Three ways to feel at home in Spain

Embracing life in Spain is easy, you just have to know how

Having a home in Spain doesn’t mean that you will instantly feel at home in Spain. Thousands of Brits buy property in Spain every year, and the majority have no regrets or second thoughts about their decision – life is good, their dreams are fulfilled and their standard of living is vastly improved.

But a handful each year will struggle to settle immediately. Even those who have visited regularly, or perhaps own a holiday home in Spain but have decided to move over permanently, may find that life ensconced in another country isn’t quite what they expected.

Sometimes it’s inevitable; other times, your discomfort takes you by surprise. But every time, no matter who you are, your issues should be resolvable. It just takes time, and a little bit of guidance.

So here are three tips to help you feel at home in Spain…

1. Give it six months
Received wisdom would suggest that all new expats need a six month settling-in period. Now, you might have moved to Spain just a few weeks ago and all is going swimmingly. If so, great. But don’t panic if you’re suddenly hit with pangs of homesickness, or have a bad day at the office or the beach. Setbacks in one’s mood and outlook are acceptable and commonplace.

You should give yourself six months to really go through the entire gamut of emotions – elation, intrigue, fascination, frustration, homesickness, bewilderment, happiness, peace – before making any rash decisions. But if after six months you do find yourself yearning for home, try this…

2. Remove the rose-tinted specs
Yes, those sodden Sunday afternoons spent in the pub with friends tucking into a beef roast might get you all misty-eyed, but really think about it. Just because you miss something doesn’t mean it’s better than what you have right now. It is inevitable that you will long for the green, green grass of home – the convenient Tesco on every corner, the good TV, the chilly evenings which mean you can wear that new coat – these are the things you grew up with, and to not have them any longer takes some getting used to.

But look at it again: a Tesco everywhere you turn, selling the same stuff, looking the same, sounding the same. Those programmes that you would always try not to miss, even at the expense of more fun and interesting things, such as drinks with friends or a yoga class. And those ‘crisp and chilly evenings’? Try ‘damp and windy’, and then tell me you really, deep down, miss those things? And if you do…

3. Make the effort to meet Spaniards
For some people, this is the easiest step. For others, it’s very difficult. And it’s difficult because it requires people to take themselves out of their comfort zone, to try to speak to new people in a different way, and about different things. It’s an effort, but it is totally worth it, and here’s why:

A rich circle of Spanish friends will open up the country and culture in ways you could never have imagined; it will improve your Spanish, which in turn improves daily interactions with people on the street; it means you have a more grounded social support network, and it forces you to open up, too – Spaniards are extremely warm people and will be more than happy to welcome an expat into their group, provided you have made the effort. And it will change you, too – you will become more outgoing, more confident and open minded, and more settled.

Which means a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life, for you and your family.