Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
MARIA Robertson-Justiniano was living a ‘fairytale’ life with her husband and son in Chicago when tragedy struck.
In 2018, her husband Alex died unexpectedly, shattering her world and setting her on a new path – one that would eventually lead her to Spain.
Maria, unable to imagine living in the US anymore, decided to leave and start over.
READ MORE ‘I’ve never been happier’: US expat says she feels ‘freer’ and ‘more at peace’ in Spain – and pays just €300 in rent
After Alex’s death in 2022, her son Lucas and she moved to Valencia where her mother was originally from.
The Language of Speaking CNN Travel, Maria says: “Valencia has helped us heal.”
While she had spent time there before and even lived in the city briefly in her 20s, she had never considered making it her permanent home – until life forced her to rethink everything.
The process of starting over was not simple. Maria quit her job, sold her furniture and home, and sold her home to start the immigration process.
The journey that followed was filled with bureaucratic roadblocks.
She admits that the relocation journey wasn’t easy in any way, noting the many ‘obstacles’ that lay before her, but she was able to see light at the end of the tunnel.
Maria warns people that they romanticise moving to Spain and tend to think everything is easy and sunny.
She says that the reality is very different. Her first attempt at buying a home in Valencia failed, and she couldn’t secure a golden Visa.
Luckily, she had started the process of obtaining Spanish citizenship while still in the US – a process she calls a ‘nightmare,’ despite being fluent in Spanish.
But once she and Lucas finally arrived, it felt like reaching ‘the promised land.’
Maria has said that the move she made three years ago gave her peace.
She feels calmer now that Valencia has helped her step out of the constant stress state she was living.
She also feels that her son is safe in Spain. She says that she doesn’t have to worry about her son going to school.
While she acknowledges that crime can happen anywhere – their home in Valencia was burgled – she feels more at ease.
Here, I feel safe running at night in summer.
She warns that Valencia will change, even though Maria and Lucas are enjoying their new life.
The cost of life is increasing, and she’s seen an influx in American expats.
Maria rarely heard American accents twenty years ago. But now, there’s a large community of Americans in the city.
Maria is determined to assist others in the difficult process of moving. She has created a relocation company, Valencia Vibes Relocation. This business aims to ease the transition for anyone hoping to settle down in Spain.
Her main advice for others considering a move is to ‘be prepared,’ particularly with regards to finances.
Despite the challenges, Maria says she has no regrets, claiming that it was the ‘best decision’ she has ever made.
