Hola, soy guiri!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I’m Josh, a twenty-something (which clearly means 25 or over) English Teacher/freelance writer carving a living out of the economically floundering melting pot that is Spain. I adore travel, but I’m not one for skipping through countries just to tick them off my ‘been there’ list. Instead, I do my best to immerse myself within a culture in order to truly understand it. I am also, conveniently, obsessed with learning languages, though as things stand I can only speak one other: Spanish (duh!). I knew very little of the language before coming here in September 2010, and initially the process of settling in proved very difficult. Despite this, here I remain, and my fondness for this troubled country only grows with each passing day.
Hiking in the mountains near Jerez de la Frontera
A Brief Background
Learning another language had long since been a goal of mine before my coming here- though I could never really see the value of learning one while I lived in a country with a different native tongue. Then, following my graduation from The University of Sheffield in 2008, a 4-week intensive TEFL course, nine months in Canada, a brief back-packing stint in South America and another year in Sheffield, I finally had my ‘now or never’ moment. So, off I went and here I am, speaking Spanish on a daily basis, and beginning to feel that I am rather good at it to be honest. My first nine months here were spent in El Puerto de Santa María, near Cadiz, where understanding the locals was futile. A mid-year visit to Granada sparked a pungent interest and unyielding determination to live there, and six months later that’s exactly what I was doing. Since then, I simply haven’t looked back.
Standing in front of La Puerta del puente romano, Córdoba
The Blog
I had flirted with the idea of having my own blog for quite some time. Though It wasn’t until October of this year that I actually decided to give it a go. Glad I did; it’s great fun, and it has consumed me completely! I feel that Spain is a country misinterpreted by many, and I simply want to bring some of its quirks, charms and treasures to light, in a strictly light-hearted way. So I tend to ignore all that political spiel that you’re probably already sick of hearing about. I generally jabber on about travel, music, sport, language, culture and the general day-to-day life of what it’s like to be an ‘extranjero’, or, as has quite rightly been pointed out below, a ‘guiri’ in Spain. If you’re not already among us, have a nosey round and maybe, just maybe, I’ll convince you to come and see what all the fuss is about. 
Assuming the classic tourist pose with The Alhambra lurking in the background
You´re in Andalucia – you´re not just an “extranjero”, you´re a guiri too! All the best folk are
Hi Josh, fellow Spain lover here who hopes to retire not far from Granada: Málaga to be exact. I’m happy to find another blog about Spain! Keep up the great work. I’ve had a brief look around and like what I see! Nice to meet you.
Ah thanks Toby! Nice to know i’m finding people! If you’re looking for more Spain blogs then check out my blogroll- there’s a few gooduns in there, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!!
yes, that is exactly how I found yours: a blogroll of another blog
Ah, I now see from your blog that you have indeed found most of the other Spain bloggers I was referring to. Doh!
he he
I am also a life long Spanish learner as well.
Hi Josh, I’m also a Spain fanatic. Been living off and on for almost 30 years (which means I’m just a little more over 25 than you are
I live off and on with a group of Gypsies in Seville, am an indie author and life long lover of language and culture now living in Puerto Rico. Look forward to reading your posts.
Thanks for popping by my blog, Josh! Looking forwarding to following your adventures!
Like the blog Josh, and am finding it useful in planning a TEFL training course. Any feedback would be appreciated on your experience in terms of what course (TEFL/CELTA/TESOL equivalent)?, and what’s Granada like for quality of teacher training centres? Thanks in advance.