To move to Spain, or not to move to Spain: that is the question. I’ve been thinking about living abroad for a while now, going back and forth on the issue. So thinking about the right decision is a thought I had while driving the other day. It’s a little something extra to explain why I want to go to Spain, since most people’s first question is, “why?”
I’m a very unsure person. I hate making decisions because I don’t know if it’s the right choice or not. 99 percent of the time, I’m unsure of what I do and rely on others with more experience to tell me what I should do. Before I make any decision I ask myself, “how will this affect my life?” and, “what will be the consequences?”
The decision to apply to the North American Language and Culture Assistant Program seemed easy to me. The decision to accept placement was a little harder, but I knew deep down what I wanted, I just needed the support of my boyfriend. My relationship would have been the only thing holding me back, so the fact that he said I should absolutely accept made the decision much easier. With him on Spain’s side, I knew what to do. Somehow, this decision just feels right, like there isn’t even another option. This even overcomes that one percent that I am unsure of. No one can convince me out of the choice, I just know will work out. I hope I’m right.
Of course it’s scary, moving across an ocean and six time zones to a country I’ve never been to, where I don’t speak the language, to do a job I’ve never done before. There are a lot of uncertainties, but I know that I must really want it to be so sure with all those uncertainties. I wonder if others out there doing this feel the same way I do about it, or if my crazy Spanish obsession is unique? I’m not Hispanic and I don’t speak Spanish; in fact, my heritage is Scotch-Irish and English. I’m not sure where the Spanish obsession came from, but all I know is this is something that I have to get out of my system – and see if all my hopes and expectations live up to what I’ve hyped up to myself.
I guess this is one of those things that you just know you’re meant to do, or you’re not meant to do it. It’s a calling. I’ve been waiting my whole life to feel like this about other things (jobs, places to live, etc.) but everything else is still just as uncertain in my life. So I’m going to try this Spain thing out and see where it takes me and hope for the best!
Have you ever lived abroad? Have you ever had the choice to live abroad and turned it down? Do you think about moving abroad in the future? What are your fears? What is your best advice on the subject? Talk to me in the comments below!
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P.S. You might also enjoy 6 Unexpected and Surprising Things I Learned While Living in Spain or 11 Thing in Spain That Aren’t Common in the U.S.
Ahhh!! So glad to hear. I am dealing with the same thing, people telling me it will make me fall behind in my career, my husband worried about getting jobs when we come back, etc. etc.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I am copying and pasting this to him right now lol
You go girl! I just found your site, My husband and I are 31 and thinking of teaching abroad but we are so scared. This is inspiring! How are you liking it?
As sure as I was that I wanted to do this, there were so many things that worried me. I made the decision when I turned 30, so I was already a bit older than the average person who is able to take a year off and and move abroad. My parents didn’t want me to go and miss out on a career opportunity in the U.S. My boyfriend wanted to stay home and get a good-paying job rather than teach English in Spain with just enough money to get by. So many things making me think, “should I do this?” But after thinking it through for 3 years, I had to try it. And it’s the best decision I ever made in my life! Age is just a number; if you have the opportunity to do it, do it! You’ll probably never get to do it again, so grab that opportunity and don’t look back. Don’t worry about missing a career opportunity at home, something will always be there and your time abroad will be richer and better than anything. And together, we got paid very well by Spanish standards – we traveled just on the money we made there and still had some left over. If you can go with your husband, do it! My boyfriend ended up coming with me and we had a great experience together and got to do so many things and see so many places. We visited 13 countries in 8 months and saw everything from big cities to small villages, experienced local customs, lived a local life, and did more than most people do in their lives! I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I actually wrote this post before I went, and I’m glad to say it was everything I had hoped it would be and more, and I highly recommend that you do it – you will absolutely love it!!!