InterNations Featured Blog
Recommended Expat Blogs: Spain
Everybody who has spent time in a different country knows that expat life is not quite like anything else in the world. The confusion of the first few days and weeks, the slow, but steady process of acclimation, the little peculiarities and quirks that might strike you about your new surroundings: almost any situation you encounter can make for a great story. If you are so inclined and want to blog about it, of course!
Our InterNations recommended blog section features talented expat bloggers from around the world. Their offerings to the blogosphere have been selected for their great entries and high quality, whether they may be funny, informative, interesting, deeply personal or a combination of all of the above.
Let’s hear from our featured bloggers in Spain:
Molly: Piccavey
No one is ever fully prepared when they move countries. There are always unexpected things that occur. As I was young when I moved and had low expectations it worked out well but it would be preferable to secure a job if at all possible.
Cat: Sunshine and Siestas
In America, I feel like I’m much more of a homebody. Maybe it’s just the warm temps here, but a night where I don’t meet a friend for a beer or tapa seems like an unfulfilled day. I’m extremely Spanish in my routines and would observe the siestamore often if I could
Erik: American in Spain
I can barely remember life back home. Having lived in two other foreign countries first, I was much more open to adapting to new ways of living, plus I had been visiting my wife’s family in Spain for several years before we moved, so my feet were already wet, so to speak.
Kirstie: Entre Flores, Fandanguillos, y Alegrias
Go outside your comfort zone as often as possible. I know that's a common piece of advice, and by going abroad you're already doing that, but make the most of your time in Spain by trying things you wouldn't otherwise try. If you're a shy person, start talking to a stranger on the street. If you're a picky eater, try that weird-looking dish. If you're nonathletic, join a local soccer team. Many of life's greatest moments come from doing something you wouldn't have otherwise done.
Graham: Graham in Spain: A Blog
If you really want to integrate yourself, avoid the touristy places like Irish pubs and the bars in the middle of the city. There are a lot of great and fun places right in the middle of Madrid, but they are usually full of foreigners. If you feel homesick, sure, grab a pint down at one of the pubs because you’re sure to find other Americans, but take a step out there and find the places that the Spanish people go to. Plus, if you’re going to learn Castilian Spanish, you’ve got to find where the real Spanish people go.
Kaley: Kaley...& Más
I thought of Europe as a vacation destination—and it is—but living in Europe is an altogether different animal, so to speak. I wish I would have prepared myself for culture shock, for missing home, by reading how other expats had gotten over it. I wasn’t aware of the blogosphere at the time, much to my detriment.
Regina & Nancy: The Spain Scoop
In retrospect, I am glad I did not realize all the challenges as I may not have moved. I am a visionary and often see the glorious end goal but don’t realize the steps in between. For example, I did not speak Spanish. That made it a bit difficult to find an apartment. Luckily, I met a woman who spoke English and was also a realtor. I didn’t know I had to have three months rent plus commission to rent an apartment. I didn’t know that most old apartments don’t have heat or air conditioning. Ok. I am an American. I want heat when it is 35 degrees.
Tamara: A Foot in Two Campos
I keep wondering if I should have rented rather than bought, but in the end I think I did that right as I really love my little village house and it’s only half an hour from the beach or the city. The only thing I’d have changed is that I would have done it sooner!
Are you an expat blogger and would like to be featured here? Get in touch with us!
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