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Last Updated on September 3, 2023

7 Things I’ve Learned from Living in Madrid for 10 Weeks

living in madrid - feature

Sunset in my Madrid neighborhood, Prosperidad

It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been in Europe for almost three months now. After 10 days in Spain, I wrote “7 Things I’ve Learned from Living in Madrid for 10 Days.” Well, now I’m here to tell you about 7 things I’ve learned from living here for 10 weeks. (Technically I moved here 11 weeks ago, but I was in Italy for one of those weeks. 🙂 )

I think it’s interesting how much more subtle some of these things are — they probably aren’t things that I would have ever noticed without living here. So, without further ado…

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Expat Life, Travel Thoughts Tagged With: auxiliar de conversacion, europe, expat, madrid, spain, spanish 1 Comment

Last Updated on February 2, 2024

How to Get a Low Inscrita Number for the Auxiliares de Conversacion Program (Spain)

low inscrita number - feature image

Hola! I wrote this post quite a while ago, when it was all still fresh in my head from the application process. However, I decided not to share until now, because I wasn’t ready for everyone to know I was moving to Spain. 🙂
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Expat Life Tagged With: auxiliar, auxiliar de conversacion, auxiliares de conversacion, europe, expat life, madrid, spain 24 Comments

Last Updated on September 3, 2023

For the Love of Language

I’ve been in Europe for two weeks now, and I have just under two weeks until I start working. Because as much fun as it’s been, living life in Madrid without any responsibilities other than feeding myself, work is the real reason I’m here. The reason I’m able to be here. Someone’s gotta teach the Spanish children some English. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Expat Life, Travel Thoughts Tagged With: AFS, AFS USA, europe, italy, language, madrid, spain, spanish, united states 2 Comments

Last Updated on January 24, 2024

7 Things I’ve Learned from Living in Madrid for 10 Days

living in madrid - my apartment

View from my apartment terrace.

It’s hard to believe I’ve already been in Spain for 10 days! Thankfully, the existential “what-am-I-doing-why-did-I-think-this-was-a-good-idea” phase seems to have passed for the time being, and I’m really enjoying life right now. Whether it’s café con leche every morning (or when I wake up, which uhhh, isn’t always the morning) and shopping for things I need to feel at home, it’s exciting to have a fresh start in a new place. And while I’ve visited Spain as a tourist before, living here is totally different. Here are some of the things I’ve learned in my first 10 days living in Madrid. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Expat Life, Travel Thoughts Tagged With: auxiliares, auxiliares de conversacion, expat, expat life, madrid, spain, spanish Leave a Comment

Last Updated on September 3, 2023

The Struggle of Eating While Abroad

eating while abroad - feature photo

I arrived in Madrid almost two days ago, my new home for the next year. I feel like I’ve already accomplished a lot; I’ve visited some of my favorite spots, navigated the Metro, and even procured an apartment in record time (hallelujah). There is, however, one thing I’m definitely not succeeding at – feeding myself. Why is it so hard to eat while abroad?

Now, my family and friends probably aren’t surprised by this (since in the past few months especially I became increasingly reliant on others to feed me, out of pure laziness for the most part). But let’s put that aside for a minute. I actually realized this during my trip to Asia last year, and to Mexico a few months ago. Feeding yourself while abroad is surprisingly difficult, especially when you’re traveling solo. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Expat Life, Travel Thoughts Tagged With: language, mexico, spain, thailand 10 Comments

Last Updated on January 7, 2023

I’m Moving to Spain

moving to spain

It feels so strange to finally share the secret I’ve been keeping for the better part of the past year, but it’s finally happening. I’m moving to Spain.

To Madrid. Next month.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Expat Life, Travel Thoughts Tagged With: auxiliar, europe, expat, madrid, spain 2 Comments

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Hello / Hola / Sawasdee

thegirlwhogoes Hi, I'm Cathy – a writer, traveler, and digital nomad who is currently living in Alicante, Spain, on the new digital nomad visa. I'm a Midwestern girl, from Kansas City, Missouri, but I've been to 49 states and 34 countries so far! I was also recently diagnosed with celiac disease, which is a whole thing, so you'll find occasional gluten-free mentions here as well. Thanks for stopping by!

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