Expat | Valencia At Last

What we do in the shadows… errr a blackout

cwells — Mon, 12 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Hello, Gentle Reader! Recent news reports may have shared a recent experience here in mainland Spain: a massive power outage that affected all of Spain, Portugal, and Andorra. Even parts of southern France were affected.

The April 28 blackout, or apagón, was a unique event and helped uncover some interesting cultural reflections about Spaniards in times of crises. (By the way, apagar is the verb to turn off (the lights), and the noun form is apagón, or big “lights out” event.)

When the lights went out, I was in my sewing class, hand-stitching a shirt that I am constructing. A power outage is not usually a cause for alarm, and this was no different. We had windows in the sewing shop, and plenty of light. I just kept sewing. Before long, however, it became clear that that the power was out on the whole block… and then the whole city. Shortly thereafter, there was a growing awareness that this was a country-wide event.

Initially, the Wi-Fi still worked and we were able to communicate with friends around the country and connect to the internet, but that was inconsistent at best. Before long, that completely shut off, too.

In Valencia, April 28 was already a holiday, the fest day of San Vicente Ferrer. He’s one of the patron saints of the city, and lots of people take his festival very seriously. What that means for the city is that most people were not at work, students were not at school, and lots of folks had free time on their hands.

Shortly after the blackout, people started going outside and chatting with one another. The weather was spectacular and many people were at home with their families. The parks were full of shouting kids, barking dogs, and people enjoying time in the sun. When the power went out, the most inconvenient aspect was the lack of Wi-Fi or the loss of the elevator in the building. Spain is able to bounce through all of that, though, because socializing is another common hobby.

On my way home from sewing class about an hour after the blackout began, I noted the number of people in the street was significantly more than normal. Folks were calling out to friends and family in their upper story apartments to check on them. The bars were full and people had reverted to paying cash for their beverage and (premade) snack. More than anything else, people were chatting with each other, perhaps for the first time in a while. In bars and parks, a sense of camaraderie blossomed as people connected.

I also noticed that there was flooding on my street as I arrived back at home. Apparently, a water main on our block had fractured when the electric pressure regulator had failed. So by the time I made it home to our apartment on the 8th floor (actually the 7th floor starting at the ground floor, or 0), we no longer had power, water, or reliable Wi-Fi. The windows were already open, and our world was quiet.

Lunch was easy sandwiches with pantry items. We followed that up with a nap, and then reading and chatting while sitting on the couch. Since my work is online, I couldn’t do the things I normally do in the afternoon. Cooking dinner was not an option, so we enjoyed a leisurely dinner of cheese, crackers, hummus, and a few other things from the fridge, which was staying nice and chilly.

About 8 hours after the blackout began, the power reappeared. Maybe it was just my imagination, but the tone of the neighborhood changed as people celebrated being able to cook, use the elevator to go back to their home, and generally let out a breath they had been holding throughout the blackout. It still took a few more hours for resumed water and Wi-Fi but the power was the thing that was the most important.

The following morning, everything was back to normal, and people now had new stories of the things they did during the apagón. I reconnected with my friends on the Iberian peninsula and found that they had similar times without power. I was also able to access the news that detailed the confusion around the cause of the blackout, although Portugal made it perfectly clear that it was Spain’s fault. Even now, several weeks after the incident, it’s unclear what triggered the outage, aside from electrical system harmonics that disrupted the entire grid.

So, what’s the outcome? There were no riots, no doomsday alarmists, no looting, no explosions, and the world did not end. Quite the reverse, actually. Neighbors checked in on each other. People reconnected socially in new ways. Most people focused on the positive aspects of the event, and while a longer outage could have been much more serious, this was quickly managed and repaired. First responders did an amazing job of responding. The community acted like, well, a community.

The news would have you believe that people completely freaked out over the blackout, but please take that with a huge caution: stories of people freaking out are sensational and clickbait. Hollywood leans hard into this expectation that society unravels within minutes of a big change. That’s simply not what happened. The Spanish virtue of patience is more powerful than that. Sure, there may have been isolated incidents where crazy things happened, but the important thing is that they were isolated and not the norm.

Instead, Spain enjoyed a day of socializing, enjoying the weather, caring for one another, and, frankly, living. Yes, it could have been more serious, but it wasn’t. It was a reminder of the importance of community.

What’s new on CleverExpat.com

Living abroad isn’t all sunshine and siestas—sometimes it’s recycled paper, long queues, and baffling bureaucracy. In this post, I share what I have learned about encounters with Spanish bureaucracy, plus the hard-earned tips that can save you stress and time. If you’re planning your expat journey—or already knee-deep in forms—this post may help you to cultivate patience, preparation, and maybe even a little humor.

Read more on the CleverExpat.com website here.

Springtime fresh start and learning something new

cwells — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Hello, Gentle Reader! I know it’s been a while, but I hope we can get reacquainted promptly. For those of you who are new to the Valencia At Last family, welcome! I’m Christopher, and I am so happy you are here. I hope we can make some memories together as I share what I am experiencing as an immigrant to Europe, to Spain, and to Valencia, my adopted city!

Many people focus on the new year as a time for starting new habits, but I have found that springtime suits me best. I’m simply more energized by the onset of sunnier weather and warmer days than the chilly gloom of midwinter. Springtime is all about growth and renewal, and I have so much to share about my life here in Spain!

Who am I?

Let’s start with a check-in. I’ve been living in Spain since 2021 and I have grown so much in the last 3.5+ years. I am an online science teacher for a school based in the US and now work in that capacity full-time instead of as a contractor like before. I also have a companion website, www.CleverExpat.com, where I share my organizational expertise and help others make the move abroad. Over the last few years, my Spanish has improved significantly, although I know that language learning is a task that will continue for the rest of my life. Even though I have been here a while, I am always discovering new corners of Valencia to explore!

With that, I want to tell you about one of the newer creative adventures I have embarked upon: sewing. This is a skill that has always fascinated me, and finding clothes that fit my body here in Spain is a great motivator to make my own. Over the last few years, some of my clothes that I brought here have started to wear out, making the timing right for a new hobby.

New hobby in a different language and culture

I decided to start sewing while I was out to dinner in late December with a friend and my husband. We started talking about new endeavors for the upcoming year, and our friend said he was taking classes in Valenciano in January. (FYI, Valenciano is a local language and is closely related to Catalan, which is spoken all along the central and northern coastal regions of Spain.) My husband said that he, too, wanted to learn Valenciano. When the conversation turned to what I wanted to accomplish in 2025, I said I wanted to learn how to sew.

All three of us are taking classes in the same place, a church located in downtown Valencia. The church’s outreach mission historically to provide education to the community, especially for women new to the country. As the world changed, so did their outreach efforts, and now there are more courses available at a very low cost (60EUR for a whole year of instruction). The range of classes is quite impressive, including home skills like cooking, sewing, garment construction, crocheting and knitting, language skills like Castilian Spanish, English, and Valenciano, and family and elder care skills, like in-home elder care.

How it started

At the time, I had never taken a sewing class before and didn’t know what to expect. I started watching YouTube videos about beginning sewing practices. I purchased a good sewing machine. I looked for super-beginner projects that would familiarize me with my machine and working with fabric. I was definitely surprised when the first trimester of the course was sewing by hand! I’m almost finished with a hand-sewing sampler of different stitches and sewing styles.

I learned much more than sewing, however. The classes are all taught in Spanish, and everyone else in the class was from Latin America. It’s a dynamic, friendly, and chatty group, and the instructor is a volunteer with a kind demeanor but obviously a master of sewing in many different techniques. Since the course is held in three trimesters, and I was starting in the second trimester, the focus was on hand sewing. This trimester, however, I’m finishing my hand sampler and we are moving on to using the machines in the classroom. There are three or four electric machines in the classroom, and the rest are pedal-operated machines. I’m honestly kind of excited to learn how to use a pedal-powered sewing machine!

You may ask if my machine has been gathering dust since January, but I assure you, it has not. I also started a machine-oriented sewing class at a local tailoring shop. A friend and I signed up for classes there, and I have really enjoyed the process. I’m getting even more practice speaking Spanish in this class, and I’m really quite pleased with what I am learning. Much of the time, it’s one-to-one instruction during my weekly four-hour classes, and I’m able to make so much progress each class. We have developed a pattern for a favorite, if getting threadbare, shirt. I’ve made a prototype shirt as well out of an old sheet. We’ve adjusted the pattern to fit more effectively. I’ve been able to apply my hand-sewing skills to my projects. And overall, I am enjoying every minute of both classes.

Cultural differences

But there is one other learning that comes as a cultural observation. From the US, I am used to sewing supplies that are readily available, available for me to pick and choose, and I simply take what I want to buy to the attendant or the register. That is NOT the way things are done in Spain. Here, there are two types of stores: fabric (tejidos) and notions (mercerías). (By the way, if you don’t know what sewing notions are, those things are the non-fabric part of garments, including buttons, zippers, thread, hooks, and straps, as well as sewing supplies like pins, needles, and tapes.) So one morning when I was feeling particularly brave, I went into a fabric store and chose a fabric for my first project, a simple tote bag.

Here’s what I missed: I must be assisted. Here in Spain, sewing culture was a kind of protected space for women that was focused on learning new skills, collaborating on projects, and social interaction. So when I, completely unaware of this culture, showed up and took the bolt of fabric to the register to be cut, I broke the rules. I was supposed to take a number and wait for the attendant, who would consult with me about what I needed. Their role is to help me select the fabric, cut the fabric, and help me finalize my purchase.

Next, I went to a nearby mercería to buy thread and some other supplies for my project. Again, I broke the rules. I picked up a pack of pins and some thread and went to the register. I made the same mistake. I was supposed to tell the attendant what I wanted and they would advise me on what they had to suit my needs. For both of these businesses, waiting my turn was important, and no rush was expected of the attendants, who are often already helping other customers.

Lesson learned, Spain. I have since applied my understanding to subsequent visits to fabric and notions stores, and have had better results. I have made one more step toward these types of cultural interactions. It’s a process that I can appreciate. I’m trying to fit in here, and understanding the rules means I must be prepared to change my expectations to fit Spanish expectations, not the other way around. Nobody likes that foreigner who demands that things be done their way.

Looking forward

So, Gentle Reader, I’m glad to share this with you. In the future, I’m hoping to share photos of some of my creations. I just bought some new fabrics (and followed the rules!) and I’m excited to transform them into creative projects, all while learning a language, making friends, and practicing new skills.

One last note (and thank you for reading this far!): If you know someone who wants to move abroad and doesn’t know where to start, has lost motivation, or needs help with the process, please refer them to my other website, www.CleverExpat.com. I coach people on their expat journey and and teach classes with a colleague who lives in France. I would appreciate the referral!

Reflection: Changing the “new” to the “familiar”

cwells — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 11:34:09 +0000

Blog picture: Letter deposits from the main mail office downtown labelled for “foreign” and “Spanish” mail.

Gentle reader, I have spoken to many expats and potential expats about their plans for living abroad. I love the exchange of ideas and opportunities that each person brings to the adventure. A common theme among the discussion topics is what it takes to reassert a feeling of “normal.”

I’ve said multiple times that the first two years that I lived here, I was truly awake and felt the newness of my surroundings. Everything was new and even going to the grocery store could feel adventurous. I grew and healed and spent a lot of time alone. I created new routines and processes that were very different than before. I also learned so much about what makes me happy. I was often alone but never really lonely.

This time around, I’m experiencing Valencia in a new way. A more permanent way. A more sustainable way. A more peaceful way. And I am thankful that I have the opportunity to live my life as an expat and a happier, healthier person. I know that I am doing what others have dreamed about, and that is why I share my experiences on this blog.

How do you define “normal” in your day to day routine? In the US it was so different! For starters, because we live in a city, we don’t have or want a car. Public transportation is so easy to navigate and inexpensive that I don’t miss having a car most of the time. Groceries are less expensive, and the quality of produce is much higher than what you can find in a typical US grocery store. And the normal routine of going to the grocery store has even changed, because we walk there and bring everything home in a cart.

But that’s only the beginning of defining the idea of normal. How do you create a routine that feels comfortable and comforting, even though everything around you is different than what you have experienced in the past?

Make local friends. This one can be tough, because others may not be looking for other friends. You may, however, find folks who want to practice English with you, and this can become a nice language exchange relationship. Use Meetup.com, International.org, and expat groups to make new friends.
Attend local events and invite friends or acquaintances along. I invited a friend through an expat social group in Valencia to a concert where one of my Spanish friends was directing and performing. People kept on indicating an interest, and suddenly there were 20 of us sitting in the audience!
Use mapping applications to find new places to visit. Honestly, I will choose a new place to visit across town and keep an eye out for new ideas along the way. Valencia is so densely packed with restaurants, stores, and attractions that it feels like there is so much to discover in each block.
Find a few “regular” places to visit and interact with people. Whether this is a dog park, a cafe where you can interact with the other regulars, a crafting class, a barber shop… frankly, wherever you can find your people. Here in Valencia, we have each found separate groups to interact and build friendships, as well as plenty of activities together as a couple. We have found a few coffee shops nearby that have become familiar hangouts.
Focus on the positive aspects of expat life. It’s always interesting to me to meet expats who are having a difficult time adjusting, but they are not making any tangible efforts. In some cases, that reflects a negative mindset about the opportunity abroad. Being an expat is hard work and a negative outlook can really bring you down, while a positive focus can help you see things as temporary setbacks with a larger personal payoff. With a positive mindset, you can more readily embrace your growing flexibility and adaptability to new opportunities.

After living here for almost 2.5 years this time, these are some of my tips for feeling more “at home.” For me, Valencia is an easy place to enjoy. Others might like larger cities, different environments, and unique social opportunities. I feel like I have found my sweet spot where my interests and opportunities can meet and be friends.

The Power of a Map

cwells — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Over the years, this blog has connected me with lots of great folks. It’s fun to take an adventure, albeit virtually, with someone else. It’s a wide world filled with cultures, experiences, and opportunities. I’ve learned so much from my readers and my friends! Over the summer, we were able to visit family in the US, and I shared some of my tricks for “curating” new places with my mother-in-law. Since then, she has created a number of different lists that help her keep track of the places in her life.

When I returned to Spain, I realized that these tips might be helpful for anyone who wants to visit a new place, whether it’s around the corner or across the world. And it is probably an application you already have on your phone, your computer, or your tablet: Google Maps. Gentle readers, let’s explore some great features that you may not have used on this handy little application.

I have used Google Maps to develop exploration lists, collate the restaurants I have visited or want to visit, and discovered out-of-the-way museums and shops. Let’s talk about five features I use the most that are available for free on this app!

1. Use Google Maps like a map and GPS.

To be honest, I’m not the best map reader. Sure, I will get there eventually, but connecting the map on my phone screen to my current experience of reality is not my strong suit. However, determining my location and where I am trying to go are so much easier when the map is “live.” With the “Directions” button, I can choose my mode of transportation (walking, driving, and public transportation) and follow the path. I will admit that in strangely configured streets, I will still get a bit lost. I may not be the navigator of my group, but I am willing to walk a few extra steps if I eventually get to my destination.

But wait, there’s more! By zooming in and out, I can see the names of different neighborhoods, which is pretty important when learning a new city layout. In Valencia, the neighborhood “zones” are mental milestones for where to find restaurants, shops, and cafes. Telling a friend that we are meeting for lunch in the Abastos neighborhood helps others navigate to the right location, too.

2. Figure out public transportation.

Public transportation on buses, the metro, and trains is so much easier because the timetables are uploaded automatically into Google Maps. This has been a lifesaver when I have had doctors’ appointments across town and need to take the metro to get there. Sure, I could take a taxi if I’m in a rush, but the ability to plan using the live timetable is often a big advantage. You can even set when you want to depart or when you want to arrive and Google Maps will calculate the best times and paths. It’s also great to know if there are still trains running if we ate dinner out and don’t want to walk home.

3. Build lists for interesting places.

Gentle reader, I must be honest and tell you that I can’t remember everything I want to share with others. With Google Maps, I found that I can easily create lists and save my favorite places in categories that make sense. I currently have a number of lists that represent different places where I might be:

Where I want to go (locally, like restaurants and museums)
Travel plans (how to get to some of the towns or cities I’d like to visit)
Food Valencia
Madrid
Points of Interest Valencia (places I can recommend for visitors to the city)
Minneapolis restaurants
Vacation – Alicante
Vacation – Amsterdam

Any time we go to a new city for a multi-day visit, I create a list and take notes of where we have visited. This is great for returning to restaurants or attractions, and takes some of the guesswork out of “what do you want to do today?” type questions. Just open a list and see what looks appealing. If you use Google Maps on more than one device, your lists will sync across devices, so you always have your information available.

4. Share a location.

I use the “share” button whenever I make plans with others. It’s so easy to search for the place (probably a restaurant!) and then click “Share” to send a link to the location through my I’m chat applications. If you are setting up an impromptu meeting, you can also send your location so others can join you. This is a great on-the-fly way to invite others to your location!

5. Download a city map.

This tip is perfect for when you don’t have strong internet connection for your phone, but still have a recently-produced cellphone. Many larger cities have a downloadable map option so your phone can have the map to the city ready to go when you are there in person. Even without internet service on, ambient WiFi will still provide your location on the map. For me, this has been remarkably helpful when visiting new cities. You’ll need full internet service to do more complex operations, but I’ve had good luck with downloaded maps.

I hope these reasons for using Google Maps are helpful!

Learning a new language part 2: Speaking up and making mistakes (Speaking)

cwells — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000

In my previous post about listening skills, I discussed the real-world challenge of tuning your ear to a new language. As I mentioned before, there are four major language development skills (at least in today’s world): Speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

This post, we will tackle speaking.

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Learning a new language part 1: More than watching TV (Listening)

cwells — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Learning language is an extremely interesting skill. As an educator, I know that language plays a crucial role in our brain and cognitive development. Each area of interest has its own vocabulary and syntax, and as a science teacher, the sheer number of new words and concepts is staggering.

But living in another culture requires some mental gymnastics around language acquisition. A common point of advice is to watch television in the new language. I think that’s great advice, but my real language advancement has come when I had to engage more than one skill in the real world. There are four major language development skills (at least in today’s world): Speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Gentle reader, would you like some practical tips for each of these four skills?

This post, we will tackle listening.

I’m often asked how I learned Spanish, and I always preface my answer with, “I’m a horrible Spanish student.” It’s true. I don’t study as much as I should, I haven’t memorized conjugations of critical verbs, and often have to use “caveman talk” to get my point across. I still have so much to learn, and I’m learning over a long period of time, and for the rest of my life.

Before I lived in Spain in 2013, I found a language tool that really helped me begin my Spanish journey. It’s called Fluenz, and this tool concentrates on listening, reading, writing, and pronunciation. Every lesson is a short conversation that is then explained to you, word-for-word, by a bilingual speaker. Following the lesson, there are multiple exercises to build your proficiency.

What I really appreciate about the Fluenz approach, though, is the gradual acquisition of new vocabulary, new concepts, and new language uses in a progressive pattern. I really thrive in structured learning environments, and this tool gave me the steps I needed when I first started learning Spanish.

Watching TV (or YouTube videos) is good advice once you have reached a level that you can understand some of the language. Don’t be discouraged if it’s too difficult, because that is a sign that it is, in fact, too difficult. Head for a kid’s show instead, or a cartoon. Find a YouTube video that is the right level for you (search “learning spanish” and find a teacher and a structure that appeals to you). Podcasts, like News in Slow Spanish are excellent for tuning your ear to new language skills.

If you are motivated to start learning right away, then I recommend thinking carefully about how you prefer to learn. Would you thrive in a live classroom setting? Do you prefer to learn in a quiet personal setting?Are you most successful when you can study and then discuss your learning?

Another thing that many language students forget is time. Learning a language is not a quick race, but a marathon that will take quite a bit of time and energy to yield success. If you start with your listening skills, then you are on the right track to language learning.

One final note: If you know where you want to live that speaks that language, then try to find speakers in that area. For example, Spanish, English, Portuguese, and French have millions of speakers and dialects, and it’s very helpful to “tune your ear” to that style of pronunciation sooner rather than later. Heck, in Spain, accents change from village to village!

Stay tuned for more language considerations in upcoming posts!

Calling all potential expats

cwells — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Changes in direction

cwells — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:00:00 +0000

While I know it’s been a while since I posted many things regularly (pretty much seven years!), I intend to resume a regular posting schedule. I have a long list of topics to cover, and I can’t wait to share more about what it’s like to live here in Valencia, Spain.

I started this blog in 2010? 2011? (I honestly can’t remember) as a way to capture my experiences becoming an expat. Over time, this blog matured into something of a photo journal of my experiences. Now it needs to grow in another direction again, and cover new and different topics. Sure, there will probably be some photos along the way, but my focus will be more than just pictures.

So, gentle readers, what can you expect from this blog? I have a long list of topics to share in a wide variety of topics:

Becoming an expat
Learning Spanish as an expat
Cultural experiences in Valencia and in other Spanish cities
Practical advice for new and “emerging” expats, like shopping, the mail system, healthcare here in Spain
Comparing experiences in the US with experiences in Spain

These are pretty broad topics, and new ideas are emerging all the time. As you can imagine, it’s been a journey getting here! In my conversations with other expats, I have found that there are common themes but every person’s individual experiences will vary. On top of that, my first year here in Valencia was much more of a challenge this time around. If I can help someone else avoid some of the stress that I experienced, then I will be satisfied to continue to share this blog.

So, as I find my voice again in this blog, I hope you will continue to share this journey with me. If you know someone who is an expat or who is interested in expat living, please share my blog. And if you have a question that would be appropriate for the blog, let me know in the comment section below!

Church bells in Canet

cwells — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 11:00:56 +0000

Gentle readers, this post is long overdue.

In November 2021, a friend invited us to see the installation of the church bells in Canet. In the cycle of church history, installing new bells (in Castellano, campanas) is an important event and can happen as rarely as once every 400 or so years. To commemorate the event, the church community gathered in the town square where the church is located.

How do you celebrate a new bell set installation, you ask?

Well, in this case, a number of people from the community and church make speeches, audience members sit in chairs, and the church’s bell-ringer team gets ready for some physical maneuvering of these very large, very loud bells. All of the new bells were set up in an enclosure where the bell-ringer team got into position. There was also one rope that hung from the new bell enclosure up to the existing bell tower, because that lone “old” bell was part of the concert, too.

A church bell concert was not completely what I expected in this situation, but I was in for the adventure. I did not realize that the bells would be so very close and I assume that all of the bell-ringer team has some level of hearing loss, especially if they are used to being this close to the bells during other church events. These bells were also enormous, requiring a great deal of dexterity and caution to manipulate for an extended period of time.

I was happy to be an observer for this event, especially since this is something that tourists may never see. And my photo record is incomplete because the sun set during the event.

New bell waiting for installation

The rope leading to the “old” bells

New bell waiting for installation (the smallest of the bunch)

Town square seating

The ringing of the new bells

More ringing during the concert

After 6 years

cwells — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 12:17:49 +0000

An experience living in another country can be life-changing, and I know it was that way for me. I was lucky to have visited Spain in 2010, and moved to Valencia in 2013. Eight-ish years ago, I didn’t know what to expect, how to plan for such a big move, or what changes would occur in me as a Spanish resident.

Now I know. Those two years between 2013 and 2015 secured Spain as a force in my life, in many of the strangest ways. In those two years, I learned so much about myself, others, and my own future trajectory. Part of the reason my experience was so high-quality was the cultural setting of Valencia. While every culture has its “rough spots,” Spain’s positive quality of life far exceeds the challenges that come with being a foreigner for me.

In October 2021, I moved back to Valencia with my husband. For those of you wondering why it took six months for me to post another blog entry, here’s an overview of what has happened since June last year:

April, May, and June 2021. Collected visa paperwork and related documents. I knew that this would be a challenge, but now we had to get everything done for two people, not one.
Mid-June 2021. After a visit from my dear friend Deb, we started packing our house in Atlanta in earnest. We began cleaning out every cabinet, closet, and bookcase. We ordered the box we used for our move (for those wondering, I have now made two incredibly successful moves with https://upakweship.com/)
July 2021. We made the final decisions on what we were taking. Our box was the width and depth of a shipping pallet (about 4’x4′ or 1.5m squared) and was six feet (2m) tall. Everything else was donated, gifted, or discarded. Everything in the box was inventoried and packaged securely. We also mailed our visa applications to Miami, where our applications would be processed. (We applied for a student visa for me.)
July 12, 2021. Our goal was to get our home ready to sell and move temporarily to Minnesota. Our box was picked up to head to the port for overseas shipping. We still had two days left in Atlanta, but realized that there was no reason to stay. So we packed our bags and hit the road. Our trip from Atlanta to Valencia had begun.
July 13-18, 2021. We traveled to Lexington, KY, and Rockford, IL, on our way to stay with family in Minnesota. We planned to be in Minnesota for about three months, and spend some of that time traveling to see family and friends.
July and August, 2021. It was fantastic spending time with our Minnesota family! I also started a new job as a (very) part-time online science teacher.
September 2021. We knew this would be a busy month. We had planned trips to West Virginia, California, and Florida. While in Florida, we had to go to Miami to pick up our visas, as well as complete a bunch of other tasks. We also sold our home in Atlanta.
October 2021. In early October, we flew to Valencia and stayed for two weeks in a rental apartment. In that two weeks, we rented a new apartment and began the paperwork required for our visa. We also set up internet service, a new bank account, and spent time with friends that we hadn’t seen since our last trip to Spain in 2019. I also started school learning Spanish.
November and December 2021. Our box of home goods arrived and we started setting up our new apartment in earnest. We continued to see friends and explored our neighborhood. We both worked on our Spanish skills with varying levels of success. We have made some new friends, both expats and Spaniards, and the holiday season was filled with some great memories. These months were also very intense with the paperwork required for our visa.
January 2022. Now that the holiday season is over (it ends here on January 6), we are starting the new year by moving into a new rhythm, a new home, and a new social landscape. Spanish language continues to be a high educational goal for both of us.

What’s next? Well, gentle reader, I hope to resume a regular posting cycle soon, so stay tuned as we explore expat experiences, Spain, and especially Valencia, together!

If you’ve made it this far in the post, thanks for reading!