Living in Spain is a lot less stressful, that is, unless you’re dealing with paperwork. (Then all bets are off.) But lately, I’ve realized something: life here can still feel overwhelming. Just… in a completely different way.
I come from a small town in Tennessee where there’s not much going on. You have to drive 15–20 minutes one way just to get to the nearest grocery store. It’s quiet, predictable, and simple, the kind of place where you run into your cousin at the gas station whether you planned to or not.
Now, this is my second year living in Spain, and last year I was in a “small” town called Gandia. Honestly, it was the perfect size. Calm, cozy, and familiar. But even then, there wasn’t much of a community vibe like you get in the bigger cities. Life moved more slowly, and I kind of liked that.
Fast forward to now, I live in Alicante. And suddenly, I feel overwhelmed… but not in a bad way. More like too many good things kind of overwhelmed. Mondays are my days off, and I never know what to do first. Do I go to a coffee shop? Visit a museum? Hit the beach? Or maybe go to a language exchange and meet new people? The options are endless.
And then there’s the weekend. I want to travel, but that means missing beach volleyball on Sundays (which I already love). It’s like I want to do everything, be everywhere, and meet everyone, all at once!
It’s a good kind of busy, though. The kind that reminds me how full life can be when you’re living somewhere that’s buzzing with opportunity. Maybe I just need more time to find my rhythm, to slow down a little and realize I don’t have to do everything to enjoy something.
Since I’m new here, I think I just want to dive headfirst into this city and really integrate. I’ve got plenty of time to settle in, but I’m still learning to move at my own pace, to find my rhythm instead of forcing one. If you’re in a similar situation, do the same. Don’t rush it. Spain has a funny way of teaching you to slow down,
I’ve only been in this city for a month, so there’s still time to figure it out. But for now, I’ll take being a little overwhelmed over being bored any day. whether you plan to or not.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
