Life in Barcelona: Turks in Spain and the Untold Side | Guest: Sibel AĞLAMAZ
September 1, 2026 · 48:37
What is life in Barcelona like? What are the biggest problems Turks living in Spain face, and is there really solidarity within Barcelona's Turkish community?
I sat down with @sibelaglamaz, founder of the Turkish STEM Society and an immigration consultant, to talk about life in Spain and the rarely discussed problems of Turks living in Barcelona. (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sibel_aglamaz/)
In our conversation with Sibel Ağlamaz, who has around 12 years of experience in Barcelona, we cover a wide range of topics, from moving to Spain and building a new life in Barcelona to the challenges of creating a social circle abroad.
How do Turks in Barcelona connect with each other? Why do newcomers first try to reach out to other Turks? Why do these relationships sometimes fade over time? Why doesn't solidarity among Turks reach the level it should?
Another key part of our conversation is working and earning a living in Spain. We discuss the cultural differences between Türkiye and Barcelona, working life in Spain and why building a professional network abroad matters.
We also share our experiences of adapting to Catalan, Spanish and Catalan culture in Barcelona, building a social life in Spain, and how people's lifestyles change after moving from Türkiye to Barcelona.
Later in the video, we talk about turning brain drain into brain power, Turks abroad supporting each other professionally, and how Barcelona's Turkish community can build a stronger network.
Is life in Spain really as easy as it looks from the outside? What social and cultural challenges might people considering a move to Barcelona face? Why does the way Turks treat each other abroad sometimes change?
This video offers a different perspective, both personal and community-focused, especially for those thinking about moving to Spain, those who want to live in Barcelona, Turks already living in Spain and anyone planning to build a new life abroad.
Chapters:
00:00 Turks Living in Barcelona
01:04 Who Is Sibel Ağlamaz?
02:37 12 Years of Life in Barcelona
05:03 Turkish STEM Society and Its Work in Barcelona
09:35 What Is Barcelona's Turkish Community Like?
12:29 The Challenges of Living in Spain
13:21 How Did the Turkish Community Start to Form?
14:43 Cultural Differences Between Türkiye and Barcelona
15:33 Working and Earning Money in Spain
17:07 Connecting with Turks First When Abroad
20:00 Solidarity Among Turks in Barcelona
24:00 Friendship and Communication Problems Abroad
28:00 Building a Social Circle in Barcelona
30:58 Why Do Turks Struggle to Build a Community?
31:53 How People Change After Moving from Türkiye to Barcelona
33:50 The Catalan Language Issue in Barcelona
34:53 Turning Brain Drain into Brain Power
37:08 Is Life in Spain Really Easy?
39:06 Why Should Turks Support Each Other?
41:30 The Biggest Problem in Barcelona's Turkish Community
43:58 The Communication Gap: Why Don't We Help Each Other?
45:24 Professional Solidarity Among Turks
46:06 The "Get Everything Done Cheap or for Free" Problem
46:23 How Can Turks in Spain Do Business Together?
48:19 Wrap-Up
#Barcelona #İspanya #İspanyadaYaşam
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