I moved from Florida to Spain a year ago. I love my new home, but there's a lot people get wrong about living here.
After moving from Florida to Spain, I've noticed lots of things people get wrong about living here.
Although the Spanish lifestyle appears relaxed and slow-paced, hustle culture still exists here.
I hoped Spanish cuisine would heal my stomach issues, but unfortunately, that hasn't happened.
Spain is known for its rich culture, gastronomy, amazing weather, and quality of life.
However, after moving from Florida to Spain a year ago, I learned that living here as an immigrant or expat is vastly different from vacationing as a tourist.
Though living in Spain is a dream come true, there are some misconceptions about what it's actually like to call the country home. Here are five things I've seen people get wrong about living here.
Some people seem to think Spain has great weather year-round
People often choose Spain as a place to live because of the nice, sunny weather — and I was no exception.
As a Floridian, I'm a sucker for perfect beach weather. I was over the hurricanes, though, which is why I chose Seville for its dry Mediterranean climate.
Seville, however, isn't necessarily representative of Spain when it comes to weather. This past autumn, for instance, brought heavy rain and devastating flooding to the country's southeastern coastal areas.
It could be rainy and gloomy in one part of Spain, but warm and sunny in another. Because traveling within the country is relatively easy, you can live in one area and experience any season or climate by simply hopping on a plane, train, or bus.
Many people don't realize how multicultural Spain can be
Though Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in Spain, the country is multicultural and has regions with their own languages.
Depending on where you are in the north, for instance, you can expect to hear people speaking Catalan, Galician, or Basque.
Where I live in Andalusia, traditional Spanish is spoken but with a southern twang. Andalusians tend to chop the end of their words and use local slang that no number of Spanish classes could've prepared me for.
There's a misconception that the Spanish lifestyle is always laid-back
From the outside, the Spanish lifestyle appears relaxed and slow-paced.
After living here for a while, though, I've noticed the societal pressures of hustle culture still exist, especially in bigger cities or in high-stress career fields. Many locals I've met work long hours to make ends meet.
What I have observed, though, is that Spaniards work hard but play even harder. On weeknights, you can find locals drinking wine on the terrace, sharing tapas, and catching up with family and friends well past midnight.
I thought Spanish cuisine would heal my stomach issues
Coming from America, where processed foods are everywhere, I hoped to see an improvement in my gut health while living in Spain. However, that hasn't necessarily been the case.
Between the fried dishes, potatoes, cheese, and beer, much of Spanish cuisine doesn't really lend itself to a well-balanced meal. Tapas culture is huge in Spain, and while it is a great way to explore the cuisine, it's not always the healthiest.
A lot of people seem to think public transportation in Spain is always reliable
Spain is known to be well-connected by public transportation, which is why I decided to sell my car before the move.
And indeed, several modes of transportation exist in many cities throughout the country. Although Seville is largely walkable, you can also take a train, bus, metro, bike, or scooter to get around.
However, the transportation system isn't always as reliable as I expected. Strikes, delays, and overcrowding are common, and I've arrived late to my destinations a handful of times because of this.
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