Tenerife forum

[Cortez]

Hey! I've just signed up so thought I'd introduce myself first.

I'm Chris, I'm 21 (just and don't look anywhere near my age!) and live in England. By day I'm a trainee accountant/accounting technician and in my spare time I like to surf and go to the gym. I mountain bike occasionally aswell.

I'm interested in moving abroad to work for a few reasons ... a) the sun (obviously), b) more chilled lifestyle and c) to do something different - you only live once so have got to try these things.

Was initially thinking of Spain/Ibiza/Majorca etc but the summer season is a bit off putting as I'd have to come back so now I've set my sights on Tenerife.

At the moment I have visions of getting by on a fairly easy and stress free job .. unlike here ... and surfing in the sun on my days off. It'll probably be nothing like that though which is why I've signed up here to look into it more!!

That's about it for now. I hope I can find out loads of useful info here

[karlb]

Welcome to the forum Chris and I like the sound of what you want to do. Why not, you only get one life so go for it.

For the outdoor life you seem to crave then Tenerife is going to be ideal for you.

In the profession you wish to continue with I would strongly recommend you would need to speak Spanish fluently. Get some lessons booked and start looking for Spanish people in your area, become their friends very quickly lol.

Good luck.
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[rob]

Hi Chris and welcome to our forum. I totally agree with your ideas, the only thing is that at your age and when you're qualified I'd be looking at Australia. Here you'll get all you want but unless you speak fluent Spanish and get your accountancy qualifications here you are hardly likely to do more than barely scrape a living whereas in OZ they're crying out for many professional people. Not sure about accountants.
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[Cortez]

Hi guys, thanks for the welcome

Should have been a bit clearer in my op. I'm not necessarily looking for an accounting job over there as I don't particularly enjoy it and like you said I'd need pretty good Spanish for that. I've just finished my AAT so now is a good time to take a break (if I started the next qualification now then it would be another 3 years until a suitable time for a career break) and if it doesn't go well over there then I could always come back and continue where I left off.

I speak very very little Spanish at the moment (keywords and phrases, recognise certain words etc) but I am teaching myself more with the BBC site and books. Considering a course at the local college as well.

The plan was to just do any job for a bit, pick up some Spanish (gotta be easier once you're there?) and then look for a better job that would probably require Spanish speaking.

I'll probably post a thread in the jobs section later on with more questions!

[karlb]

One thing I regret doing when I went travelling was pouring all my money down the drain on cars, clothers, going out and other rubbish. I know the property market is in dire straits at the moment but if the opportunity arises I would get yourself on the ladder for a bargain price. In 10 years time you will be thankful I promise you.

If you are planning on going back in 3 years anyhow you could rent it on long term to cover the mortgage and you will have an investment to go back to. Gods knows what the prices of property will be in 3 or 4 years time.

Then you could take yourself off for a working holiday. Wages are low here but you can survive and pick up Spanish as you go. Do not get absorbed into the 'party crowd' cos that is a slippery slope.

Thats only my opinion though of course.
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[rob]

Ah, that changes the picture. One thing if you want a dead end job and easy lifestyle here you'll more than likely end up working for and amongst Brits and you're very unlikely to pick up any Spanish. Keep up the practice with the BBC, my opinion on courses in your local college is that they are painfully slow as you learn at the pace of the slowest/laziest. Keep studying and locate some Spanish people in your area and buy them a few drinks while practicing your Spanish.
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[Cortez]

Is it possible to get by ok in a "dead end" job? I know wages are lower over there but then living costs are as well right?

I really like the BBC site for Spanish but the speakers speak really fast and I have trouble listening out for the words sometimes! But yeah, seems pretty good and I'm going to keep it up!

[rob]

Yes you can 'get by'. It all depends on your standards. Please read the stickies, you'll find that most if not all your questions are answered there. If you really can't find answers in the stickies or by using the search (above) then please ask.
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[TenerifeSolicitors]

Hi Cortez and welcome to the forum.

First and foremost, I would recommend a blunt reality check. You correctly sum up your reasons for coming here, namely the sun and chilled lifestyle. The third (doing something different) could be achieved in the UK, so I think we can discount that as a serious reason).

You admit to speaking virtually no Spanish. I assume that you have no existing qualification that is of any use to any business on the island. I also assume that you do not have large pots of capital or millionaire parents to support you financially whilst you explore the options.

Basically the Brits that live on the island fall into 6 main categories.
1. Those who retire here on their savings or pensions.

2. Those who have local family/contacts or are half-Spanish.

3. Those who speak reasonable or fluent Spanish and who come here with a serious business plan and capital to put together a successful business whilst working hard and long hours.

4. Those with none of the above but who are determined, hard working, realistic, flexible and prepared to do any type of job and work very hard for very long hours.

5. Those who sell up in the UK (usually by cashing in the easy-come-easy-go equity gained from their UK property) and then proceed to buy a bar with a view to 'cracking it'. Most pay over the odds for a mediocre bar, struggle with the reality of life for 6 months, throw the keys back at the owner and return to the UK without either a penny or their dignity.

6. Those who come here 'on the fly' with no planning, no Spanish, little or no savings and a lazy, unrealistic attitude. Many are running away from something (creditors, ex-partner, the police etc). Most will end up working in drunken British bars or pimping timeshare on the street to poor holidaymakers.

The higher up the list you fall, the longer your will probably last here. Very few below number 3 will ever stay for more than a year or two and will move on with nothing to their name.

Chris, if you are really serious about coming, why not start by better verbalising your reasons for wanting to come here. If you have trouble expanding beyond 'the weather' and 'the lifestyle' then I would seriously re-consider, as the type of work you will need to do will prevent you from enjoying either.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a young person's working-holiday break for 6 months - 1 year, then this might just be the perfect place for you. Bring at least 5000 GBP in savings (or 2000 more if you want a car here), get yourself a part-time bar/restaurant job to top up your income, then rent a nice apartment with a sea-view, live like a king and enjoy all that Tenerife has to offer!
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[MaryJ]

Hi Chris and welcome to our forum.

According to Tenerife Solicitors breakdown we are planning to retire to Tenerife and fall into the catagory:

[Cortez]

[margaretbl]

Hello there, you seem to be taking on board what the lads are telling you, they are living there and know the score
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[jenny]

Hi Chris and welcome to the forum from me.

According to Tenerife Solicitor's list I was a number 4 when I arrived almost 10 years ago (though I did speak French and German, which helped). I am now married to a Spaniard and speak fluent Spanish. I think it all depends on the type of person you are and what you want. If you work hard and accept that you will have problems here then you can survive. Obviously learning Spanish makes things a lot easier so take a look in the Spanish section for tips on learning. I found it easier to learn when I got here but I made a pledge to make friends only with Spanish speakers until I could speak it and that's exactly what I did.

What sort of jobs would you consider? Or what other skills can you offer? I worked for a German tour operator at the airport and port to begin with and picked up some Spanish with the bus drivers/airport and port staff and friends I had made. 6 months later I started work as a secretary for an estate agency who needed a Spanish speaker. I was certainly not fluent by this time but had found myself a boyfriend (who is now my hubbie!) and was practicing and getting better by the day.
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[TenerifeSolicitors]

Ok, I should nip this in the bud right here before each of our established forum members uses my list to pigeon-hole themselves and then proves me wrong

The list was intended to be a tongue-in-cheek illustration of the stereotypical Brits that move here. I know of numerous people who came here with no Spanish and no money and who have made a success of it (admittedly not so many recently though). Likewise, I know folk who came here with lots of cash and ambition and still headed back to the UK with their tails between their legs.

Either way, I think Cortez got the idea?

And Jenny, do you have any photos of you in your German tour-operator outfit?
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[karlb]

Damm too late lol


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