I have lived in California my entire life but knew that I wanted to live abroad. So, it took time to build up the courage to uproot my life and move from my hometown.  It took me almost two years to organize and execute my move from the United States all the way to Spain. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed down this process even more. I was hoping to be in Barcelona by Spring 2020, but that obviously couldn’t happen since the pandemic started in March of that year. It wasn’t until January 2021 that I was finally able to board a plane to my dream city. 

I went through a rollercoaster of emotions once I told myself I wanted to move to Barcelona until I finally decided to take the leap. I learned these are two different things. I felt excited because I finally made the decision. I felt anxiety from the planning and thinking about how I’m going to be thousands of miles away from my family and friends. I experienced skepticism from myself, friends, and my family because I would be thousands of miles away from home. I felt worried that I’d feel lonely and if I was making a mistake. I felt joy thinking of all of the possibilities and new opportunities in this new city.

Moving abroad, especially during a pandemic, requires more legal documents, especially a visa. It took time during the workweek and on weekends to gather and complete the paperwork. Organizing tasks included getting finger-printed and scheduling appointments at the various government offices and consulates to get the correct visa to enter Spain, then stay long-term. The pandemic put a halt to this process and to receive the required documents. More importantly, this extended time forced me to think about how much I wanted to continue moving to Barcelona. It helped confirm my decision and that the pandemic wasn’t going to stop me.

I had to remind myself many times, “I want this. I’ve always wanted to do this. Just do it.” I also felt like if I didn’t do it now, would I ever really do it?

Getting Ready to Fly

On top of gathering the necessary documents and the required PCR test, I took extra steps to prepare for my flight. With a 13 hour flight, I purchased extra hand sanitizer, hand wipes, and disposable masks. Before entering the airport, I put on a K95 face mask and even wore a face shield. Knowing that I was flying across the world during a pandemic, I wanted to ensure I was protecting myself and others. 

The airport terminal was almost close to empty. It felt strange to see the airport like a ghost town. Many shops, cafes, and restaurants were closed. There were less than 20 people at my gate waiting to board the plane. Based on the number of people on the flight and social distancing guidelines, I luckily had a whole row to myself for the first part of my flight. These situations felt unfamiliar and it was evident that flying internationally during a pandemic was not common.

Living in a New Country During a Pandemic

I finally landed in Barcelona and felt very grateful to have arrived safely, especially after feeling emotional about this trip and traveling for almost 20 hours. It was my third time traveling to Barcelona, but this time I did not have a returning flight. The airport was close to empty, just like in California. 

On the way to my new apartment in Eixample, one of the largest neighborhoods in the center of Barcelona, I saw multiple businesses closed and boarded up. I assumed it was due to the pandemic and something I remembered seeing back home in California. 

Barcelona did not require any specific quarantine, so it was easy to get acclimated. When I arrived, everyone was required to wear a mask at all times, so I would do this when I would walk around my new neighborhood. It struck me how I was no longer hearing English outdoors, but only Spanish, which was a beautiful reminder that I am in Barcelona. Eixample has so many picturesque cafes, restaurants with international cuisines, and local boutiques, so it felt freeing to finally be able to walk around and soak up all that this Barcelona neighborhood had to offer. 

During my first week there, I went out to lunch with my roommate at the time, and we were able to sit inside the restaurant—without masks. This was my first time sitting inside a restaurant for almost a year. The restaurant was full and not spaced out 6 feet apart. I did feel some discomfort and asked myself “Is this okay?” My roommate assured me that all is fine. I noticed everyone in the restaurant looked comfortable, lively, and enjoying their food. This day confirmed that this was their “normal” and that Barcelona was handling the pandemic differently. 

Spain always had different business hours from the United States, since they account for a siesta in the middle of the day from 3:00 pm-5:00 pm. That slightly changed when restaurants were allowed to be open for indoor dining from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm for many months. Many people took advantage of the special indoor dining hours to get a taste of how things used to be, even for this small window of time. This was very different from California since indoor dining wasn’t permitted when I left. Barcelona also had a strict 10:00 pm curfew requiring people to be indoors, unless you had a special pass that permitted you to be outdoors later in the evening.

As months went by, I started to feel like my life here in Barcelona was back to “normal,” but now I just have to wear a mask each day and ensure I have one wherever I go. I felt safe, especially when I saw that everyone around me was wearing masks as well. Almost every day I would use public transportation, go to a Spanish class in an actual classroom, I’d go to restaurants & bars, and start to see and meet new people. This lifestyle was very different from what I was doing in California.

As more time went by, I was starting to have moments of loneliness. I knew people living in Barcelona from previous visits, but I did not have any real friends or family when I first arrived. I knew this before my move, but there were days that it felt heavy and I would miss them even more. I hung out with my classmates, but I also wanted to make new friends outside of school. Then, I thought I had to be more creative, so I downloaded an app called HeyVina! which is a friend-finding application catered to women. I felt outside of my comfort zone doing this, but I’m glad that I downloaded it. Less than a month in, I lucked out because I met a girl and we became close friends organically. We built a friendship and I know that I’ll have it for the rest of my life. Slowly, my friend circle naturally grew. 

As I started to make new friendships, I discovered that Barcelona fully embraced picnics as an ideal social gathering. Picnics were the easiest, cheapest, and safest way to hang out with friends and in larger groups. Going out meant setting a blanket at a park or the beach, then sharing drinks and snacks with friends. Also, beer and wine are easily accessible and almost always cheaper than water.

As I was creating my new day-to-day life, I continued to get to know Barcelona. I roamed the streets and different barrios.  I got more comfortable with the metro and bus lines. I was trying new restaurants, and my Spanish skills improved each day. Barcelona is a diverse and cosmopolitan city, so many people speak English which has helped. However, learning Spanish in Barcelona has helped me feel part of the community and I have more appreciation for being able to communicate in this language throughout the city.  

I learned that as more time went on, I would fall more in love with Barcelona.

Living a Dream

This was my third time in Barcelona and there was something about the city that always made me feel comfortable. When I arrived in January, I felt that Barcelona welcomed me back with open arms and I’m grateful to have returned in this way.

Barcelona is a prime tourist destination and it was clear to see that when I first arrived there were not many visitors due to COVID-19 and numerous travel restrictions. Almost half a year in, the city is starting to open up again. The government recently removed the late-night curfew and is only allowing tourists from European countries. Day by day, the city is getting more visitors and more vibrant as July is the heart of the summer season. 

I still feel it wasn’t ideal to move across the world during a pandemic, but I really wouldn’t have it any other way. Arguably, I left the United States during an unsafe time, but I know I prepared as much as I could and am so thankful to have moved safely to a different country. After living in Barcelona for over half a year, I am creating a new life and building a home. Although I chose to move abroad during the pandemic, I am living out one of my biggest dreams. In retrospect, the work, the stress, and the extended time were all beneficial for my move across the world. The pandemic slowed down the pace of this whole experience and made me evaluate, understand, and appreciate living in a new country. Many big decisions don’t come easy and almost always have their qualms, but this is an example that they are worth it.