Cristina, an American woman with a Cuban background, embarked on what she thought would be a life-altering adventure when she moved to Spain with her husband in May 2022. The couple sold their Florida home and relocated to Santander, the capital city of the Cantabria region. The move was facilitated by a non-lucrative visa, allowing them to live in Spain without working. Cristina, fluent in Spanish, anticipated a smooth transition into her new surroundings. However, the reality of living in Spain proved to be vastly different from her expectations, compelling her to return to the United States after just a year.
Cristina was no stranger to Spain, having visited the country several times before deciding to make it her new home. The couple rented a house in Santander, hoping for an enriching cultural experience. Speaking fluent Spanish, Cristina believed that communication would pose no barrier. Yet, she felt that her Cuban cultural expectations were not met in Spain. She described the Spanish culture as "closed" and found it difficult to adjust to, despite her linguistic proficiency.
“They don’t open up their house to people very easily,” she says. “They talk to you, but it’s not like, ‘Oh, come over to my house and have some drinks.’” – Cristina
Cristina was taken aback by the reactions of locals who were surprised at her decision to relocate to Spain. The cold winters in northern Spain proved challenging for her, as she had not anticipated the severity of the weather. This was compounded by the fact that many Spanish homes lacked air conditioning, making the sweltering summer months almost unbearable.
“I just couldn’t take six months or five months of bad weather,” she says. “Sometimes it just rains five days out of the week. It rains day and night… You also have a lot of humidity and wind. And when all those things add up, it’s a very cold, gloomy and depressing winter. And all these elements make it easier for you to get sick.” – Cristina
“Be prepared to not live with air conditioning,” she says. “To live with the windows open.” – Cristina
The Spanish culinary scene also fell short of her expectations. Cristina found the food to be "fried, greasy, and unhealthy," which further dampened her enthusiasm for daily life in Spain. Adjusting to the Spanish schedule, particularly the afternoon siestas, added another layer of difficulty.
Financially, living in Spain turned out to be more expensive than Cristina had anticipated. The high sales tax contributed significantly to the cost of living, which was a factor she had overlooked during her initial planning.
Despite these challenges, Cristina and her husband invested in a chalet in the countryside of Cantabria. However, this decision soon became a source of regret.
“I started to realize… this is not what we had envisioned,” she says. “I mean, we wanted to be here long-term. Forever and ever. But the way the country is going, and the way they do things, is definitely not what I’m used to.” – Cristina
“It left a really bad taste in my mouth, the whole experience,” she says. “That I don’t even want to go back for vacation. I’m done.” – Cristina
The allure of Europe and the initial excitement soon wore off as Cristina faced these unexpected challenges.
“I think the first year was like a honeymoon stage,” she says. “I was more in that stage of, ‘Oh, we’re in Europe. This is what we’ve always wanted. This is a dream come true.’” – Cristina
Over time, she realized that Spain did not match her long-term vision for a new life abroad.
“Once my job was guaranteed, and they offered it to me. I got a ticket right away, and I left Spain…” she recounts. – Cristina
Upon returning to the United States, Cristina reflected on her year-long experience abroad with mixed emotions.
“And it’s not only because of my experience. But because of other people that I’ve talked to that live over there too. They’re upset too, about their country.” – Cristina
“And I’m not going to tell you that the United States is the perfect country. It’s not. But we have more things going for us here than over there.” – Cristina
