Is it hard to integrate into society in Barcelona as an expat?

Is it hard to assimilate into society in Barcelona and Catalonia? What are the challenges and barriers to breaking into the culture here? How do foreign residents feel about how well integrated they are here?  

We put these questions to visitors at the Barcelona International Community Day to see if they feel they are a part of the social fabric of the city.

Language 

Of course, language is another major aspect that can help or hinder a foreign resident’s assimilation. Speaking the local languages can help not only with breaking the first barrier to communicating with the locals and getting to know your neighbors, but it can also provide the keys to understanding the news to give insight into the various issues affecting the city and country, and even pop culture references which can help you understand in-jokes that can make you feel a part of the community.  

Knowing the local languages is “really helpful,” according to Hungarian researcher Zsuzsanna Magyar. “I think people really appreciate if you try in Catalan,” she adds. “I think they are very proud of their language and their culture and they are really nice people when you talk to them.” 

Deryll Kluskowski, an American expat who has lived in Barcelona for a year, is still struggling with the language, but feels well integrated into society nonetheless. He visited the Barcelona International Community Day with Jamie Novak, and for both of them, “as much as we want to practice our Spanish, so many people speak English, so it's very difficult to do that,” Deryll says.  

Yet, he has certain moments in his weekly routine that let him use what Catalan he does know. “My favorite is at the local market getting to know the guy who sells us our fruits and vegetables, Salvo, he's awesome. He teaches me Catalan because he speaks very little English, and I speak no Catalan, but he's helping, so it’s been really good.” 

Derek Lumpkins, also from the US, says he does not feel assimilated into the culture here. "I still don't know Catalan, I still need to work on my Spanish. I don't know a lot of people here,” he explains. 

Meeting local people 

But learning the languages is “not enough,” according to Ukrainian engineer Sergii Grytsan. “I have to find a way to blend in to meet the local people, and this is where I'm still struggling,” he says. He explains that he doesn’t have much time in his routine to meet local people and make connections. Not only is there a language barrier for him, “but also the cultural barrier that is broken up with a bit of language. So it's like a circle that I struggle a little bit to break.”  

Derek Lumpkins, also from the US, says he does not feel assimilated into the culture here. "I still don't know Catalan, I still need to work on my Spanish. I don't know a lot of people here,” he explains. 

Deryll Kluskowski, an American expat who has lived in Barcelona for a year, is still struggling with the language, but feels well integrated into society nonetheless. He visited the Barcelona International Community Day with Jamie Novak, and for both of them, “as much as we want to practice our Spanish, so many people speak English, so it's very difficult to do that,” Deryll says.  

Yet, he has certain moments in his weekly routine that let him use what Catalan he does know. “My favorite is at the local market getting to know the guy who sells us our fruits and vegetables, Salvo, he's awesome. He teaches me Catalan because he speaks very little English, and I speak no Catalan, but he's helping, so it’s been really good.” 

Jamie Novak says she has made a close local friend in her time living here. “I did a telemedicine call and my doctor and I really bonded. She and I have actually gotten together socially a few times, and we even went up the Costa Brava together, she has an apartment up there.” 

Local traditions 

Nimesh Chahare, an Indian PhD student here, explained that he initially made lots of Catalan friends in his workplace, and they showed him local cultural activities such as correfoc fire runs and festa majors. He also enjoys visiting the various ‘Centre Civics’ cultural spaces in neighborhoods but admits that he needs to improve his grasp of the Catalan language in order to fully enjoy the activities there.  

FC Barcelona, as one of the biggest football clubs in the world, is often the first contact with Catalonia many people around the world have. That was the case for Sergii Grytsan, who dreamed about visiting the Catalan capital since he was a child because of the sports institution.  

“I visited, then I loved the city,” he explains, adding that this led to him experiencing the local culture a little, which then led him to looking into local history, which he found interesting.