Is Spain safe for me? I am worried?

Question

Hi, my name is Magdalena and I am a Colombian girl, I work as a registered nurse in the US and here I met my boyfriend who is English.

He owns an apartment in Spain in a city called Valencia so he is asking me to go with him for some months.

I have been in Europe before but only to London, Belgium, Holland and France....... people in those countries are quite normal, meaning not racist or very angry but supposedly from what I saw on tv in Spain they kick foreigners in the face and spit on them and is absolutely ok by their cultural standards.

sorry to generalize but I heard in Spain people are quite racist and rude so I am hesitant about going there as I am not like a blonde haired blue eyed european (from my understanding they only like u if ur like german or swedish or stuff like that)

I really dont wanna go spend my money in a place where I'll be mistreated..... my boyfriend claim I'll be ok, but I dont know.... I wanna hear less biased opinions.

Answer 1

Hi!... I'm mexican, and this year I'll visit to Spain, that will my second visit. I've had heard the same, and before I visit the country I was worry as u are now, but, besides accidents can happen, normaly, spanish people is nice.

Of course they tent to think ALL LATINAMERICANS we are possible illegal inmigrants, I have heard mexicans were not considered on this categorie, but in several times I was taken as southamerican (everyone who knows the continent knows that Mexico is not southamerica), and since this condition, I can tell u that I was very well treated.

My best friend lives in Córdoba, She's doing P.H.D. studies and she has not complains.

My best wishes for your holidays with your boyfriend, btw, mine is spanish

Answer 2

"in Spain they kick foreigners in the face and spit on them and is absolutely ok by their cultural standards"

that shows how much u know about our "cultural standars"

es injusto decir que todos los españoles somos racistas, seria como decir que todos los colombianos son traficantes de droga, los alemanes borrachos etc

seguro que tienes más posibilidades de que te escupan, te den una patada en la cara o te peguen un tiro en US que en españa

Answer 3

Oh, we're not racists!!! Yes, there are racist Spaniards of course. But there are racist latin Americans as well!!! We just have an inmigration problem (too many inmigrants and little control) so, the situation is a little uncontrolled, and most Spaniards tend to think that a lot of latin Americans are possible illegal aliens as someone has said on the previous answer. But we share a lot of cultural similarities with latin America, so we're like brothers and sisters!!! Average Spaniards are friendly and polite, it doesn't mean you can't find rude Spaniards, but as you've said, it is a generalization, so it is unfair for us. There are good and bad people just like in every country.

Don't worry and enjoy Spain.

To kick someboy's face or spit in someone is not OK by our cultural standards, and they musn't be on any nation's standards!. That's truly rude!!!

PD: Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, and has everything so I hope you like it!!

Answer 4

Spain is a country that has accepted foreigners of all kinds, colours and creeds for decades. There are people here from half of the world and most get along well with everyone else!

I myself am north american/ french (mitad-mitad) and I married a spaniard 36 years ago... I've been here ever since. My daughters godmother is from Peru, she married a spaniard and has lived in Valencia for the last 30 odd years... sin problema... The racist problems are in the parts of the country (mostly Madrid & Barcelona) where latinamerican immigrants kids have formed the Bandas Callejeras similar to those in the USA like the "Latin Kings". So far they are not too bad, but every time they do something outrageous, it evidently gets in the daily news... And the spanish groups of skinheads that go after them are no better.

But on general terms, Spain is no more dangerous than any other country in the western world, and actually it is probably safer than many!

No te preocupes...y disfruta de tu viaje a España!!! Es un pais genial!!!

PS... Valencia is a lovely city there are plenty of great things to visit. The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, the beaches, the port area... Plenty of things to do and see if you come to Spain on vacation!

Answer 5

Well, is not exactly like that but you have to get used to the way they look at you just for the color of your skin..

Answer 6

Being African American and Spanish I've had absolutely no problem in Spain I have family who lives in Sevilla and go to visit them every year. Trust me people in Spain are really nice and i will guarantee that you will have a great time.

Answer 7

All I have to say is.....you live in the US, a country that is filled with immigration and racists. And I know this because I live in LA. I am surrounded by immigrants and I'm also surrounded by people who absolutely hate them!

Spain is my country, I lived there for 16 years of live and it is a great country to be at. Great culture and amazing people.

If you start comparing Spain and the US, you'll be way better off in Spain.

Answer 8

Okay, I have blonde hair, green eyes, fair skin, and a decidedly American accent.  NEVER  NEVER NEVER experienced, heard of nor seen ANYTHING like what you describe.

First of all, you are Spanish speaking, and will surely be quite welcome there.  

I have ONLY had good experiences in Spain...people wonderful, warm, loving, generous, caring.   I have NO IDEA where you got this idea.

Now, thirty - thirty five years ago, I was told it was accepted to spit on the gypsies...I never saw it happen.  (and, to be honest, they aren't sitting with their hands out anymore, either...at least they now have SOME semblance of working for a living.)  There is SOME prejudice and looking down on the shiftless and the illegals (they have just as much of a problem as we have here, in the US), except their problems is with the Africans who cross at Tarifa looking for work.  Most of these guys wind up selling stuff on the beaches and at the restaurants' sidewalk and terrace seating.  Some live by sleeping on trains without paying for tickets.  There are indigents everywhere.

What you talk about is a problem with the expats who live near Málaga, where there may be some ill-will, but I cannot believe that the behavior you describe is accepted anywhere in Spain.  

You won't be mistreated.  I doubt very much that there are ANY such problems in Valencia.  They are very modern and industrialized in Spain, and you are more likely to run into prejudice in France and Germany than in Spain.  (particularly violence).  Such things are terribly frowned upon.  Besides, Valencia has just opened this huge, modern science city, held the Yachting race last year, and trying to hold their own as an up and coming toiurist center, and they are going to be very aggressive about protecting the tourists who are visiting such sites.  

I really wonder what report you saw?   Kicking someone, for any reason, would be considered assault, and a jailable offense.

No.  Spaniards are very welcoming, and you should feel very much at home there.  You might even find a few fellow Colombianos working there.  I met one in the bar I hung out in in Madrid last year.