Living Abroad is Changing My Life

One of the best decisions I've ever made was moving to Spain. There are so many interesting cultural differences between the USA and Spain. In this video, I describe some of my experiences, challenges and perspectives on my first year and a half as an extranjero.
Leave a comment/feedback if there's anything you want me to talk about in upcoming videos.
Everything shot on iPhone 11. Instrumentals made by me :)
Follow me on instagram: / evhailes

[@moneybags6840]

Good to see a young Black man declaring his humanity and claiming his freedom regardless of the world’s circumstances. Shit makes me proud. Keep doin you bro.

[@EvanHailes]

Appreciate your comment brother🙏🏾 definitely will keep going

[@wanehailes9422]

That's my nephew!! great job Evan!!!

[@EvanHailes]

Thank you unc!!

[@grimby63]

Hi there, first of all thank you so much for your videos, they are very interesting and so well edited. I am from England and have spent over 30 years in the south of Spain (close to Málaga) When I first came it was for a holiday but really felt that this was a place that I had to live, it is hard to put into words, I’m not a spiritual person but if I was id say that my soul is happy here. I did not know one word of Spanish and have leant by listening, watching TV in Spanish and avoiding paces where only English people hang out, I guess it’s the best way, it is how we learnt to speak our first language, I’m sure you knew how to speak before you went to school as a kid. I made lots of mistakes but learnt to laugh at myself, examples; Tortuga de patatas (tortilla de patatas) pollo asesinado (polo asado) champañones (champiñones) the list is endless. I visit England to see some family but truly feel like I’m home once I’m back here. I wish you well in your journey and hope that you continue to enjoy learning something new about the world and yourself, I find that I never get tired of it. Hugs to you guys, Michael

[@EvanHailes]

Michael, thank you so much for your comment. I admire your journey and how you were able to learn Spanish in a way that can be very difficult. I understand what you mean about Spain being a place you had to live. We had the same feeling when we arrived. Hope Malaga is treating you well!

[@robertpeterson1497]

I lived in Spain when I was younger too, after growing up in the Midwest in the U.S. My takeaways were similar to yours. Biggest thing is that there are different ways to live in the world, not just the way I was raised. It opens your mind and I’ve never been the same since then. I would love to live there again. So much better lifestyle.

[@bearsabovethewave]

Inspirational review of living abroad! Thank you mate. :)

[@EvanHailes]

Thank you for watching bro!

[@dejacopeland5528]

Gracias por compartir tus pensamientos de este tema! Soy de los E.E.U.U. pero actualmente estoy estudiando y trabajando en un pueblo ubicado en Madrid. Desde que llegué en el pueblo, me he sentido un gran sentido de paz que nunca me he sentido en los E.E.U.U. Recientemente les he estado diciendo a mis seres queridos que no me importaría vivir acá en Madrid y ahora veo esto video 😂

[@EvanHailes]

Toma esa como una señal 😂

[@madelinediaz9564]

Me encanta ver jóvenes como tú atreverse a vivir experiencias sigue que tengas Éxito en todo lo que te propongas😊

[@scheilaferreira7899]

I really like this video, well done Evo! I am an English teacher and I am using it for some of my classes. I really hope you do well with your channel! Ah! Nice voice too!

[@EvanHailes]

Scheila, so amazing to hear you’re using it for your classes! I really appreciate you watching the video and for your words😊 would love to hear what your students think!

[@scheilaferreira7899]

@@EvanHailes I will!

[@luzgomez1061]

I loved you video! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@EvanHailes]

Thank you for watching!

[@91JimmyJames]

I love Spain and plan to move there. My wife and i love alicante and want to use it has or home base to travel to other partes of europe. The first time i was there i felt at home but thought people starred at me a lot. It might have been my chacos, shorts, and tank tops.

[@fashionista101kt]

love your channel! especially as i’m getting ready to live abroad (and trying to convince my bf to come!) blessings you both

[@juampisito]

Me gustan las conclusiones a las que llegas, se nota que viajar ha sido una experiencia enriquecedora para ti! Espero que sigas aquí, los Españoles solemos ser bastante cerrados al principio, a diferencia de lo que la mayoría piensa, pero como dijiste, una vez que se establece una relación suelen ser sinceras y durar para siempre.

[@EvanHailes]

Muchas gracias Juan!

[@ericfd786]

Nice real talk bro

[@EvanHailes]

My bro🤟🏾 appreciate you

[@tonyyahu8409]

Ha ha. We experienced some of the same things when I was in Germany. Great experience nephew.

[@Gisele541]

That was so so interesting to listen to. My self I lived abroad in 2 different country and continent for 8 and 3 years and this resonates with me in so many many level thanks for sharing your perspective on this topic with such an articulate voice. New sub❤

[@EvanHailes]

Gisele, thank you so much for watching! I really appreciated your words and will continue making videos on this topic. Traveling abroad has so many positives that I hope to share with more people!

[@macalex101]

Very cool, thoughtful expressions of living in a new country. I moved to Greece and can identify with a lot of what you said. Hope it works out for you as well as it has for me (so far!).

[@EvanHailes]

Thank you Alex! Appreciate your comment. Hope Greece is treating you well!

[@dannypakaz]

I love this bro! Found your channel recently and I'm loving the vibes. My gf & I are working hard towards moving to Spain in the next couple years. Going to follow your journey along the way, keep it up!

[@EvanHailes]

Thank you for watching man🙏🏾 good luck in your journey!

[@Good1.way.to.live1]

Awesome! Thankyou for this video...would love to live in Spain someday. My family has plans for a month in Valencia this summer. It will be a great taste of how life could be away from the chaos of the US. Muchas gracias!!

[@EvanHailes]

Enjoy Valencia and the amazing paella 😍

[@Sebshuerta]

Great video, I appreciate the reflection on your experiences

[@averymitchell3032]

really great video. im just sitting in my room trying to draw some visuals to think about and help keep me inspired. nice one

[@EvanHailes]

Thank you for watching🙏🏾

[@jamieclemits7076]

Amazing video man.

[@divinelyhere]

Honestly people might be looking at you because you're so handsome!

[@EvanHailes]

Haha I appreciate that ♥️

[@ianlodewyk3843]

Awesome videos Evo. Very inspiring💯

[@EvanHailes]

Thank you Ian🙏🏾

[@Skimp3]

Dope content. Thanks for sharing!

[@EvanHailes]

Thank you for watching!

[@motta_x]

Mad interesting. Ironically I’ve been thinking about moving to Spain for a couple months this summer, but have been hesitant due to being alone without being able to fluently speak Spanish.

[@EvanHailes]

Thank you bro! I definitely recommend moving here. You’ll learn so many things about yourself, other people. Might even surprise yourself when you can carry a full conversation after a couple weeks

[@Sourcream23]

Europe is hard for Americans to Adapt to because people care more about their lives then making money and grinding. While I was living in Italy I found myself getting annoyed regularly because I was always go go go, and Italians are always Domani lol. But in retrospect Europeans live very nice peaceful lives and enjoy the small things alot more naturally. I've found myself with the urge to get a decent remote job and moving back to Italy because it and Europe in general are very enjoyable. Europeans are also usually way more interesting 😂 and if you're American you're usually the cool American wow. All this to say enjoy Spain brother and I plan to come back to Europe one day to settle.

[@EvanHailes]

Noah, appreciate you for watching and for sharing your experience. I’m kinda in the same spot as you. Living in such a relaxed environment is affecting my whole personality tbh😂 like you noticed, you start to take more time to appreciate the little things bc you’re not always in go mode. Definitely will keep making more videos. Thanks🙏🏾

[@anbbjag4724]

Morì con el comentario de "pollo asesinado" 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@alifc1082]

I'm a bit surprised you're saying in Spain people look at you cause you're black, in Granada or Tenerife. I live in Barcelona and are plenty of black people, from different countries, doesn't seem like people have a special reaction... I imagine in big cities is like that, but also Spanish people should have an easier look on skin color as they have "cousins" of all colors in South and Central America.

[@EvanHailes]

From my experience, and the experiences of some of my black friends I have made in Spain, they've confirmed being treated differently based on their skin color.

[@coderk4130]

Un estilo de vida mas relajado es bueno para tu salud y evita el estress, por eso españa es uno de los paises mas longevos del mundo, y no te enfades si algun amigo te dice "que pasa negro", a un pelirojo lo pueden llamar "oxidado", o a uno que este grueso "gordo", siempre en el contexto amistoso de la situacion, los españoles son muy propensos a poner "motes" (llamar a alguien de una determinada manera segun su fisico o segun alguna costumbre o anecdota), y no se suele hacer con mala intencion, al contrario, en sentido amistoso.

[@EvanHailes]

Una de las cosas más bonitas de la cultura aqui

[@yemyint9805]

You are a handsome man ❤️

[@anacasanova7350]

Mira Evo, tu deberías ir una temporada a Cuba, allí la mitad son negros o mulatos y el resto de origen solo español,. Allí aprenderlas español rodeado de casi españoles sin problemas de color ni de idioma . Con alegría y buen humor. Pruébalo.

[@mackenziepost]

Hola, me gustaria hacer una observacion a tu comentario. Aunque creo que tus intenciones eran puras, decir que debería visitar cuba porque hay gente negra es una cosa rara de decir. Lo más probable es que no le digas a una persona blanca que debe visitar suiza o cualquier otro país porque hay gente blanca allí. Como hombre negro, a Evan le gustaría visitar Cuba porque es un hermoso país de habla hispana, no solo porque hay gente negra allí. El problema no es Evan y no debería tener que ajustar su viaje en función de la raza, el problema es la gente de estos países que actúa y se comporta por ignorancia. No todas las personas, por supuesto, pero hay algunas que actúan de esta manera, ya sea que las veas o no.

[@anacasanova7350]

@@mackenziepost hay que visitar Cuba porque allí no hay racismo, negros. Mulatos y blancos conviven con alegría . No como en USA y otros países como Sudáfrica. En que si eres negro tienes muchos números para que te disparen un tiro, incluida la policía. Este chico Evo, y todos los negros norteamericanos están muy sensibilizados con su color de piel. Y todo les pica, todo les parece racismo. Tienen una percepción enfermiza de su realidad étnica en Europa. Y en concreto en España.

[@nevadanites]

It's refreshing seeing other like minded brothas having the same awareness, having love of country (US) but knowing there is a better life out there aside from this American rat race! Keep up the good videos!

[@EvanHailes]

Appreciate you bro🙏🏾 thank you for watching

[@beltrangarrote1982]

EVO, First of all: welcome to Spain. And now let's go with my 2 cents of Spanish directness. America is a Continent (or 2, depending on definition) not a Country. US of America is the country. There are many countries in America. Americans around the World stating they are from "America" is the perfect way to start off on the wrong foot. It sounds like the USA owns the whole Continent. I suggest saying "I'm from the US or USA". I wish you the best. Don't forget to eat at a "guachinche". You'll find many up hill from El Puerto de la Cruz.

[@EvanHailes]

Thank you for your comment! Yeah, you definitely are correct. Something us United States citizens have gotten very comfortable with saying, but can be dismissive to all of the other nations in North, South and Central America. Will keep this with me!

[@leondavisjr9035]

Great trabajo ur not American never have been and what you are also pointing out is how you have been crippled and lied to because English is a second language for all Blacks, we are unaware of what our first language is; Keep living and thanks

[@Runwithme101]

How do you survive financially wise ,

[@EvanHailes]

Stay tuned for my next video😎

[@steinarbrevikknudsen1546]

Hey...haven't you thought about people looking at you because you look great? Remember that in Spain there are people from most of the world....and remember that Spaniards are not one ethnic people...Gypsies and Moors are probably the ones who are most visible both in culture and architecture.