1. Pan con aceite y sal

Spain-specific cuisine and eating styles have been eye opening for me as one who loves to cook and research food. All I know is, I never would have considered a piece of bread with olive oil and salt as breakfast before coming to Spain. Now, I can’t shut up about it. Something about high-quality ingredients shining through rather than a million mediocres piled high has influenced my eating habits and shifted my perspective on culinary trends.

2. Materialism: Less is more

When you don’t have all of your personal belongings with you and when you aren’t living somewhere long enough for buying crap to be worth it, ‘less is more’ becomes a lifestyle.

I don’t have my closet full of art supplies here. I randomly decided to buy a water color set and with it being the only supply at my disposal, I’ve learned to love it and optimize its use.

Even having just one suitcase full of clothes for the year makes me realize how blessed I am to have that on it’s own.

Likewise, sustaining supply-heavy hobbies can be downright impractical. I’ve embraced my portable-passions in the form of photography, writing/blogging and digital artwork.

3. Humbling Paychecks

Accepting a small paycheck was a little scary at first, but the truth is, the cost of living is lower here and the hours are far less demanding than in the US. That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m obligated to offset my financial situation by working overtime. It means I’m obligated to strengthen my ability to live within my means and value the joys in life which cannot be measured by money.

Additionally, the time I have to do small things like sell on Etsy and make a little pocket money through odd art jobs is more important to me than working a job or hours I hate in order to make more money and, in turn, sustain a life I’m not content with. The big bucks which I do ‘blow’ are spent on experiences far more than on material goods.

4. The Little Things

‘It’s the little things’ reigns true. When you move abroad, it’s (a lot) longer than a vacation. Reality kicks in fast when it comes to practical things. Like my least favorite character, Linda, said in Peaky Blinders, “The arrival of a new life concentrates the mind on practical things”.

With that being the ideal scenario, spending about a year in a foreign country, you’re still sorting out logistics and following foreign legal procedures from day one up until you leave. It is a regular part of expat life that can bring your mood and yolo attitude down unless you’re just the happiest person ever (or an EU citizen).

Spending hours of a sunny day dealing with banks, phone companies and immigration appointments makes me appreciate the little joys more than I would if I were on a week-long holiday. Making a new friend, having dinner with another person dealing with the same, or being invited to do something with my local friends, even some good conversation with a stranger, is probably the highlight of my week.

5. Isolation

Alone time and isolation can be a huge part of moving abroad. While my situation connects me with other English-speakers and I meet new Spanish friends all of the time, you’ll simply lack long-rooted relationships. I wouldn’t consider that to be an issue, but embracing the lifestyle choice of being an expat will highlight the relationship with yourself. It will be the strongest aspect of familiarity found in your new life. Enjoy it. Get to know you all over again.