I’m an American who moved to Barcelona. I would’ve left after a few months if I hadn’t fallen in love.

I (not pictured) fell in love in Barcelona while I was considering moving back to the US.

After years of traveling to Europe and dreaming of living there full time, I finally made the jump in the summer of 2019.

I was excited but also terrified to leave everyone and everything I knew and loved behind in Los Angeles.

Still, I made the jump. I started my life abroad in Bordeaux, France, but after a few months, I knew it wasn’t the right home for me. My time there helped me realize I wanted to live somewhere that has more sunshine year-round.

So, in February 2020, I headed to the sunny beachy city of Barcelona next.

My move to Spain got off to a rough start, and I almost went back home

Unfortunately, the excitement of my move to Spain was short-lived.

A few weeks after I arrived, the coronavirus pandemic sent the country into lockdown, and I was stuck isolating in my Airbnb for months.

As lockdown restrictions were lifted, I started to enjoy daily life in Barcelona, from morning walks on the beach to afternoon strolls to get tapas and sangria.

However, I struggled to build my social life and make friends. As my feelings of loneliness deepened, I began second-guessing my decision to move to Europe in the first place.

Before packing my bags and heading back to the US, I visited a friend from home who was living nearby in Madrid. Over drinks, I told him I wasn’t happy and that I’d had enough of living abroad.

He reminded me that I wasn’t so happy back home, either. When I lived in Los Angeles, I was looking for love and failing and constantly complaining about the high rents and the outrageously high price for a glass of wine.

He had a point. I still wasn’t sure about staying in Spain, but maybe the place I was living wasn’t my problem. Perhaps I was giving up too quickly.

He insisted I just hadn’t yet found my people in Barcelona and offered to connect me with a friend of his who lived there named Tomi.

I’m so grateful I gave Barcelona one last shot

I met my now-husband around the time I was thinking about leaving Barcelona. 

Within days I received a message from Tomi inviting me to a concert.

I was hesitant to go, but once I arrived, I felt like I was finally walking toward the dreams of a life in Europe I’d always had for myself.

The small venue had brick walls filled with abstract artwork, a lively crowd of international people mingling, and a handsome Argentine man waiting by the bar waving at me — Tomi.

We felt an instant connection as we were both musicians who were far from home and new to Barcelona.

By the time I left the concert, I couldn’t have been happier or more excited. The music was incredible, the venue and crowd of artists were inspiring, and my new connection was really charming.

From there, Tomi and I began spending more time together. Before I knew it, I had completely forgotten about wanting to go back to Los Angeles. I was in love and finally really living in Barcelona.

We got married four years later and still live in the Spanish city.

Looking back, I’m grateful that I stuck things out despite struggling to feel at home for the first few months. If I had left, I wonder if I’d ever have met the love of my life.

It also may have taken me longer to realize that the place you live can’t always make you happy — and that finding love and connection with the right people can help anywhere feel like home.