A question I get all the time is, “Why make the move? Why Spain?” My slightly cheeky answer is usually, “Why not?” But the real answer is a little deeper than that.
If you know me at all, you know I love to travel. I’ve always been someone who needs movement, new scenery, and new experiences. I get bored pretty easily if life starts to feel too predictable. When I moved to Los Angeles, it was because I felt that pull. I wanted more out of life, more adventure, more stories.
And now, here I am again, feeling that same pull.
The difference this time is that I’m not the same person I was back then. Moving away from home once before taught me a lot. It showed me that I’m capable of figuring things out, even when things feel uncertain. I trust myself more now. I know I can land on my feet. At this point, I’ve spent so much time outside of my comfort zone that the unknown actually feels… comfortable.
Moving away once already changed my life for the better, so part of me thought, why not do it again? But this time on a bigger scale. I’m young, healthy, curious, and honestly just excited about life. I want to live in a way that gives me stories to tell one day. I want to learn things the hard way sometimes. I want to see how other people live, how other cultures think, what everyday life looks like somewhere completely different from where I started.
And Spain just felt right.
There’s something about the culture here that pulled me in immediately. The history, the food, the slower pace of life, and the way people actually take time to enjoy their day. The idea of immersing myself in a new language and expanding my food palette was exciting to me. (Which is funny considering how picky I used to be.)
But beyond that, Spain feels welcoming. As an American living here, I don’t feel like I’m just another person squeezed into an overcrowded city. When I lived in LA, life sometimes felt oversaturated. Like I was just another car stuck in traffic.
Here, it feels different. People are curious about you. They want to talk, connect, and share their culture. There’s this genuine openness that makes you feel like you belong, even when you’re still figuring everything out. Another huge reason I wanted to move was the people.
Travel has introduced me to so many incredible individuals from all over the world. Some of them have even invited me to visit their cities someday. That’s one of my favorite parts about traveling. You start building these little connections everywhere. I’m not talking about collecting places. I’m talking about collecting people.
When you’re open to other cultures, other ways of living, and other perspectives, your world just gets bigger. So why move? Because life is short, and the world is massive.
Because I want to see what’s out there. Because I want to challenge myself. Because I want to grow into someone who has actually lived, not just stayed comfortable.
Moving abroad is definitely a risk. There are a lot of unknowns, and there are moments where you wonder if you’re slightly crazy for doing it. But I’ve learned something important over the years. Bet on yourself.
Trust that you’ll figure things out along the way. Trust that the experiences, the friendships, and the lessons will be worth it. Moving to Spain isn’t just about changing my location. It’s about continuing to grow, continuing to explore, and continuing to build a life that feels exciting and meaningful. And honestly?
I’m just getting started. Salud to making it this far. 🥂
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
