I have been living in Osuna for nearly two years now and really enjoy it.

When I first came to Osuna, I tried to come with an open mind about living in small town in Spain, but I really didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if there would be enough places to go to or things to do, especially as I am from a large city. I didn't know what people would think of me with my limited Spanish, and if I would be lonely and isolated or not. However, on my arrival, driving through the main shopping street, I was pleasantly surprised to find it quite hustling and bustling, with numerous shops and cafes and people gathering around the main plaza. In general, the people of Osuna are very friendly and welcoming. With self motivation I have been able to meet many lovely people and now have a good group of friends. Some other teachers have even found partners in Osuna.

Osuna itself is a very pretty white town with stunning architecture, white houses and a number of plazas. It is actually known for being one of the most beautiful towns in the region and it is quite distinct with an historical church on top of the hill. The surrounding countryside is good if you like going for walks, however you would have to go further out of town if you wanted real hiking countryside.

Osuna has a university campus which is part of Seville University. Some students, mostly from nearby towns and cities but some from other parts of Spain, come here to study Agriculture, Business, but mostly Medicine and especially Nursing. Medicine and Nursing are especially popular due to the link with medical services, as Osuna has the main hospital for the area and a health centre.

As for things to do in Osuna, there are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants to go to, and there is even an Irish bar'. However, the majority of bars and eating places are typically Spanish cuisine such as tapas, apart from the odd pizza place and the one Chinese restaurant. If you are like myself, and like to go out at the weekends socialising and dancing there are some bars/clubs to go to and personally I have found that Osuna is small enough where you do see many people you know and can socialise with when you go out, but it is not so small as to know everyone. If you are quite an active and sporty person, Osuna has a sports centre with tennis courts, running track, and swimming pool, there are also two private gyms in the town and a recently opened Spa.

It is possible to take up or pursue a hobby here, I myself and one of the other teachers regularly go to Salsa lessons at the local football supporters club and one of the teachers in the past even started to learn the flamenco guitar. At the beginning of this year a cinema opened in the town (much to the students' delight), and although it doesn't have a large variety of films showing, it does have the main latest film releases, all in Spanish.

With regards to amenities, Osuna has everything you need for day-to-day shopping, such as four large supermarkets, including an Eroski and a Lidl, other smaller stores and a number of clothes shops.

Osuna is a small and traditional Spanish town, which could be a bit of a culture shock at first, especially if you come from a large cosmopolitan city. However, the people are really open and friendly, and you can make good friends here. Also what is great about Osuna is that it is well-connected to the bigger cities. It has both a bus station and train station with links to Seville, Malaga (both a little over an hour away) and Granada which is little further to get to. This is great for when you do want a taste of city life.

Overall Osuna is a lovely place to live, and if you have an open mind and are adaptable to Spanish lifestyle it's an ideal place to integrate into a Spanish way of life.