Forums > Social Discussion > Leaving Madrid
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HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
So, I haven't been posting here much lately, especially not in the last three weeks.
That's because I've just spent three amazing, totally life-changing weeks in Madrid.
My Spanish (I was raised speaking it) has improved by leaps and bounds. I dreamed in Spanish last night, I have started thinking in Spanish, and I love this language.
The people are AMAZING. Warm, welcoming, and I might add that the men are quite handsome.
Most importantly, the public healthcare system is outstanding. Patients are seen quickly and promptly. Medicines are dispensed inexpensively and without insurance run-arounds. Doctors are well-trained and use some techniques that I will take back to the U.S. to share because we don't have it.
And then there are a few other little matters. Gays can get married and have kids here. Public transport is excellent. Teenagers can go to Discos and thus aren't so bored all the time, which cuts down on delinquency. They can also drink young, which makes alcoholism here less prevalent than it is in the U.S. where the "forbidden fruit" effect takes over.
It's hardly perfect, but it strikes me that life here seems generally better than life in the U.S.
I want to move here. But to do so would mean giving up my research career, having to go through a difficult transition in order to be able to master the language to the level of someone who was educated here (I'm a native speaker, but I wasn't raised in a Spanish-speaking country), and the paperwork and bureaucracy would be hellish. I would also undoubtedly have to repeat at least some of my medical training.
For now, I can't do this for the next four years because I accepted a fellowship. But the option is out there. Maybe... Just maybe...
For now, I'm leaving today for Barcelona for a couple days. And then...I'll see all you Londoners come Wednesday!
So, I haven't been posting here much lately, especially not in the last three weeks.
That's because I've just spent three amazing, totally life-changing weeks in Madrid.
My Spanish (I was raised speaking it) has improved by leaps and bounds. I dreamed in Spanish last night, I have started thinking in Spanish, and I love this language.
The people are AMAZING. Warm, welcoming, and I might add that the men are quite handsome.
Most importantly, the public healthcare system is outstanding. Patients are seen quickly and promptly. Medicines are dispensed inexpensively and without insurance run-arounds. Doctors are well-trained and use some techniques that I will take back to the U.S. to share because we don't have it.
And then there are a few other little matters. Gays can get married and have kids here. Public transport is excellent. Teenagers can go to Discos and thus aren't so bored all the time, which cuts down on delinquency. They can also drink young, which makes alcoholism here less prevalent than it is in the U.S. where the "forbidden fruit" effect takes over.
It's hardly perfect, but it strikes me that life here seems generally better than life in the U.S.
I want to move here. But to do so would mean giving up my research career, having to go through a difficult transition in order to be able to master the language to the level of someone who was educated here (I'm a native speaker, but I wasn't raised in a Spanish-speaking country), and the paperwork and bureaucracy would be hellish. I would also undoubtedly have to repeat at least some of my medical training.
For now, I can't do this for the next four years because I accepted a fellowship. But the option is out there. Maybe... Just maybe...
For now, I'm leaving today for Barcelona for a couple days. And then...I'll see all you Londoners come Wednesday!
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
BRONZE Member
1 + 1 = 3
3,540 posts
Location: Bristol UK
1 + 1 = 3
3,540 posts
Location: Bristol UK
Posted:
wow...
That's a very different view of the spanish healthcare system than I experienced... But then I was in Andalucía...
In fact a totally different view on spanish life in general...
I miss Spanish too. My spanish has gone downhill recently, as I haven't been speaking it with as much regularity as I used to.
When I visited Madrid to fly home from Andalucía, it was amazing to see the difference between the two provinces. organisation, clarity, understanding... Mmmm...
wow...
That's a very different view of the spanish healthcare system than I experienced... But then I was in Andalucía...
In fact a totally different view on spanish life in general...
I miss Spanish too. My spanish has gone downhill recently, as I haven't been speaking it with as much regularity as I used to.
When I visited Madrid to fly home from Andalucía, it was amazing to see the difference between the two provinces. organisation, clarity, understanding... Mmmm...
Empty your mind. Be formless, Shapeless, like Water.
Put Water into a cup, it becomes the cup, put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, put water into a teapot, it becomes the teapot.
Water can flow, or it can Crash.
Be Water My Friend.
GOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
They just constructed seven new hospitals in Madrid. Healthcare here is amazing. Better than in the U.S. at this point (unless you happen to be absurdly rich).
Oh, and the trains run on time. Yes, folks, the SPANIARDS have managed to get their trains to run on time. Like, better than the British. Far better than the Americans (our train system in New York pales in comparison to most third-world systems).
Madrid is as clean as Zurich, as charming as Boston or Paris, and as organized as Berlin. High-speed train lines are going in all over. The infrastructure is actively being constructed. This country is going to be an economic force to be reckoned with, more so than it already is.
Oh, and they need English-speakers to teach their kids. They badly want to learn English here. And if they've gotten this far with so few of them able to speak the Common International Business and Science Language, imagine what will happen when, in another generation or two, they pull a Sweden/France/Germany and become bilingual. With so much of the world already Spanish-speaking, that alone might knock English out of the running as the International Language.
Franco's Spain is dead. This is not the same country I visited 16 years ago in 1996. And now I think I want to stick around to see what happens.
EDITED_BY: Doc Lightning (1205668349)
They just constructed seven new hospitals in Madrid. Healthcare here is amazing. Better than in the U.S. at this point (unless you happen to be absurdly rich).
Oh, and the trains run on time. Yes, folks, the SPANIARDS have managed to get their trains to run on time. Like, better than the British. Far better than the Americans (our train system in New York pales in comparison to most third-world systems).
Madrid is as clean as Zurich, as charming as Boston or Paris, and as organized as Berlin. High-speed train lines are going in all over. The infrastructure is actively being constructed. This country is going to be an economic force to be reckoned with, more so than it already is.
Oh, and they need English-speakers to teach their kids. They badly want to learn English here. And if they've gotten this far with so few of them able to speak the Common International Business and Science Language, imagine what will happen when, in another generation or two, they pull a Sweden/France/Germany and become bilingual. With so much of the world already Spanish-speaking, that alone might knock English out of the running as the International Language.
Franco's Spain is dead. This is not the same country I visited 16 years ago in 1996. And now I think I want to stick around to see what happens.
EDITED_BY: Doc Lightning (1205668349)
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
BRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
5,814 posts
Location: Perth, Australia
Carpal \'Tunnel
5,814 posts
Location: Perth, Australia
Posted:
Sounds like a future plan for you.
Not sure about America but many of the healthcare staff we have here have minimal English but still mangage to function in the industry.
A 4-5 year plan gives you heaps of time to spend getting your Spanish to a point where you will be happy with it.
Doc i met this very lovely Brazillion man last night with the lovliest accent. This wedding that we were had had the most cross global wait staff I have ever see. From Japanese and Zimbadwean to Portugese to Brazillion and French at least.
Sounds like a future plan for you.
Not sure about America but many of the healthcare staff we have here have minimal English but still mangage to function in the industry.
A 4-5 year plan gives you heaps of time to spend getting your Spanish to a point where you will be happy with it.
Doc i met this very lovely Brazillion man last night with the lovliest accent. This wedding that we were had had the most cross global wait staff I have ever see. From Japanese and Zimbadwean to Portugese to Brazillion and French at least.
Is it the Truth?
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
Im in a lonely battle with the world with a fish to match the chip on my shoulder. Gnu in Binnu in a cnu
GOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
An auxiliary might be able to function with limited language, but physicians and nurses do need an intimate understanding of the local language. I have an additional strength in that I speak, read, and write English fluently. The majority of the world's medical literature remains in English and thus, this is a great advantage.
My Spanish is at about 85% of a native's. I still make mistakes in complex grammatical constructions and my fluidity and knowledge of colloquialisms lacks somewhat. My accent is not identifiable as foreign for at least a few sentences into a conversation and I've stopped stuttering.
So this is a good start.
Written by :Gnor
Not sure about America but many of the healthcare staff we have here have minimal English but still mangage to function in the industry.
An auxiliary might be able to function with limited language, but physicians and nurses do need an intimate understanding of the local language. I have an additional strength in that I speak, read, and write English fluently. The majority of the world's medical literature remains in English and thus, this is a great advantage.
My Spanish is at about 85% of a native's. I still make mistakes in complex grammatical constructions and my fluidity and knowledge of colloquialisms lacks somewhat. My accent is not identifiable as foreign for at least a few sentences into a conversation and I've stopped stuttering.
So this is a good start.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
BRONZE Member
Insert Champagne Here
13,215 posts
Location: without class distinction, Australia
Insert Champagne Here
13,215 posts
Location: without class distinction, Australia
Posted:
I loved Madrid too
Spain was definitely one of my favourite places in Europe (one of the things that factored into my decision to study it)
I know retirement is a long way in your future, but could Madrid possibly be that for you? Leaves out some of the problems youve mentioned
I loved Madrid too
Spain was definitely one of my favourite places in Europe (one of the things that factored into my decision to study it)
I know retirement is a long way in your future, but could Madrid possibly be that for you? Leaves out some of the problems youve mentioned
i would have changed ***** to phallus, and claire to petey Petey
Rougie: but that's what I'm doing here
Arnwyn: what letting me adjust myself in your room?..don't you dare quote that on HoP...
SILVER Member
old hand
853 posts
Location: Behind you...
old hand
853 posts
Location: Behind you...
Posted:
Go for it if it's what you want (well, maybe wait for 4 years, keep brushing up on your Spanish, work out what's involved in terms of re-training, then go for it). My sister moved out to Spain about 5 years ago and she's really happy. She started off as an English teacher but now she works in the import and export department of some manufacturing company out there.
My sister loves the culture and general way of life. She found property much cheaper and has just bought her own apartment, which she would never have been able to afford in the UK. She loves the food, the weather, the people, most things in her day-to-day life. She says the pay is less, but the cost of living is so cheap and the lifestyle so nice that money does not really matter to her any more.
Go for it if it's what you want (well, maybe wait for 4 years, keep brushing up on your Spanish, work out what's involved in terms of re-training, then go for it). My sister moved out to Spain about 5 years ago and she's really happy. She started off as an English teacher but now she works in the import and export department of some manufacturing company out there.
My sister loves the culture and general way of life. She found property much cheaper and has just bought her own apartment, which she would never have been able to afford in the UK. She loves the food, the weather, the people, most things in her day-to-day life. She says the pay is less, but the cost of living is so cheap and the lifestyle so nice that money does not really matter to her any more.
Idolized by Aurinoko
Take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind....
Bob Dylan