Expat experiences in Spain
Who are you?
My name is Kimberly Shellborn, I am founder/writer of travellingaroundspain.com
Where are you from?
I am originally from Canada, but have lived most of my adult life outside of Canada. Unlike many Canucks who try to avoid the winters (I love winter, snow and winter sports) I left because of other circumstances.
Where have you moved to and how long have you been there?
I moved to Spain. I have been here for about 18 years. (a few back and forths to Canada in between, but mostly in Spain)
Why did you move abroad?
Initially, I moved abroad because I was looking for a bit of adventure and as I was offered a job in Spain I went there. I had never considered Spain before and knew nothing about it. It was one of those flukes of life. I had been trying (and failing) to learn Spanish in Canada, so thought that full immersion would be a fantastic opportunity to improve my non-existent Spanish. My job was for 8 months, but I ended up meeting my husband and I am still here. I am happy to say that my Spanish did improve.
What challenges did you face during the move?
In the very beginning everything was new, exciting and fun. When I first arrived to Spain I was living in a small town near the Atlantic coast.
The hard part was started after I settled in permanently (after we married) and we moved to Madrid which to me was a noisy, smelly city. Coming from a tiny town in the Rocky Mountains in Canada, moving to the centre of Madrid was a major adjustment. I still hadn’t mastered Spanish and in the early days and felt pretty lonely. I missed the greenery, trees, fresh air, mountains, nature and everything that wasn’t in the city. I did eventually adapt and now feel at home, but still try as often as possible to escape the city and head to nature.
How did you find somewhere to live?
My first job included room and board, so I never had a problem finding a place to live.
Are there many other expats in your area? Was it easy to make friends?
In the small town in the south of Spain it was rare to find someone who spoke English much less any expats. However, the Spanish people were very open and were very welcoming.
In Madrid there are expats, but I never came across them often and never made an effort to single them out. When we lived downtown Madrid I struggled making friends, but after a few years we moved to the suburbs where we immediately made close friends which we continue to have close contact with.
What is your relationship like with the locals?
All of my friends are Spaniards. I know very few expats. I have completely immersed myself in the culture and have excellent friends here.
What do you like about life where you are?
I love the personality of the people. They are open, hospitable, friendly, kind, generous and happy.
I also love getting to know each region in the country as each is completely different. In one day you can visit three different towns and see three completely different historical cultures—one that still keeps its medieval history, another with strong Roman influence and still another with Arabic architecture. Also, each town or region has its own food or specialty dish and often has a artisan craft that is only done in that region of Spain.
What do you dislike about your expat life?
It still annoys me that everyone in Spain sings the praises of living in apartments and constantly say “but there is so much less to clean.” Sorry, but I would rather clean a larger home and have a yard and would be more than happy to cut the grass rather than lived crammed as we are in a tiny apartment.
What is the biggest cultural difference you have experienced between your new country and life back home?
I still haven’t adapted to the eating/sleeping schedule of the Spaniards. They eat lunch at 3 p.m. and dinner at 10 p.m. They are an extremely sleep deprived country and I need my 8 hours every night, so it is a constant struggle.
What advice would you give to anyone following in your footsteps?
Be adaptable, accept that life will be different, don’t compare and don’t be offended (if possible) when people insult your culture.
What are your plans for the future?
We moved to Canada for 3 years and my husband hated it, so I don’t see myself living in Canada anytime in the foreseeable future. We will stay in Spain and go to Canada for summer holidays.
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