I moved to Spain over a decade ago and visit the Bay Area yearly. After a few weeks in California, I remember why I stay abroad.

"I've lived in Spain for over a decade. I'm always excited to go "home" to visit family and friends in the San Francisco Bay Area, and spend time in a place that is so familiar. I usually visit once a year. My first week back, I'm reminiscing, and my brain is buzzing thinking about how I can move back and what my life would look like. Yet, by the third or fourth week - if I stay that long - reality settles in."

"A car is necessary for going grocery shopping, to the gym or a dance class, meeting up with friends, or essentially getting from point A to B, unless you live in the city and can walk or rely on public transportation. There's no denying that life in the United States revolves around the car. Public transit in the suburbs isn't efficient, often doesn't take you where you need to go, or is nonexistent."

I have lived in Spain for over a decade and visit the San Francisco Bay Area about once a year. The first week of visits brings nostalgia and plans to move back, but after several weeks the realities of Bay Area life emerge. High housing costs and heavy traffic make daily life expensive and time-consuming. Suburban public transit is inefficient or nonexistent, and most errands require a car. Drivers can feel aggressive and friends often have packed schedules, reducing spontaneous socializing. Spain offers walkable neighborhoods, reliable public transit, and daily use of Spanish. These differences produce reverse cultural shock and clarify where I belong.

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