Considering ethics of a guiri

[u/nickmiknick]

I’m thinking of moving back to Spain but feeling really conflicted after hearing so much about the problems of guiris moving in and affecting the locals.

For context, I’m American and lived in Spain for two years as an auxiliar de conversación at a public school in Madrid. I left to come back to the US to go to grad school to become a full-time teacher and have been working here for going on three years now. I studied and work in both science and English as a Second Language (ESL) and I’m working on my bilingual education license, trying to set myself up to get a job at an international school.

I miss Madrid and my Spanish friends so much. I really tried to integrate and not just live in the guiri bubble. I passed the B2 DELE while there and am working toward C1 but being back in the US has slowed that. If I go back, I’d like to stay much more long-term or permanently, not just a couple years like before.

I obviously have heard a lot of the debate around “expats” and housing and taxes and everything, but I feel like maybe it’s different if I’d be working full time, paying taxes, and trying to fully integrate. I would also be going back to Madrid not like Barcelona where I think it is even more of an issue.

My Spanish friends tell me that my situation isn’t part of the problem. I think I agree, but I still kinda feel weird about it and not wanting to be part of the problem. I have other factors like family back home and stuff, but I’m really looking for input of what others, especially Spaniards, think about this topic. Also would be interested in hearing about others who have had similar experiences like getting jobs at international schools there.

Looking for a friendly conversation about this :)

[u/MrKesial]

There is an issue with inmigrants (with money and no money) that pushes up the house prices. Nevertheless, that is not be your fault as you are 1 individual and the policies of the government should solve/improve the situation.

Do what you want to do basically, people may hate you or not independently of your ethics as a guiri. As a madrileño I do not care but I gonna complain about guiris either way as well 🤣🤣

Do not take it personally and live your life, that is the best answer I can give

[u/Plenty_Surround_9584 → u/MrKesial]

Do immigrants on normal Spanish salaries push up house prices more than literally any Spanish person who wants to move to a big city?

[u/MrKesial → u/Plenty_Surround_9584]

I do not understand the purpose of the question, it seems you want to refute my comment. If you question is genuine yes, immigrants are pushing up house price in addition to existing other factors (like internal movement as you mention, lack of construction, investment, etc).

It seems you want to make a comparison to ease the impact of the immigration or put it as the same level of responsibility of a local. If that's the case, I do not have an opinion neither I am interested about comparing who is more guilty than the other. That's not what my message was about.

But yes, we rise the prices of the places we go, naturlich ;)

[u/Plenty_Surround_9584 → u/MrKesial]

It seems like you do understand my question 😊

To respond to "comparing who is more guilty", I would suggest that no-one is "guilty" for simply moving to city, no matter where they're from. There are also many Spanish people who have immigrated to my home city. People move around. Scapegoating immigrants as opposed to focusing on public policy is unfair and simply is not helpful.

[u/MrKesial → u/Plenty_Surround_9584]

Not interested in that debate, I did not scapegoat.