Fun fact
I had never been to Madrid before moving here…
Yep, this could've gone really wrong. Thankfully, it didn't! Here's what happened & my path in Spain.
about
Salina is a digital marketer and content creator
Hi there! I'm a one-woman team behind Searching Creative Co. One year after graduating from college in Arkansas, I moved to Madrid in the fall of 2018 to teach English and to genuinely figure out who I am and what I want in this life.
I started sharing my Europe backpacking adventures in 2016 on a tiny corner of the internet. Now, it's turned into a small, multifaceted creative project, now freelance business where I create content for brands & my personal brand, write A LOT, and connect with other people who are eager to explore other paths of life.
Things I love: slow mornings, great food, sunshine, jumping into the ocean, dogs, and café con leche.
7+
YEARS ABROAD
20+
Brand projects
∞
TAPAS
my story
How it all happened
A little timeline of the detours, jobs, and one-way tickets that got me here.
Summer 2016
First time in Spain
My first time visiting Spain was in the summer of 2016 on a backpacking trip throughout Europe. Visited Barcelona + Costa Brava and loved it. Had one more semester of university before I graduated, so I had to finish and get my degree.
2018 – 2019
Can I do that in Spain?
I had several friends who were off to teach English in South Korea, China, etc. So in 2018, I got my TEFL certification from the International TEFL Academy. They had a partnership with a Spanish language academy called TtMadrid.
Explore my blog contributions on International TEFL AcademySeptember 2018
One-way ticket to Madrid
Booked a one-way ticket to Madrid in September 2018 — TEFL certified and ready to take intensive Spanish courses.
2019 – 2020
Adjusting to a new EVERYTHING
The first 3–6 months were tough. Adjusting to a new… EVERYTHING. Job, language, people, new friends, and countless hours of paperwork. And then… I got a job that allowed me to teach English and travel around Spain. I got to surf, ski, and hike — and got paid for it.
2020 – 2021
Then… the pandemic
One year of fun, adventures (and hard work), and lots of traveling. And then… the pandemic. Stayed in Spain and applied for a Master's Program (International Education), and got in. I did coursework + I worked 16 hours a week as an English Language Assistant (Auxilliar de Conversacion).
2021 – 2022
Master's done, back to the US (briefly)
I got my Master's degree and then actually went back to the US for 3–4 months to work as a Trip Leader for Backroads! I was leading group hikes in Yosemite National Park for a month + some weeks working in the company's warehouse in Utah. The pay and experience was great, but for me, it wasn't sustainable long-term, and I was deep in my time in Spain and I missed it.
2022 – 2023
First BIG brand deal with a travel brand
Came back to Madrid and had some freelance projects (digital marketing) & I got my first HUGE brand deal with Steller Travel Planning, which was exciting!
2023 – 2024
Almost had to leave Spain permanently, but then... Job offer at an Edtech company
Got a job at an EdTech company and worked there for 6 months. I wanted to move on and then got a job a month later as a Conversion Copywriter for a global software development company. This job allowed me to apply for Spain's Digital Nomad visa in May 2024!
2024 – 2025
A pause, then what's next
Worked there till November 2025, was laid off, and took some time away.
2025 – 2026 & BEYOND!
And here we are!
On Spain's Digital Nomad Visa, networking, trying to become a soloprenuer, & putting myself in environments to meet new people and be inspired! Thank you for tagging along — I'm so glad you're here. More of the journey, adventures of living in Spain, to come.