Polish migrant says locals in Barcelona drove her out amid anti-foreigner sentiment
A Polish woman who started a new life in Spain says she was pushed out as anti-tourism sentiment grew in Barcelona, prompting a move to Taiwan.
Karolina Wachowicz, 35, ditched her marriage and job in Poland for a new life in Spain, saying she was hounded out by locals angry at 'foreigners taking over'. She chose Barcelona because it was the cheapest option, aiming for a fresh start. But adjusting to life in Spain was far from simple; she had no job, no friends and did not speak the language.
She soon secured an employment contract and was able to rent an apartment in Barcelona, and just when everything was starting to fall into place, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The disruption forced many newcomers to rethink plans.
Despite the setback, she decided to stay and focus on her work rather than returning to Poland. After a few years, she bought a flat with a mortgage, despite friends warning that she did not speak Spanish well enough to handle the bank.
Backlash followed as locals joined anti-tourism protests, with posters and graffiti spreading across Barcelona as residents vented about congestion and rising rents. Wachowicz said she began to sense that friends who visited were not always welcome, and she was repeatedly called guiri, a term used by some to describe foreign tourists and residents. In her building, the owners were Catalan and she was the only foreigner; she was not included in the community WhatsApp group and was rarely consulted on building matters. La Barceloneta, the beachside neighborhood where she lived, drew year-round visitors and was crowded with posters, placards and stickers.
Barcelona is well known for its tourism, which provides significant revenue for the city and country, but it also contributes to rising housing prices. After six years in Spain, Wachowicz quit Barcelona earlier this year and moved to Taiwan. She said the anti-tourism movement in Barcelona felt unfair at times, arguing that visitors helped the city gain fame and funding for development. She added that many Catalans repeat the view that tourists are evil. She did not plan to move; Barcelona is beautiful, but the decision to leave was driven by a desire to be herself. In time, she found it easier to be herself in Spain and says she was happier there.