I'm an American who's lived in Europe for the last 3 years. Here are the 10 things I wish I knew before I moved.

Jordan MautnerJul 31, 2023, 18:42 IST

I've lived in Barcelona since early 2020.Oleg Senkov/Shutterstock

After growing up in Los Angeles, California, I moved to Barcelona, Spain, in early 2020.
Life abroad has brought many unforeseen challenges, like only seeing my family once a year.

After taking annual vacations to Europe for over a decade, I followed my dream and moved abroad right after my 32nd birthday. I initially did a six-month stay in Bordeaux, France, before heading to Barcelona, Spain, in early 2020.

Leaving Los Angeles and building a new life here hasn't been all rainbows and butterflies — the coronavirus pandemic hit three weeks after my arrival — but I'm so grateful that I've put down roots here. Now, I'm engaged, I found steady work as an English teacher, and I'm pursuing my passion for music.

Looking back, here are the 10 things I wish I knew before moving abroad.

Living so far from home has made me realize that I can't always be there for people when they need me, and vice versa.

I stayed in Barcelona throughout the pandemic, when the city felt very empty and quiet.Jordan Mautner

The time difference between Los Angeles and Barcelona makes it hard to stay connected with friends and family.

Some of my friends from Los Angeles have visited me in Barcelona.Jordan Mautner

I inevitably end up missing a lot of important milestones, like weddings and birthdays.

I don't get home to Los Angeles as much as I'd like.Jordan Mautner

Because flights are so expensive around the holidays, I rarely get to spend them with my family.

I celebrate Christmas with other expat friends in Barcelona.Jordan Mautner

When I'm feeling homesick, I have a hard time relating to my friends from Spain and other parts of Europe.

I've met so many people from around the world since moving to Spain.Jordan Mautner

Barcelona is a pretty transient place, which makes it hard to form lasting friendships.

The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain.Jordan Mautner

It didn't take long to learn that living in a foreign city is vastly different than visiting one.

Living abroad brings many of the same small inconveniences as living in the US.Jordan Mautner

Finding an apartment and opening a bank account in Barcelona was much more difficult than I expected.

Hunting for apartments in Barcelona wasn't easy or straightforward.Jordan Mautner

I haven't been able to find familiar over-the-counter medications in Spain.

A pharmacy in Barcelona, Spain.Jordan Mautner

Starting over in my 30s made me feel stressed and insecure, and I constantly compared myself to other people.

My quality of life has improved since moving from Los Angeles to Barcelona.Jordan Mautner

Life abroad isn't always easy, but it's worth every single challenge I've faced.

I met my partner shortly after moving to Barcelona.Jordan Mautner

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