Reverse Moving & the Shocks (Back to England)

                                                        Home is where the heart is


So after some decision thinking, I have decided to move back to the UK after 5 years!!

This decision has not been an easy one; there are many pro's/con of uplifting your life, for the second time may I add; especially after coming leaps and bounds with a situation I was most likely going to sink, but I swam. 

Areas of my life out here, are amazing. So why would you want to come home?

Because at the end of the day home is where the heart is and there are areas out here that are no longer serving me the correct purpose. I miss the personalities, the variety, the options, the nightlife, some people... The list goes on. 

However; there are many pros to moving abroad. For starters, I would have never stepped out of my comfort zone like I did out here. All around it shaped me well as a person, and I now have no qualms about moving abroad again. Over the past 5 years, I have learned so much about myself and I think I have found who I am during the process. There have been fantastic times, sad times, anxious times, and difficult times that I have no single regret. But the truth is I miss home. 

Years ago, I remember coming over here and thinking ''I'd love to move here'' however, you are going off by an unrealistic expectation. You're going off the fact, that you are seeing somewhere from a ''holiday perspective''. Moving to a new country, one with a different language is especially grueling. I started off very up and down and debating and going back home a lot for the first couple of years and it was tough. Moving my life at 18, when having established friendships and left everything I knew with very little long-term thinking was one of the most spontaneous things I have done but now older, scary too. 

What this has done, has made me brave. I have trusted in myself and had to let go and embrace the unexpected and unknown. I have had to try to learn a new language, meet people outside of the normal ways you naturally make friends, and embrace and accept a culture that is different from mine. 

                                                    Spanish Culture Shocks (real)

1) New ways of living; As most say; even down to times of eating are different. The thought now of eating at 6pm makes me feel ill. People spend the majority of their time out with family and friends at small cafe bars. It isn't unusual to see children down to the ages of 5; out with families at 9/10PM

2) Different personalities; Generally, British people (who grew up there) are sarcastic. Spanish people (minus some) generally like to make silly jokes. The types of banter are not the same. 

3) Not everybody is friendly to foreigners; Like little towns in England (and everywhere) there are many small towns; these people have never interacted with a foreigner in their life. They can be very insular and stick with their own. 

4) Different outlooks; Man I took education for granted back in Brighton! As much as I have a love for the country, I am glad I never went to school over here. Apart from schools where parents pay fees (even though I've worked here and it's not great), the mentality is very small-minded. Big cities; are the opposite. 

5) Not that much diversity; Look if you love Spanish men great! I did too once upon a time, but if you like a good mix of nationalities, you won't find this unless in Madrid or Barcelona. Forget meeting a sexy black guy or Asian man.  Rare. 

6) Hard to find jobs; I seized a good opportunity; teaching English. Finding well-paid jobs is hard, mainly you are self-employed here (like me) and it is expensive. But cheaper if you are a teacher. 

7) Nightlife is different; Options. If you love afro-beats like me, forget it. If you like Reggaeton (which I do to a degree) or the odd techno bar, your be in your element. However, Spanish people are not very open to music. So you hear Reggaeton 95% of the time, and the same 5 songs may I add. 

But what are the pros?  

                                               The things I will miss 

1) No cars; The country is bigger - the result? fewer cars on the road. Whenever I am in London I get fed up with travel taking 40 minutes for something that is 10 minutes away. 

2) The easiness; You are left alone. No bouncers accusing you of being underage, being able to get cigarettes in peace, no one nagging you.  

3) The weather; I will really miss reading my books on my sunlounger at the end of October. I won't miss the summer, but I will miss it when the weather is lovely. 

4) The expense; Wages are cheaper because the cost of living is. I'll miss the days when I drink wine with my friends for 2 euros a glass. Generally, bills are the same, but going out is so much cheaper and so is beauty too. 

5) The laid-backness to being you; Although British women are into beauty; the type of beauty is different here, it's all about fashion. You can wear high-heels in a supermarket in the middle of the day and no one will bat an eye nor care. I'll miss the freedom of being and dressing who I want to be in peace. I'm pretty sure, if I dressed half of what I where here in the middle of South London I will be harassed. 

However, although I am excited to move home, My house here is on the market, and in the meantime, I am embracing whatever time I am here left. I am also a little scared and apprehensive. 

Generally, I know the culture. Hell, I lived there for 18 years of my life, but things have changed so much. Down to little things like being able to order a car, just like ordering an Uber is just honestly some next-level Alien shit to me. I used to love going for a Costa coffee with my friends in Hove, now no matter where I go now I can have a Costa. This wasn't the case years ago. 

Here are some of my apprehensions; 

                                                      Uncertainty

1) How busy; I am trying to prepare myself for how busy things are. Even a trip to Tesco for me is manic. I can't believe how busy everything is. The people always rushing, and when you get used to more of a peaceful environment it can be strange to get back to things not being like this. 

2) Adult life; I properly started adult life here, 5 years ago. I am a bit nervous, about starting again. I am going to have to leave my teaching career behind. I've spent years getting to the position I am in. As much as I want a change, I'm taking a risk. 

3) Fitting in again; I am different from who I used to be. I am not as extroverted as I was, as I have calmed down a lot. I have different priorities now, but I have adapted and taken some cultural differences into my life. My fashion is different now, my personality is calmer now, and I don't want to get my next fix going out and getting drunk every weekend. Will I fit in? Probably, but you still overthink it. It's good to be different, and I love to promote this but I am human too. 

4)  Job life; Similar to adult life, I am going to have to learn new things, You work harder hours in the UK more 9-5, and no more breaks during the day to go the gym...

Nevertheless, I have things I am also excited to go back to. Every culture and every place there are pros/cons. 

                                                    Excited for

1) Options for your social life; There are so many things to do, I want brunches with the girls, to go out and choose from 10 different nightclubs playing opposite music from each other. If I want a cheesy 80s night in the pub I can, I can then go clubbing and listen to some good RNB. Options are better, and a 1000% more fun than over here. 

2) The banter; I miss the sarcasm. Simple. 

3) Types of Friends; I miss my friends from back home, I have a variety of friends to reconnect with and make effort with. It's hard to do in another country. Although I have met some lovely friends here who are always welcome to visit me, I miss the type of friends you can have back there. Because I enjoy the personalities of these people more, that's why. 

4) Relationships; I love trying out new nationalities; you got to taste the menu and see what you like. But as mentioned; diversity here is less and I hate that. I talk to people from England anyway, so might as well live there right? 

5) Being close; Being close to everything; it makes things so much easier. 

6) Better prospects; The cost of living is more yes, but the choice of jobs and bettering your career are important for me. I am in the best position I could be here, but there are hardly any more opportunities to grab. I always love pushing myself. 


Overall, You cannot blame a country for doing you wrong. You have to look at your own choices. These choices shape how things turn out. I have taken everything I can over here and I have had a great transition over the years. I will never have regrets. I will go on to travel and experience more cultures because this 100% opens your horizons and teaches you important life lessons. 

There are some amazing things about Spain, and I will always recommend going. If you want to try it; don't say it - Do it. But prepare yourself for all the uncertain times too. It is not a bed of roses like you think when you wish on holiday ''I'd love to move here''. 

I will look back on this time, and be so grateful for the time spent here, but the truth is I just want to come home. 


Erin x




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