I moved from New Jersey to Barcelona. Some parts of the process were surprisingly easy, but I made a few mistakes.

As a first-generation child of immigrants living in New Jersey, my worldview has always extended beyond the US. In January 2023, I took a leap of faith and started the process of moving abroad.

Knowing I wanted to learn more Spanish, I started in Mexico. But after six months, I decided to book a three-month trip to Barcelona.

That quick taste gave me the confirmation I needed to apply for a yearlong visa and join the other foreigners that make up more than 25% of Barcelona’s population.

Even though I got to work right away, the logistics of moving abroad took longer than I expected, and there are a few things I’d do differently next time.