On the smallest Canary Island, El Hierro, I met a family that lived in New York for six years. I asked them about the biggest differences between New York City and the Canaries, and they said, "Es el mismo" ("It's the same"). When they saw my surprise, they explained, "You go to work, you go home, you spend time with your family, you spend time with your friends.” Their day-to-day routine in the Canaries is the same as it was in New York, and they still only go sightseeing when friends visit. A lot of people think that living on an island might feel “too small,” but this family showed me a new perspective.
There are many reasons that people love living in the Canary Islands, including connections with family and friends, community, nature, and the quality of life. The grandmother of the family in El Hierro said that the island “es mi tierra” (“is my home”), and that she feels a deep sense of connection with the place she was born. In Spain in general, it is more common to live in the same area close to family for one’s whole life. My landlady lives in the same apartment where she grew up, and her brother and sister live on the floors above her. I teach English to her great-niece and nephew, who, like most of her family, live only a few blocks away. The family is very close and loves spending time together.
