9 Things That Happen When You Move Abroad

Moving abroad is both an incredible once in a lifetime experience as well as absolutely terrifying. Since I lived in Madrid once before as a study abroad student, I thought I knew what I was in for. Surprisingly I was wrong… Obviously studying abroad temporarily is much different from moving to Spain (semi)-permanently and I had a lot to learn.

Here are nine things that will definitely happen if you move to another country.

1. Things that were once weird become your norm. When I got here, I was confused by so many things that are typical here. Now though, I have no idea why I would ever do my grocery shopping on a Sunday, eat dinner before 10, or drink a normal sized cup of coffee. In Ireland finding dinner was impossible, as it is now unthinkable to eat dinner before 9.
2. You struggle to communicate. Okay, maybe not if you move to the UK (although their English IS confusing), but if you find yourself in a country that doesn’t speak your native language you’re bound to have some troubles. My Spanish has improved since my study abroad days, but I still have my fair share of difficulties. Often I end up on google, searching for a picture of something (pom-poms, a fan, ibuprofen, etc.) just to show cashiers what I need…

   

3. You lose count of how many trains, planes and buses you take. I no longer work every weekend and there is so much to explore. There’s not much stopping me from buying a 12 euro bus ticket to the south of Spain or a 30 euro plane ride to Scotland.
4. You get homesick. I’m not super emotional, but moving to a foreign country certainly brought out my sensitive side (as hard to believe as that may be). It will come and go unexpectedly too… one second you’re thriving, the next you’re near tears because it’s raining every day when it should be snowing.
5. You make incredible friends. Nothing bonds you more than moving to a foreign country and meeting other people doing the exact same thing. Almost everyone I know here can relate to what I’m doing. They get it when I’m in awe of the fact that I live in Spain, but they also understand my frequent rants about the speed at which Spaniards walk.
6. You’re torn between immersing yourself in a new culture and wishing everything was how it is at home. I love Spain and the culture, but often it becomes overwhelming. I don’t have an oven in my apartment, there’s no Target or CVS when I need something, and I still haven’t mastered staying out until 6am. There are so many things to enjoy about the culture, like the relaxed pace or how friendly Spaniards can be, but other times I’m ready to scream as simple tasks become so much harder.
7. You become more open to new experiences. This sounds cliché, but it’s SO true. I’m not really one to put myself out there, but living abroad has made it so much easier. Now, I find myself saying yes, maybe too often. From riding a camel (I don’t ride horses), to spending a night in a foreign city with nowhere to sleep – I no longer say “no” very often.
8. You’re never sure what language to speak. Spanish or English? I never know. I don’t think I speak either right now, just Spanglish. Not only am I perdida when spoken to in Spanish, but I am still lost when we switch to English. Good thing I earn a living teaching English…

   

9. You appreciate home more than ever. Having never lived outside of New England before, I had no idea how much I would miss it. I still haven’t accepted that I wasn’t home for fall or that I skied one day instead of twenty. I’ve always been able to drive home on my day off when I missed my family or forgot something at home, but here I am not having seen my parents in three months and living without that vest I left at home over Christmas break.

Eight months after moving to Spain, I’m still figuring out life abroad. I’m sure I will be for a while. This adventure has been full of surprises good and bad, and I’m sure there will be more to come.