It’s five o’clock in the morning and I find myself in a place and situation that I’m sure I shouldn’t be in, much less taking pictures.

Jose Manuel Abel, his wife Olive and their two children, Claudia, 13, and Jose Manuel, 16, were crying and hugging one another as they didn’t know when would be the next time they would see each other.

SLIDESHOW: NEW COUNTRY, NEW LIFE

Abel, from southern Spain, is one of a growing number of Spaniards moving to Germany for work after failing to find a job at home. He has to leave his wife and children behind for the time being, but sees no other choice. Abel, who used to work as a salesman during Spain’s boom years, selling insurance, books, water filters and vending machines, has been unemployed for more than two years. With about one in four people jobless, he sees few prospects working at home and has taken a job in Munich working in the kitchen of a Spanish restaurant owned by a Spanish-German friend.

The family have already lost the home they bought in 1999 because they couldn’t keep up with the mortgage payments. Abel’s hopes of starting a new life in Germany are high: after all, his parents emigrated to Frankfurt at the start of the 1960s when he was two and they lived there until he was seven. History is repeating itself as Abel arrives in Munich with 250 euros in his pocket. One day he wants to find a job for his wife and take his family there.

I feel like mourning, embracing and encouraging them as they say their farewells but I stay on the sidelines. This is not my story. Many emotions and feelings were on display next to me. I said a few encouraging words, we got into a car and the adventure began. We didn’t talk again during the hour-long journey to the airport.

Abel and I connected very well from the beginning. A friend of mine told me about him and his voyage so I proposed that I accompany him for the first days of his trip to create a photo story starting the day before his departure and documenting his early days in Munich. He accepted enthusiastically and from there we started to become friends.

The journey, arrival in the new city and the first few days were without problems. Abel began to call me “The Shadow” because I followed him everywhere, sometimes surprising him in unexpected places. Abel cried with me, we laughed, we enjoyed our time together but most importantly we became very good friends.

Good luck Abel!

My photo story on Spain’s Austerity Squatters is a somewhat humble tribute to women.

SLIDESHOW: LIVING IN A GHOST BUILDING

When I entered the occupied building, I found a group of women with insurmountable courage and strength; women struggling for dignity; women fighting for their families to not live on the street after their eviction; women, often unemployed, without economic resources.

The first night I spent with them, without asking me beforehand, they gave me a plate of ratatouille. Thanking them, my first reaction was to tell them that I was not hungry, but the reality was different – I was starving. I found it uncomfortable to eat a meal in a place where food and resources were scarce, but I thought it would do more harm to reject this ration, that was offered to me with much affection and pride. I ate and it was extremely tasty.

I experienced great human moments, when their eyes shone with the shy hint of tears. I loved seeing their mouths draw into a smile as they asked me if I believed that the occupation would be a success. I said yes, this looks great.

Little by little, I began engaging with them. I felt honored when they confessed that I was the only journalist allowed to move freely around the building. They said they felt very confident with me. I think that’s one of the best rewards that a photographer can get, confidence.