go to jail.
However, the elderly depend on this scheme, so it’s sacred to politicians. Many people depend on the government in Spain. We have a different perception on personal responsibility than other countries. We expect a life-long hand-holding process from the system. Something akin to a father figure in the shape of an institution.
My take on this
What I shared above by no means applies to every Spanish person. They are common patterns and there are exceptions.
I’m Spanish, but I feel soooo not identified with any of it. I’m a risk-seeker and I thrive in uncertain environments. I’m ambitious and I’m determined to achieve my goals. I like celebrating my wins and those of others. I hardly ever feel envy and I hate being dependent on anything. If I screw up, I take responsibility for it and not blame it on the system or the rich.
Here I’ve shared a summary of the downsides of living in Spain. I haven’t even mentioned taxes or Spanish tax authorities. That’s enough to cover another post.
All in all, Spain is incompatible with my values and my personality. That doesn’t mean it is a horrible place to live. It’s amazing, but it just doesn’t work for me. Maybe I’ll come back in the future, but so far I’m more than happy in Lisbon.
What are your thoughts on Spain?
Photo of the week
I bought a proper dinner table for my apartment. Now my garden table is where it belongs.
Alejandro Lopez — The Psychology of Wealth
Reading through this, the familiarity strikes me. Everything from envy to complaining about everything is so in line with my very own culture. It's not to say that problems don't arise that cause all the anger, but if you can't be happy for your neighbour, how do you expect to see any change? Of course, this doesn't deter me from Spain at all, as these traits are common in lots of countries, and I do hope to visit Spain one day and scratch it off my bucket list.
Courageous article. I feel that an Italian and a French should write something similar.