The One-way Ticket
Have you ever bought a one-way ticket? It's a thrilling moment for two reasons: one, you save money, and two, you have no idea how, when, or even if your trip may end. The first time I purchased one, it set in motion a series of events that have shaped the rest of my life.
In mid-2007, I got a one-way ticket to Madrid, flew alongside some of my dearest friends from college and experienced several southern European countries for the first time in my life. We travelled for a month, visiting flower-draped cities, friends of friends, a commune, landmarks and beaches. It was incredible, as any American in Europe will tell you.
The people and their way of life struck me the most. I felt that everyone was an artist of their own lives. Older women were gorgeous, stress levels were virtually non-existent, fruit trees grew on every patio and life was good. It was as though everyone we met had a beautiful hobby they had curated; painting, pottery, dancing, climbing. Life was not just about the cycle of working hard and relaxing, as I was used to. People's purpose was more nuanced. Work was important, yeah, but everything else was too.
How someone did anything was how they did everything.
Street life in Sevilla
My friends of course had their return tickets, so I was soon left alone to figure out what to do, where to go, how to legally stay in Europe, how to make money, and if I should even be doing this. I was naive, but lucky it turned out. I tooled around Barcelona and eventually scored a gig working at a hostal in the center of the city. My presence in the country was officially as a visitor, so neither the hostal nor I were 'doing things right', but it worked for both parties in the short term. I exchanged a few hours a day at the front desk for a bunk and two daily meals. The travelers were kind, the nightlife was fun, and I was learning conversational Spanish.
When the three-month mark approached, my visitor visa was on the verge of expiration, so I took a train to the south of the country and hopped a ferry to Tanger. I'd always wanted to visit Morocco, and it did not disappoint. People, streets, food and even cars were all sights to behold. The essence of the country was rich, but I immediately sensed that I could not be as carefree as I was in Spain, especially as a young woman traveling alone before smartphones were commonplace. I stayed a few days, felt like a rockstar from all the attention, then was eager to get back to my new normal in Spain. It was already starting to feel like home.
I returned to Barcelona, reluctantly finished my stint as a hostel worker, then headed north to Asturias, where I had signed up to exchange work for board at an organic farm. It was a novel experience in itself, where I encountered people walking between villages on ancient mountain trails, utopian mindsets, homemade cheese and nettle soup. I slept in an abandoned chapel that the farming couple had converted into a guest bedroom, and helped them harvest tomatoes by day. The conversations with the couple were profound, and the experience felt nothing short of otherworldly.
The time finally came for me to head back to the US, as money was thin and I was ready to hug my family. I bought my return ticket to New York from Madrid, said goodbyes and hopped on a bus to the airport. I longed for the comfort of my East Coast home while simultaneously knowing I loved the beauty and novelty that being abroad offered. Little did I know that my true one-way ticket would arrive the following year.
Delicious paella
That trip was special because it laid the foundation for the next 15 years of my life, leading me to where I am today. I am now a Spanish citizen, raising two bilingual Spanish-American children and living in the North of Spain with my husband, a lovely Spanish man. I met him in the US merely a year after having come back from Madrid, and it was with him that I bought my true one-way ticket.
Over these past 15 years, I've learned how to navigate life all aspects of a Spanish life. It started with a student visa, learning the language, making friends and completing graduate degrees, then progressed to filing a marriage certificate, acquiring citizenship, navigating housing, and now, having and raising kids as an American mother in Spain. It's been a trip and so incredibly complicated at times, but worth every moment.
I visit the US often, and have not been able to ignore the increased interest in my immigration journey in recent visits.
Maybe it's the affordable cost of living, or maybe it's the uneasy state of US politics that drive friends and acquaintances to ask, but either way, it's clear that Spain looks more attractive than ever before.
I'd like to offer more than just encouragement for those interested in this path, which is why I've started this blog. There are so many questions that can be answered by a mere internet search, but truly understanding the intricacies of building a life abroad can be detailed and complex, and must be relayed. I always looked towards local friends, guides, mentors, and especially my husband, leading and helping. Now I'd love to share my knowledge and resources so you can consider immigrating too.
