My best "kick-ass" pose
I’m moving to Spain again today. You probably won’t be able to tell the strain in my voice (given the written word) as I say that, but yep, I am living in nervous times once again!
But on the horizon of this new adventure I’m armed with the strength of learning from the last. Flying out to Madrid and ending up in Extremadura I spent last September to December learning the language, immersing myself in the culture and having a breakdown enjoying the lifestyle. It’s time to do that all again. Besides I’ve got the target of Spanish fluency hanging over me like a bad rash.
This time I’m going “proper Brits abroad” and flying into classy holiday destination Málaga, where I’ll be spending a few days Couchsurfing before making my way to Granada to have a nose around before deciding where to make my base for the next 3 months.
Moving to Spain this time around? I’d like to say it’ll be a cinch. Given that I don’t repeat the same mistakes as last time that is.
“What were they?” I hear you, ever so enthustically, cry. Well my friends read on:
1. Expecting Everything to Fall into Place Far Too Quickly
Last time I had a severe lack of patience towards all the nitty gritty stuff that moving abroad brings. I was frustrated that I made no real friends within the first weeks, I was frustrated I didn’t explore enough, and hell, I was even fuming that no one could understand me.
This time around I’m going to take it much slower, try and be a lot more relaxed and try and be a good boy by not getting so goddamn angry. Argh.
2. Going with a Shite Level of Spanish
I’m kind of precious about this one as I think jumping into a new language and culture is clearly the best (and fastest) way forward. Having said that, having the ability to be clearly understood and being able to ask simple questions (especially with things like apartments and accommodation) would have made it much easier for me in retrospect.
This time around, despite being in the land of incomprehensible Spanish (Andalusia), I’m sure, with 3 months practice, I’ll fare a little better.
3. Not Packing Enough Underwear
Remember my post on minimalism and the comments from the Travel Chica about my distinct lack of underwear? Well yes, that did indeed come back to haunt me during my last time moving to Spain.
This time around, thanks to my charitable mother and the holy event that is Christmas, I have a lot more pairs to help support my genitals and keep that sacred area fresh and clean.
4. Not Using CouchSurfing
Before I’d moved out to Spain I had a CouchSurfing profile but hadn’t really made use of it. Now I realise its full benefit for making new friends and meeting people in new cities thanks to my last experience.
This time around I’ve already arranged, via the site, surfing hosts for the whole of my first week back. I’ve also started to make use of the excellent groups feature to help with things like researching apartments.
5. Not Recording My Travels Soon Enough
Believe it or not (why wouldn’t you?) this site started a good week into my travels. Since starting (I’ve been going four months now) it’s pretty much revolutionised my time both in Spain, widening my network and opening my eyes to new possibilities. Looking back I wish I would have recorded those initial weeks leading up to my adventure to discuss how I prepared, settled on a location and why exactly I’d chosen to do it.
This time around I’ve already established myself as a Blogger, gaining a few friends and a crap load of Twitter followers along the way. If you haven’t followed me yet get your ass in gear.
6. Worrying About Money Too Much
Worrying about money was a primary concern of mine back in the early days when I was first looking to start this adventure. It was because of this that I took on a teaching job (in an academy) that I wasn’t fully able to commit to. What I failed to realise is that in reality my finances were sufficient and that there would be plenty of options (private teaching, SEO work, freelance writing, bar and tourism work) in Spain to fall back on.
This time around I know, even if it gets bad, I can hustle to find ways to support myself without having to run home with my tail between my legs.
7. Having a Bad Attitude About Back Home
Moving to Spain the last time put a big shit-eating grin on my face as I kicked the dust and said a smug goodbye to London. What a mistake that was – and how silly I felt given the depression I fell into during the first few weeks. Going travelling is about growing as a person, not escaping somewhere for something better. Returning for Christmas helped show me a few things, the importance of family and friends my main lesson.
This time around I’ll try to make a much better effort with maintaining contact (and being nice when I do) with folks back home.
8. Not Taking Enough Photos
Oh Creative Commons! How you have saved me with this blog and many more guest posts!
Not taking enough photos, despite having three cameras (2 analogue, 1 digital), was also a big regret from last time. Browse around this site (or take a look at my guest posts) and you’ll see how often I’ve had to source photos for the places and things I talk about.
This time around I’m going to do my jolly best to snap away in the spirit of a Japanese tourist.
9. Not Looking for an Apartment Soon Enough
This one goes hand in hand with the CouchSurfing one but staying in a hostel for my first week and a half, like I did in Cáceres, was lethal to my cash reserves (especially given the insanely cheap cost of rent). It all got rather comfortable with the free wifi and stuff that I didn’t really feel the need to put that much effort into hunting.
This time around I’ve already been looking online at places to get a rough estimate of the cost and even sent a few emails to possible leads. I’ll be hunting from day one in my final destination to avoid those heavy hostel fees.
10. Not Having Enough Intercambios
Victor, my most loyal intercambio, was nothing short of a godsend in Caceres. In order to swiftly learn the language however, I could have done with a few more Victors. The truth is I was a little lazy in hunting for them.
This time around I’m going to post notices online and on street noticeboards searching for language exchanges to help better advance my Spanish. That way I can also keep up with one of my goals for 2012 and make more friends!
So that’s it for a list of things I did wrong upon moving to Spain the last time. Hopefully you can find some practical advice from these things yourself.
Check in with me to see how I fare.
Congratulations on your fresh second start! I’m excited to read about your new Spanish love nest, where ever that may be!
Un beso!
Hamatha
@Hamatha Thanks my lovely! Doubt it will be a love nest though as I’ve got a rather special girl back in the U S of K. United Shitty Kingdom (just joking). Fingers crossed she’ll be out here soon!
Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out! I’m sure things will fall more easily into place now that you’ve had a practice round. Did you ask a stranger to take that picture of you in front of the statue? If so I think you probably made his/her day.
@Jackie D Thanks! Things are certainly shaping up wayyyy easier than the last time. Practice makes perfect after all! Scary to think how easy the 3rd time round will feel! As for the picture I asked a rather dear friend (props to my boy Juan). He told me I made his day as I lay beside him on the pillow. Wait. That didn’t happen…
Will, I wonder why you´re so keen to learn Spanish. Maybe you´ve written about this but I haven´t seen it and I´d really love to know.
@Mo Hi Mo! Glad you found me and took the time to cover over and comment! I’m keen mainly because learning a language has been on my life list for quite some time (I was crap but enthusiastic in school). Also I want to be the first in my family to be able to. Spanish because I would love to live and work in Central/South America someday. That’s the dream!
Ooh, Málaga! I spent a year there and I loved it! You have to go to Miguelito el Cariñoso…that’s my favorite seaside restaurant! Granada is a beautiful place, I don’t know what it’s like to live there, since I only visited, but I’ve heard it’s a really manageable city. Málaga is much bigger and it can be a pain getting around if you don’t have a car, and even then you have endless traffic jams. But living right near the beach is totally worth it. If you do decide on Málaga, you should know that housing is expensive, much more than in Extremadura, but the cost of living otherwise isn’t too bad, especially if you compare it to Pamplona. People are really friendly and almost anyone will strike up a conversation with you. All that conversation does mean you need lots of patience, because when the clerks in the shops start talking to someone it can take a looong time to be helped. On the making friends thing, I suggest signing up for a gym or some other group activity, those are always good places to meet people. Suerte y disfrutalo!
@Mother Theresa Thanks for the comment my lovely Mother! Yeah I’m really liking the big M (not the golden arches but rather the other one). I’ll try and check that restaurant out but being a veg it might be tough to find something. I’ve found housing to not be too bad at all depending on where you look here. Still think I’m heading for Granada, but mightily impressed by this place so far. Good tip with the gym joining – in line with New Years goals too
“Expecting Everything to Fall into Place Far Too Quickly” is a good one! I also get very impatient. I’ve made plenty of friends along the way over the years, but I’m STILL in the beginning stages of growing roots (and I’ve lived here 4 years already!). Patience is key when living abroad here.
Good luck, and I can’t wait to see what you think of my neck of the woods (Granada!). Let me know if you need a heads-up about anything, alright?
@Michi Thankyou Michi! The patience thing seems to be working much better this time. Sometimes I get the occasional flipando en colores but not tan mucho! Bit of Spanglish for you there
I’ll be in Granada soon so maybe we can catch up? I’ve got lots to ask!
If you move to Granada, you’ll have no problem finding intercambios, they’re advertised everywhere! Always a good idea to make a home base in a university town. Good luck with move numero dos!
@Christine Hey! Thanks for the comment. Yep I think I might well settle in the big G after all. I’m loving the Andalusian life so far. Hope I’m not encroaching on your territory too much!
Good lessons to learn! I especially like what you say about point #7…I’m guilty of trying to use travel as a source of escapism. It always does make me a better rounded person…and if I’m gone long enough it’ll make me yearn for home. Best of luck as you move back! Still would love to have you guest post!
@FemmeFrugality Yup! I’ve said it before about escapism but it sometimes still grabs me. I always come back better than what I leave too. I’ll contact you tomorrow re: guess post. It’s on my list of many things to do! Cheers for commenting and for the wishes!
I’m a bit sad because you said me you’d be in Cáceres for a year and I still have pending that coffee with you
At least you are still in Spain learning the language and I’m very happy for your not giving up mood
Now you’re going to listen the southern Spain language, and it’s a bit weird
Good luck, mate. I’ll wait for that coffee.
@Manu Sorry mate! Times change and I had to mix it up. I’ll be back at some point – just don’t know when. Thanks for having faith in me. I’m getting on OK with the accent so far, maybe that’s because I’m still in Malaga?
I’m nosy so these reflections made my day.
The very existence of #2 and #10 tell me that you have enough gumption (er, GANAS) to get the language ball rolling. In response to #8, I counter that you can never have enough pictures!
@Cassandra Why thank you! Tengo ganas seguramente. Do need more snaps though!
Good luck on the 2nd expedition Will.
I think it’s a good time to go down there as opposed to summer when it’s Baking!
Have you thought of Seville ..I’ve heard that’s nice ,with lots of students.
Oh and Thanks for the email you sent as well,I got distracted and forgot to reply.
I’ll let you know how the Miss Brazil situation went sometime soon,it’s still a bit raw now.
@Aleks Thanks my friend! I did think of Seville but figured it was a bit on the pricey side. Did you see my post weeks back? All in good time with Miss Brazil. All in good time.
Loved this. Really cool list, it’s making me lust after Spain even more.
SOON.
@Benjamin Spall – I hope you’ll come on over and join the ride!
best of luck! do you think number 2. is a bit chicken/egg, like your spanish is good because you’ve been before? Or if you were to do it again for the first time you’d really try and get a grasp of the language while still in the UK?
@Andrew Thanks Mr Caldwell. No.2 is indeed because of that – but if I did it again I would have studied harder and practiced more.
hi Will
Happy New Year!!!!! sorry its taken so long,, but much has happened!
Ive included your link in my latest post,, Im busy doing a post on you,,
but Im so behind right now, just working on it slowly!!
hope you are happily making fires somewhere cosy with lots of red wine
and friendship!
enjoy
Lyndsay
http://balearic-blue.blogspot.com/2012/01/3-eggs.html
@Lyndsay Hey no worries! Feliz año nuevo a ti. Thanks for the link love and no rush with the post. You take your time and do as the Spanish do. I’m not making fires though! Instead I’m freezing off my testacles in my apartment in Granada. I could do with some warmth!
Your post brings back memories of all the pitfalls… good on you for being so honest! And the Andalucian accent … yeah that’s a tough one for the beginner. I first moved to Spain 10 years ago and the blogging scene was nowhere near as developed (nor broadband/mobile access as widespread). The internet has changed so much you can really communicate your experiences better. Not, of course, at the expense of meeting real people, but if your experience of Spain is similar to mine, you’ll have more free time in which to blog, etc. As for the photos thing… yeah. I lived there in the pre-digital era, so, although I took a lot of photos, it was a drop in the ocean compared to the snap-happy era of today. No excuse now for not snapping away.
@Jon Interesting comment and thanks for your support. Things change so rapidly these days, I wonder where I’ll be at in 10 minutes let alone 10 years!