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Spain
The question that most readers of this introduction most frequently ask is what it will be like to live and work in Spain.
Spain is a sweetly confusing world of modern cosmopolitan life combined with charming laid back traditional culture. Indeed, according to the popular film maker Pedro Almodóvar, Spain is not only about luxury and fun, but it is also a modernized country, with all its ills, conveniences and the realities of a large, progressive country. It is also a place where we discover that out of imperfection comes greatness. The great Almodóvar walks the tightrope between popular and pioneering cinema to serve us a cocktail of emotions and a miscellaneous vision of Spanish culture. He is a leading member of the creative movement which came out of Madrid at the end of the 1970's and influenced music, art, design and the film industry. The settings used in his movies often reflect modern Spanish towns as "working museums". This is mainly because the streets and buildings evoke a mystical past whose relevance and importance has been completely lost in the 21st century. However, some ancient idiosyncrasies still remain and if you scratch under the surface you´ll find a wonderful way of life. Almodóvar is also renowned as the creator of a unique universe for his portrayal of the pace of city life in Spain today. That's why his life and films, like both sides of the same coin, and have clearly demonstrated the depth of this cultural, vibrant and quirky country. As a result of his efforts, in 2000 a story about women, "All about My Mother" (Todo sobre mi madre) won him a long-deserved Oscar for best foreign film. Then, the Spanish genius shone anew in 2003 when he became the first Spaniard to receive an Oscar for original screenplay with his film, "Talk to Her" (Hable con ella). With his 15th film due to open soon, Almodovar has his fans ripe with expectation about its promised "pleasant surprises". The film "Bad Education" (La mala educación) is the story of two classmates who meet up again after a separation of several years. As a European would say, not only is Spain a productive country, but it is also goal-oriented and community focused. Spanish workers are currently far away from the typical stereotype of the lazy Spaniard whose daily grind consists in working a few hours and having a long and relaxing nap. Nevertheless, what makes the life of these workers look so attractive is that they have found ways to combine the modern business culture with the more traditional Spanish relaxed way of doing things. To illustrate this point, let's take the example of the ritual morning or afternoon coffee with their co-workers. The coffee is even better if there is a huge screen in the bar, televising a soccer/football match. This universal game has become the greatest show on earth for all Spaniards; over fifty per cent of the population claims to be soccer fans. Millions of people around Spain periodically sit down to watch Real Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona or Deportivo La Coruña (known for its extraordinary results in the Champion´s League). This explains why the world's best soccer players want to be in the Spanish League. Superstars like Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and of course, David Beckham left other powerful leagues to play in Spain. Most of them are playing for Real Madrid alongside a select group of aces like Figo or Raúl. No wonder the UEFA calls the Spanish League the best and most spectacular competitor on the continent year after year. Sadness, joy, passion and desperation are the endless emotions felt by fans during a match. If you are as intrigued as I was, and want to experience not only what is like being in one of these matches but also what Almodóvar described in his films, you should come to live and work in Spain. There is more information on Spain in our Student Guides: Madrid, Barcelona
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