One Year in Spain – Lessons from My First Year Living Abroad

Tenerife, Spain

I will never forget the moment I first stepped off the plane onto Spanish soil. Exhausted and disoriented from nearly 20 hours of travel, my heartbeat quickened as I walked through Madrid Barajas airport, surrounded by crowds and signs in Spanish. Everything felt new and foreign. I had arrived at my new home.

The day was September 16, 2024. I was 22 years old, fresh out of college, and I had never been to Spain before. Yet here I was, chasing a dream I’d held since the age of 15: to live in a Spanish-speaking country. I wanted to challenge myself and experience something beyond California — the only place I had lived my entire life.

When I left, I thought I had it all planned. I would spend one year in Spain: travel, practice Spanish, and then return to San Francisco to resume “real life.” This was supposed to be just a pause — a year of exploration before returning to what my family, friends, and culture expected of me. My entire support system was in California, and I couldn’t imagine being away for longer than a year.

Fast forward: it’s been a year, and I have no intention of returning to live in the United States. This has been one of the most challenging years of my life — but also one of the most formative. Spain has given me the freedom to see my life through a different lens, to ask myself what I truly want, and to discover strength I didn’t know I had.

In reflecting on my first year here, these are the lessons that stand out most:

Loneliness and Self-Doubt Are Part of Growth

Madrid, Spain.

In America, we often romanticize life in Europe: endless summers on the beach with Aperol spritz, long lunches and afternoon siestas, leisurely strolls through art museums, and effortlessly picking up a new language, finding foreign accents charming rather than confusing. 

When I moved to Spain, there was magic, yes — but also difficulty. Moving abroad is one of the fastest ways to grow up. I imagined slipping easily into Spanish life, but instead found myself exhausted from navigating paperwork and adjusting to a new job. I could barely stay awake on the metro ride home from work every day.

Simple things — going to the doctor, dealing with police appointments, even grocery shopping — felt overwhelming in another language. I felt like a child again, struggling to express basic needs.

And then there was loneliness. Back in San Francisco, I was constantly surrounded by friends. Here, I had to face challenges without the safety net of my lifelong support system. At times, the solitude and self-doubt were paralyzing.

But on the other side of that loneliness, I’ve found strength. I’ve proven to myself that I can pull through hard times, that I can be my own support system. As a young woman, I think this is one of the most important gifts I could have given myself.

Finding Myself Through Language

Before I moved to Spain, I had been surrounded by the Spanish language my entire life. I grew up in San Diego, with a multilingual grandfather who spoke Spanish with me at times. I began studying Spanish at 6 years old and continued through high school. However, what I learned quickly in Madrid is that studying a language is very different from living in it.

At first, I was timid, afraid of making mistakes. The Spanish I heard in Madrid sounded different from the Mexican Spanish I was used to in California. But little by little, my confidence grew. I started classes, formed friendships with Spanish speakers, and began using Spanish every day.

The beauty of learning another language is that it feels like discovering a new side of yourself. Spanish has become a new way for me to express who I am and to connect with people I never could have before.

This spring, I even began preparing to teach yoga in Spanish. At first, it seemed impossible. But just like in my first months here, what once felt overwhelming now feels more attainable. My Spanish isn’t perfect, and my yoga vocabulary is still developing, but I’m doing it. And with time, it will flow more naturally.

The Beauty of International Friendships

One of my greatest joys this year has been meeting people from around the world. As I studied journalism in school, I’ve always loved hearing people’s stories, and Madrid has given me the chance to meet friends from across Europe, Latin America, and beyond.

Each person I’ve met on my path has expanded my perspective and taught me something new. Before this, I had only lived in California, surrounded mostly by other Californians. Now, I’ve been exposed to different cultures and worldviews, which has helped me look at my own upbringing more objectively. In my early twenties, this has been invaluable for shaping the person I want to become.

Becoming a Self-Starter

Teide, Tenerife, Spain

Moving here pushed me to become a self-starter. As a yoga instructor, when I moved here, I would have to build my network from scratch.  I knew I wanted to offer classes to English speakers in Madrid, and build a community through yoga and connection. 

It’s been hard work, but rewarding. In my first year, I’ve grown my classes in the city, started my YouTube channel, and even spent a month in Tenerife teaching at a hostel. Through this, I’ve learned discipline, self-belief, and how to apply creativity to my work.

The Reality of Paperwork and Long-Term Dreams

About halfway through the year, I realized Madrid is where I want to be right now. But the reality is complicated: as an American without a European passport, staying here long-term means facing years of visa challenges and hard work.

It will take adaptability, patience, and persistence. But after this year, I feel confident in my ability to create the life I want.

Conclusion

Granada, Spain

One year ago, I thought I’d be back in San Francisco by now. Instead, I’m writing this reflection from a park bench in Madrid, under the Spanish sun, amazed at how much has changed. To be completely honest, it brings me to tears. 

This summer, a health scare deepened that perspective. I spent nearly a week in the hospital with a life-threatening infection. Alone in a foreign hospital, surrounded by doctors and nurses who didn’t speak my native language, I had to rely on myself in a way I never had before. What could have broken me instead revealed my resilience.

A year ago, I wouldn’t have believed I could handle something like that without my support system back home. But I did. And I came out stronger.

This year has been beautiful, messy, and deeply challenging — and I’ve realized I want that challenge.

Living in Spain has taught me resilience, adaptability, and self-trust. These are lessons I’ll carry forward no matter where life takes me.