'i'm a british expat in spain - this is the part of the culture no one talks about'

A BRITISH EXPAT IN SPAIN HAS SHARED HER THOUGHTS ON THE 'PART OF SPANISH CULTURE NO ONE TALKS ABOUT' 15:41, 02 Jun 2025 A British expat in Spain has revealed the truth about what

it's like living abroad. Carley Chaplin explained how her and her family stepped into a "new life" near Barcelona just 18 months ago, sharing how she dealt with some

"lifestyle changes," thousands of miles away from her home in Leeds. She described her first few weeks of living there as a "dream," with visits to typical tourist-adored

sights including morning walks along the beach and long evening dinners top of the list. READ MORE: UK TOURISTS URGED TO FOLLOW SECURITY RULES AMID POPULAR ITEM BAN However, she said she

was hit with reality before long, as daily life came into focus after the first few weeks in Spain. She said on Instagram: "We didn't move to Spain for a holiday, we moved for a

new life. Article continues below "The first few weeks felt like a dream, beach mornings, long dinners, sunshine every day, but then came the reality. "Sorting school paperwork,

registering for doctors, dealing with bureaucracy. Real life but in a second language. "And that's when the shift happened. We weren't tourists anymore - we were

residents." Carley, who goes by @chaplinfamilylifeinspain, described how she realised they were now local residents, completing normal everyday activities. READ MORE: EASYJET BRINGS IN

FLIGHT ROUTE 'SHAKE UP' WITH 28 DESTINATIONS ADDED - FULL LIST She said: "We stopped exploring and started living. "It's not glamourous everyday, but it's more

fulfilling. "Our life feels slower, but in the best way. We don't have it all figured out. "But we're not just visiting anymore - this is home." Alongside her video,

the mum included a caption describing what the change from UK to Spanish living had been like. She added: "This Is the part of Spanish culture no one talks about. "Most people

think Spain is all about sunshine, siestas, and sangria but there’s so much more beneath the surface. "Since moving here, we’ve felt a real shift: people come first. From kids playing

in the square until midnight to neighbours who genuinely say “good morning” and mean it. Article continues below "It’s a culture built on connection, presence, and slowing down. Yes,

things take longer. No, it’s not always efficient. But somehow, life feels better when it’s lived this way."