I recently visited the U.S. after almost two years of living in Spain, and it opened my eyes quite a bit. Not only did it highlight the key cultural differences between the two countries, but it showed me what I love about each.
The U.S. has so many small luxuries that I took for granted before moving to Spain. On the contrary, there are many aspects of Spanish culture that I prefer to the American way of life.
During my two weeks of spending quality time with family and friends in the U.S., I made some observations about the U.S. that can only be appreciated through an emigrant’s lens.
Here’s what stood out to me most.
Not So Small Conveniences
Americans have so many luxuries that the rest of the world does not. Big houses, washing AND drying machines, large grocery stores, you name it.
Growing up in the U.S., these luxuries were not obvious to me. They were just a small part of daily life. But after moving to Spain, I notice just how abundant we are in the U.S. — and admittedly, it’s one of the things I miss after moving to Spain.
It was such a treat to stay in my family’s home and have fresh, warm sheets and towels, a large house (by European standards) where we had plenty of space, and even the ability to go to the grocery store and have tons of options for anything you could possibly need.
Honestly, the grocery store did get overwhelming for me after growing accustomed to small Spanish groceries or shopping at the local market. It’s just an example of how spoiled for choice we are in the U.S., without ever really noticing it.
The Carless Experience
Experiencing the U.S. as a visitor is an entirely different experience. Without a car, it was almost impossible to make plans with friends, or even run simple errands.
Unless you rent or borrow a car, it’s almost impossible to get around unless you live in a major U.S. city. In Indiana, it was completely impossible to walk from my family’s house to get groceries or see friends. What used to be normal when I lived in the U.S. is extremely limiting as a visitor.
The ability to move freely in Madrid without a car is a huge luxury that I have in Spain, that does not really exist in the U.S. This experience made me realize how lucky I am to live in a walkable city with incredible public transport options.
I was able to borrow and rent cars during my visit to the U.S., but I got really sick of driving after two weeks. Having to drive everywhere I went was exhausting, especially after not having driven in over a year. This taught me how much I prefer my Spanish lifestyle of walking instead of driving, and how much I’d gotten used to it.
Processed Food Hangover
I was so excited to go back to the U.S. and eat all of my favorite foods. Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, the local sports bar known for their chicken wings. We planned our trip to make sure we ate our favorite foods, and as excited as we were, our bodies paid for it.
After moving to Spain and eating a mostly whole foods diet, I forgot how heavy the fast and processed food feels on your body. The first few days we arrived, we felt really sick after eating the highly processed food. Maybe we always felt that way in the U.S. and normalized it, or maybe it’s our bodies that are no longer used to an American diet.
In the U.S., the food quality is also vastly different. The eggs you get from the grocery store in the U.S. have pale yellow yolks instead of the bright orange yolks I’m used to from farm-fresh eggs in Spain. The produce doesn’t go bad as quickly in the U.S. because of all the chemical preservatives. It’s these small differences in quality that I only really noticed after leaving.
While the U.S. has more to offer in the grocery store, I prefer the quality and simplicity of the food in Spain.
Perceptions of Life Abroad
During this trip, I got to see friends, family, and old connections from all walks of life, and their reaction to my life abroad was all over the board. But mostly, it was really positive.
While some people will never understand my choice to move abroad, the vast majority are accepting, and even encouraging. I heard from a lot of older people that they loved that I was brave enough to move abroad, and reinforced how important it is to experience all that life has to offer. Some of my friends and high school connections expressed that they wish they were able to move abroad and have the same experience that I’m having in Spain.
When you move abroad in your 20s or 30s, it’s hard to see your friends at home follow a traditional path that never felt quite right for you. Marriage, house, kids, corporate 9-5 job. I always knew I wanted more than that, but it isn’t easy to watch your life take one direction while everyone else takes another.
But after visiting my friends at home, I learned that your true friends will cheer you on and include you on their journey, the same way they want to be supported and brought along on yours. There isn’t one “right” way to live life, and while some people dream of a traditional path, others don’t. Both are equally valid.
Loving Two Places at Once
Visiting home as an immigrant will always be bittersweet. The goodbyes never get any easier, and it’s hard to feel so torn between two homes.
But it’s also a huge privilege to experience such a love for two places, and two versions of yourself. When I’m in the U.S. spending time with family and friends, it feels as if I never left. I’m back to the “old me”, blasting music in the car, catching up with friends, and visiting my favorite places. When I’m in Spain, I feel like someone entirely different. My friends are different, the conversations we have are different, our aspirations are different, and my lifestyle is totally different.
Overall, the experience of visiting home is more sweet than bitter. It highlights all the things you love about home that you used to take for granted. Calling two places home only makes your life richer, and you learn to appreciate the simple things so much more.
If reading this has you wondering what it might actually feel like to build a life in Spain, that’s exactly what the Scout Your Move to Spain service is for. I help people figure out if (and where) a move to Spain makes sense for them, before they make the leap. Click to learn more!
Other blogs you may like:
Leave a Reply