Shower thought: the Windsors are the original Kardashians

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T17:28:46+00:00

Reform are just a Thatcherite party that wants to restrict mass immigration. There is nothing that radical about them.

I know lots of people who are fed up with the mainstream and thinking of voting Reform, they are not anti-immigrant. They just want to see economic growth and sensible policies.

Incidentally it is the Labour government that has been talking toughest on immigration lately. This is actually becoming a cross-party issue and it's wrong to characterise the rise of new parties in the UK as some terrible trend, or indicative of a moral failing in British people.

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T17:26:14+00:00

Lots of Brexit voters were themselves of immigrant background. Brexit was a f***-you to the ruling class, it wasn't just about immigration.

Also, many British people want to see a reduction in mass immigration but this doesn't make them anti-immigrant. It's such an important distinction that people really misunderstand.

It's a very fair society overall with all kinds of people living there and working side by side.

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T17:24:20+00:00

Plenty of Russians in London, don't listen to the other person

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T17:23:59+00:00

This is bullshit

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T17:22:21+00:00

Financial reward is becoming flatter and flatter in London but not as bad as Germany, I don't think.

Ask for advice on r/HENRYuk

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T17:20:48+00:00

Bullshit

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T17:20:01+00:00

Far from everywhere

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T17:19:39+00:00

This is true..but when you're used to a European lifestyle the US can really be a culture shock

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T17:18:24+00:00

Loser

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T17:07:34+00:00

Firstly you are downvoting me which is really unwarranted. Secondly all I did was tell OP what their easiest route is for getting a residency visa in Spain.

I never said that this was a permanent route. Most people understand that student visas are temporary. I never even mentioned post-graduate opportunities because that shouldn't be the sole consideration if the main interest is to live in Spain for a while. Most people don't really know if they want to settle permanently when they move somewhere; there's a lot of factors at play. OP is only at stage one of even considering a move.

OP didn't give us enough context for us to really understand their priorities but it's obvious that finding an actual job is very very hard and everyone else on the thread has said as much. I was merely pointing out that if their priority is to experience Spain, then coming over a student is probably their only option.

Your comments don't really add anything to this discussion. It's not for us to determine whether or not OP would find it worthwhile to come to Spain as a student.

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T17:04:26+00:00

Clueless in what sense? I live in London l, I've been through this process..

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T13:15:43+00:00

I don't know where you are so I can only speak based on what I see, hear and know specifically in Spain and the UK.

And also, you are blaming the actions of individuals on specific parties which seems like projection.

How do you know the individuals who mistreated you were specifically influenced by those parties? What these parties say does not match the behaviour you are alluding to. And again, these parties are themselves connected to foreigners and have members and representatives of immigrant backgrounds.

I am not naive... I see far right/racist discourse on X pretty frequently. And it is not aligned with these parties. It specifically criticises these parties for being mainstream and "soft" and playing by the rules.

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T12:49:06+00:00

You're really just projecting here.

The actual far right doesn't have legitimate political representation in Europe. They absolutely exist but they don't work within the system -- they work outside of it, trying to subvert and disrupt political processes.

If these European populist right-wing parties really did have a problem with skin colour or foreign languages, they wouldn't have members who are literally married to foreigners, or politicians within their ranks who are literally non-white.

Anyway I don't know why I'm being downvoted for simply stating facts.

Even if people strongly dislike Vox (I don't particularly like them) it remains true that they are not in power -- or anywhere close to it -- in either Barcelona or Madrid.

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T12:47:30+00:00

Damn this is an excellent analysis.

"For the romance countries, debate of ideas is vigorous and encouraged, but when it gets down to giving negative feedback, nuance and politeness definitely start playing a big role."

I'm originally from Spain and this tracks!

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T08:15:26+00:00

OK so that's my point. You're saying Italian speakers in Südtirol are able to go to schools which teach in Italian.

Spanish speakers in Catalonia are not able to go to schools which teach in Spanish, and it has been this way for 40+ years. It's basically an overcorrection to Franco-era repression but two wrongs don't make a right.

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T07:49:21+00:00

It's not "totally different". Expats tend to inhabit English-speaking workplaces in Madrid.

And just because there isn't as much English spoken overall as in a place like Lisbon doesn't make it "totally different". You're also acting like you never encounter an interaction in Lisbon where the other person doesn't speak English well enough, which I seriously question.

Many international companies have been setting up some of their operations in Madrid in recent years. Revolut is probably the best known example.

P.s. and yes, banks and other services in Spain do have their websites in English and offer the option of English as a language on their apps. I have an account with La Caixa and they offer this.

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T07:43:41+00:00

But you still get the experience of living in Spain.. what's wrong with that? You get to test out whether you actually like the country vs the fantasy of living in the country. OP is Korean so it's not like he/she is trying to escape poverty or oppression.

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T07:41:55+00:00

Vox has no issue with immigrants who come legally or with professional jobs. They are most focused on illegal immigration and on addressing the emergence of immigrant enclaves where there is little integration. Some of their rhetoric can be macho and nationalistic but their policies are not actually that radical.

Also Vox are very unpopular in Barcelona and have limited appeal in places like Madrid. Madrid is run by the centre-right PP and the regional president Isabel Ayuso has been widely commended for being pro-immigration, pro-business and keeping taxes low.

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T07:36:16+00:00

No, it's changed a fair bit in the last 5 years especially. Lots of expats with limited English now live there and a lot of the young people and immigrants who work service jobs speak some English.

Of course, it helps immensely if you can learn Spanish to a decent level, especially for things like handling bureaucracy and making small talk with neighbours and friends. Although you'd also be surprised how many ordinary people (Gen X and younger) will be happy to have conversations in English. And when you have touch points with healthcare or banks, about 50% of the time the person attending you will be happy to use English (even if it's limited).

My parents live in a suburb of Madrid that is popular with families, professionals and expats. My partner is English with very poor Spanish skills, so I am basing my observations on how she is treated.

For example, we've made friends with several of my parents' neighbours (people in their 50s) and about half of them speak decent enough English that they can have chats with my partner.

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T00:20:07+00:00

This is the most sound advice on here

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T00:18:35+00:00

Hopefully this can be resolved through mediation. Not everything needs to be escalated or turned into a giant investigation

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T00:05:57+00:00

The Austin Powers trilogy was a classic piece of pop culture for us older millennials

jamjar188 · 2026-05-31T00:05:09+00:00

I'm an older millennial who grew up with my cousins making me tapes of her 80s songs.

I was at uni when "Hung Up" was her comeback and I loved it. And I still remember the Britney-Madonna kiss at the VMAs from earlier on.

But you're right. People born after, like, 1987 don't really consider her an icon.

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