Moving to Spain: Round #1
Salamanca & Barcelona
Have you ever fallen in love with a country and just knew you’d come back someday? Have you ever dreamt of moving to Spain?
I have, and more than once.
It started back in 2011, when I signed up for a five-week intensive Spanish course in Salamanca and lived with a local host family. I did this before my semester abroad began, on purpose – I didn’t want to just float through Spain speaking English with other Americans. I wanted real conversations, real friendships, and a solid foundation to connect more deeply with the culture and people around me.
After Salamanca, I moved to Barcelona for a semester abroad. Here I spent my days strolling the narrow streets of the Born neighborhood or practicing Spanish with my language exchange buddy. Time and time again, I have used this somewhat archaic – yet highly reliable – website for finding language exchange buddies. I highly recommend it for language practice! After this semester in Spain, I was hooked.
Moving to Spain: Round #2
La Línea de la Concepción
A couple of years later after graduation, there I was, moving back to Spain for a second time. This is when my long-term working nomad journey truly began. This time, I came as an auxiliar de conversación (an English language assistant in public schools), this time in Andalucía. I didn’t get to choose where I was placed that first year. When I opened my assignment and saw La Línea de la Concepción, I had no idea where it was. Wouldn’t you know that google searches shows some frightening things…”drugs”, “crime”, and the best was – “the ugliest city in Spain”.
So I was nervous, and to be honest, downright disappointed with my placement. It took some arrive, but after time in La Línea and making local friends, I started to change my tune. And I can confirm, La Línea is NOT the ugliest city in Spain.
La Línea is beautiful in its own unique way. Nestled right next to Gibraltar, it has stunning views of the peñón (the rock), walkable beaches, and a close-knit feel. And despite its reputation, it felt so very safe. Also, Gibraltar is right next door an amazing hike! You can see Morocco from the top of the rock…and it is filled with monkeys! But more than anything, the people are what made the experience truly unique. The Gaditanos, people from the province of Cádiz, are some of the warmest and kindest in all of Spain. I made lifelong friends there and quickly realized how misleading first impressions – and Google searches – can be.
The following year, I could choose where to go – and I chose Granada.
Granada
Granada was everything I had dreamed of: a vibrant student city full of both international travelers and locals, free tapas with every drink, flamenco on the streets, and a magical blend of Islamic architecture and Andalusian charm. I could walk out my door and be on a nature trail in 15 minutes. I spent my days getting lost in the winding streets of the old neighborhood, Albaicín. It was incredible.
Since then, I’ve kept coming back – visiting friends in La Línea, spending a summer month in Mallorca, and always keeping Spain in the back of my mind.
For about the last decade, I’ve been a working nomad all around the world – changing countries every couple of years. But no matter where I was, I always knew I’d return here.
And now, I finally have. I have finally moved back to Spain.
Moving to Spain: Round #3
Vilanova i la Geltrú
I’m back in Spain on a digital nomad visa, working remotely, and living in a small town called Vilanova i la Geltrú near Barcelona. Now I am not just a working nomad, but a digital nomad, who does work completely remotely and is free to choose where they live and how long – or to just travel around the world while working! After moving so many time, I would personally like to settle now. I haven’t found my forever-home just yet – I’m still exploring, still listening for that feeling of this is it. But this time, I’m not just passing through. After a decade of chasing adventure, I’m ready to settle down. And I always knew that when that moment came, it would be in Spain. Adventure awaits as I continue discovering where this beautiful country will lead me next. And with so much of this beautiful country left to explore, this adventure is far from over.
Hi, I’m Megan, your Work Abroad Specialist and working nomad. Ready to explore your options for living and working abroad but not sure where to start? Whether you want to become a working nomad or just test the waters, let’s chat! Book a 1:1 Work Abroad Exploration Call with me here: www.calendly.com/megancassel
I also help people find and evaluate ethical volunteering opportunities, plan meaningful sabbaticals, and design intentional journeys abroad. If that resonates with you, feel free to book a call – I’d love to support your next adventure.
Want to learn more about me? Click here to get to know my story and approach.