Anyone live in Madrid? Have opportunity to move there, but terrified as I don't know anything about the culture

[PotPourri]

Hi. I'm new to this forum so please be kind ;-) I'm hoping some of you could share your experience of living in Madrid or the outskirts (I would need to get to work in the centre). What is the culture like? Is it easy to make friends? I have a wide support network here in Blighty and am scared stiff that it would be a mistake. It would be on local terms, so not an expat arrangement.... I've got 3 children, aged 4-9.

I speak spanish pretty well btw.

[EstoyAqui]

Go. Just do it! My DH Works there and we regularly spend family time there. I really wish we had taken the chance to move when it was offered to us. It's too late now but if it happens again I would jump at the chance.

[PotPourri]

Will look you up if I do EstoyAqui. I keep telling myself that I could always move back if it didn't work out. But I think I would be too proud to admit failure if it didn't work out..

[bebespain]

Hi PotPourri

I have lived 20mins out of Madrid for the last 7 years and I would be lieing if I said I hadn´t found it difficult and at times soul-destroying to be perfectly honest. And that is despite speaking the language very well and being married to a Spaniard.

However, I haven´t worked since I have been here, I am a SAHM to 3 children and there you have a difficulty in itself. There aren´t Mum n Tots, play groups etc and organised activities for toddlers are few and far between. Most Spanish women work full time meaning it is very hard to hook up with other SAHMs during the day. The parks are usually empty apart from maybe the odd grandmother or Nanny. Obviously this makes it very hard to integrate with the local population. I am used to it now but in the beginning when I had just had my first baby it was a killer, very, very isolating.

It will be different for you as you are planning to work and you have older children and the fact that you´ll be taking them to and from school will give you opportunities to meet other Mums and make friends so don´t let what I have said put you off.

Do you know anything about the school system here? Rather than me rattling on about stuff you are already aware of please feel free to PM me and I can answer any questions/specifics you may have, I would be happy to help!

Here is my email if that would be easier: [email protected]