The Privileges of an EU Passport (That No One Talks About) Maria, January 28, 2026January 27, 2026 Let’s talk about something that makes people uncomfortable: privilege. Specifically, the privilege that comes with holding a Spanish passport and being an EU citizen. I wasn’t born with this. I’m Filipino. I came to Spain, I lived through the residency requirements, I went through the bureaucracy, I waited, and eventually,… Continue Reading
DELE A2 & CCSE Explained 2026 | How to Pass Spain’s Citizenship Exams with Confidence Maria, January 25, 2026January 27, 2026 If 2026 is the year you’re finally applying for Spanish citizenship through residency, you already know there’s no getting around it—you’ve got two exams standing between you and that Spanish passport: the DELE A2 and the CCSE. I get it. These exams can feel overwhelming. Trust me, I was sitting… Continue Reading
How Quitting My Corporate Job Led Me to Remote Work, Travel, and a New Life in Spain Maria, January 21, 2026January 27, 2026 In 2015, I made a decision that completely turned my life upside down. That year, I had everything society says you should want — a Master’s degree, a well-paying corporate job at one of the biggest FMCG companies in the Philippines, and living on my own in a condo in… Continue Reading
2025 Year in Review, 2026 Goals Maria, January 14, 2026January 27, 2026 Happy New Year, everyone! We are 14 days into 2026 and here I am doing our 2025 year in review which includes wins and misses and of course the goals we’ve set for this year. Every new year, I set 12 goals for me and my partner to achieve until… Continue Reading
The Real Struggles of Learning Spanish (And How to Overcome Them) Maria, November 2, 2025November 3, 2025 So you decided to learn Spanish. Maybe you thought it’d be easier than other languages, or maybe you just wanted to understand Bad Bunny lyrics without Google Translate. Either way, if you’ve been at it for a while, you’ve probably realized that it’s not quite as straightforward as you expected…. Continue Reading
Your No-BS Guide to Moving to Spain: Where Do You Even Start? Maria, October 12, 2025November 3, 2025 “I want to move to Spain, but I don’t know where to start.” If you’ve ever thought this, welcome to the club. Seriously, I hear this all the time—whether it’s “What’s the first step to getting Spanish residency?” or “Which visa do I even need?” or my personal favorite, “How… Continue Reading
How to Get a Carta de Invitación in Barcelona: A Complete Guide Maria, September 28, 2025September 28, 2025 Getting your family to visit Spain? Here’s everything you need to know about obtaining an official invitation letter in Barcelona. This year, I’m beyond excited for the holidays! My two sisters from Canada are finally coming to visit, and we’re planning to travel to Finland together. It’s going to be… Continue Reading
How I Finally Made It Inside Barcelona’s Most Beautiful Concert Hall (After 3 Years of Living Here!) Maria, September 21, 2025September 28, 2025 Do you know how beautiful Palau de la Música Catalana is from the inside? If you don’t, then we’re on the same page. I’ve been living here in Barcelona for more than 3 years and I haven’t been inside this iconic venue – not even on a group tour or… Continue Reading
The Real Deal: Surviving Apartment Hunting in Barcelona Maria, April 27, 2025June 2, 2025 If you’re thinking about moving to Barcelona or already here and facing the apartment hunting nightmare, you’re not alone. After living here for over 3 years, I’ve been through the rental rollercoaster and learned some hard lessons along the way. Let me share my experience and some tips that might… Continue Reading
Everything You Need to Know About Private Health Insurance for Your Spanish Residency Application Maria, April 13, 2025June 2, 2025 During my journey through Spain’s residency process, I’ve had experience with two major health insurance providers: ASISA and ADESLAS. I initially used ASISA for my non-lucrative visa application and later switched to ADESLAS when establishing my Spanish residency after my time in Croatia. In this post, I’m going to share… Continue Reading