From the moment I set foot in the Netherlands when I was 17, I knew I wanted to move abroad. But my dream of living abroad was always out of reach.
I made several attempts: studying Spanish in Spain when I was twenty-one, teaching English there at twenty-six, and even returning for a master’s degree at twenty-nine. But each time, my story came to the same seemingly inevitable conclusion: I would go home. Texas “to get a real job.”
There were practical obstacles, but the pressure for compliance was equally constrained. Society, family, and my own internal expectations pushed me toward a more traditional path: climbing the corporate ladder and measuring your worth by job title and salary. I did everything I could, but I never found satisfaction when I tried to fit into that box.
At 35, without a clear plan, I left another job and packed my bags. It felt like my last chance to fulfill my lifelong dream. Doubts loomed: Was I too old? What if it doesn’t work?
As I settled into my new life in Spain, something changed. Outside of the 9-to-5 job, I’ve found creativity and clarity. I discovered new interests, and within a year and a half I started I hit updatewhich enables women over 30 to change their lives by moving abroad.
Nearly a decade later, I have a thriving business, a fulfilling career, and a sense of identity that I struggled to find in the United States. The new perspective I found in Spain was no coincidence – living abroad allowed me to rewrite my story.
I can shed old identities and start over
At home, I internalized labels like “marketer” and “career hopper,” shaped by the belief that success meant following the conventional path. When I transitioned, I left behind the societal expectations, family pressures, and cultural norms that reinforced these roles.
In my new environment, I no longer feel restricted by labels that don’t fit me. It was transformative.
In Madrid, Spain.
Courtesy of Sibi Tapibian
Anonymity created a space to figure out who I wanted to become. I’ve explored interests I’d never thought of before, like starting a blog, public speaking, and organizing events in Madrid to help me find people I love. These activities allowed me to gain skills that would help me build my community work.
In Spain, I could imagine a life that was bigger, bolder, and more in keeping with my true self. I’ve got the freedom to Redefining myself.
The lower cost of living made it easier to take risks
In Spain, my cost of living decreased significantly. When I first arrived, for example, my rent was just €540 ($604 at the time) and included electricity, Wi-Fi and water, compared to $1,440 for my mortgage alone in the US.
In Spain, I could imagine a life that was bigger, bolder, and more in keeping with my true self.
Although prices have risen dramatically and my lifestyle has evolved since I moved here in 2015, life is still affordable for Americans with foreign income.
There is more free time for personal growth
Life in Spain had a gentle rhythm that I quickly embraced. Dinners turned into long, drawn-out conversations, and spontaneous get-togethers replaced the crowded social calendars I’d become accustomed to. Weekends were not for errands, but for leisure, including late nights out followed by lazy mornings.
In Madrid, Spain.
Courtesy of Sibi Tapibian
This pause became a catalyst for self-discovery. I started asking myself questions I’d been avoiding for a long time: What do I really want? What turns me on? What kind of life do I want to create?
I never considered myself a creative person, but in Spain, I was full of inspiration. I have channeled this energy into exciting projects.
I’ve been experimenting (briefly) with making vegan meals out of my kitchen. She created an in-person and online community for digital creatives, which led to a year-long paid collaboration with Facebook. Eventually I launched my own business.
It has completely changed my outlook on life
Looking back, I can’t help but marvel at how much I’ve come since that pivotal moment when I took the step to move to Spain for good a decade ago.
The woman who left the United States doubted her ability to build the life she dreamed of. But by starting over, I not only found a new place to live, I found a new place road To live.
I rebuilt my career, discovered new interests, and fostered a sense of self that was impossible to achieve in America.
Sibi Tapibian He is a founder I hit updatea community and resource platform that helps women over 30 move abroad, and author of “I’m out of here! The ultimate US visa guide to living in EuropeAs the daughter of Colombian and Iranian immigrants, Sibi grew up in Houston, Texas, before becoming an immigrant herself in Spain.
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