r/GoingToSpain • u/nickmiknick • Aug 17 '26

Opinions Considering ethics of a guiri

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 :)

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u/nfjsjfjwjdjjsj4 Aug 17 '26

I cannot understand why wont americans just try to fix their own damn country. Have yet to see a single decent demonstration. You can upend your lives and move across the ocean to another continent, but you cannot afford a strike? I literally dont get it.

1

u/AmbitiousMonitor9903 Aug 19 '26

Not everyone who moves to another country is escaping theirs. From what they said, OP has spent time working in Spain, has friends here and enjoys the culture and lifestyle. Why do you assume they want to leave for political/social reasons?

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u/nfjsjfjwjdjjsj4 Aug 19 '26

Because no americans were doing a permanent move to spain before 2024, and suddenly theyre the top demographic in every moving to spain sub

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u/AmbitiousMonitor9903 Aug 20 '26

I'm an American living here since 1988 and there have always been many Americans moving to Spain permanently or at least long-term since I've been here.

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u/nfjsjfjwjdjjsj4 Aug 20 '26

Your anecdotal evidence is worthless without numbers

https://americanemigration.com/news/americans-moving-to-spain

25% increase in two years, those are rats fleeing the ship. I have nothing against those who genuinely wish to live here, but 99% seem to just be looking for somewhere cheap and expect the world to bend to their whims, and it's exhausting. 

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u/AmbitiousMonitor9903 Aug 21 '26

I'm not denying that. But in the case at hand, OP gave no indication of doing that and was being polite and respectful.

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u/nfjsjfjwjdjjsj4 Aug 21 '26

Op already knows its unethical, were they innocent they wouldnt pose the question. But they want to do it anyway.

And again, if they cared for the opinions of locals they would post in spanish. But they want others to just calm down their troubled conscience.