Well firstly, good luck in alicante!
I'm learning Spanish at uni at the mo. (actually I've got an exam tomorrow morning, so should really be working

) and I've spent a bit of time in the country (not nearly enough). Don't be too worried by the language, it gets much easier to pick up if you're over there surrounded by it.
Not sure about the Spanish with poi. Last time I was over there (about a year ago) I saw some people selling them in the park in Madrid, but not much else poiish. But their attitude towards the English is, in my experience, pretty much as good as their attitude towards anything in life i.e. pretty laid back and open. Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling the Spanish people lazy, it's just that they have a great attitude and know how to have fun. I've always felt accepted (or at least tolerated) in my englishness, but if I were you i'd definitely try and pick up the language. The people I met loved it if i at least tried to say a few words in Spanish, cos most of them spoke English and it was like a gesture of not wanting to impose myself on them.
Yeah, I don't reckon you'll have any problems with Spanish people (unless you're just a b***tard). Good luck!