+1
But only if you plan to have a local bank account. Pulling cash with it is awful. Better to have a bank account that reimburses ATM fees.
And never accept ATM USD conversions.
They'll also break if you charge them in Europe without a transformer, thought I'd add this. 60hz/120vt devices (America) don't play well with 50hz/240vt electricity (Europe), so please buy a transformer if you bring American electronics over. Most should have over voltage protection, but it's better to be safe than have a burnt $1000+ device.
Doesn’t apply to phones and laptops. they’ll take 120/240, as will most electronics. Electric appliances, on the other hand, nope. Hair dryers, toasters, coffee makers, drills, etc. Motors and heating elements will want transformers. Probably best to leave those and replace them locally.
They'll also break if you charge them in Europe without a transformer, thought I'd add this. 60hz/120vt devices (America) don't play well with 50hz/240vt electricity (Europe), so please buy a transformer if you bring American electronics over. Most should have over voltage protection, but it's better to be safe than have a burnt $1000+ device.
I've been living in EU (including Madrid) for the last 10+ years. Most of my electronics are from the US. I use very basic power plug adapters, but never needed a transformer.
Most modern electronics work between 100V-240V, which suits both US and EU.
To be fair there are some cheaper / older electronics that this could apply to, but I've never encountered them myself. And I had to google all this to be sure just now because you had me worried that I was slowly frying my gear lmao! All good, better safe than sorry :)
Phones and stuff usually have universal voltage but recently I learned that the Dyson airwrap I bought in the US won’t work in the EU without a transformer. Not just the small plug-in converter things but like a big expensive voltage transformer. So yeah most things are probably fine but always check your electronics. Better safe than sorry!
If you fry an appliance meant for 110V with 220V, it won’t be slow. It will be very, very fast. 😁
Source: Been there, done that.
Rarely an issue with modern electronics, but some older gear and some cheaper appliances won’t be dual-voltage. Your phone charger and laptop will be fine. Your hair dryer and toaster generally won’t.
Nah It's good advice and worth double checking. Those inscriptions on power bricks usually show if the device can tolerate higher voltage, otherwise you can look it up on the manufactures website. For me, my phone and computer are fine, but my hair trimmer was not.
Yeah this isn’t really an issue any more. Most electronics have auto switching power adapters. Every laptop/tablet/phone brick I’ve see for the last decade or so is auto switching. Just need to adapt the prongs to fit wherever you are.
Waking up Sunday am and jealous of your destination. Myself in NorCal and dreaming about moving to back home to Europe. Doubling down on my suggestion for you. Leave home behind.
Spice blends and sauces that you especially like. It's harder to find Old Bay or adobo in Europe. And any long- shelflife guilty pleasure foods. You'll find new foods to love but you might miss a familiar favourite once in a while.
OTC medications. ALL OF THEM. In large bottles.
If you're at all picky or wear hard to find sizes, bring extra socks/underwear/shirts/jeans. It'll buy you some time to find new ones that you like/that fit.
Electronics are more expensive in Europe, so grab some additional cables/adaptors/chargers.
Out of print books.
Measuring cups in US units, if you have recipes in US units that you use them for.
I especially missed bagels living in Mexico. I can find them in the frozen section sometimes but I could never find everything bagels which I love. A big bottle of everything but the bagel was a god sent tbh. Also I brought almond extract in the states which I had trouble finding. El Corte Inglés, the fancy ones anyways, will have a market for foreign shelf stable products and you should be able to buy peanut butter, Oreos and ranch dressing at those. When I lived in Spain I missed hot sauce so maybe bring some of that if you like a little kick in your food. I know it’s sacrosanct but Cholula on paella absolutely SLAPS.
Yeah i second the spices bit. We have Aldi/Lidl but I always like to bring back US spices like Old Bay and Trader Joe's spices, etc. We got plenty of hot sauces in Madrid you just gotta go out of your way to find them in specialty stores.
If you plan on getting laptop or any other computer related component or accessories consider buying them from US, and get a travel adapter when you get to Madrid,
Not sure if this is what you mean but you can just use [amazon.es](https://amazon.es). I have accounts with [amazon.com](https://amazon.com) and [amazon.de](https://amazon.de) \- I use the same email address for both but they are considered separate accounts. Not as much selection as American amazon of course, but you can still get ranch, Kraft mac, etc!
I mean, I don't eat Kraft mac daily, but if I had a hankering for it I would shell out 6 euros once in a while. It was just an example that things are available if OP misses them.
Fair enough. It’s just that it’s like $1 normally.
I’ve also seen good Mac n cheese at Aldi. And some of those “American” stores sell the boxes stuff. Almost sure to find those in Madrid. I just make from scratch with pasta and a block of cheddar.
I can’t agree. A leather jacket with good base layers is the way to go in Madrid. Lots of Burberry style outer ware as well. Madrid winters generally aren’t long, though they can be v cold, but because it’s dry, cutting the high-ish altitude wind and being ready for rain are the keys. For me anyway.
Also, coming from LA, you may not be prepared for just how much you will walk in Madrid (if you’re living or going out in or near the center). Show up with the best, most comfortable, and most stylish shoes you can find that are good for walking.
Don’t laugh at this: spices or mixes for your favorite foods that you probably can’t find there…I lived in South Korea and brought matzo ball mix in my suitcase for a taste of my parents Jewish cooking!
Confidence to brush off the flakes that you’ll meet. I lived there for ten years and it took about a year to find a good group of friends. Keep your head up. It’s a great place but stay true to yourself and don’t get all caught up in the BS. Stay authentic!
It really depends on what you’ll be doing. Will you be going to school, will you be working what’s the plan there? I can further detail out my reply based on a little more understanding.
Hahaha I came in here to post "powdered ranch dressing". Pretty much it as far as things the USA produces that can't be lived without. But easier to find in Spain than Portugal.
Mercadona has decent ranch. I’ve seen other brands. Maybe bring some hidden valley packets. Carrefour also has a decent ranch from Ybarra. The Kens is overpriced. Like 6€.
Big bottle of Ibuprofen. Tums. These things sell for like 5x or more. Kool Aid packets. Some US to EU adapters (you don’t need transformers). Anything with a motor that doesn’t run on lith ion leave behind.
Example: I left behind an electric razor. It has a motor. But it can charge just fine over here. So I wish I’d brought it.
But an electric shaver that doesn’t run on a rechargeable battery would burn out its motor.
Ah. You mean antiperspirant? They have it. I don’t like it. It may or may not cause Alzheimer’s but it’s also just gunky and messes up your shirts.
I get the Old Spice wolfsbane with zero aluminum salt. It smells great, not sporty. I also trim my armpit hair. Even in summer I smell good.
Make sure you have a US accepting health insurance (most travel ones exclude the US) since it will take some time till you get all settled. Make sure you papers are all up to date like new passport driver license etc
Item wise for me it was sweetener since in the US they have those terrible pink stuff it’s eww.
Some Flu Meds, some painkillers. And good sun screener like LSP 50+
The rest will be easy going :)
I live in California and purposely buy medication in Spain because it’s so much cheaper. Besides most of the time you don’t even need a prescription. I bring back codeine all the time. Also the UV filters in sunscreens in europe are much better then US brands. People beg me to buy it for them.
> Make sure you papers are all up to date like new passport driver license
To add to this, not all states have agreements with other countries. Getting a different license in another state could be worth it.
Not quite.. you can do three months on a euro passport then take a test.
I think you may get three months on your US licence too. But of course the cops don't need to know how long you have been in country
they obviously would know, for the uslicense to work it needs to be in company with the passport, and the passport would have the stamp on when you entered the country
Good to know, thank you. Where do you find this list? I'm also curious about the UK but since Brexit I guess they might have a different way of handling all this
I moved from Seattle to Madrid in January of this year for my MBA (student visa).
Madrid has most of the typical US comforts, though is indeed missing a few we're used to. To reiterate and clarify what many have already said:
**Certain medications**: Pharmacies are in adbundance and with many meds, but there are certain US ones that just don't have an equivalent. The ones I could not find here were Benedryl/Zyrtec, Pepto Bismol (bring the tablet form!), and Neosporin. Thankfully I brought the last two with me from home, but had to have a friend bring me Benadryl from the US after I ran out. Ibuprofen if you use a lot of it as you get smaller packages of it here.
**Specialty spice mixes**: You can find almost all 'original form' spices here, even ones for Asian/Indian/Mexican cooking (at specialty food marts or sometimes at El Corte Ingles). However, if certain niche blended seasonings are close to your heart, bring those. **Side note**: I've had no problem finding Hoisin sauce, Sriracha, BBQ, Ranch, Chipotle mayo and various Asian spices and Mexican chiles.
**High-ticket electronics**: Laptops and cell phones, especially Apple products are more expensive here. Good news is that there's a 99% chance you won't need a voltage converter as most chargers for these electronics include the European voltage in their range. You'll still need US to EU outlet adapters, but you can easily buy those on Amazon, and can even find them here in a couple places if necessary.
**However**, **cheaper electronics** (hairdryer, curling iron/straightener, some electronic toothbrushes) **CAN'T** handle the higher EU voltage (they will fry), so just leave those behind and get new ones here.
Contrary to what one person said in a previous comment, the **quality of clothing** here is quite good. If you're coming from LA, you will probably think the winters here are cold, but the good news is that winter days are also typically sunny, if brisk. If your prefered winter outwear is of the Northface/Patagonia type, get those in the US as they're more expensive here. Otherwise, you can easily get leather and wool coats for cheaper here, as are good and high-quality shoes.
Finally, maybe you've already gotten it squared away, but what **visa option** are you moving here on? You mentioned you're moving with your Spanish girlfriend--does that mean you've done the "pareja de hecho" (civial union) and received the appropriate documentation? Because if you don't have a legal Spanish partnet, a work visa, or student visa, then as a US citizen you're only allowed to be in the EU a max of 90 days at a time, after which you'll have to leave the EU for 90 days before you're allowed back. No following these rules runs the risk of not being let into the coutry or becoming an illegal immigrant. Please note that if you do qualify for one of the above, dealing with the consulate in the US takes time and can be a bit of a pain, so plan accordingly.
Your visa situation will also dictate your **health insurance options**, which you will want to have in case of emergencies/routine stuff.
Anyways, hope this helps!
Thank you so much for the detailed response! All extremely helpful. Yes, we are applying for the Spanish civil union. We’ve already gotten an official domestic partnership in the US, hoping that makes the Spanish side of it go faster. Do you have any experience with this?
A box of ibuprofen can be around 5-10€ at the pharmacy, depending on the mg and amount of pills.
I swear over the counter pharmacy prices have gone up lately here but I think it's cheaper than in the US.
100%. It’s like 5€ for 20 pills. You get 200 for that price in the US. Lower strength. But after the math it’s about double the price. An American bottle will last a year. You can only buy little 20 packs in Spain.
Nope! They are in every pharmacy and the gov regulates the price, around 3€ for the self done lat flow tests. We did have a shortage around a year ago tho.
Actually, peanut butter has become easily available; whereas before you could only find it in the American shops, now because of the increase in vegan shops it's become much more common. El Corte Inglés has at least four different brands.
Get travel credit cards before leaving electronics/tech is cheaper in the USA e.g., phones/macs etc.
Thank you, I got a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.
Open a wise account...
+1 But only if you plan to have a local bank account. Pulling cash with it is awful. Better to have a bank account that reimburses ATM fees. And never accept ATM USD conversions.
Fair. Opening a bank account for local currency isn't too hard. They used to have "tourist" accounts at La Caixa... Perhaps they still do?
Definitely, a local currency account is the way to go (with wise to transfer back and forth)
They'll also break if you charge them in Europe without a transformer, thought I'd add this. 60hz/120vt devices (America) don't play well with 50hz/240vt electricity (Europe), so please buy a transformer if you bring American electronics over. Most should have over voltage protection, but it's better to be safe than have a burnt $1000+ device.
Doesn’t apply to phones and laptops. they’ll take 120/240, as will most electronics. Electric appliances, on the other hand, nope. Hair dryers, toasters, coffee makers, drills, etc. Motors and heating elements will want transformers. Probably best to leave those and replace them locally.
They'll also break if you charge them in Europe without a transformer, thought I'd add this. 60hz/120vt devices (America) don't play well with 50hz/240vt electricity (Europe), so please buy a transformer if you bring American electronics over. Most should have over voltage protection, but it's better to be safe than have a burnt $1000+ device.
I've been living in EU (including Madrid) for the last 10+ years. Most of my electronics are from the US. I use very basic power plug adapters, but never needed a transformer. Most modern electronics work between 100V-240V, which suits both US and EU.
Guess I'm just an idiot lol. Guess this isn't an issue anymore. Sorry for the confusion
To be fair there are some cheaper / older electronics that this could apply to, but I've never encountered them myself. And I had to google all this to be sure just now because you had me worried that I was slowly frying my gear lmao! All good, better safe than sorry :)
Random fact: most electric tooth brushes don't play nice with international voltage
Good to know. Luckily I only use analog teethbrushes
Yeah, hopefully most things nowadays have voltage regulators so it wouldn't reeeally be a factor, but it could potentially happen could those fail
Phones and stuff usually have universal voltage but recently I learned that the Dyson airwrap I bought in the US won’t work in the EU without a transformer. Not just the small plug-in converter things but like a big expensive voltage transformer. So yeah most things are probably fine but always check your electronics. Better safe than sorry!
If you fry an appliance meant for 110V with 220V, it won’t be slow. It will be very, very fast. 😁 Source: Been there, done that. Rarely an issue with modern electronics, but some older gear and some cheaper appliances won’t be dual-voltage. Your phone charger and laptop will be fine. Your hair dryer and toaster generally won’t.
Nah It's good advice and worth double checking. Those inscriptions on power bricks usually show if the device can tolerate higher voltage, otherwise you can look it up on the manufactures website. For me, my phone and computer are fine, but my hair trimmer was not.
Yeah this isn’t really an issue any more. Most electronics have auto switching power adapters. Every laptop/tablet/phone brick I’ve see for the last decade or so is auto switching. Just need to adapt the prongs to fit wherever you are.
Happened to my favorite blender in 2018. Was sad.
Except it doesn’t work.
Leave America behind and enjoy your newfound lifestyle. Take naps and have diner at 10pm!
… dinners that go on to 2am!
That’s the spirit. Have fun!
Waking up Sunday am and jealous of your destination. Myself in NorCal and dreaming about moving to back home to Europe. Doubling down on my suggestion for you. Leave home behind.
Perhaps I’ll see you there someday!
Spanish dictionary you have to learn the language
Underrated comment lol
Yeah I’ll be taking Spanish lessons.
Spice blends and sauces that you especially like. It's harder to find Old Bay or adobo in Europe. And any long- shelflife guilty pleasure foods. You'll find new foods to love but you might miss a familiar favourite once in a while. OTC medications. ALL OF THEM. In large bottles. If you're at all picky or wear hard to find sizes, bring extra socks/underwear/shirts/jeans. It'll buy you some time to find new ones that you like/that fit. Electronics are more expensive in Europe, so grab some additional cables/adaptors/chargers. Out of print books. Measuring cups in US units, if you have recipes in US units that you use them for.
I especially missed bagels living in Mexico. I can find them in the frozen section sometimes but I could never find everything bagels which I love. A big bottle of everything but the bagel was a god sent tbh. Also I brought almond extract in the states which I had trouble finding. El Corte Inglés, the fancy ones anyways, will have a market for foreign shelf stable products and you should be able to buy peanut butter, Oreos and ranch dressing at those. When I lived in Spain I missed hot sauce so maybe bring some of that if you like a little kick in your food. I know it’s sacrosanct but Cholula on paella absolutely SLAPS.
Yeah i second the spices bit. We have Aldi/Lidl but I always like to bring back US spices like Old Bay and Trader Joe's spices, etc. We got plenty of hot sauces in Madrid you just gotta go out of your way to find them in specialty stores.
If you plan on getting laptop or any other computer related component or accessories consider buying them from US, and get a travel adapter when you get to Madrid,
Patience. Tolerance.
Haha thank you.
And an open mind. The rest will work itself out.
I have nothing to offer but Madrid is the best
Leave th gun ,take the Cannoli
Underrated comment
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Haha but what of my Amazon deliveries???
Not sure if this is what you mean but you can just use [amazon.es](https://amazon.es). I have accounts with [amazon.com](https://amazon.com) and [amazon.de](https://amazon.de) \- I use the same email address for both but they are considered separate accounts. Not as much selection as American amazon of course, but you can still get ranch, Kraft mac, etc!
The Kraft Mac is 6€ per box
I mean, I don't eat Kraft mac daily, but if I had a hankering for it I would shell out 6 euros once in a while. It was just an example that things are available if OP misses them.
Fair enough. It’s just that it’s like $1 normally. I’ve also seen good Mac n cheese at Aldi. And some of those “American” stores sell the boxes stuff. Almost sure to find those in Madrid. I just make from scratch with pasta and a block of cheddar.
As mentioned amazon ES , and great prices ....
Open a bank account at a U.S. credit union so you can take cash out for free when you need it and still have a free service checking account in US$
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Agreed but OP can take a clothing holiday shopping in another city like Paris or London for really good winter clothing.
I can concur about the sad state of winter wear. Even the sweaters there are lacking something…
I can’t agree. A leather jacket with good base layers is the way to go in Madrid. Lots of Burberry style outer ware as well. Madrid winters generally aren’t long, though they can be v cold, but because it’s dry, cutting the high-ish altitude wind and being ready for rain are the keys. For me anyway. Also, coming from LA, you may not be prepared for just how much you will walk in Madrid (if you’re living or going out in or near the center). Show up with the best, most comfortable, and most stylish shoes you can find that are good for walking.
Don’t laugh at this: spices or mixes for your favorite foods that you probably can’t find there…I lived in South Korea and brought matzo ball mix in my suitcase for a taste of my parents Jewish cooking!
I’ve considered this- I’m from New Orleans and need my spices.
Rub and Crystal
Oh you’re definitely gonna need to fill a box with Tony Chachere’s and Crystal. I’d load up on Camellia beans too
Haha got the Tonys and my precious Crystal 😂
Yeah, you aren't gonna find file in Spain.
i feel so seen
I had to bring back certain food items. Avocado oil is cheaper and easier to get in the U.S. than in Spain, for example.
There’s Costco in Madrid too if you already have a membership go get a Hot Dog 🌭
😂😂😂
Embrace España chico!!
💃
Confidence to brush off the flakes that you’ll meet. I lived there for ten years and it took about a year to find a good group of friends. Keep your head up. It’s a great place but stay true to yourself and don’t get all caught up in the BS. Stay authentic!
Thank you! Can you elaborate a bit? I’m very interested in the social differences.
It really depends on what you’ll be doing. Will you be going to school, will you be working what’s the plan there? I can further detail out my reply based on a little more understanding.
I will say if you meet anyone that is a supervisor for gifted youth they’re probably just a nanny! Let’s just start there…👈
Español
😂😂😂
Ranch dressing, you won’t be able to get that in Spain! But seriously: what kind of things are you thinking about?
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Oh, there we go! Well, that’s the Ranch sorted then ;)
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Anyone who buys a pre-made dressing can’t be my friend.
What recipe do you use?
Hahaha I came in here to post "powdered ranch dressing". Pretty much it as far as things the USA produces that can't be lived without. But easier to find in Spain than Portugal.
Mercadona has decent ranch. I’ve seen other brands. Maybe bring some hidden valley packets. Carrefour also has a decent ranch from Ybarra. The Kens is overpriced. Like 6€.
Teeth whitener!
Haha got it!
Big bottle of Ibuprofen. Tums. These things sell for like 5x or more. Kool Aid packets. Some US to EU adapters (you don’t need transformers). Anything with a motor that doesn’t run on lith ion leave behind.
Just bought a 6 pack of adapters… I know some electronics don’t play well with there, good to know it’s the lithium battery rule 👌🏼
Example: I left behind an electric razor. It has a motor. But it can charge just fine over here. So I wish I’d brought it. But an electric shaver that doesn’t run on a rechargeable battery would burn out its motor.
My razor is exactly what I was thinking about- it charges but can be used wirelessly. Thanks for the tip!
Deodorant
Carrefour has a decent selection
It doesn't work. They care too much about not poisoning us haha
Ah. You mean antiperspirant? They have it. I don’t like it. It may or may not cause Alzheimer’s but it’s also just gunky and messes up your shirts. I get the Old Spice wolfsbane with zero aluminum salt. It smells great, not sporty. I also trim my armpit hair. Even in summer I smell good.
Make sure you have a US accepting health insurance (most travel ones exclude the US) since it will take some time till you get all settled. Make sure you papers are all up to date like new passport driver license etc Item wise for me it was sweetener since in the US they have those terrible pink stuff it’s eww. Some Flu Meds, some painkillers. And good sun screener like LSP 50+ The rest will be easy going :)
I live in California and purposely buy medication in Spain because it’s so much cheaper. Besides most of the time you don’t even need a prescription. I bring back codeine all the time. Also the UV filters in sunscreens in europe are much better then US brands. People beg me to buy it for them.
Yeah, I do like European sunscreen better. And Neurofen.
Thank you- I’m bringing a cache of NyQuil 😂
> Make sure you papers are all up to date like new passport driver license To add to this, not all states have agreements with other countries. Getting a different license in another state could be worth it.
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Do you happen to know where I could find a list of states whose driver's licenses do transfer to the EU?
ive known a list of around 20 something that can be transfer to germany, then european license works everywhere :)
Not quite.. you can do three months on a euro passport then take a test. I think you may get three months on your US licence too. But of course the cops don't need to know how long you have been in country
they obviously would know, for the uslicense to work it needs to be in company with the passport, and the passport would have the stamp on when you entered the country
Yep I expect so... Probably easier to retake the test.
i don't think so, spain process for the license is a nightmare and really expensive
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Good to know, thank you. Where do you find this list? I'm also curious about the UK but since Brexit I guess they might have a different way of handling all this
Try to hit up south Dakota for this if you can. I plan on doing it next time I'm back in the US
How long are you staying?
Indefinitely- my Spanish girlfriend is moving back, so I’m going with her.
What visa/residency option are you on?
Congrats . My hubby and I are planning to move there in three years🫶 how exciting!
You can't get a decent packet of crisps in Spain!!
Your typical deodorant. European deodorant is def very different than what’s found here stateside.
Benadryl and Neosporin!
OTC medications like Zyrtec.
I moved from Seattle to Madrid in January of this year for my MBA (student visa). Madrid has most of the typical US comforts, though is indeed missing a few we're used to. To reiterate and clarify what many have already said: **Certain medications**: Pharmacies are in adbundance and with many meds, but there are certain US ones that just don't have an equivalent. The ones I could not find here were Benedryl/Zyrtec, Pepto Bismol (bring the tablet form!), and Neosporin. Thankfully I brought the last two with me from home, but had to have a friend bring me Benadryl from the US after I ran out. Ibuprofen if you use a lot of it as you get smaller packages of it here. **Specialty spice mixes**: You can find almost all 'original form' spices here, even ones for Asian/Indian/Mexican cooking (at specialty food marts or sometimes at El Corte Ingles). However, if certain niche blended seasonings are close to your heart, bring those. **Side note**: I've had no problem finding Hoisin sauce, Sriracha, BBQ, Ranch, Chipotle mayo and various Asian spices and Mexican chiles. **High-ticket electronics**: Laptops and cell phones, especially Apple products are more expensive here. Good news is that there's a 99% chance you won't need a voltage converter as most chargers for these electronics include the European voltage in their range. You'll still need US to EU outlet adapters, but you can easily buy those on Amazon, and can even find them here in a couple places if necessary. **However**, **cheaper electronics** (hairdryer, curling iron/straightener, some electronic toothbrushes) **CAN'T** handle the higher EU voltage (they will fry), so just leave those behind and get new ones here. Contrary to what one person said in a previous comment, the **quality of clothing** here is quite good. If you're coming from LA, you will probably think the winters here are cold, but the good news is that winter days are also typically sunny, if brisk. If your prefered winter outwear is of the Northface/Patagonia type, get those in the US as they're more expensive here. Otherwise, you can easily get leather and wool coats for cheaper here, as are good and high-quality shoes. Finally, maybe you've already gotten it squared away, but what **visa option** are you moving here on? You mentioned you're moving with your Spanish girlfriend--does that mean you've done the "pareja de hecho" (civial union) and received the appropriate documentation? Because if you don't have a legal Spanish partnet, a work visa, or student visa, then as a US citizen you're only allowed to be in the EU a max of 90 days at a time, after which you'll have to leave the EU for 90 days before you're allowed back. No following these rules runs the risk of not being let into the coutry or becoming an illegal immigrant. Please note that if you do qualify for one of the above, dealing with the consulate in the US takes time and can be a bit of a pain, so plan accordingly. Your visa situation will also dictate your **health insurance options**, which you will want to have in case of emergencies/routine stuff. Anyways, hope this helps!
Thank you so much for the detailed response! All extremely helpful. Yes, we are applying for the Spanish civil union. We’ve already gotten an official domestic partnership in the US, hoping that makes the Spanish side of it go faster. Do you have any experience with this?
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Thank you! Yes, I’ve heard it all takes time and patience.
How's your Spanish? Also if you don't know...bone up on some football. Actually football not that hand egg sports ball stuff 🤣
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I work freelance, so I can literally work from anywhere, and look forward to more contacts in Spain and Europe.
Ibuprofen
Is it not available in Spain? Or is it just really expensive?
It's not sold over-the-counter
There´s absolute no restrictions to buy Ibuprofeno in any pharmacy in Spain
A box of ibuprofen can be around 5-10€ at the pharmacy, depending on the mg and amount of pills. I swear over the counter pharmacy prices have gone up lately here but I think it's cheaper than in the US.
Yes it is. Just expensive and in limited amount. 20 pills 600mg as opposed to 200-500 pills at 200mg.
100%. It’s like 5€ for 20 pills. You get 200 for that price in the US. Lower strength. But after the math it’s about double the price. An American bottle will last a year. You can only buy little 20 packs in Spain.
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He or she is not...
Corona self tests? They could be hard to get there.
Nope! They are in every pharmacy and the gov regulates the price, around 3€ for the self done lat flow tests. We did have a shortage around a year ago tho.
a cat
A suitcase
Adapter
Peanut butter
Yes!
Actually, peanut butter has become easily available; whereas before you could only find it in the American shops, now because of the increase in vegan shops it's become much more common. El Corte Inglés has at least four different brands.
Bring your Spanish
Money...
Espadrilles.
Money.
Condoms
Nothing,.. please
A sense of style.
Mace.
Melatonin.
Change your way of thinking. Adapt to Spain. Try hard to assimilate but don’t forget who you are!