Moving To Spain Isn’t Always Paradise: German Family Faces Bitter Truth

Lukas and Jennifer opportunity thing went arsenic expected: “The costs of surviving is very precocious and salaries are very low. I had to activity doubly arsenic difficult arsenic successful Germany conscionable to make ends meet.”

This accelerated round-trip communicative shatters nan accustomed stereotype. It is not nan classical communicative of a well-off European family capable to bargain immoderate luxury spot connected Spain’s Mediterranean seashore pinch cash, because, arsenic is wide assumed, incomes successful bluish Europe are higher than successful Spain. On nan contrary, this communicative highlights really nan terrible lodging challenges successful nan Marina Alta are progressively becoming insurmountable moreover for Europe’s moving mediate class. In this case, from Germany.

The family astatine nan centre of nan story, Jennifer Itinga Fontan and Lukas Reinike, aged 39 and 40, moved to Denia a twelvemonth agone pinch their children Elián (4) and Noel (6), attracted by nan committedness of a amended ambiance and a friendlier environment. It was not a unsighted adventure: Jennifer’s parents already lived successful Denia, and nan mates temporarily stayed pinch them while looking for their ain home. But that is wherever things began to spell wrong. Just a twelvemonth later, they returned to their hometown of Remscheid, a metropolis of 113,000 successful occidental Germany, emotion disillusioned.

Reality “was very different from what we expected”

According to their relationship to nan section newspaper Remscheider General-Anzeiger (RGA), reality “was very different from what we expected.” The first awesome hurdle was housing: “We couldn’t find an affordable home. Owners preferred renting to visitors aliases only for short stays, and successful summertime you had to leave,” Jennifer explained.

The family knowledgeable firsthand really nan emergence of vacation rentals has pushed spot prices successful tourer towns for illustration Denia to unaffordable levels. Nationality made nary difference: locals look nan aforesaid problem. Jennifer and Lukas spent months successful impermanent accommodation without stability, a business incompatible pinch raising 2 young children.

High prices, debased wages

They besides discovered that nan costs of surviving was higher than expected while wages were overmuch lower. “I had to activity doubly arsenic overmuch arsenic successful Germany conscionable to make ends meet,” said Jennifer, who worked 20 hours a week successful nan management of a attraction home, earning astir nan balanced of a low-paid part-time occupation successful Germany. Meanwhile, her hubby worked remotely arsenic a customer advisor for nan manner institution Breuninger. It still wasn’t capable to get by.

 “Too hot”

Cultural differences besides played a role. They struggled to accommodate to nan Mediterranean gait of life, which they described arsenic “festive,” arsenic good arsenic nan changeless heat, different schedules, and nan “informal administration”—a communal title among European residents. Their patience yet ran out.

Children settee successful quickly

In contrast, Elián and Noel adapted quickly. Within a fewer months, some were fluent successful Spanish, had made friends, and enjoyed schoolhouse life. Starting a caller life is ever easier for children, and nan multicultural classrooms successful Denia proved this.

A difficult return

Many emigrants successful nan Marina Alta cannot return to their location countries, but Jennifer and Lukas were capable to move backmost to Germany successful August. However, nan return has not been straightforward. “Emigrating is easier than coming back,” admits Lukas, who continues moving for nan aforesaid institution and says they are “starting from scratch.” Jennifer has resumed her erstwhile supermarket job, while nan family searches for imperishable lodging successful a marketplace that is besides challenging successful Germany.

Despite nan hardships, they opportunity nan acquisition has fixed them a caller perspective. “I utilized to dislike nan rain, but life successful Germany isn’t each bad,” adds Lukas. After their twelvemonth successful Denia, they worth their erstwhile life more, while retaining nan representation of an aggravated twelvemonth that taught them that nan dream of emigrating sometimes clashes pinch harsh reality.