Canadian-born Sarah is enjoying expat life in Barcelona, Spain, where she lives with her boyfriend and runs her own Internet business. Here she shares what she thinks about living in Spain and gives some helpful information about learning the language and the cost of housing there.	Sarah Jarrett

-Where were you born?

Brampton, Ontario - Canada

-In which country and city are you living now?

Barcelona, Spain

-Are you living alone or with your family?

With my boyfriend, baby and dog

-How long have you been living in Spain?

3 years

-What is your age?

32

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Spain?

I moved here from London after meeting my boyfriend and falling in love... also I was ready for a change of pace after living in the UK for four years.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

It was no problem as my parents are both British thus I have a British passport and am thus able to work within the EU.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

No, Spain offers health care for all parties even if you are not legally residing in Spain.

-How do you make your living in Spain? Do you have any type of income generated?

I work as a Digital Project manager and also own and run my small business at http://www.barcelonaluxury.com. Jobs can be found on infojobs.net and loquo.com. It did not take long for me to find a job as I was approached by a recruitment company that specializes in my field.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I do indeed speak Spanish and understand a bit of Catalan. It's important to try, although a lot of expats don't speak very much as it is quite easy to live here and not speak the languages. I learned Spanish after moving here as immersion is the quickest way to learn.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

I do miss my family back in Canada but they visit frequently and I return home to visit too. Life here offers everything that one could find in Canada but with a much milder climate... and hey, you've got the sea at your doorstep and the mountains just next door!

-Do you have other plans for the future?

Our plans are never set in stone but for the near future we are happy to stay put here in Barcelona.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We rent our 2 bed flat in the gothic part of the city. It's a total nightmare to find affordable accommodation here so you really have to have patience and a lot of luck to find a place that doesn't cost more than your monthly salary. Normally 2 bedroom flats in the centre go for anything between 800 and 2500 euros a month. The average salary here is about the same range so you definitely need two incomes to pay for rent or a mortgage here!

-What is the cost of living in Spain?

The cost of living here is quite high but if you have several sources of income you can keep your head above the water. But it is very difficult to get ahead here.

-What do you think about the Spaniards?

Locals are great, they have no choice but to be nice as there are more foreigners and tourists than them!

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Spain?

 Positive things are definitely: Climate, quality of life, cuisine, culture and health care.

Negative things are: Low salaries, high rents, very slow bureaucracy.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Spain?

Come with an open mind and with a desire to learn and live differently, any other attitude will only see you returning home in a very short time.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Spain?

My favorite site is my company's: www.barcelonaluxury.com, or my wee blog at http://sj_chick.blogspot.com. However, another really great site which is the best resource site is http://www.loquo.com. You can find a job or a flat or a dog...