We didn’t try to integrate after moving to Spain – now that’s changed
The clichéd image of wealthy British expats who spend their evenings enjoying gin and tonics on the Spanish costas and have no interest in integrating into local life is over-simplistic, a study has found.
Many are not always wealthy, confounding the image of all expats as high-earning foreigners, researchers said.
Almost 30 per cent of British, European and Americans questioned for a survey earned the same or less than the average monthly wage while 70 per cent earned more, researchers found. The average monthly salary in Spain is €2,426 (£2,077), according to Statista, a statistics agency.
The study was carried out by Antonio Lopez-Gay and Brian Rosa, of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, into expats in Barcelona, where foreigners make up 10 per cent of the city’s population of around two million. Some 400 people from all over the world who moved to Barcelona were questioned for the research.
The busy La Rambla neighbourhood in central Barcelona is popular with tourists (Photo: James D Morgan / Getty Images)
Dr Rosa said the image of the expat often prompted an adverse reaction from locals in Spain.
“There is increasing discourse around ‘expats’ which is over-simplistic but reflects both economic and cultural concerns,” he told i.
“Namely, that the stereotypical ‘expat’ is not interested in cultural integration, which creates challenges around local identity, especially when locals feel that they are being excluded from the city.”
Zoe Hornby, 44, a social media marketer who moved from Britain to Barcelona 12 years ago, said she would describe herself as a “medium” earner.
She said her children went to state schools because they wanted to integrate and learn the language.
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“Initially when we arrived, we thought we would only be here for a short time so we didn’t make any effort to integrate.
“But I have made a conscious effort to go to my daughters’ birthday parties, my Spanish is much better and I want to live a local life.”
She also said she regarded herself as “international” or a “foreigner” rather than an expat. “I feel a bit uncomfortable with the expat term because we are immigrants really. We came here originally for a short term but now we have been here for [12 years] and want to stay, so it does not feel appropriate,” she told i
According to where they came from, foreigners defined themselves in different ways. Britons, other Europeans and Americans and Canadians, who moved to Spain out of choice for a better quality of life or other reasons, defined themselves as expats.
In contrast, Latin Americans or Africans, who moved to Spain for economic or political reasons, saw themselves as migrants.
No one identified themselves as a digital nomad.
Most of those questioned for the survey were professionals with higher educational qualifications who worked in tech, science or the public sector, education or health.
About 40 per cent of Latin Americans and Africans earned less than €2,000 per month. All financial amounts were net salaries.