Why I named my blog The Forever Guiri
This is Silvia on the left, and me, the forever guiri, on the right. We are, at the moment this picture is taken, waiting for our drinks to arrive at a lush outdoors summery restaurant in her Madrid barrio.
Her Madrid barrio is called Ibiza.
I live in Ibiza.
In 2020, we became friends. We both were going through daily life with a lot of difficulties, but our daily sharing through WhatsApp voice messages, videos, photos, and sometimes even sending each other money in emergencies, were an incredible journey.
From Ibiza, to Ibiza, two single mothers navigating life with small children after having experienced quite extraordinary life circumstances. We told each other everything, and it was just so incredible to know there is another woman out there, living life, doing daily things, going through the stories and sharing them with each other.
I told Silvia about my relationship with Spain, how I struggled as a foreigner, especially with bureaucracy and the systems. I also told her about my love for Spain, and how I always felt so free and at home here. She told me about Spanish as well as the Basque Country, where she grew up, and she taught me many many funny Spanish expressions.
I cant remember if it was her or me who called me “The Forever Guiri” but the second she (or I?) said it, it was so clear. That’s me. I’m a “guiri” because I’m a Northern European, but I’m a Forever Guiri because I’m always everywhere, or living abroad.
(A guiri is a Spanish slang term used to refer to foreigners, particularly light-skinned, often Northern European tourists in Spain. It’s commonly used for visitors who stand out due to their appearance, behavior, or lack of familiarity with Spanish customs—think sunburnt tourists in sandals and socks, struggling with Spanish menus.While the term is generally not offensive, it can sometimes carry a playful or mildly mocking tone, depending on the context. Expats living in Spain also get called “guiris,” especially if they haven’t fully integrated into local culture.)
Yesterday, however, Silvia gave me the compliment of the century. She said:
“YOU LOOK LIKE A GUIRI, BUT YOU’RE NOT A GUIRI.”
She said some more things that cannot be revealed publicly. We have some very open and intelligent conversations about many topics.
So, that’s it. My story with Spain started when I was 20; and here I am, 26 years later, both my children were born here, and their main language is Spanish. I guess you could really say I’ve been adopted by this country by destiny, fate, life coincidences… whether I like it or not, this is now my home, and as you can probably guess, I’m a bit conflicted about it. That’s because my spirit is a wandering, restless one and it doesn’t want to feel stuck anywhere.
But as this is where my children are growing up, this is where I am right now. And I’m definitely making the most of it, which I’ll be sharing here regularly, in my blog about lifestyle and culture in Spain, from the perspective of a Forever Guiri.
With love,
Linda
