Interview with Mats Freitag
Neighbourhood:
Gracia
work:
Recruitment Consultant at Blu Selection
languages:
German, English y un poco de Español.
Nationality:
German
age range:
18-24 years old
landed in:
2022
Introducing Mats Freitag, a German expat in Barcelona.
Mats Freitag, What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced after your relocation?
The biggest challenge was to find my way around and learn the lay out of this beautiful, but also big city. There is so much to explore in Barcelona and it can take a while to figure out the city. I needed some time to get into my routine and to find out the best restaurants and bars.
Why did you choose to relocate to Barcelona?
Barcelona was a great place to develop my professional career and at the same time enjoy the advantages of living in a mediterranean city. This city is super international and it's great to network with like-minded people.
What do you love the most about Barcelona?
I enjoy being in a metropolitan city near the sea. I love to spend my weekends hanging out at the beautiful beaches of Barcelona. The high population of international people in Barcelona gives me the chance to connect with many different cultures and develop my own mindset.
What do you miss the most about home?
I probably miss my family, my cat, and my mum's food the most.
How did you meet your main community of friends?
I would recommend moving into a big flat with international students or workers who are also new to Barcelona, so you will have people to explore and adjust to the city with.
How did you find the job seeking process?
I got in contact with my company on LinkedIn. They took care of the bureaucratic things needed in order to work and live in Spain from day one on. A big thanks to BluSelection for this opportunity and for all the help.
Do you use your native language at work?
I am mainly recruiting for the German Market, so all the interviews I have are in my native Language. But, the internal communication is in english.
What was your greatest fear before moving to Barcelona?
My greatest fear was surviving the heat during the hot summer in July and August. As a German from the north, I am not used to this. 😉
How does the cost of living in Barcelona compare to back home?
It depends on the living standard that you have, but the biggest increase was definitely the accommodations. Your expenses assume and get more in total. Although the prices itself are not that much higher than the prices at home, in a city with so much to do it is easy to spend a lot of money on things like activities and eating and drinking in restaurants and bars.
Mats Freitag, What were the biggest adjustments you had to make when settling into life in Barcelona?
I was not used to the later timeframe people live by here. Eating lunch in the afternoon and dinner at midnight was very strange to me at first. Also, the language barrier was very difficult for me. Since all of my new friends were international, we mainly spoke in English with each each other. It was new to me to speak in English with my friends and was definitely a big adjustment. But, it was a great way to improve and perfect my English.
If you could give one piece of advice to future expats in Barcelona, what would it be?
I would recommend to take life a little more spontaneously. Barcelona is a fast paced environment, so things can change anytime. You should always be ready for an adventure!
Thank you to mats freitag for sharing your expat story with us!
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