Before launching a job search, expat partner Kemal Tarakçı has focused on the basics – learning Spanish, finding an apartment, meeting people and getting used to 10pm dinners!
A diligent student
The last time we spoke to Kemal, he’d just started to learn Spanish – by reading cartoons. “I’m not looking at those anymore! I’m now reading literature, usually a book I’ve read before in Turkish, so I’m familiar with the storyline. I also watch films that I have seen before but which have been dubbed in Spanish,” says Kemal, a diligent student who practises Spanish for up to five hours each day. “I’m progressing all the time. It’s still hard to catch what locals are saying sometimes as they speak so fast!”
A walk in the park
“Finding an apartment in Barcelona felt like a full-time job. I was viewing 4-5 apartments a day for a few weeks. But we eventually found a nice place with lots of light and windows, in a great neighbourhood, not far from Sagrada Familia,” says Kemal, a devoted dog owner who starts the day with a walk in a nearby park. “It’s always a nice way to meet other dog owners and practise my Spanish! On my way back, I do my best to ignore all of the cafes with pastries, tortillas and breads – I practise intermittent fasting, so I don’t eat until afternoon!”
Hitting the gym
“I’m also a member at a local gym, where I have made a few friends – some are Spanish, but there are also guys from Latin America. That can be confusing for me, as they have different accents, slang words and expressions. But the feeling of camaraderie at the gym has helped me feel at home in a new city.”
Going local on weekends
“Since moving to Barcelona, I have learned that the weekend here basically starts on Thursday! As everyone knows, it’s normal for the locals to have dinner at 10pm, which takes a while to get used to. It’s a very vibrant city and we really love going out with friends on the weekend to soak up the atmosphere at a tapas bar or restaurant,” says Kemal, a business development professional with a background in mechanical engineering. “I’ve just started working with a coach. I’m sure searching for a full-time job will be another full-time job for me! But I’m looking forward to taking the next step with my life here.”
Photo: Kemal and his partner in Barcelona
All Global Connection’s corporate clients are leading multinationals. Due to some of their policies, we no longer use their name in public articles. However, expat partners signed in to our private Media & Network can see the multinational’s name.
