I Moved to Europe and Struggled for Months Till I Fell in Love

• I moved from the US to Europe in 2019 and finally started residing in Barcelona in February 2020.
• Shortly after, Spain went into lockdown amid to the coronavirus pandemic. I felt lonely for months.
• I struggled to regulate and wished to surrender on residing overseas, however falling in love modified my thoughts.

After years of touring to Europe and dreaming of residing there full time, I lastly made the bounce in the summertime of 2019.

I used to be excited but in addition terrified to go away everybody and every part I knew and beloved behind in Los Angeles.

Nonetheless, I made the bounce. I began my life overseas in Bordeaux, France, however after a couple of months, I knew it wasn’t the suitable house for me. My time there helped me understand I wished to dwell someplace that has extra sunshine year-round.

So, in February 2020, I headed to the sunny beachy metropolis of Barcelona subsequent.

My transfer to Spain bought off to a tough begin, and I nearly went again house

Sadly, the joy of my transfer to Spain was short-lived.

A couple of weeks after I arrived, the coronavirus pandemic despatched the nation into lockdown, and I used to be caught isolating in my Airbnb for months.

As lockdown restrictions have been lifted, I began to get pleasure from day by day life in Barcelona, from morning walks on the seaside to afternoon strolls to get tapas and sangria.

Nevertheless, I struggled to construct my social life and make buddies. As my emotions of loneliness deepened, I started second-guessing my determination to maneuver to Europe within the first place.

Earlier than packing my baggage and heading again to the US, I visited a buddy from house who was residing close by in Madrid. Over drinks, I informed him I wasn’t comfortable and that I might had sufficient of residing overseas.

He jogged my memory that I wasn’t so comfortable again house, both. Once I lived in Los Angeles, I used to be on the lookout for love and failing and always complaining in regards to the excessive rents and the outrageously excessive value for a glass of wine.

He had some extent. I nonetheless wasn’t positive about staying in Spain, however perhaps the place I used to be residing wasn’t my drawback. Maybe I used to be giving up too rapidly.

He insisted I simply hadn’t but discovered my individuals in Barcelona and supplied to attach me with a buddy of his who lived there named Tomi.

I am so grateful I gave Barcelona one final shot

Inside days I acquired a message from Tomi inviting me to a live performance.

I used to be hesitant to go, however as soon as I arrived, I felt like I used to be lastly strolling towards the goals of a life in Europe I might at all times had for myself.

The small venue had brick partitions full of summary paintings, a full of life crowd of worldwide individuals mingling, and a good-looking Argentine man ready by the bar waving at me — Tomi.

We felt an on the spot connection as we have been each musicians who have been removed from house and new to Barcelona.

By the point I left the live performance, I could not have been happier or extra excited. The music was unimaginable, the venue and crowd of artists have been inspiring, and my new connection was actually charming.

From there, Tomi and I started spending extra time collectively. Earlier than I knew it, I had utterly forgotten about wanting to return to Los Angeles. I used to be in love and eventually actually residing in Barcelona.

We bought married 4 years later and nonetheless dwell within the Spanish metropolis.

Wanting again, I am grateful that I caught issues out regardless of struggling to really feel at house for the primary few months. If I had left, I’m wondering if I might ever have met the love of my life.

It additionally might have taken me longer to appreciate that the place you reside cannot at all times make you content — and that discovering love and reference to the suitable individuals can assist anyplace really feel like house.