- I moved from the US to Europe in 2019 and eventually began living in Barcelona in February 2020.
- Shortly after, Spain went into lockdown amid to the coronavirus pandemic. I felt lonely for months.
- I struggled to adjust and wanted to give up on living abroad, but falling in love changed my mind.
After years of traveling to Europe and dreaming of living there full time, I finally made the jump in the summer of 2019.
I was excited but also terrified to leave everyone and everything I knew and loved behind in Los Angeles.
Still, I made the jump. I started my life abroad in Bordeaux, France, but after a few months, I knew it wasn’t the right home for me. My time there helped me realize I wanted to live somewhere that has more sunshine year-round.
So, in February 2020, I headed to the sunny beachy city of Barcelona next.
My move to Spain got off to a rough start, and I almost went back home
Unfortunately, the excitement of my move to Spain was short-lived.
A few weeks after I arrived, the coronavirus pandemic sent the country into lockdown, and I was stuck isolating in my Airbnb for months.
As lockdown restrictions were lifted, I started to enjoy daily life in Barcelona, from morning walks on the beach to afternoon strolls to get tapas and sangria.
However, I struggled to build my social life and make friends. As my feelings of loneliness deepened, I began second-guessing my decision to move to Europe in the first place.
Before packing my bags and heading back to the US, I visited a friend from home who was living nearby in Madrid. Over drinks, I told him I wasn’t happy and that I’d had enough of living abroad.
He reminded me that I wasn’t so happy back home, either. When I lived in Los Angeles, I was looking for love and failing and constantly complaining about the high rents and the outrageously high price for a glass of wine.
He had a point. I still wasn’t sure about staying in Spain, but maybe the place I was living wasn’t my problem. Perhaps I was giving up too quickly.
He insisted I just hadn’t yet found my people in Barcelona and offered to connect me with a friend of his who lived there named Tomi.
I’m so grateful I gave Barcelona one last shot
Within days I received a message from Tomi inviting me to a concert.
I was hesitant to go, but once I arrived, I felt like I was finally walking toward the dreams of a life in Europe I’d always had for myself.
The small venue had brick walls filled with abstract artwork, a lively crowd of international people mingling, and a handsome Argentine man waiting by the bar waving at me — Tomi.
We felt an instant connection as we were both musicians who were far from home and new to Barcelona.
By the time I left the concert, I couldn’t have been happier or more excited. The music was incredible, the venue and crowd of artists were inspiring, and my new connection was really charming.
From there, Tomi and I began spending more time together. Before I knew it, I had completely forgotten about wanting to go back to Los Angeles. I was in love and finally really living in Barcelona.
We got married four years later and still live in the Spanish city.
Looking back, I’m grateful that I stuck things out despite struggling to feel at home for the first few months. If I had left, I wonder if I’d ever have met the love of my life.
It also may have taken me longer to realize that the place you live can’t always make you happy — and that finding love and connection with the right people can help anywhere feel like home.
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