Why did Nadya's family choose Spain for their new life?

Why Spain?

Spain is not just a warm country with sunny beaches, but a place that has always beckoned Nadia and Alexei. They had long dreamed of leaving their native place and experiencing life in a new country, or even better, in several. Their passion for traveling, discovering new cultures and meeting interesting people was the main driver of this desire. Staying in one place for long periods of time, they began to feel depressed: everyday worries began to catch up with them and life became a boring routine. Although change is often difficult and stressful, it also opens up horizons and helps to see the world from a different angle.

Choosing a new place to live

When the couple began to seriously consider the possibility of moving, they decided to focus on the southern part of Europe. Countries with a warm climate and less rainfall had always been their main focus. Among the destinations they considered were Italy, France, and Portugal. However, in the end, they chose Spain. The main factor that influenced this decision was that Nadya and Alexey's friends had already moved to this country and found a wonderful school for their son there. This experience of their friends became a significant motivation for their choice.

Difficulties of moving

The move turned out to be more complicated for them than they had expected. As it turns out, it requires preparation and care that are often underestimated. The first task was to clear their apartment in Moscow of personal belongings, as they were planning to rent it out. Nadya was shocked by the amount of unnecessary items they had accumulated over the years, even without realizing how serious it was. All their personal belongings were sent to her husband's parents in Tula, and then they packed the necessary items for the move into their Citroën car.

While Alexei traveled to Barcelona, it took him three days on the road. The day after his arrival, Nadia and their two young daughters, one only two years old and the other four, boarded a plane to join them. Nadia recalls the flight as an unforgettable moment, as she was then seven months pregnant and faced some difficulties during the journey.

Visa application process

Before leaving Russia, Nadia and Alexey took care of their visa in advance. They prepared the necessary documents to prove their financial capability, which turned out to be quite easy to organize in Moscow with the help of professionals. Although they believed they could handle this task on their own, the likelihood of making mistakes was too high, which could delay the visa process—a situation that was unacceptable given the impending birth of their third child.

• We started gathering documents in May.
• Applied for review in July.
• The process from submission to approval took just two weeks.

Now, being in Spain, they have already extended their visa for an additional two years. Nadia believes that gathering and submitting the documents is quite feasible, but local bureaucracy can sometimes prolong the entire process for a long time.

Searching for accommodation in Spain

Finding suitable housing in Spain has become a real challenge for us, requiring a lot of effort and time. Before heading to the country, we thoroughly analyzed the rental market, exploring a wide range of options and price categories. Despite this, we soon realized that choosing long-term accommodation based solely on photos is a very risky endeavor.

In the end, for the first three weeks of our stay, we stayed with friends in Barcelona, which allowed us to search for a suitable place to live more quickly and actively.

Difficulties of the search

Finding housing turned out to be a real challenge, and the lack of knowledge of the Spanish language made things much more complicated. During the limited time we had, we faced a number of difficulties that not everyone would be able to overcome.

At some point we revisited our plans for Barcelona and became interested in the small village of La Garriga, which was only 30 kilometers from the capital of Catalonia, closer to the border with France. At this stage it became obvious to us that we could not cope with the search on our own, and we decided to ask for help from a realtor who had been recommended by our friends.

Rental housing situation

The rental situation in Spain is quite complicated, as the laws here largely protect the interests of property owners. Here are the main points to consider:

• Evicting tenants who have stopped paying can take months.
• Homeowners require a lot of documentation to minimize risk.
• Deposits can reach up to eight months' worth of rent payments.

In our case, the cost of the apartment amounted to750 eurosper month, which is significantly lower than the average price for similar housing in Barcelona, where the same apartments can cost twice as much. Additional costs should also be taken into account - approx.300 eurosfor monthly utility payments, such as electricity, gas, and water supply.

Education for children

As for our children's education, it was the school that became the main reason for our move. We met with the director of the international school that our two daughters now attend, and in just a15 minutesWe realized that this was exactly the institution we were looking for.

Next to him was a wonderful private kindergarten, where our youngest child now attends half-day classes. The enrollment process went smoothly, and classes started right away, while we provided the necessary documents as needed. This approach is quite common in this region – first, they take care of the children, and only then deal with the paperwork.

Infrastructure and life in La Garrigue

In addition, the city's small population, only15,000A person assumes good infrastructure development, including a variety of opportunities for further education.

We have a huge number of options for leisure and relaxation at our disposal: two swimming pools, three music schools, two art schools, and four dance centers. In addition, there is an impressive library and various yoga and fitness studios located nearby. However, we are facing language difficulties. I would like to remind you that after a year and a half of living in Spain, our Spanish language skills remain at a basic level. A busy work schedule and family responsibilities make it impossible to study the language in depth, but we are trying our best. We are learning through Skype and actively communicating with our neighbors and other parents of our children. My husband attends Catalan language classes, which I find more confusing than Spanish. Despite the language barrier, the locals show kindness and openness, which helps us effectively resolve most of the issues and problems that arise.

Family life and leisure

When it comes to our children, the most important thing for them at a young age is the feeling of closeness with their parents. We spend a lot of time together, and that truly makes them happy. The stress that comes from living in a big city doesn't stop us from finding the energy to actively participate in our children's lives; we can dedicate more time to communicating with them. We:

• We're taking walks;
• We are making crafts for school exhibitions.
• Our children are involved in swimming and music.
• On weekends we enjoy picnics in the mountains or on the coast.

Nadia shares her impressions: "We always have the option to go to Barcelona, which is just half an hour away by car."

Pros and cons of living in Spain

As for the pros and cons of living in Spain, Alexei and Nadia say that there are not many negative sides, but those that are there are noticeable. They are very homesick for their family and friends, which occupies most of their thoughts. Guests visit them quite often, but they tend to see their parents much more than once every few months. In addition to this, they have realized over the past year that it is better to get away from La Garriga during the summer months. Nadia notes:

“I’m not a fan of beach vacations, I don’t like sunbathing, and hot summers feel like a real challenge to me. That’s why I prefer to spend July and August in another country when the kids are on break. Right now, our plan for the future mainly includes a few years ahead, and we intend to continue our life here in Catalonia. Ideally, I would like to split my time between two or more countries. We don’t want to just sit still.”

Tips for those planning a move

For those who are planning to move to another country, I can give some advice:

• Start learning the language in advance;
• Carefully consider your career opportunities in the new place;
• Immerse yourself in the culture and traditions of the country you are planning to move to;
• Strive for integration into the local community, avoiding the narrow perspective of your Russian-speaking community.

Life beyond your homeland can open up many new perspectives and opportunities for you.

Conclusion

In conclusion, reflecting on our experience of moving to Spain, I realize how much this step has changed our lives for the better. My husband and I have fulfilled our dream of living in another country, and despite all the challenges related to the transition — from gathering documents to finding housing — we have gained an incredibly valuable opportunity for ourselves and our children. It is the atmosphere of Spain, its culture, warm climate, and the friendliness of the locals that help us stay in constant motion, discover new things, and enjoy each day.

Children's education

We have invested in our children's education, and the school they attend has been a true revelation for us. Here, they not only teach subjects but also help develop personal qualities, which we believe is crucial for harmonious development. We felt that successful adaptation in a new country is only possible with a comfortable educational environment that supports and nurtures all of the children's talents.

Advantages of moving

The move became not just a change of residence for us, but a real adventure that brought us new acquaintances, cultural discoveries, and life lessons.

• New emotions and impressions.
• The friendliness of the locals.
• Change of life perspective.

Results

In summary, I can confidently say that we made the right decision. Spain has become not just a new place to live for us, but a true home that invites exploration, learning, and self-discovery. We eagerly await new adventures and the continuation of our story, which is just beginning.