I am a recent graduate moving to Spain as an English Assistant.  Though I have studied abroad I am a bit apprehensive about moving to Spain without the safety net of my University. I speak Spanish above intermediate level which should help but I have a few questions about .....

1.) I lived in Madrid for a semester and had a wonderful experience.  I endured some well-intentioned questions about my background and lots of staring….all of which I could handle.  I am an African American woman from a huge city where diversity is celebrated and commonplace. Now I hope to live in Alcal? de Henares but will be teaching in a smaller town with children and I am kind of nervous about how I will be received outside of a diverse area.

Any thoughts, advice, or experiences that might help me feel a little more comfortable or at least enable me to paint a realistic picture for myself of what to expect…........ I?d really appreciate the info.  Also, does anyone have any insight into interracial dating in Spain? Castilla-La Mancha? 

2.) Does anyone have any suggestions about the best areas to live in Alcal? de Henares?  Or know anyone (from the University maybe) looking for a roommate to share an apartment with there?  I don?t know anyone there so I would greatly appreciate any contacts.

Thanks!

I don’t know about Alcal? de Henares, but I do know that there are more and more immigrants from all over arriving in Spain.  Spaniards are usually pretty good at accepting others if you make the effort to integrate and speak the language.  I myself am American and married to a South American.  We’ve never gotten any strange looks on the street despite the fact that I’m white as milk and he’s pretty dark.  I don’t think Spaniards discriminate on race, more on culture.

Thanks for sharing your experience Rubi.  It is great to hear about a positive interracial experience.  I plan to go with an open mind and my Spanish is pretty good so I should manage.