James W.
Travel & Immersion
James moved to Barcelona on a one-way ticket and a phrasebook-level vocabulary. He's since survived Spanish bureaucracy, made actual Spanish friends (harder than it sounds), and learned that mañana doesn't mean tomorrow — it means not today. He writes about the messy, funny, sometimes humbling reality of living in Spain as a foreigner.
Articles by James
Surviving Spanish Bureaucracy: A Foreigner's Guide
El padrón, la cita previa, el NIE — the vocabulary, cultural context, and hard-won survival strategies for Spain's infamous paperwork.
A Spanish Learner's Guide to Madrid
Not a tourist guide — a language learner's map to the barrios, intercambios, bookshops, and experiences that will actually improve your Spanish.
How to Make Spanish Friends (Not Just Language Partners)
The difference between a quedada and a friendship, why it takes longer than you expect, and why it's worth every awkward moment.
Best Spanish Shows on Netflix Right Now
A curated, genuinely opinionated list organized by difficulty level, with tips on how to actually learn from each show.