Sincerely, Spain Sincerely, Spain

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    • ABOUT CLAUDIA
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  • COACHING
  • WORK WITH US
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  • Claudia and the dog Elvi on a boat
    Adapting,  Culture,  Living Abroad in Finland

    Making Friends as a Foreigner in Finland

    October 20, 2022 /

    Please Note: This post contains paid links to products, which means that we have received compensation for their inclusion. For more information, see our disclosures here. Thanks for your support!   Dear Hanna, I know, this is a blog about living abroad and thriving in Spain, right? Well, four years ago I decided that I wasn’t going to live in Spain any more and chose to pick up my life once again and more to Finland. Now, over three and a half years later, I am still here and enjoying my life in a way I never really expected to. I haven’t talked about life in Finland much, but I…

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    What is Día de la Constitución or December 6th holidays?

    December 5, 2019

    6 ways to sharpen your soft skills by living in Spain

    March 16, 2023
  • Confessions,  Expat Life in Spain,  How to,  Living Abroad

    Confessions: After 8+ Years Living in Spain, It’s Still Hard to Make Friends!

    September 1, 2022 /

    Dear Chantal, If you’ve been following the Sincerely, Spain blog for a while, you know I have more than eight years of experience when it comes to expat life in Spain. You know that Claudia and I can speak as authorities on the subject but let me tell you—it is still really hard to make new friends! At the beginning of 2022, my husband and I moved away from Granada and into a beautiful new location. As much as I love it, finding myself in a Spanish town where I knew no one has really forced me out of my comfort zone. For the first time in a long time,…

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    Confessions: I’m not Spending the Holidays with my Family

    December 6, 2018

    A Letter to Myself Before I Moved Abroad (Dani)

    September 6, 2018

    Confessions: I’m Nervous About Going Home

    June 13, 2019
  • How to,  Thriving

    How to: Find Community and Make Friends Online

    February 18, 2021 /

    In the weird world we currently live in, you may feel isolated need to consider creative ways to feel connected. We’ve got lots of tips for where you can find community online and how you can make new friends—virtually.

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    How to: Bridge the Language Gap

    April 8, 2021

    What to Expect When Pregnant in Spain

    February 22, 2024

    How to: Get a Phone (Number) in Spain

    April 20, 2021
  • Adapting,  Culture,  Living Abroad

    What to Expect when Making Plans with Spaniards

    January 19, 2021 /

    Culture affects everything―right down to the way we understand and make plans! If you've tried planning with Spaniards and come away a bit frustrated or are looking to make plans with new friends and wondering what to anticipate, these insights are just for you.

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    Culture Shock in Spain Stories from around the Globe

    July 26, 2020

    How I Survive Spain’s Fish with Bones

    February 5, 2019

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    January 21, 2020
  • Balance,  Culture,  Thriving

    Being Friends with the Opposite Sex

    March 12, 2020 /

    Making friends in new places is never easy but add in the fact that you have to follow cultural norms and you will start wondering how it is even possible. Check out this article for a little bit of insight into  friendships according to Spanish gender norms. 

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    Why You Should Travel Alone

    October 3, 2017

    Confessions: I don’t buy into traditional gift giving

    December 21, 2023

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    September 12, 2019
  • Adapting,  How to

    How to: Make Friends with Spaniards

    March 10, 2020 /

    Do you feel frustrated that you are not making that many native friends while abroad? I have a theory about that and several tips for how to improve your chances at making local friends.

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    Culture Shock in Spain Stories from around the Globe

    July 26, 2020

    What’s Happening? Kids Out Until Midnight in Spain

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    An Introduction to the Job Situation in Spain

    January 14, 2020
  • Living Abroad,  Thriving

    Creating Spanish Friendship by Staying True to Yourself

    July 18, 2019 /

    Making friends as an adult isn’t easy. This is Part II in a two part series where we get into the details about creating friendships in Spain. Today we are diving into how to make friends while being true to yourself.

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    How to: Host Long-term Visitors

    July 20, 2023

    Holiday Experience 2020 (Claudia)

    December 24, 2020

    Where Can I Buy That? Clothes Edition

    December 12, 2019
  • Adapting,  Food

    Creating Spanish Friendship Through Food and Drink

    July 16, 2019 /

    We have talked about making friends with Spaniards before but in this two part series we dive into how making friends in Spain is related to food and drink. Part one is dedicated to understanding and adapting.

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    Best Sites for Finding an Apartment in Spain

    August 8, 2019

    How to: order beer in Spain

    July 9, 2019

    Help! I’m failing Spanish school (and they tell me it’s normal)

    November 23, 2018
  • Adapting,  How to,  Study Abroad

    Making the Most of Your Host Family Experience

    May 28, 2019 /

    Living in a homestay with a host family is a wonderful way to immerse in the local culture. However, you’ve got to put forth the effort if you want to get the most out of this experience. Here are our top four tips (as well as a video!!) on how.

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    Why Are You Abroad Anyways?

    October 8, 2019

    Everyone Has an Opinion… on the U.S.A.

    September 17, 2020

    What is Día de la Constitución or December 6th holidays?

    December 5, 2019
  • Language Learning,  Thriving

    Making Mistakes, but Just Wanting to Move on

    April 4, 2019 /

    One of the most frustration aspects of practicing a non-native language is how your mistakes can often be honed in on while your point is overlooked. In terms of having successful communication, I believe it’s often best to recognize mistakes but also move on.

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    Language Learning: Watching T.V. or Movies

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    January 12, 2018
  • Confessions,  Thriving

    Confessions: I am Vulnerable in Friendships

    January 31, 2019 /

    I personally find it hard to make good friends and one of the reasons why is because that requires me to be vulnerable. However, I believe that strong relationships should be made this way, let me tell you why.

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    Letters to a New Year (Dani 2023)

    January 19, 2023

    Our Personal Experiences with Bullfighting

    May 24, 2018

    7 things I like about living in Finland

    November 23, 2023
  • Travel

    Top Tips for Making food in Hostels/Airbnb

    September 25, 2018 /

    Thinking about how you are going to make the most of the kitchen at your hostel or Airbnb? Check out our top tips to ensure that you have a good experience cooking during your travels.

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    What You Should Know about Tarifa

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Sincerely, Spain

We're Dani and Claudia, two American expats with a love of Spain. Let us be your guide to Spanish culture, language-learning, living abroad.

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