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An Expat Talks about Living in Valencia, Spain

Submitted by cwells67

Participate in the Dream vs. Reality Report

Valencia, Spain

One expat saved for several years and sold virtually everything so that he could move to Valencia, Spain. He enjoys Valencia's friendly people and cultural activities - many of which are free. He doesn't miss having a car, but has found the paperwork and fact that it takes much longer to get things done a bit of a challenge.

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Valencia

Describe how you "dreamed" expat life would be before you moved overseas. Please provide as much detail as possible.

Three years before I moved here, I decided to move to Valencia, Spain. Since making that decision, I saved as much as I could and sold pretty much everything I owned so I could move without too many complications.

How has your expat experience met the expectations you dreamed about before you moved abroad?

Yes, in many ways, my expectations and my dreams were similar. I had also visited the city several times to make sure I knew what I was going to encounter. The people here are amazing, and very friendly, for the most part. The cultural aspects of this area are also incredible, and there are so many things to enjoy about the city. Not having a car has not been a problem, and finding an apartment was relatively easy. I am always finding something new to do for free or close to free.

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Expats in Spain may get a free expat health insurance quote from our partner Allianz Care, a leader in international insurance for expatriates. Allianz's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Their flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget..

How has your expat experience NOT met the expectations you dreamed about before you moved abroad?

Paperwork here is a bit of a challenge, and the concept of customer service is certainly not what I am used to seeing. I have pretty much given up on the idea that I can get something done in a single day. Instead, many processes take a week or more to just get an appointment, such as when going to a doctor, requesting house services like a phone or television, or opening an account. For example, it took over a month to get a cellphone number, which would have taken an hour in the US.

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Comments about this Report

ginabos

Mar 10, 2014 15:26

Valencia is my dream to in a few years. Are you employed though?