A European in Miami

Goodbye...

2010-08-19T21:47:00.001-07:00

Unfortunately, I moved from Miami to Shanghai.......

Unfair Comment

2008-09-09T06:26:00.000-07:00

Hola everybody! It's been a long time since I wrote the last time. My apologies. Lots of things have been happening in my life lately (all good) and I have been very very busy.
I just received a comment on the blog that puzzled me. Someone, anonymously (!), called me selfish Spaniard and blamed me of discriminating latinos in this blog. Can someone help me understand? Have I written anything on those lines? Weird...

Anyway, back to sharing experiences of a European in Miami.

One of the greatest things of living here is how easy, convenient and amazing is to have a baby in Miami! Well, yes, I am a proud father now, and my baby daughter is enjoying the benefits of being born in Miami:

1. She is a full-right American citizen! And she will have duel nationality (Spanish - American) with all the great stuff this means. She will be able to study and work anywhere in the US or Europe without having to go through any painful paperwork other than booking a flight.
And since she is part of a minority in the US, she will benefit from minority quotas. For example, her chances to get a scholarship for college are greater (being a woman and being part of a minority)
Now, talking about the US Passport... You just need to go to a post office with a couple of photos and the birth certificate and boom! they send it to your home! In Spain you have to stand in line for hours to get the passport.

2. This weather allows us to raise her outdoors, enjoying the sun, the breeze, the ocean... 365 days a year!!! I am sure she will grow up healthy and strong. And she wont be bored indoors in the winter.

So, all in all, I am very proud of having an American - Spanish daughter.

Boating

2008-04-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

Everybody has a boat in Miami. Well, in Florida. I read somewhere that Fort Lauderdale had the highest density of boats per capita in the World. No wonder.

Actually, having a boat is one of the best things you can do in Miami. Since it is "la ciudad marmol. O vas al mar o vas al "mol". Going to "el mar" is better if you go on a boat. They are cheap and easy to acquire, like everything in the US and they are so much fun.

You can have a fishing boat and wake up early in the morning to go fishing with your buddies. Some cans of beer, a good rod and you have a blast.

You can have a boat to pull girls. It works, but you need to have a bad ass boat. Big, flashy, packed with alcohol and good music. There are sand bars all over and you see tons of boats gather around, boost up their music, open some beers and the party is on! Top less babes, with microscopic thongs dance to the beat of the music on their boat, or on the boat next to them. A sight for sore eyes! In Miami, party goes as far as miles into the ocean. Why not!

Another cool thing you can do on a boat (my favourite) is go out for dinner. Lots of restaurants are by the water and you can dock right at the entrance, have dinner and then sail back home while enjoying the spectacular view from the Intracoastal. Watch out though, police is as tough on the sea as they are on the road when it comes to drinking and driving...

Watersports are the obvious other thing you can do. Water ski, kneeboard, wakeboard or just speeding.

I might start considering getting one. Any good offers?

Party!!!!... If you can...

2008-01-25T07:27:00.000-08:00

Miami, oh, Miami. Land of the party, the wine and dine. The land of excess and fun. There is a party or something going on EVERY day. And I mean every day.

A club opening, a magazine party, a TV show after party, a private party... There is always a place to go and mingle. Have fun and meet people. And I haven't seen this in any other part of the World. Miami is always on holidays, always on party mood. There are no seasons here, no feeling of working months. Every single month, every single day is a holiday.

But you have to be able to enjoy it. I mean, you have to be in the mood, you have to have money, you have to have a babysitter (if needed...) Everything is out there for you, you just need to sort yourself out to enjoy it. Now, can everybody do that?

Well, maybe its just me, but I havent partied that much since I have been here (almost 9 months now...).

Xmas

2007-12-17T08:15:00.000-08:00

Another amazing thing of living in Miami. It is Christmas season and it is still warm.
How ackward is it to see Christmas trees and decorations while you are still wearing your swimming trunks!?

It is fantastic to be able to celebrate Christmas in the swimming pool, sun bathing and being warm while most of the Planet is freezing. OK, I do miss some snow and that cozy Christmas feeling, but I am not going to complain. I am loving this.

Christmas shopping is great too here in Florida. The malls, the outlets, the sales... You dont find these back where I come from. And that brings me to the downside of it. People back home wont hesitate to ask you to bring them stuff over... And you have to stuff your luggage with your own clothes, plus your gifts, plus all those things people asked you to buy for them... Bless...

All in all, I love warm and sunny Christmas. I am not that fond of Christmas anyway...
Have a fantastic Xmas and may 2008 bring you, whether you live in Miami or not, everything you wish for.

The Everglades

2007-11-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

For a European it is quite shocking to see something like the Everglades. The first fact that shocked me is that it is the largest moving RIVER in the World. It looks more like a swamp or something like it!

It starts up in Orlando and its only source is the rain water.

The best way to enjoy the Everglades is to go on an Airboat ride, you know, one of those boats that glide over the water and that have a massive propeller above the water level. They are fast and fun, and you better hold on to your belongings if you dont want them to fly away straight into the propeller behind you.

The main attraction of the Everglades is the game, mainly crocs and alligators. Unfortunately, I didnt see any as it is the wet season and they dont need to "flock" to the Everglades for water. But I saw tons of wild birds. And some crocs and alligators in captivity too... (not the same)

The differences between crocs and alligators are:

- Crocs are bigger than alligatros.
- Crocs have pointy mouths while alligators have more rounded ones.
- When the mouth is closed, you can only see the alligator's upper teeth, but you can see both upper and lower teeth of the croc.
- Crocs live both in salt and fresh water, while alligators are fresh water animals.
- The Everglades are the only place on Earth where crocs and alligators co-live.

Definitely a place to visit, and being a Miami resident its literally around the corner.

Now, this is what I am talking about!!!

2007-11-12T08:23:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, I am such a lousy blogger... I haven't written in ages. But guess what? The reason is a very good one...

I am starting to enjoy Miami, and therefore, I have less time to write!!! Isn't that great?!

Here's the thing. After what I would call the "landing" months, things look brighter and brighter in some aspects.

First of all, I have many more friends over here. Yes, we are far apart (30 minutes by car in every direction) but at least I have plans to look forward to. And the icing on the cake, I met my door-to-door neighbors and they are awsome! So no more traveling to meet friends. I have them literally across the corridor.
Besides that, I know many more places to go and things to do.

But still, socializing is tough over here.

And when it comes to the weather, well, NOW is when it is worth living in Miami. The temperatures are milder, but still warm. It is great to be able to take a dip in the pool in November! And being able to ride my motorcycle without sweating my a** off, and driving the convertible withour burning my forefront.
For the first time I am able to have dinner outside, in the terrace, watching the sunset over the ocean with a pleasant temperature. Isn't that nice.

This is going to be like that for 6 more months, so stay tuned for more adventures of this European in Miami. Its getting more and more interesting...

ONe last word to thank all of you that still read my posts and send me encouraging comments.

Gracias

2007-09-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

It is quite impressive and moving to see that people actually read my posts and react to them. I love to receive your comments, and for that, GRACIAS.

Now, this takes me to another positive thing about Miami. Not for a European, but for a Spaniard. It is extremely easy to communicate with people around here. Although the Spanish they speak here is a tad different to the one we speak in Spain, being able to use it on a daily basis is great.

A couple of shocking and amusing examples: Watching man is translated into "Guachiman". The roof into "roofito", water heater into "guarajira"...

As I have mentioned before, I was living in Zurich for 5 years before I moved here. They speak German (well, Swiss German) there and the language barrier does make a difference. Receiving an official letter and not knowing what it said is quite an annoying feeling. I needed to ask a friend to help me whenever I needed to make an appointment with a plumber or a doctor...

But here in Miami, there are no language barriers. With English and Spanish, or even only with the latter, you can do everything and you dont feel any obstacles to do things.

Only in Miami.... or not(?). We are travelling now to some other places in the US and Spanish is all around. Power to us!

Critics

2007-08-30T12:59:00.000-07:00

I have been receiving some critics about my pesimist view about Miami. Let me tell you one thing, nobody forced me to come here, so if I am now living in Miami its because the good things are much more than the bad things.
But the bad things are more fun to write about...

C'mon! I would never bitch about the place where I live, specially if I have chosen to live here. Even if I didnt really like it, I am too proud to admit I have made a mistake ;-)

Now, honestly, I am enjoying this paradise. The settling down time is being tougher and longer than what I expected but, who does not want to spend some time in Miami??

All about the looks

2007-08-23T07:18:00.000-07:00

Miami is an interesting place when it comes to looks. Its all about the looks.

What you wear, how fit you are, how big are your boobs, how tanned you are and what car you drive are key to determine your "success" in a place like Miami.

The funny thing is to see all these attributes completely blown up and overdone.

You see a blend of tacky, expensive, flashy outfits around. Even dogs wear branded clothes. Its hard to find a good tailor to have a suit made. Hard to find European looking clothes. And the ones you find are way too expensive. Thank God for the Spanish miracle Zara though.

Its madness. Everybody works out. No matter the age, the social status, the occupation... Everybody. It is a healthy habit unless you take it to extremes. And some do over here, believe me.

I am sure Miami has the highest concentration of silicon and botox per capita in the world. It gets ridiculous. Again, when taken to the extreme, you see pneumatic ladies who look weird, disproportionate. Dont get me wrong, I am fine with plastic surgery, just make it look natural.

Sometimes it feels like a zoo. Unbelieveable creatures parading in frint of your eyes. Its worth sitting at a Starbucks and enjoying the sight.

Only in Miami...

Where and how to make friends?

2007-08-23T07:08:00.000-07:00

Miami is definitelty not a great place to make new friends. And I guess it is due to the actual set up of the city. It is a huge place and everything movement takes too long.

You really need to make an effort to work on your social life. Attend parties, go out a lot.. And that involves a lot of driving, which is both tiring and discouraging.

Another way to make friends is in your own condo. But people are not that friendly. You would never hear a "hello" in the morning elevator ride. People develop a sense of individualism and isolation. During the day, you dont see too many people socializing. Of course, as I worte in another post, there is no downtown or city center where to hang out and about, which makes interaction way more difficult.

There are not many enablers for social life. No neighborhood or "barrios".
And if you happen to be at a socializing place and start a conversation, the conversation themes are superficial. A great way to have fun that night and to make acquaintances, but not great to make new good friends.

I must say we have been lucky in finding good friends (despite the fact we have to drive 30 minutes to meet up with them). But comparing it to other places where we have lived, Miami ranks lower in the Friend-making scale.

Visitors... Bless them

2007-07-31T10:37:00.000-07:00

Here's another thing about being a foreigner in Miami. You have plenty of visitors over. It doesn't matter how well they know you or how strong is the relationship between you and them. Miami is a great destination for visitors.

The good news is that, since it is not easy to have a great social life in Miami (at least not the way Europeans define social life), you always have company.

I was living in Zurich for 5 years and believe me, the amount of visitors who have booked a flight to Miami in the next 6 months is higher than those who actually visited me in Switzerland in the last 60 months!!!

Now, the common mistake they make is to come over during the summer, when they normally are on vacations. They do not expect the weather in Miami to be like it really is. So watching their faces as they leave the airport terminal and the humidity and the heat hits them is quite funny. And then the storms. It rains every single day here during the summer. And sometimes, it rains real hard. And hurricane season coincides with the summer season, so I won't be surprised if some of our visitors had to live through a hurricane with us here.

Somebody said that there is one thing worse than being a European in Miami. And that is being a European in Miami with a spare room...

But the truth is, bless you all. Thank you all. Our visitors.

The best place to ride a motorcycle (NOT)

2007-07-24T12:20:00.001-07:00

You would think, wouldnt you? that Miami is a perfect place to own and ride a motorcycle. Well, pay attention, you might change your mind after reading my post.

1. The weather. It is not nice weather. It is too hot and humid to ride a bike. The heat during the summer months makes it almost umbearable to ride your bike. Heat comes from all angles: down from the pavement and the engine and up from the sun. It is not a very pleasant experience... I cant wait for the winter to arrive though.

2. Traffic. You would think a motorcycle would spare you the jams. But here in Florida it is illegal to zig and zag through the traffic jams. So, even on a bike, you will have to suffer Miami's traffic jams.

3. License. You need a separate license for your motorcycle. And the test is both written and skills. The skills one is a circus like exam where you will have to perform all sorts of incredible stunts which are very unlikely to occur in real life.

4. Place to keep it. If you dont have a garage of your own, where do you park it? Well, I tried in my condo's parking lot. There was no specific place for bikes, so the manager told me to park it in "that blue area over there". Some neighbor, without a life and very very bored (nice way to say an asshole) called the cops and ALL the bikes in the lot got parking tickets. Great neighborhood feeling.

5. Rust. Watch out for the chrome parts in your bike. The humidity here will rust them out. Charming.

Having said all this, I must conclude I am enjoying every single minute I spend riding my bike, which, by the way, to go against all odds, it is NOT a Harley. it is a Triumph, so I can still keep in touch with the European in me

Driver's license. Part 2

2007-07-24T12:16:00.001-07:00

And just when I thought the drivers license nightmare was over... I bought a motorcycle (of which I will write a separate post). And I had to take another written exam and a skills test for that too!

So you bring your own bike and you have to go through the same process all over again. Touchscreen tests where you can only fail up to 5 questions out of 25 and a circus like skills test.

I must add I have just passed my test and I can now ride my bike legally. Hassle free... or not - read my next post...

Driver's license

2007-07-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

Ha! Thats another shock...

No matter how long have you been driving for, no matter when you took your first drivers license test back in your home country, no matter how old are you or your accident history (or lack of)... I had to go through the same process to get my Florida drivers license as a 15 year old.

And you HAVE to have it. For ID purposes and because if they catch you driving with your non-US license 30 or more days after you landed in the US, you are in trouble. Big trouble.

One good thing I have to say about this is, that compared to Europe (or at least Spain) it is almost free to take your license and it is very easy. I still have nightmares with my test back in Madrid, the amount of money it costed and the lengthy process.

And here it is like a credit card, as opposed to the paper blanket we had back in Spain.

I am dreading the process to get my Spanish license back when and if I retunr one day.

So, not everything is bad.

Hurricanes

2007-07-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

Now, speaking of shocks...!!!
I havent gone through a hurricane yet, but living in South Florida it is more likely that I will shortly.

This last weekend I asked if there is a chance that this year we wont have any hurricanes... Well, the answer was that, in the last 100 years, there has only been 3 years without hurricanes, and last year was one of those.

I dont know what is worse, a hurricane or the thought of it (and all the things you have to do before and after). People tell me they are way worse than what you expect. But then you see other people acting pretty cool about them.

Reality is that they are vicious and that you'd rather be prepared. Mentally and in your appartment. You actually have to stock up on supplies (water, food...) because you are most likely to be without electricity and water after a hurricane hit. Check that out!!! For us Europeans that sounds like the war! Isnt that shocking!?

Again, I havent been through one yet, so stay tuned for my post after a hurricane.

If the Internet connection stays up, I promise to write from my bathroom, which is the only room in the apartment without a window...

The Consulate and its procedures

2007-07-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

I could talk about lots of things you have to wrestle with when you land in the US as a foreigner, like getting your Social Security number, getting your driver's license, having no credit history and trying to get a credit card.... But all these are common to all the cities in the US.

I'd rather focus on those things that make Miami unique when it comes to cultural shock.

One thing that is different to any other place is the procedure to register yourself in your consulate. I have done this at least once before, in the Spanish Consulate in Zurich and, although it is not an extremely pleasant experience, it is something you need to do, get over with and move on. The process in Switzerland was quite easy.

But the uniqueness of the Spanish consulate in Miami resides in the fact that many Latinamericans are trying to claim their Spanish origin way back in their family tree to get a Spanish passport.

So, if you want your passport to be renewed in the Spanish Consulate in Miami, even if you are a Spanish national with a previous Spanish passport, you still need to bring your birth certificate with you!

Lesson learned, carry ALL your official and important documents (even if they go back back in time) around with you.

... I guess I am the only one not doing it...

Cultural Shock

2007-07-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

I was really excited when I learnt that I was going to move to Miami. Hey, it sounded great! (and it is, don't get me wrong...yet)

I thought, of all places in the US, Miami must be the closest to home, Spain, due to the Latin influence. I couldn't imagine how wrong I was...

Don't fool yourself, Miami is much closer to the US than to Spain (or Europe). As a place, a phisical location, it IS the US, and that is a big statement.

OK, ok, the people here are probable the less US, but still, they morph and blend in and start adopting American behaviours, losing, whether they (we) like it or not, the roots.

On this first post I will focus on the geographical set up, for starters.

Miami is not a town, or a city. It is just a sum of spread out suburbs. This is something that does not happen in Europe. Even in the biggest cities you have a downtown area, an old town part, a "barrio"... where you can feel part of a community, you can walk around and find the things you need within walking distance. Don't you?

Downtown. What a word. They like to use it for anything. If you could only see what they called Miami Downtown... Where's the people walking around? Where are the cafes? Restaurants and bars?

I dont intend to bitch about Miami. I am loving it. I guess it is just a matter of managing expectations; I thought it was going to be a 10 and it is an 8. But, hey! 8 is still GREAT!

More European experiences in Miami to come. Stay tuned..