Barcelona, Spain - Karolina
Where are you originally from?
I was born in Prague, I lived in Barcelona for a year when I was 11 and then I moved there again at 17.
What is your profession?
I work as Director of Client Services in a marketing agency for the Southern Europe market. We specialize in influencer marketing, consumer activation and social media.
How long have you lived in Barcelona?
13 years in September!
What is particular about the culture in Barcelona?
It’s quiet international, a lot of expats live here. The locals are friendly so it’s easy to find people to go out with, for a drink or to party mostly, but it’s harder to “be accepted” into the locals’ closest circle.
What is your favorite thing about Barcelona?
First: the weather! I’m not talking about the summer (which is great if you love the beach) but even in the winter, when the rest of Europe is all dark and rainy, Barcelona has a lot of sunny days. It really puts you into a great mood! And second: it’s relatively easy to walk or bike in the city, so if you want to do something for your health and the planet you can just use your legs to move around.
What would you recommend to people who are thinking of moving to Barcelona?
Not to worry about speaking Catalan, everyone speaks Spanish and you can get by only with English as well.
What are some things that in your opinion people do not realize about Barcelona?
I feel there’s a lot of misconceptions about Spain in general, but especially in Barcelona they have a really good healthcare, transport and educational system. Also, people here are very hardworking and qualified so the labour market is highly competitive.
What has been the hardest part about moving to Barcelona?
Honestly, can’t think about anything. I moved here with my mom so perhaps that made it easier but with other expats I saw really smooth transitions too.
What is your favorite memory of living in Barcelona?
There’s so much things to do and restaurants to go to so the best times I had was just improvising going to different places and ended up meeting great people and having lots of fun. Barcelona is the perfect definition of “go with the flow”.
Any places / activities you would recommend to people planning on visiting Barcelona?
Every neighborhood has its own party once a year with concerts and activities during several days. The most famous one is in Gracia in August. If you like nature, you can do a little hike to the Carmel bunkers and see a spectacular view of the whole city.
Can people follow you on social media?
Yes, of course! Feel free to reach out if you want to come here :)