“I, an Italian in the Canary Islands, would make this choice again. But here things have changed a lot”: Ramon’s story

“Recently I read in various newspapers and on social media the stories of people who talk about Canaries with the eyes ofhoneymoon‘. But I’ve been living here for almost 6 years and let’s say that time I see things with a little more objectivity“.

Ramón Sexes He is 38 years old, works and lives in Gran Canaria (he previously lived in Lanzarote, ed) and based on his experience he explained to Fanpage.it that things have changed a lot since he and her wife Lucia35, moved to the Spanish archipelago, where theirs was born little girl who is now 1 year and 5 months old.

About a year ago there he had explained the pros and cons of choosing to move and live in another country. In the last period, however, it seems that the residents’ bad mood towards foreigners. “It wasn’t like this before – says Ramon – Even tourists see it badly here, imagine how those who come here to change their lives are perceived, like I did years ago. There aren’t many houses available and the residents they feel like they are being ‘robbed’“.

After Covid, Ramon claims that the situation had even improved, “because so many businesses closed, regardless of the nationality of the people who ran them, and immediately after the pandemic there was a need for people to open other businesses. It is difficult for an inhabitant from here open new shops, it’s a cultural fact, people are quite habitual. So, many foreigners arrived from many countries“.

“I have suffered episodes of discrimination in the workplace, I was told: ‘Why hire an Italian when you can hire a Spaniard?’, there is a bit of this mentality here. – explains the 38-year-old – This prejudice it was already there when I arrived, but now I feel it more. They are organizing demonstrations to ask for a limit on tourists and also on expat. Rents, for example, were much lower before, but prices have now risen significantly.”

The phenomenon ofovertourism which has been affecting the country for years and the arrival of many people from abroad have in fact exasperated the residents. “Our islands are a treasure that must be defended,” said the activists of “Canarias is agota“, a collective that is behind the recent protests that Ramon tells us about. Some members of the group have even started a hunger strike last week to put pressure on the authorities.

“I don’t regret my choice, here I found it many free servicesespecially for families. I would do it all again today but with the knowledge that the environment has changed a lot and it has become more difficult to find work, a home and also to be able to ‘impose oneself’ and find a space. – concludes Ramon – Let’s say that, given the current situation, I would say to wait for those who would like to move. 2024 will be a bit of a turbulent year for the Canaries…“.