I have officially been living abroad for a year and a half (and 3 days). This is crazy. In the beginning of this “journey” I didn’t think I would make it through the first month, let alone a whole year…. and now here I am in my second year. And thinking about doing a third…. I don’t know what comes next for me in my life, but what I’ve learned most of all this last year is I can handle whatever life throws at me.
Honestly, not to sound cheesy or like a greeting card or totally cliche or anything HOWEVER, I can honestly say that moving abroad was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. Looking back I do not for one second regret anything about moving here or doubt this decision. Buying that one way ticket, getting on a plane, and not looking back was what I needed to do. I know that this is where I am meant to be right now, and I can say that clearly without a single doubt in my mind. I have grown in so many ways that I never imagined I could, and it has happened so quickly.
Now don’t get me wrong, while moving abroad was most certainly my best life choice, it was also my most difficult one. Leaving everything behind is just as easy as it is difficult. Although I know in my heart that this is the best for me, the right place for me, there are moments when I would give anything for the “normalcy” of home. The exciting parts of living abroad can also be the most exhausting ones, especially on days where you are feeling down. Some moments I long for the familiarity (which on the other hand I sometimes refer to as the “boringness” of home.)
But these moments are few and fleeting and at the end of the day, Barcelona truly is home.
I have learned more about myself in this past year and a half than I could have in 5 or even 10 years living back in the US. The things that I have to do for myself, the positions I have been in I could have never imagined I would be capable of doing for myself, or handling these difficult situations, but here I am.
The main reason I moved here in the first place was because I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life, and really I just had to get my shit together. I felt such uncertainty of my life, and I felt that this uncertainty was a bad thing. And while I still have sooooo much uncertainty when it comes to my life, living here has truly taught me, hey that uncertainty is okay, normal, and nothing to stress about. I’ve also learned that, even though I’m an “adult” I’m only 23 years old, and that’s still pretty young (according to everyone who tells me “you’re only 23, you have your whole life ahead of you”) and I still have time to figure it out, make mistakes and just enjoy life.
Who knows what comes next, who knows what tomorrow holds, the best thing to do is just enjoy this moment that you have right now. Living abroad has truly taught me to just LITM (live in the moment) and disfrutar la vida. I’m excited to see what comes next, but for now i’ll keep on enjoying.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain
the Confessions of a Wanderer 
Good on you, I’m 3 weeks in and I have never felt more free 🙂
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Congrats on your year and a half! I like that you say that moving abroad was your best choice but also the hardest. I feel like it proves how you really have to want something about your life to change to make it happen.
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I am really enjoying reading your blog and living vicariously thru you.!! Thanks for the blog follow too 🙂
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It is always the first step that is the hardest. That one step, that takes courage, for we never know where it will lead. Every day is an adventure, just keep on walking and growing.
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Living abroad can be a wonderful and illuminating experience. Something that stays with you forever.
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Those of us who live abroad can relate to you. Living with people of different cultures enriches our very humanity beyond imagination.
Thank you for stopping by my blog. Have a blessed third year in your host country.
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disfrutar la vida!!!! <3<3 live life fully!! Be bold and be daring and courageous to push yourself to discover more. Learn more, meet more people, see more things. Life flies by and we need to absorb as much of the experience as we can!! Society tells us we need to be XYZ by the age of ***….. get married at a certain age, have a certain job, etc,. but in my opinion the true accomplishment in life is having your heart full, your soul free and knowing you are ALIVE not blocked by convention. I wish you the best of luck in your beautiful journey ❤
PS beautiful pics- following you on instagram!
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I’ve been living abroad in Korea for a little over a year and a half myself so I 100% feel you! Enjoyed reading your post!
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Thanks Gina! I look forward to reading about your adventures
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Great post and my favorite quote too!
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A good read……..like the blog
chris
arcticterntalk.org
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Thanks chris !
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wow! this is something i want to do as well. live abroad. and guess where, spain!
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Spain is a great place to live abroad, for me it has truly become like home
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You’re incredibly brave! Living abroad is a challenge. Especially when you have to grapple with another language. But it really makes you see things in a wider way. I take my hat off to you! 🙂
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Nice blog and some great pictures. As Steve Jobs said, you can only connect the dots when you look back….. I like you came to Spain, in my case from the UK. I came on a whim, and am still here more that 25 years later!
Spain grows on you, or at least it did for me. I have no plans of moving on, I have found my home.
I have worked in just about every country in Europe, and the US…… there are worst places to put down roots……..
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