Beyond the Visa: How a Move to Spain Taught Me the Art of Living

The Dream

Life in the US can feel like a ruthless rat race. My American diet, defined by impossibly long work hours and the need for convenience, relied heavily on take-out and processed foods. There was barely a moment during my seemingly endless shifts for a proper meal. In the scarce minutes I could tear myself away from my desk for a ‘break’, my hunger and fatigue were remedied with the all too common ‘coffee & a cigarette’ cure. In these brief moments, I looked up towards the small patch of sky that peeked between the buildings of the employee entrance, watching as my cigarette smoke drifted away. 

This was not the way I wanted to live my life. 

I had to do something. Something drastic. And I had to do it now, before I wasted one more minute digging myself into an early grave from overworking, terrible eating habits, and a lack of proper healthcare.

But where to start? I was completely overwhelmed. A life where I worked to live, not live to work, was a pipe dream. I didn’t have any viable options for citizenship by descent, and I knew absolutely nothing about visas. Cue House Hunters International.

One late night after a crappy day at work, I sat on my couch and searched for a show to distract myself. My cat curled up in my lap while I devoured my most frequently reordered DoorDash meal (Panera soup in a bread bowl and half sandwich, with a Pepsi and a side of bread- don’t judge me). I finally gave up on all of my streaming subscriptions and switched back to good, old-fashioned programmed television. And that’s when I first heard about Jennifer Sontag.

There she was, living the dream. My dream. I needed to know how she did it. The episode was a rerun, several years old at this point. What was she doing now, I wondered. A quick internet search led me to her company, Italian Citizenship Concierge (now ViaMonde). My heart deflated; I don’t have any Italian roots. In my self-pitying state, I flipped through every page of her website, vicariously living through each photo, until I stumbled upon the blogs. 

It was there that I discovered Spanish visas. I tried not to get my hopes up before I knew if I qualified for one, but the consultation call was free, so I booked it. You can imagine my surprise when I logged into Zoom to find myself face-to-face with Jennifer Sontag herself! For a moment, the video lagged. I thought, maybe it was just a photo, but then her voice rang through the speakers of my dinky laptop. The video finally caught up, filling my screen with her smiling face. By the end of our 15 minute session I had three things: homework, resources, and hope. 

For the first time in my life I had a plan to break away from the lifestyle that was slowly crushing my soul. There was work to be done, but I had a game plan and the support of Jennifer and her team. 

The next several months were a whirlwind of planning, paperwork, downsizing, and dreaming. Jennifer and her team kept my feet on the ground while my mind soared above the clouds. I couldn’t believe my dreams were really coming true. 

Reality

Reality hit me like a ton of bricks the moment I stepped off the plane. What had I done? I was finally coming down off my high and the fear started to creep in. I clutched my cat’s carrier to my chest and took a deep breath. 

I barely remember collecting my luggage and finding my way outside; the memories were a blur of anxiety and worry. I didn’t know anything about living abroad! Why hadn’t I considered that before? I lit my first cigarette in nearly 12 hours and watched the smoke float up into the vast stretch of blue sky outside the airport terminal.

The ViaMonde team coordinated to have a car pick me up from the airport. Between my high school Spanish and his limited English, the driver recommended several local restaurants that I had to try and told me about how he grew up in the same neighborhood. After dropping my luggage off at my new place, the driver took me to the grocery store to stock up. (I must say, I cannot thank the ViaMonde team enough for this forethought!) The spiraling anxiety I felt at the airport finally started to slow.

The Rhythm of Life (El Ritmo de la Vida)

Back in the States, my morning routine was a blur: grab a coffee-to-go, maybe a granola bar, and sprint to my desk. In Spain, this ritual was a foreign concept. I was a few days in when a neighbor insisted I join him for breakfast at a local cafe. He ordered a tostada con tomate, a simple toasted bread with fresh tomato, olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt. The entire experience—sitting down, savoring the flavors, chatting with the cafe owner—felt like an act of rebellion. 

It was my first lesson in el ritmo de la vida—the rhythm of life. It’s a rhythm that slows you down, forcing you to appreciate the present moment. The two-hour lunch break isn't a luxury; it's a necessity, a moment to refuel both your body and your relationships. And the late dinners and evening strolls aren't just for tourists; they're the vibrant pulse of Spanish social life. Thinking back on my life in the US started to feel like someone else’s memories.

The Discovery of Joy (El Descubrimiento de la Alegría)

I used to think of joy as a big, ticketed event—a concert, a vacation, a major promotion. But living in Spain has taught me to find it in the quiet, everyday moments. I remember stumbling upon a local festival, a fiesta mayor, and being swept up in the collective energy of the crowd. The air was thick with the scent of churros, the sound of music, and the laughter of children. It was a simple, yet profound, display of collective happiness. It taught me the value of simply being present, of taking a moment to sit outside in the sunny plaza and watch life unfold. Even the concept of the siesta, which I once saw as a lazy habit, I now understand as a cultural necessity—a pause that prioritizes rest and balance. It’s not about avoiding work; it’s about embracing a pace of life that allows you to show up as your best self, refreshed and ready.