From Nepal to the UK and Spain: My Journey of Struggle, Growth and New Beginnings

I never fully planned the path my life has taken. From Nepal to Southeast Asia, then to the United Kingdom, and finally to Spain — every step came with its own struggles, its own lessons, and its own quiet transformation. This is my story.

Where it started: Nepal

I'm Vivek Dahal, originally from Nepal. Before I ever thought about living abroad, I built a career in IT at home.

I spent a year and a half as a Junior IT Officer at Buddha Air, keeping systems running in the demanding world of aviation. After that I moved into healthcare as an IT Officer at Blue Cross Hospital, where I sharpened my skills in networking, hardware support and infrastructure.

For about six months I also taught Computer Hardware and Networking at Bode Secondary School. Passing on practical knowledge to students turned out to be one of the more rewarding things I've done.

And through all of it, I was freelancing remotely for a German company — video editing, graphic design, small web projects. I didn't know it then, but that remote work would become the thread that held my whole international journey together.

First glimpses of the world

Before Europe, I got my first taste of life beyond Nepal through travel. I made short trips to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia — not to settle, just to see.

Each one left a mark. Singapore showed me discipline and order. Thailand, warmth and an easy kind of hospitality. Malaysia, the texture of a genuinely multicultural society.

Those trips were small, but they did something big: they gave me the confidence to imagine a life outside the country I'd always known. Looking back, that was where the real journey began.

The United Kingdom — and a hard lesson

In August 2024, I moved to the United Kingdom, hopeful that I'd carry on with my IT career.

It didn't work out that way.

Despite my experience, doors in my field stayed closed. To get by, I took a job as a kitchen helper in a restaurant. It wasn't the plan, but it taught me things a CV never could — humility, patience, and how to keep going when nothing is going your way.

Six months in the UK were hard. The cost of living was relentless. IT openings never came. The mental weight of it built up. I had to adapt fast and survive on work I'd never imagined doing.

What I took from it: life abroad isn't always the story you tell before you leave. Flexibility matters more than expectations.

A change of direction

After six months, I admitted to myself that settling in the UK wasn't going to happen — not then, anyway.

So I started looking again. The more I read about Spain, the more it added up: opportunity, affordability, and a way of living that actually appealed to me. That decision changed everything.

Landing in Spain

I arrived in Spain on 28 January 2025.

The start was anything but smooth. In Facebook groups, people warned that even basic steps like the padrón could cost €600–€700 a year. It scared me — until I did my own research and learned the truth: the padrón is free, as long as you have the right documents and a proper address.

So instead of handing money to middlemen, I looked for legal accommodation and found a shared room in Torrent, just outside Valencia: €400 in rent, around €200 a month in other costs. My freelance work with my German client kept me afloat. I owe a real debt of gratitude to Uwe Paukert, who trusted and supported me through all of it.

Life in Torrent

My first impression of Spain has stayed with me. Torrent was sunshine, orange trees and a slow, easy calm. After the grey weight of the UK, the place felt alive.

It wasn't without its problems. I didn't speak Spanish. Few people around me spoke English. I leaned hard on translation apps. I had no legal residency yet, and I was preparing to apply through Arraigo Social. But I kept working, and I kept my head above water.

Finding my feet

Over my first eleven months around Valencia, Spain slowly stopped feeling foreign. I made friends — Nepalis and others — and that made all the difference; the loneliness eased.

I started exploring, too: the Valencia beaches, Gandía, Buñol, Benidorm, Calpe. Every trip stitched me a little closer to the country.

Missing home

For all the growth, there were lonely stretches. Living far from Nepal is never simple. Some days I miss my family and home with a real ache.

My brother, who's studying in Estonia, came to Madrid once for a university trip, and I went to meet him. Seeing him there, after so long apart, hit me hard in the best way. It reminded me that distance doesn't weaken the things that matter. I came away from that weekend with more strength to keep going.

Barcelona

I also got to visit Barcelona. The architecture, the streets, the beaches, the energy of the place — it's a city where history and modern life sit side by side without any friction. Another memory I'll keep.

Moving to Castellón

When my time in Torrent came to an end, I moved to Castellón for about six months. I kept freelancing and waited — watching for the immigration changes that might open a door, building my life a step at a time.

The breakthrough

Then Spain announced an extraordinary regularisation programme, and I qualified.

I applied, and it came through: work authorisation in Spain.

That changed everything. I registered as an autónomo — self-employed — and carried on working legally with my German client. For the first time since leaving home, I felt steady ground under my feet.

Palma de Mallorca

With some stability behind me, I moved to Palma de Mallorca to meet a friend — and fell for the island almost immediately.

I live in Palma now, freelancing and taking on part-time work. Life here feels peaceful and balanced in a way I hadn't had in a long time. The beaches, the pace, the light — it's one of the most special places I've ever lived.

Waiting on the TIE

Right now, I'm waiting for my TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero). After the legal process and the work authorisation, this is the last step — the residency card itself.

For me the TIE is more than a piece of plastic. It means stability, recognition, a new chapter. I don't have it in my hands yet, but getting this far already feels like a win.

What the journey taught me

A few things I've learned, the hard way:

Don't be afraid to start over.
Flexibility beats expectations, every time.
A bit of research saves money and avoids mistakes.
Language is the key to belonging.
Every struggle leaves you stronger.
Nothing is permanent.

Still going

From Nepal to Southeast Asia, the UK and now Spain — my journey has been one long lesson in challenge, adaptation and growth. I've worked in aviation, healthcare, education, hospitality and freelancing. I've faced uncertainty, language barriers and constant change. All of it made me who I am.

The story isn't finished. I'm still learning, still growing, still building a life in Spain.

If I could pass on one thing, it's this: don't be afraid to start over. Sometimes the hardest roads lead to the places that mean the most.