Expat Advice: Culture Shock in Barcelona, Spain

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Barcelona

Did you receive any cross-cultural training for your move abroad? If yes, was it before or after the move?

Informal cross-cultural training: being a Latino born & raised in super diverse California. But I did a masters in Barcelona in 2008 and stayed for a few years and this gave me insight into Europe unlike anything I could access in California. After buying a BCN flat, I returned to Spain in 2019 with 2 kids born in San Francisco and partner in tow.

Balcells Group Lawyers
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With over 40 years of professional experience, Balcells Group provides legal advice on immigration, business, real estate, and tax. They help individuals, companies, investors, students, entrepreneurs, highly-qualified professionals, digital nomads, and more, to enjoy successful law processes in Spain by guiding their clients every step of the way. They speak Spanish, English, Catalan and Russian.

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Balcells Group Lawyers

With over 40 years of professional experience, Balcells Group provides legal advice on immigration, business, real estate, and tax. They help individuals, companies, investors, students, entrepreneurs, highly-qualified professionals, digital nomads, and more, to enjoy successful law processes in Spain by guiding their clients every step of the way. They speak Spanish, English, Catalan and Russian.
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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

If they speak another language in your new country, do you speak the language? If yes, did you learn the language before you moved or while abroad? If no, are you planning to learn the language?

I learned Spanish in California since my parents immigrated from El Salvador in the 1960's. But I am learning Catalan, which is the regional language here.

Were you worried or concerned about culture shock before you moved abroad?

Slightly, but not really.

How significant was the culture shock you experienced when you moved abroad?

It was mild culture shock because the U.S. is very different than Catalonia. The difference is HOW the Europeans do things, not so much what or what is not is done. Things move slowly here and I am learning to live with this.

Expats often talk about going through the "stages of culture shock." Examples include the honeymoon phase, the irritation-to-anger stage, the rejection of the culture stage, and the cultural adjustment phase. Do you feel like you went through these or any other stages as you settled into the new culture?

Yes, I went thru all these stages except the rejection stage. I am currently going thru the cultural adjustment stage and I will let you know how it goes ;~)

What, if any, were some of the changes you noticed in yourself that might have been caused by culture shock? These might include things such as anger, depression, anxiety, increased eating or drinking, frustration, homesickness, etc.

Increased drinking is part of the culture shock-adaptation process here in Spain but it is hard to pinpoint if the chicken came before the egg.

What are some things you appreciate most about the new culture?

Wow, the culture is quite diverse (many subcultures) here but Catalan culture is impressive because values quality food, books, time with family and friends while in the U.S. most people only care about accumulating capital.

What are the most challenging aspects of the new culture?

Lack of professionalism with merchants and services.

Did you "commit" any embarrassing or humorous cultural blunders? If you did and you'd like to share them, please do tell!

I am sure I have because Catalan is a complex language but people have been to nice to say anything to me ;~)

Do you have any advice or thoughts about culture shock you would like to share?

Be tolerant, patient and embrace cultural curiosity as a way of life in a respectful, humble and creative form.