Many pilgrims who walk the Camino de Santiago end up falling in love with the country and dream of starting a new life here. Some actually do. But as my guest in the podcast reminds us, moving to Spain
In this episode of the Spanish for the Camino podcast, I speak with Jimena Ibarra, a Spanish teacher who helps expats in Spain. As an expat herself, she knows that moving to Spain means more than just speaking Spanish: it’s about understanding everyday language, culture, and the little things that make life here unique.
Jimena is originally from Mexico. Before settling in Spain, she lived in Germany, Ireland, and England. Despite being a native Spanish speaker, she was surprised by how challenging it was to adapt when she moved to Spain in 2013 with her husband and three young children.
After 12 years, Jimena now feels like a local, but she remembers well the difficulties of those first months. That’s why she helps others navigate the same experience through her work teaching practical, everyday Spanish for life in Spain.
Culture shock… even in Spanish!
One of Jimena’s biggest surprises was how different Spanish culture (and even the language) can be compared to what she was used to.
She laughs about one of her first grocery trips in Spain: her Irish husband asked her to buy cookies. After 30 minutes walking up and down the supermarket, searching, she couldn’t find any… until she realised they were in the breakfast section! “Who eats cookies for breakfast?” she thought. It was her first taste of cultural shock in Spain.
She also discovered that some everyday words in Mexican Spanish don’t have the same meaning (or aren’t used at all) in Spain. And although she speaks fluent Spanish, she had to learn expressions like ir a la compra (“go grocery shopping”) instead of using ir de compras for everything (ir de compras means to go shopping for clothes, shoes, etc. in Spain).
Jimena noticed another big difference: the Spanish way of speaking. “In Spain, people speak more directly, and sometimes more loudly,” she says. “At first, I thought everyone was angry!”
In Latin America, the tone tends to be softer, and people rarely say “no” so directly. Over time, she learned that people were not angry at her and that this isn’t rudeness: it’s just a cultural difference.
Tips for anyone planning to move to Spain
Jimena shared some valuable advice for anyone thinking about making the move:
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Keep an open mind. Every country has its own way of doing things. Spain works like Spain—not like Germany, the U.S., or Mexico.
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Be patient with bureaucracy. It’s usually slow. We even have a saying for it: Las cosas de palacio van despacio (literally, palace business moves slowly).
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Learn basic Spanish. Even if you’re not fluent, learning the essentials helps you become independent and enjoy your new life without relying on others to translate everything.
As Jimena says, “At first you need help, but eventually you have to take that step toward independence. That’s when you really start enjoying life here.”
Despite the challenges, Jimena wouldn’t change her decision. “We are here to stay,” she says. “Spain is home now.”
Her message is clear: come prepared, be patient, and embrace the differences, because life in Spain can be wonderful.
You can find Jimena online on her website or on YouTube.
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