Talpa arrived in Spain following his wife in search of work, initially landing in Aragón. During the first years, he worked in agriculture and “whatever came up,” as his background as a soldier in Romania did not immediately grant him access to qualified jobs.
“"In my country, I worked in the army, but we decided to come here looking for a new future. At first, it was very difficult because the language barrier was a major handicap, and I only got jobs with very low salaries, even less than what I earned in Romania."
Overcoming the language barrier was key to his progress. Talpa achieved fluency by listening to the radio, talking with people, and enrolling in a Spanish course. This progress allowed him to re-obtain his heavy vehicle license, as the one he held from Romania was not valid without homologation.
After obtaining the permit, he started working for a road transport company in Lleida, where he has been for almost twenty years. Talpa points out that conditions for new migrants have significantly improved, as companies now seek employees, help them with documentation, and offer training or language courses.
Cristian and his wife have two daughters born in Spain, and his mother has also moved to the country. Although his future seems tied to Lleida, they do not rule out moving closer to the sea, a passion that allows them to often escape by car from the capital of Segrià.
