Want to know about your experience!

Pre-relocation training? Cross-cultural training? Local language courses? Transportation services? School survey and placement?

you can get all this with a good expat contract. You could also get an accomodation for you and your family, courses for your children ... and others

What were your challenges and how did you handle those?

I think that most of the time the challenge is to use your specific skills in an "untrained" environment. It means that you have to work a lot, to be patient, pedagogue ...

Your company can facilitate your installation, but then, you have to work

We're teachers and I think it's kind of expected that teachers will be able to settle fairly easily and will be used to changing countries. Having said that, our school has made us feel welcome and helped us to settle in, not necessarily in any formal way but just in a kind, personal way. The other teachers have asked after the new staff, have helped them find their way around various places and have been concerned to help anyone who needs it.

The school is also providing language lessons for those who want it. It provides transport for those who want it and we are housed very close to our place of work, together with lots of other teachers so we'll never feel too isolated.

I guess it is different for different occupations.

I have lived in Barcelona for about one year. When I registered my residential permit I have been given no introduction into the culture here or provided any information even how my everday dealings are handled here. Even to this day, neither me nor other expats I know, know where to get this information. The little we know is in spanish which we don't manage very well.

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