Madrid, my home sweet home Having lived abroad in the United States, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Switzerland, and France, among others, I knew what it was like not to feel at home. In the United States, not having a Social Security Number made me an outsider, causing numerous inconveniences, such as not being able to get a phone contract with certain providers. In Brazil, not speaking the language perfectly had made me uneasy as I sensed that people talked behind my back. Slowly but surely, I learned to live the Spanish lifestyle. Dealing with cantamañanas (literally translated as "those who sing "tomorrow"") is the quotidian routine here. I began to accept that things wouldn't be done on time - especially not in August when the whole country, except for the beaches, comes to a halt. Particularly during the summer months, I, too, came to appreciate the siestas. And whenever I boarded the metro, I made sure to hold on to my belongings. Now, all of us in Spain are confronted with more than just pickpockets. It seems 100 billion euros isn't enough to save the Spanish banks, IVA. taxes have risen to 21 per cent, and youth unemployment is peaking at 52.1 per cent. Spain's "lost generation" is emigrating, and those left behind are suffering the consequences of a financial mismanagement that extends to Europe as a whole. In Spain, daiily life is permeated by pressure, insecurities and despair. What will happen next? We stand in rapt anticipation of the government's every move. As a natural optimist, I continue to believe in all the positive aspects of living in Madrid. The capital's kilometer-long Paseo del Arte, including the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía museums, offers one of the highest fine art concentrations in the world. While tourists stand in line at this Golden Triangle, locals know where to go for alternative art: La Tabacalera or La Casa Encendida. If sports ignite your spirit, Spaniards will welcome you to cheer along - the third-straight crowning of the Spanish football team at Euro 2012 was unprecedented. Unparalleled, too, is the nightlife, which will enthrall flamenco lovers and clubbing addicts alike - try Tablao las Carboneras for the latter, and Joy Eslava for the former. At 8am, you can watch the sun rise with chocolate con churros. In fact, the culinary joys never seem to sleep in Spain. There are tapas bars open at all hours, too many to enumerate. For the best bacalao (cod fish) in town, try Casa Labra, and the Bar Los Caracoles near the Rastro flea market for some Spanish escargot. Chances are your days in Madrid will be embellished by sunshine - the capital boasts an average of more than 300 days of sunshine per year. From the azure sky, my glance returned to the SMS on my phone: "Glad to hear you arrived safely," my family had texted back. Though they referred to that particular Munich-Madrid flight, I read the message as a more universal interpretation of the expat lifestyle. As expats, we undergo a period of ambiguity, in which we always feel like those who have just arrived. But if you give your new destination a chance, it can eventually become your home. Meanwhile, those of us at home in Spain wish that its sun would also shine again soon in the socio-economic and political realm. Isabel Eva Bohrer is a writer and photographer based in Madrid, Spain, where she publishes MADbudget: a Local's Guide to Madrid. Learn more about her work at www.isabelevabohrer.com.