Moving to Spain: Where My Journey Began

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I had started looking for a new job in 2019, but I wasn’t having any luck. I had some interviews but nothing seemed to stick. While I liked my job and I loved working with kids, I was starting to become drained, emotionally. I think it happens often in the field of social work and child protection services. I didn’t really know what I wanted, but I knew I needed a change.

I had always been interested in living abroad. I liked the idea of living in another country, learning a new language (immersion style), exploring new cultures and more travel opportunities. After all, it’s easier to travel around Europe while living in Europe.

I started spending hours online looking for ways to move abroad. My hopes dwindled into discouragement as an American with no visa. I didn’t understand all the visa rules and regulations, but what I did understand was no visa, no working rights. I had no idea it was such a complex system. It seemed impossible and I became extremely disheartened. One night, at my 3:00 am norm of googling and searching for information, I ran across a small article about a program that allowed you to teach English in Spain and they provided you with a visa to work.

This seemed way too good to be true. Too easy. I spent the next hours online researching the program, rules and how I could apply. The program was called “auxiliary de conversacion” and it seemed simple. You need to be a college graduate, English as your native language and under 60. Check, check and check. You work 24 hours a week at a public school in Spain and they give you a visa for the school year. It was also a language assistant position so no teaching experience required.

I never thought I would get into the program. I applied last minute, I was half serious and I didn’t know if it was actually possible. After being accepted the real work began. There were so many things that I hadn’t thought about, job, apartment, car, money, health insurance and the million other things running through your mind when you are going to try something new and you feel the anxiety creeping in. My car lease was up in a month, my apartment lease was up in about 3 months, things seemed to be falling into place. Although it was completely overwhelming to think about, it was exciting too. My biggest concern was health insurance. My medication was expensive and I didn’t know how the health system there compared to the health system in the US or if I could even get my medications there. That was a deal breaker.

After much online research and calling and emailing some health insurance companies, I found that public healthcare in Spain seemed very expat friendly. Public health was free and my medications would be available, but most public health systems don’t cover prescription costs. Looking into the cost of my medications would be much more affordable. No real obstacles left then, I guess it’s GO time.

Last weekend with the sisters below!