Skip to Content

Living in Spain since 1998, the expat life has its ups and downs. Things aren´t always simple when you live in another country. Different ideas, different cultures and foods. On this blog I like to share advice as a long term expat to help people looking to move abroad. Often the move is maade with the best intentions but learning the local language is harder than it seems. As a bilingual speaker in Spanish and English I try to see both sides of the coin and suggest solutions that can work for both sides.

Expat Life style

There is a saying in Spanish ´hablando se entiende la gente´  speaking makes you understand people  this is useful when thinking about adjusting to a new life abroad. IF you cannot speak to the locals of course it makes everything much more complicated. Over the years here I have seen people come and go.

I try to give a grounded realistic approach and keep the romantic ideas of an eternal holiday at bay. In Spain we do live in the sunshine most of the year but we still have to clean the house and work every now and then. Expat Life can be very rewarding especially on a cultural level. Learning a second or third language is a huge benefit for your brain and possibly your career but it may not come easy at first. Learning a new language takes a lot of time and discipline. Total immersion is one of the best ways to accelerate this process of course.

Expat Gifts for Family Abroad, Frequent Travellers + Overseas Friends

Planning ahead of time at Christmas helps to keeps the chaos under control. Expat gifts for friends and family who live overseas may need early planning. I like to book delivery as soon as I can to keep my stress levels down over the festive season. …

Read More about Expat Gifts for Family Abroad, Frequent Travellers + Overseas Friends

Spanish Christmas Lottery – Why is it such a big tradition?

If you spend any amount of time in Spain, in December you will notice that everyone starts selling Christmas Lottery tickets. It´s quite a phenomenon. When you go to the hairdressers, the gym, any shop… most local businesses have their own number. The Spanish lottery is …

Read More about Spanish Christmas Lottery – Why is it such a big tradition?

Christmas in Spain – How do Spanish Celebrate the Holidays

At Christmas in Spain , celebrations vary slightly from the festivities in the UK or USA. Celebrations in Spain generally begin around the first weekend in December and continue right through to the end of 6th January. If you want to know specifically about Christmas in …

Read More about Christmas in Spain – How do Spanish Celebrate the Holidays