Spain, the economy and me

So there may be hope for Spain, the economy and me. This article talks about how BBVA and Santander might be two of Europe's healthiest banks after the EU publishes the results of "stress tests" in the upcoming weeks. I was excited to see this news especially since I am hoping to get an interview with BBVA next week!!

At this rate...

I don't know if I should hold on to my euros for a few months in the hope that the € will rise against the $ or just give in and trade them as soon as I get home because it's just getting worse...HELP! CRISIS!

EU Rescue

I´ve spoken to many Spaniards recently about how they think Spain´s economic problem can be solved so that they won´t face the same bailout situation as Greece. My friends say that there are groups of families here and more specifically, politicians, that have too much money and power. Therefore, there is too great of a descrepancy between the common people and families of Spain and this upper class. Spaniards hope that the politicans will start to, or be forced to make economic decisions that will benefit the entire country instead of their elite crew. My friends believe that time will solve everything, that better days are coming, but that unfortunately their generation will not be able to enjoy it. On a sidenote, I´m selfishly pretty bummed the $ has gotten stronger since I get paid in € and will be coming home with a fresh paycheck...
Here are some recent articles on the EU bailout:

NY Times
Ny Times
CNN
BBC

La tasa de paro

The rate of unemployment is up to 20% in Spain and everyone is talking about it. And rightfully so, Spain is in deep mierda. The Barcelona cab drivers were very talkative and in every cab I took (all 3) the drivers and I engaged in a serious conversation about the economy and politics. They all asked what I was doing here and why I would be here when the economy was so bad. And I would respond with, believe it or not, but it hasn´t exactly been easy to find a job in the US either. Some people worry that Spain will be the next Greece, having to negotiate an emergency bailout from the EU, but others, like president Zapatero say that the jobless rate has peaked and will now start to decline.

My airport cab driver was on the more optimistic side. He said I shouldn´t go back to the US in a month, but stay here and work. When I said my job finishes in a month and I would have nothing else to do he said I should work as a "taxista" like him- that it is very lucrative and yes there are many women taxistas. I told him I hate driving, he said " tia, eso es un problema pequeñito."