Thoughts from an American Expat in Spain: My First Year Living in Barcelona

Sleepily waiting for my red-eye flight at the gate at JFK, I reflected on the whirlwind of the previous few weeks.

It started with culling my belongings, selling my car, and saying goodbye to friends. It continued with giving up my adorable apartment in Oakland, California, and driving across the United States with my dad.

Now after 30 years in the San Francisco Bay Area, I was about to start a new life in Barcelona, Spain.

As the boarding sign flashed, I snapped a photo for Instagram with the caption, ‘And now it begins…’ The reality of leaving everything familiar to embark on a new adventure was sinking in.

I landed in Barcelona with five suitcases and a one-month reservation at an Airbnb. Meanwhile, the remainder of my belongings made their way across the Atlantic by ship.

I didn’t know where I was going to live or even how I would get those insanely heavy suitcases up the four flights of stairs to my temporary abode. All I knew was that I was starting my life anew in a city I had only visited once before.

Fast forward and it’s now been over a year since I moved to Spain from the US. A lot has happened, of course. From finding a lovely piso (apartment) in a quaint part of the city to passing the Spanish driver’s exam to making friends and adopting a puppy who loves gazpacho(!). 

It’s hard to boil down my first year living in Barcelona into a few takeaways. But I thought it might be helpful to share some of my experience with anyone thinking of making a similar move.

Plan for Success: Laying the Groundwork for Expat Life in Spain

When I decided to make the move to Spain from the US, I created a detailed project plan to make sure my transition was a success. But I didn’t just plan for the logistics of the move, I also planned for my acclimation to a new country.

I wanted to put some basic scaffolding in place to shape my daily life and help me feel grounded. So before departing, I found a place to volunteer and a school where I could learn Spanish.

Volunteering is a win-win

I had been volunteering at an animal sanctuary in California and it was something I enjoyed. I thought it could be a great way to assimilate to my new home and give back to my new community.

So before I left the Bay Area, I researched animal rescue organizations around Barcelona. I found a shelter for dogs and cats tucked into the side of Mt. Tibidabo, a peak that overlooks the entire city. 

I started volunteering soon after I arrived in Spain. Every Monday I walked dogs along steep hillside paths with amazing views of Barcelona and the Mediterranean beyond. My volunteer shift was one of the highlights of my week. What could be better than walking dogs in a beautiful setting?

Shortly before ending my one-year volunteer commitment, a 10-month-old puppy arrived at the shelter and stole my heart. It’s only been a month since I adopted her but she has already up-leveled my Barcelona life.

My pup and I explore our neighborhood together. And she is expanding my social connections by introducing me to fellow pet parents. Adopting her was more than just giving her a home; it marked a deeper connection to my new life in Barcelona.

Learning the language is a path to connection

Speaking of social connections, I can’t stress how important and satisfying it is to be able to communicate in the local language(s). Here in Barcelona, Spanish and Catalan are widely spoken. Until I moved here, I didn’t appreciate how embedded Catalan is in the cultural fabric of the city.

My pre-move planning included learning both languages. Though I prioritized Spanish (known as Castellano in Spain) since it is spoken throughout the country.

I also researched Spanish language schools in Barcelona. Before departing the US, I scheduled an interview at one of the schools for a few days after my arrival in Spain. I was able to start classes a week later and began to create a routine in my new life.

The school I selected has been perfect for me. The classes are small and the students are mainly adult expats who live in Barcelona full-time.

The instructors are adept at weaving in information about the ins and outs of living in Barcelona and the cultural nuances of Spain. My Spanish has improved along with my understanding of the culture.

Both volunteering and language school helped establish a rhythm to my schedule. And they've eased my assimilation into Spanish life.

For any soon-to-be expats reading this, I recommend that you start looking now for ways to jump into your new life. Think about what you enjoy doing and what you have always wanted to try. Maybe it’s volunteering in the community, joining a running club, or taking a cooking class.

Planning for these activities will give you a head start in assimilating to the culture. 

Stay Flexible: Embracing the Unexpected in Expat Life

While planning was essential to a successful transition, I resisted the need to figure everything out ahead of time. Not only would it have been impossible but some things were best left undecided until I arrived.

Case in point, there was part of me that wanted to line up an apartment before I moved. That seemed like the sensible thing to do. But I concluded that it would be better to wait until I had a chance to explore Barcelona neighborhoods.

Movers arrived at my apartment in Oakland to collect my pared-down belongings and put them on a ship to Europe, address unknown. A little scary but worth it. By staying at an Airbnb for a month I had time to get to know the city before deciding where I would live.

Searching for an apartment was a lesson in flexibility. Like guests on House Hunters International, I had a vision of my ideal apartment. A Catalan vault ceiling, large wooden doors, and a flower-filled balcony overlooking a bustling street.

Ultimately, however, I chose a plain white bajo (bottom floor apartment) in a nondescript building from the 1960s…and I love it. It’s in a great neighborhood, is full of light, and has an outdoor patio that is ideal for my new pup. Had I been overly rigid in what apartments I was willing to consider, I would have missed this place.  

Anticipating mishaps and obstacles is also important. I've learned to set aside any expectation that everything should go smoothly and to embrace the fact that there will be bumps and potholes along the way.

For example, when I need to complete an administrative task at one of the many government agencies, I prepare. Of course, I double-check my paperwork to make sure everything is in order. But I also prepare mentally for the possibility that something will go awry, such as being told I'm missing a document or didn't bring enough photocopies.

With the right mindset, I don’t get frustrated when things don't go as expected and I'm able to see the humor in the situation. So my advice is don’t try to control everything, keep an open mind, and treat surprises and obstacles as learning and laughing opportunities. 

Don’t Sweat It: Mistakes are Inevitable

Speaking of obstacles, adapting to a new country and language meant that I had to accept that I would make mistakes along the way (a lot of them). I came to peace with the fact that I would speak Spanish like a toddler at first…or perhaps a caveman.

Soon after I moved into my apartment, one of the hallway lights stopped functioning. I sent a WhatsApp message to alert the property manager. With the aid of Google Translate, I successfully communicated the problem…in writing. But when the property manager gave my contact info to the electrician, things got more challenging.

My phone rang and I answered it with trepidation. Speaking face-to-face is one thing, conversing on the phone in a foreign language is something else. The electrician asked me to describe the problem. The best I could manage was, “Light not work.” Very articulate was I! Caveman Spanish at its finest. But I got the general point across and the light got fixed.

And then there’s the matter of understanding what is being said to you. Spanish is one of the fastest languages in the world - about 260 spoken words per minute versus 150 for English spoken in the US. I accept that there's a lot I will not understand. I try to pick out the most important words and if I get the essence of what’s being said, I consider that a victory. 

Sometimes I just smile and nod because I have no clue what is being said. It works a lot of the time but not always. Like that time I sat next to an elderly woman on the bus about a month after I arrived.

At first, she just made a couple of passing comments. I didn’t understand what she said but I thought I could fake my way through by nodding in agreement. But then she started to get more animated and wanted to engage me in conversation. She started asking me questions and expected a response. I didn’t stand a chance. In my novice Spanish, I fessed up that I didn’t understand what she was saying. Oops. 

Beyond language, adapting to expat life in a foreign country creates many opportunities for error. We can't expect things to work like they do back home and it can take awhile to get used to 'how things are done around here'. Mistakes are part of the process. When they happen, don't beat yourself up - it's part of assimilating to a new culture. Mistakes mean you're learning.

Find Reasons to Celebrate: Savoring Life and Small Wins

Spaniards are great at finding reasons to celebrate. Barcelona has 15 public holidays, between national, regional, and local holidays. Beyond that, there is a seemingly endless number of celebrations throughout the year. Neighborhood festivals. Carnaval festivals. Festivals dedicated to green onions, to snails, to books, and roses.

These festivities are just one way in which people enjoy life here. There's also savoring a delicious meal on a sunny terrace. Or joining friends for a get-together that lasts ten or more hours because people are enjoying themselves and there’s no reason to end the fun.

Taking time to savor the moment with friends and family is one of the things I love most about Spain. It’s about enjoying life, being present, and building human connections. Something I appreciate having more of in my life.

I’ve extended this philosophy to celebrating my small personal wins. Getting integrated into a new country means jumping through a lot of hoops. So every time I accomplish something that scared me or intimidated me, I take a moment to acknowledge, appreciate, and celebrate what I’ve done.

It might be conducting an appointment in Spanish at a government office. Or earning my driver’s license. Or it might simply be navigating everyday challenges. They're all reasons to celebrate.

Moving to Barcelona, Spain from the United States has been a transformative experience. I think back to that moment at JFK and how proud I am that I was willing to get on that plane and take a leap of faith into the unknown.

If you're thinking about making the move, do your homework and talk to others about their experience. And if you do decide to move to Spain, don’t let fear of the unknown get in your way. After all, that’s part of the fun!

So, are you wondering if and how you can move to Spain? I’d love to hear what’s on your mind and any questions you have. Leave a comment below.

I also invite you to visit vidanovabcn.com to learn more about how our advisory services can set you up for success in your expat journey.

Elizabeth Pinkerton resides in Barcelona, Spain. She is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and called the San Francisco Bay Area home for most of her life before moving to Spain. She is CEO of VidaNova Barcelona which provides expat advice and guidance for Americans moving to Spain.