I moved from Los Angeles to Barcelona. Here are 11 things that surprised me most.

A few years ago, I moved out of the US and began building a new life in Barcelona. Jordan Mautner About six years ago, I moved from Los Angeles to Barcelona and began building a life in Spain. Barcelona is beautiful, and I've been surprised by some of the local holiday traditions. I also wasn't expecting some eating customs, like sandwiches for breakfast and 9 p.m. dinners. After years of visiting Europe from Los Angeles, I took the plunge and relocated to Barcelona in 2020. I've spent the past six years really making Spain feel like home, but when I first moved, there were definitely a few experiences and cultural norms that took some getting used to.  Here's what surprised me the most when I moved from the US to Spain.  I knew Barcelona was in Spain, but the region of Catalonia has its own language and culture. Catalonia is a region in northeastern Spain. Jordan Mautner Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a northeastern region of Spain. When I first moved, I assumed Spanish would be the go-to language, but I was quite mistaken. When you walk into stores and restaurants, the menus and signs are usually in Catalan. And although everyone speaks Spanish, it's still good to know a few Catalan words and phrases to be polite and respect the culture.  A few of my favorites are "adéu" ("goodbye"), "si us plau" ("please"), "molt bé" ("very well"), and "merci" ("thank you"). There are a few unique holiday traditions I had to learn when I moved. There are multiple traditions involving "pooping." Jordan Mautner There's no Valentine's Day here, but in late April, they have Sant Jordi — a celebration of love during which women are supposed to give a man a book in exchange for a rose. Many people also celebrate La Mona on the Monday after Easter. Traditionally, godparents give their godchildren an egg-shaped cake for the whole family to enjoy.  My all-time favorite Catalonia traditions come at Christmas. For the whole month of December, children leave food and water out for Caga Tió, which translates to pooping log. Then they hit the log with a stick on Christmas Eve, and Caga Tió "poops out" presents. People take this tradition very seriously; the streets of Barcelona are decorated with this pooping log, and just about every store has one in its window. In the same vein, caganers are another fascinating Christmas tradition in Catalonia. The little pooping figurine is placed in nativity scenes to represent fertilization and hope for the new year. Now, there are caganer shops all over Barcelona year-round for tourists. Nearly every celebrity has been transformed into a caganer, from Freddy Mercury to SpongeBob SquarePants to Joe Biden.  Tapas are genuinely a way of life here. It's common to share tapas with the whole table. Jordan Mautner Tapas, small, shareable plates, are prevalent in restaurants across Barcelona.  I love this way of dining because you get a little taste of everything. I typically order between three and six tapas to share with a friend or two. Some of the most popular tapas include croquetas, which are kind of like a breaded meatball; patatas bravas, cubed potatoes served with mayo and a tomato sauce; pimientos del pardón, small fried green peppers; and tortilla espanñola, a Spanish omelet prepared with egg and potato. I've found it surprisingly easy to have a balanced lifestyle here. There are so many outdoor activities to do near Barcelona. Jordan Mautner Barcelona is known for its nightlife, from great cocktail bars to decadent nightclubs that stay open until the wee hours of the morning. However, it also offers more relaxed activities than I imagined. Because of the great, warm weather nearly year-round, there are countless outdoor fitness and yoga classes in the parks and on the beaches. I've also seen plenty of volleyball and paddleboarding. I can always balance out a wild night of drinking and dancing with a long stroll on the beach and an afternoon yoga class. Sandwiches for breakfast are the norm. A cup of coffee and a bocadillo in Spain. Jordan Mautner A typical Spanish breakfast is a bocadillo, a sandwich served on baguette-style bread. The bread is first rubbed with fresh tomatoes, referred to as "pan con tomate," to get the perfect amount of flavor and texture. Then it's traditionally filled with ham, but sometimes there's also cheese or a potato omelet inside. The affordable dish is usually served alongside a coffee in the morning. I didn't know about calçots or that there was a traditional way to eat them until I got here. Calçots are in season in winter and spring. Jordan Mautner Calçots season typically runs from late winter into early spring, and it's quite the experience. Eating calçots and experiencing the tradition behind them was a first for me. They're part of the onion family, similar to scallions, and they're grilled and served with a romesco sauce made from puréed tomato, garlic, and almonds. Traditionally, you're given a bib and gloves to dive into