The 25-Year Persuasion: Yvonne's Unconventional Move to Spain

The 25-Year Persuasion: Yvonne's Unconventional Move to Spain

From Whereabouts Tales | Stories of Belonging and Immigrant Experiences by Paul Puscas | Stories of Belonging and Cultural Exploration

April 8, 2026 · 1h 23m · Season 2 · Episode 23

About this episode

Yvonne shares her journey of moving from Germany to Spain, discussing cultural differences and her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hey everyone, Paul here, and I'm still buzzing from my incredible conversation with Yvonne! If you've ever dreamed of leaving your home country for a sunnier, slower pace of life, or even if you just need a serious dose of positivity, then you *have* to listen to this episode. Yvonne's story is truly captivating. Born in Germany, raised in Belgium, she’s lived what she calls a "nomad life" from a young age (03:17). But interestingly, Spain wasn't her first choice; her heart was set on France. We dive into how a freezing winter trip to France, combined with a family dream of opening a B&B, unexpectedly pivoted her and her husband Carsten towards the sunny shores of Andalusia (05:40). I was particularly fascinated by Yvonne's multilingual background, nurtured in a European school, which made the switch from French to Spanish surprisingly smooth (07:07). Her candid reflections on the cultural differences between Germany and Spain are eye-opening. She openly shares her struggles with what she perceives as a German "complaining" culture (12:18), contrasting it with the Spanish approach to life, resilience, and problem-solving, which she attributes, in part, to…

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