Let’s clear something up, lovingly and with receipts. Yes, as auxiliares, we do live in Spain. We shop at Mercadona. We drink café con leche. We butcher the language daily and keep going anyway. All true.
But we are not living in Spain-Spain.
We’re living a very specific, very cushioned, very Americanized version of Spain. And that matters, especially when we put our lives on social media and frame it as “this is what living in Spain is like.”
Because… It’s not. Not really.
The Auxiliar Bubble
As auxiliares, we:
- Work about 12–16 hours a week
- Don’t pay Spanish income taxes
- Don’t deal with Spanish payroll systems
- Aren’t navigating Spain’s political climate
- Aren’t surviving on local wages
- Often rely on savings, family help, or side hustles
- Have the flexibility to travel constantly
That is not the average Spanish experience. That’s the exchange program experience.
Most Spaniards:
- Work long hours
- Earn relatively low wages
- Deal with job insecurity
- Feel the pressure of rent, inflation, and bureaucracy
- Aren’t romanticizing a grocery run like it’s a Vogue spread
They’re living real, grounded lives. Not content calendars.
Social Media vs. Reality
And here’s where it gets tricky.
There’s nothing wrong with sharing your life. Truly. Post the coffee. Post the plaza. Post the sunset that makes you feel like the main character. But when every post starts to feel like: “Move abroad, life is easy, Spain is cheap, I work four hours a day and sip wine forever.” That’s when it slips into fantasy land.
Because new auxiliares see that and think:
- “Why am I stressed?”
- “Why don’t I feel that carefree?”
- “Am I doing Spain wrong?”
No. They’re just seeing a highlight reel with no context.
Context Is Kind
You don’t need disclaimers on every post. This isn’t a courtroom. But a little honesty goes a long way:
- Acknowledge the privilege of the program
- Be clear that this isn’t the average Spanish lifestyle
- Admit when outside money is involved
- Remember that locals aren’t on a year-long adventure. This is just… life.
You can love your experience and stay grounded in reality. Those things can coexist.
Why This Matters
Because Spain isn’t a backdrop, it’s someone’s home. And when we glamorize our experience without context, we accidentally:
- Oversimplify life here
- Misrepresent the culture
- Create unrealistic expectations
- Talk about Spain instead of with it
You don’t have to dim your joy. Just don’t inflate it into something it isn’t. Live your life. Enjoy your time. Romanticize your mornings if that’s your thing. Just remember: You’re not living the Spanish experience. You’re living the auxiliar experience, and that’s okay.
Just be honest about it. Because the most beautiful stories aren’t the glossiest ones. They’re the ones that tell the truth.
To be more empathetic while living in Spain, check out these other blogs to ensure you’re showing compassion: Gentrification in Spain, Cultural Awareness: Grocery Store Edition, and The Art of Complaining: Life as an Auxiliar.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
