Samantha and Justin

Expat experience – Samantha and Justin

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Samantha
"There are so many farms and fresh produce everywhere, you can pick your own lemons straight from the tree. Justin: I never miss England, and I miss it less when friends come to visit, because they constantly moan about the weather, car rage, politics, lack of space and lack of beauty which we get up here."

"Spain is very familiar to me, it’s like my second home, and I wanted to make sure my Spanish was very good. I just love the attitude, the lifestyle, the culture, I find it very comfortable, open, warm, and it’s beautiful weather. People only see it as a summer place, but actually I think it’s most beautiful in Spring and Autumn, the variety. You just feel happy here. There’s a giving here, which you don’t find as readily in other countries. Spanish people are so warm, it’s exceptional. We do work very hard though, you have to here."

Justin
"To walk the dog in a valley that is surrounded by orange groves, and you hear the stream running below, and instead of going to the gym, I work out with rocks!"

Samantha
"It’s really important for us to enjoy our lives, and why we decided to live here because we can dictate how we work and how we live."

Justin
"A lot of people set up business here because they are on a mission to control their lifestyle. If I was working in London, then when I finish work the team will be straight into a dark pub, and talking about the day. While here we can relax, or go fishing, or sit here surrounded by orange groves…"

Samantha
"We also live in a place where people like to visit. And because it’s different for them, they feel it’s like visiting the countryside…"