View Full Version : Do many Brits here view the Canarians/Spanish as an inconvenience to their life here?
Two Spanish friends of mine, who use the forum as a means of improving their English, have asked me this question and after some recent threads you would have to consider the answer rather carefully. It often appears that Brits think of the island as thier own and consider the local people (some of whom don't even speak English) as an inconvenience.Often it is suggested that they are incompetent,slow,rude and dishonest.Where as the opposite is true.Don't forget that the island plays host to Spanish speaking people from many countries and British people who don't speak the language will confuse South American and central European folk for Canarian or mainland Spanish.
Can we show some respect for our hosts and remember that we are the foreigners here and if we don't speak the language that is our problem (although most Spanish try to learn some English).To learn something about the local culture and problems that are being faced here at the moment may help us to understand some of the frustrations felt by people as they face unemployment,bank repossession and reduced local,hospital and education services.Times are tough,let's try and offer friendship rather than criticism.The Brits who have made an effort to make friends here will tell you just how good they can be.
Respect has to be earned just because you're born on a little outcrop dont mean you automatically get some divine respect any other person wouldn't get.
caroletenerife
12-09-2011, 17:57
Good post and some relevant points, I take it your referring to the taxi thread, Yes there are dishonest taxi drivers in Tenerife, there are also dishonest taxi drivers world wide. On the issue of 'slow', tell them to watch 'Jeremy Kyle show' , in the UK there is a good percentage of 16 year olds leaving an 11 year free education barely able to read and write. Brits are known as whinging poms for a reason, as a people we are quick to see others faults but not so ready to acknowledge our own.
My point is you can go anywhere in the world and find faults in the local population, simply because their way of doing things is different to your own
In Tenerife the sheer number of expats and the facilities available to them ( uk tv, uk pubs, uk shops, uk foods in Canarian shops, uk newspapers etc etc) encourages some to insulate themselves and carry on with the british way of life and discourages inclusion with the local community. Ive got to say i'm as bad, i barely speak any Spanish x
Good post and some relevant points, I take it your referring to the taxi thread, Yes there are dishonest taxi drivers in Tenerife, there are also dishonest taxi drivers world wide. On the issue of 'slow', tell them to watch 'Jeremy Kyle show' , in the UK there is a good percentage of 16 year olds leaving an 11 year free education barely able to read and write. Brits are known as whinging poms for a reason, as a people we are quick to see others faults but not so ready to acknowledge our own.
My point is you can go anywhere in the world and find faults in the local population, simply because their way of doing things is different to your own
In Tenerife the sheer number of expats and the facilities available to them ( uk tv, uk pubs, uk shops, uk foods in Canarian shops, uk newspapers etc etc) encourages some to insulate themselves and carry on with the british way of life and discourages inclusion with the local community. Ive got to say i'm as bad, i barely speak any Spanish xNever thought of all the facilities making us worse but you're right.WHEN my parents moved here almost 40 years ago there wasn't even a constant supply of electricity,no supermarkets, British newspapers came from UK with visiting family and no TV either Spanish or english in their village.Now it's like little Britain in the south.
Respect has to be earned just because you're born on a little outcrop dont mean you automatically get some divine respect any other person wouldn't get. What would one have to do to earn your respect?
Where I live I am the only extranjero in the whole village but the people here have been fabulous. They help me out if I have a problem and take me with them when they visit friends round the island for fiestas. Not one of them speaks any English and my Spanish is not great but I am understood and treated as a guest when in their homes. If you respect their way of life and customs they will return you the same amount of respect back.
I try and treat people the same, I dont care if they are Brit, Canarian, South American, Morrocon, Polish or anything else.
If they are rude or inept then I will treat them in a different way to which I would treat people who are not. I work with and socialise with many nationalities and whilst it can be difficult not to develop pre-conceptions, I certainly do not let them show in the same way other nationalities show their preconceptions towards me!
YOUNG GOLFER
12-09-2011, 19:59
no......................but i find a few brits that live here do.
Fred Perry
12-09-2011, 21:19
Perhaps the question should have been the other way around. I suppose it is everyones right to live how they wish to but if you do integrate you can get so much more out of life here.
If Nelson and the British ever tried to invade Santa Cruz again I would be up there fighting on the side of The Canarians as this is our home.
atlantico
12-09-2011, 21:30
It often appears that Brits think of the island as thier own and consider the local people (some of whom don't even speak English) as an inconvenience.Often it is suggested that they are incompetent,slow,rude and dishonest.
Do they ?
Where do you get this assumption from ?
I've never come across it. Sometimes, as this forum shows, its quite the opposite attitude.
Who do you hang around with that think this, being a long time resident I wouldn't assume you spent much time with that 'sort' of Brit ?
:wave:
Where I live I am the only extranjero in the whole village but the people here have been fabulous. They help me out if I have a problem and take me with them when they visit friends round the island for fiestas. Not one of them speaks any English and my Spanish is not great but I am understood and treated as a guest when in their homes. If you respect their way of life and customs they will return you the same amount of respect back.
the 15 years we have been coming to this lovely island we have met many canarian and spanish people all have become friends and even though we dont speak spanish but we are understood..they have all in the past made a huge fuss of our children when little..we love the customs and i think they like this us taking a intrest in tenerife,i think england should teach from 5 yr old spanish in schools when a young child has no problem in picking it up .... respect works both ways ..
karinagal
12-09-2011, 21:55
I recall just last year when a Brit living here (Tenerife) stated that the locals would still be living in caves if it wasn't for us Brits.... Made me real proud ....... NOT!
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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=28.024600,-16.614984
Do they ?
Where do you get this assumption from ?
I've never come across it. Sometimes, as this forum shows, its quite the opposite attitude.
Who do you hang around with that think this, being a long time resident I wouldn't assume you spent much time with that 'sort' of Brit ? Suppose I`ve come across a couple on the forum,met a couple screaming at the nice girl in Mercadona the other day ,heard a chap at the bus stop complaining that the drivers didn't speak English,had a call from a chap who had had a car accident and the other driver didn't speak English and was a Richard Head (even though the accident wasn't his fault...............Meet lots of great Brits as well who love living here,integrate with local life ,learn Spanish and wouldn't be anywhere else.Good and bad everywhere even on the forum.
Chayofa Tete
13-09-2011, 08:14
Speaking from my own experiences I have always been treated in a friendly manner(few exceptions) and think that by and large people treat you as you treat them,but having said that I am always aware that I am a guest in someone elses country and should do my best to fit in not the other way round.
bonitatime
13-09-2011, 11:09
I have come across this attitude a lot and it makes me what to v****. If someone doesn't speak english raising your vioce won't help but I am astounded by the numbeer of Brits who do this.
The island is really a paradise and people are inclined to forget this. I have never been in any office where I was mistreated, never been made a fool of by any Canarian person. I have seen more folk cheated by others of their own nationality than anything else here. I like Chayofa Tte's concept of we are guests here and shouldn't forget it.
I find the people who don't learn any Spanish are the same ones who complain about all the imigrants in the UK who didn't learn English.
El Viento
13-09-2011, 13:13
And at least one word Brits could learn is "Gracias"
I see people in the bus and only what they can say to the bus driver is "Thank you" - what would you think if someone in the UK say "Gracias" in a bus, shop? :bowdown:
And at least one word Brits could learn is "Gracias"
To be fair,I really think a good few Canarians need to learn that word too.:whistle:
El Viento
13-09-2011, 13:53
To be fair,I really think a good few Canarians need to learn that word too.:whistle:
And Brits too.. (Thank you)
It's not about that, it's where you are and what you say...!
I feel highly embarrassed when i hear English people go into somewhere and the first thing they say in English is "Do you speak English???", I think its the height of ignorance! at least they could try with "Hola" first !!!!!I would never do this and im not fluent by any means but i always talk in Spanish first and i think you get more respect as they know your trying then and if they can speak English they are always more helpful with you.
timmylish
13-09-2011, 15:44
I feel highly embarrassed when i hear English people go into somewhere and the first thing they say in English is "Do you speak English???", I think its the height of ignorance! at least they could try with "Hola" first !!!!!I would never do this and im not fluent by any means but i always talk in Spanish first and i think you get more respect as they know your trying then and if they can speak English they are always more helpful with you.
Very much the same feelings here! If I think that I,m gonna have a problem with the language, say in a Govt. Office, I always dive in, head first, explaining, in very good Spanish, that my Spanish is not very good and surprise surprise, both sides bend over backwards to resolve the particular issue and I come out feeling rather good and the Official feels that they have been very helpful (which they have!).
It,s just pure sales. Find a common language and the deal goes down.
TenerifeTeddy
13-09-2011, 18:42
I think it is about respect and making the effort to speak the language. Both my wife & I speak intermediate Spanish, enought to get by in most situations, but we would take an interpreter for something important like medical or legal matters. We went to our doctor several times, always speaking Spanish, before he revealed he spoke very good English and actually did a 6 month residency at Boston Hospital :), and now he will speak in English to us, but we had to show we would make an effort to speak his language first.
Funnily enough we were back in Boston very recently and I was amazed at how comparatively little English we heard when walking around, mostly we heard Slavic languages, and hardly any of those people spoke any English when they went into shops. In fact they did exactly what the Brits abroad do - speak louder. It was funny being in the reverse situation. We also came across a profusion of Baltic Shops again with no English spoken. Strange feeling being a stranger in your own country, and I expect many Spanish who maybe don´t speak English feel that way if they go somewhere where only English is spoken in their country.
To be fair,I really think a good few Canarians need to learn that word too.:whistle:
Gracias wasn't used in the same way in Spain that we use it in Britain and it wasn't considered bad manners not to say please and thank you because it wasn't part of the culture.These days because of tourism, Spanish and Canarian people use these words much as we do although the older people may chose not to do so.The difference between us,isn't just language but also the culture.Kindness seemed to matter more than the please and thank you!!!
irishmusico
13-09-2011, 19:33
I feel highly embarrassed when i hear English people go into somewhere and the first thing they say in English is "Do you speak English???"
I wouldn't let it bother you,you will be embarrassed forever. :D
The most useful phrase I ever learned in Spanish is ¿Como se dice in espanol? (How do you say it in Spanish?) Just smile,point and recite.You will learn loads of spanish and by making the effort,it shows that you are trying.
I dont live on the Island but it is one of My preferred Places to be.
Those who have already answered have said how I feel too.
I started visiting Spain many Years ago, and was happy to mix with the People.
I was and still am impressed with Their courtesy and manners generally.
I wanted to learn some Spanish and meet the People as a result.
The place I stayed more than once was in Catalonia, with little English spoken or needed at the time.
I loved it,(still do) but have been embarrassed by Noisy rude Brits more than once,very often apparently unaware of what they were doing.
I can also understand the reactions to an influx of Foreigners, especially if some behaved badly,
I also remember seeing slogans in Tenerife telling Mainlanders to go Home and stop stealing Our Jobs.
This wasnt too long ago and I understood the meaning.
I honestly believe most Residentia on THIS Forum feel the same way .
There are others, there must be, who dont want to know, but are in the minority, just like the dishonest Taxi Drivers We are warned about.
caroletenerife
13-09-2011, 21:03
I work in a bar at night and have worked in veronicas..by far the rudest, loudest, most aggressive people you come across are British.
Angusjim
14-09-2011, 14:35
And at least one word Brits could learn is "Gracias"
I see people in the bus and only what they can say to the bus driver is "Thank you" - what would you think if someone in the UK say "Gracias" in a bus, shop? :bowdown:
I would think - that must be a Spanish speaker that does not know how to speak English :cheeky::tiphat:
KirstyJay
14-09-2011, 19:54
Do they ?
Where do you get this assumption from ?
I've never come across it. Sometimes, as this forum shows, its quite the opposite attitude.
Who do you hang around with that think this, being a long time resident I wouldn't assume you spent much time with that 'sort' of Brit ?
I recall just last year when a Brit living here (Tenerife) stated that the locals would still be living in caves if it wasn't for us Brits.... Made me real proud ....... NOT!
Sorry to have to agree Atlantico, but karinagal has a very valid point. I've seen many threads like this on the forum. I personally would love to see many more spanish on here, but I sometimes think they would be too insulted to post! :eek:
Many Spanish people (including taxi drivers )follow the forum without joining as members.Some taxi drivers had other jobs when the economy was better and look forward to being able to return to their trades or professions in the future so please don't make assumptions about them either not speaking or understanding English.I have met coach/taxi drivers ,farm workers etc.,who would have been to university if life here had been different.Many people in the 55+age group only went to school for 5 or 6 years and there wasn't an option of further education.This island was a very different place just 40 years ago. Even 30 years ago there was very little in the south,I remember the Esmeralda Playa Hotel being in the middle of a desert with very little construction anywhere near it. It is heartening to see so many people reporting nice experiences with local people and hopefully it will encourage more integration.Go on give it a go!!!!!!
Hope this helps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJeKS0gNz48&feature=related)
rosemary
15-09-2011, 19:40
No country likes "immigrantes". They´re looked upon as either an economic necessity or a legal obligation. I can well understand how the Canarians regard the British - we´re a bit of both. We´re a necessity because we buy or rent property and we´re a legal obligation because like the rest of Europe we´re now able to become Residents. There´s resentment on both sides. An immigrant does not have the right to respect just because they are here. They do have to earn it. And as someone else has pointed out - it´s not in the Spanish culture to be either " too polite or too apologetic". They don´t understand this very British trait. But they do possess an inate kindness, which some would say is far more valuable.
I think the most difficult aspect for both sides is this issue of learning the language. A high percentage of the British here are retired or moving in that direction and the older one gets the harder it is. It is easier to pick up if one is younger with children at school here, they can teach you! It is not a deliberate act of disrespect not to speak Spanish, which is what the the Canarians understandably believe, it´s simply that most people sincerely make a huge effort to learn Spanish and after a few years they fail, they give up trying, and are left with a feeling of impotence and frustration and failure. It is not a good feeling and it promotes anxiety.
I also think one of the biggest areas of resentment that occurs (uneccesarily I believe) is when Brits can´t find any sympathy for their plight amongst the medical profession here. I´ve heard of many people who struggle to speak Spanish to a doctor here - one who is often capable of speaking good English - but who obviously has been sticking to the rigid ethics demanded of them to only speak in Spanish. It´s a hot political issue, does the Canarian and the Spanish governemnt spend money on providing low cost Spanish lessons in all localities (some do) where there are high numbers of British (or other European residents), or do they go on expecting them to fund themselves. If it does soon become a legal obligation to speak English for British immigrants in the UK, could the Spanish government not legitimately demand the same here?
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