Expat Interview – Nancy Martin
This week’s expat interview is with Nancy Martin who originally moved to Spain from Nottingham in England. If you would like to be featured, scroll down and click the link that will take you to a questionnaire.
When did you move to Spain, and where from?
I moved to Madrid 13 years ago from Nottingham, England.
Who came with you?
My Spanish boyfriend at the time who I had met in my hometown…!
Where in Spain do you live now?
I’ve moved 11 times in 13 years!! Only once have I moved out of Madrid to Almería! Now I back where I began in Rivas Vaciamadrid in the south-east of Madrid.
Do you work? As what?
At the moment I’m a stay at home mum and part time blogger. Before that I was a bilingual legal secretary at a well known legal firm.
How are you with speaking Spanish?
My Spanish is probably 90% OK…subjunctives are the bane of my life!!
If you could change one thing about Spain… what would that be?
The situation it’s in at the moment, it’s pathetic and sad.
What is the best thing about living in Spain?
I can’t deny it…the sun brings out the best in people!!
What is your favourite Spanish dish?
Gazpacho without at doubt.
What is the predominant nationality of your friends in Spain?
Mostly Spanish with a splattering of Argentinians as my husband is from Buenos Aires.
If you won the Euromilliones – would you still live where you currently are?
The way things are at the moment in Spain I would have to say I would pack my bags and be on the next flight out of there. I’d definitely miss my friends and the place I live, but I have to think about the future and my husband and children’s future. I can’t imagine that things are going to get better in the short term here.
If a movie was made about your life – who would play you?
My dad always tells me that I look like Jennifer Aniston (which I don’t at all in the slightest!!), so for my dad I’d say her. I loved to say somebody like Audrey Hepburn, but I don’t have her grace!! I think I’m probably more a Lucille Ball.
If you had to describe yourself as a sandwich filling… what would you be?
It would probably be something simple with a twist like a BLT with a splash of Tabasco! Or I remember a friend of a friend who would put four different fillings in each quarter of her sandwich and then spin it around on her plate so she could get a “taste surprise” every time! I’d like to think that I have a surprise in every quarter!!
Right – now is the chance to tell us all about your business/website/blog if you have one (or more of course). Go for your life!
My blog, Fish Out of Water Madrid, is mainly about Madrid although I do post about other places in Spain and my life as an expat…anecdotes about learning Spanish, living elbow to elbow with Spaniards and homesickness.
Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.
