Staying Cool on Your Long Stay Vacation in Spain

Tired of the rat race? Considering joining the legions of ex-pats ("ex-patriots", or people who choose to eschew the tourist label permanently and stay in another country for life) who have reached tranquility and contentment by relocating to sunny, beautiful Spain? It's not tough to choose between taking a siesta (daily afternoon nap popular in Spain) and tackling afternoon traffic! But before you sell your DVD collection and donate your car, consider a long stay vacation in Spain.

A Note about Visas and Your Spain Long Stay Vacation

Perhaps you've done Europe before, especially if you're considering a long stay vacation in Spain. Then you know how easy it is to visit the European Union, where being a tourist for up to three months requires no visa, just a passport that remains valid three months outside of your stay.

But perhaps you're contemplating working in Spain, or staying longer than three months? Here it becomes important to secure the proper documentation, lest you be found out. Your long stay vacation in Spain could come to an abrupt stop if you are there without official permission. If you are not a citizen of the EU, it is important to secure a visa.

How Do I Get One?

If you are living in the US, chances are good there is a Spanish consulate in the nearest major city. It's very important to apply and obtain your visa before you leave; there are no emergency exceptions and your home embassy in Spain will have little sympathy for you if you did not attempt to plan properly for your long stay vacation in Spain.

Other Concerns

So, you've applied for your visa, you've looked into an apartment (there are many companies on the internet to help you with this, however long you stay on vacation in Spain). Perhaps you've chosen the idyllic mid-sized city of Seville with its sweeping bridges and mild climate to wile away the chilly winter. Pero hablas espaņol? (But do you speak Spanish?)

You may want to look into it. You will probably find that locals are friendlier during your long stay vacation in Spain to you if you at least attempt to speak their language. You don't have to be perfect, but knowing, for example, to use the formal usted instead of tu may make all the difference when you're in a bind. And you probably will be, at some point. All part of the adventure, right?

Culture Shock

Maybe you've experienced the feeling that suddenly things in a foreign country have lost their cuteness and are now seeming too, well, foreign. This is called "culture shock" and it can occur on your first long stay vacation in Spain or your fifteenth. It's a typical reaction to difference. For example, before your Spanish smooths out, you may become frustrated with verbalizing your needs to someone to speaks little or no English.

How to Deal

If culture shock happens during your long stay vacation in Spain, know you're not alone. Sometimes the unpleasant feeling that everyone around you does things in a way you're not used to can be a valuable learning experience-think of all the refugees who are in your country for the first time. Just realize that it's OK to have an off day. You'll get over it. Many people find that they experience culture shock anew when they return to their home country after their lovely long stay vacation in Spain.