New Years Eve Traditions Celebrated Around the World
Ringing in the new year is always highly anticipated but not all countries celebrate in the same way! Learn the superstitions and traditions that are embraced around the world. Depending on which part of the world you come from, New Years Eve is celebrated with different – even crazy or hilarious – traditions! From superstitious underwear, good luck dances, and stuffing a particular food into one’s mouth at midnight, countries all over the globe have their own take on what will surely bring great fortune and happiness in the coming year. New Years Eve means something different to everyone. Some feel somber about…
6 Tips on How to Prepare Your Kids for Moving Abroad
From a fellow expat parent, here are my best tips for preparing your little ones to become expat kids! Planning for a family move can be super stressful and feel like an overwhelming list of to-do’s! So when we talk about moving overseas to a foreign country, well that’s just a whole different ballgame guys. Language barriers, cultural differences, and endless paperwork are all-consuming! It’s easy to loose sight of what’s truly important – and that is how to best prepare your kids for their move abroad and transition into becoming expats. No amount of online research can truly equip you or your…
Which Barcelona Neighborhood Best Suits Your Family?
When my husband and I found out our family would be relocating to Barcelona, one of the things I was most excited about was finding a home in the best neighborhood. I happen to love the entire process of house hunting! This was our very first experience living abroad and I couldn’t help but fantasize about our dream apartment. An old world-styled space perfectly renovated with modern luxuries but still maintaining that gorgeous Spanish charm. Views of the Barcelona Cathedral, a short walk to the beach and the melodies of street performers outside my window were all things I thought I wanted in…
Host an Amazing Thanksgiving While Living Abroad
American Expats Can Still Celebrate an Amazing Thanksgiving While Living Away from Home After two years of tackling our favorite holiday here in Spain, Halloween, we’ve really got it figured out. (See previous article Why Halloween in Barcelona is Amazing) . But how in the world do you host an amazing Thanksgiving while living abroad? The food, the football, the family. All a bit foreign here! While our family back home are basting birds, cozying up to Thanksgiving Day parades on TV and putting finishing touches on apple pie, it’s just another normal day here in Spain! We can’t NOT celebrate it. No…
What is Reverse Culture Shock and How to Tackle It
Many expats and travelers experience culture shock in a new place, but what about the reverse culture shock that happens when returning home? How hard can it really be to return home after years of living abroad? Most expats focus on the initial cultural shock they experience in a foreign country. But not to be ignored is the adjustment that comes with returning home to the country you’ve always known…this time as a citizen of the world. Kind of like visiting your favorite restaurant only to find everything on the menu has changed. It’s called “reverse culture shock” and refers to the emotions…
Advice on Getting a Job in Barcelona as a Foreigner
Moving to Barcelona is a dream but finding employment here can be a nightmare if you don’t have the facts and specifics. I’m often asked for advice on getting a job in Barcelona. People wonder how our family ended up moving abroad. And the truth is, we had my husband’s job as the vehicle which got us here and helped support our family’s life. We are expats. But what do you do if you’re someone that dreams of moving to this city but worries about finding employment? My husband, who has a career in Human Resources sees outstanding resumes cross his desk every…
How to Celebrate a Traditional Easter in Spain
Whether you’re an expat or a traveler to Spain during the Easter holiday, there are some incredible traditions not to be missed! The Easter Holiday, otherwise known in Spain as Holy Week or Semana Santa, is undoubtedly the largest and most traditional religious holiday of the year. Celebrating Easter in Spain as an American expat has really opened my eyes to the different interpretations. All of which are special and sacred. Since our family has only been living abroad for two and a half years, we feel a certain tug of war when it comes to holiday time. We want to continue to…
How to Shop Women’s Clothing Stores in Barcelona
Tips for finding your favorite women’s clothing stores in Barcelona and how to shop here like a local. One of the most confusing things for me when first moving from the states to Barcelona as an expat was finding great women’s clothing stores. Hard to believe, I know, considering this is an enormous city! The neighborhood we live in has lots of privately owned shops for older women, none of which really spoke to my personal style. I tend to like colors, patterns, fitted clothes with some sort of glam (leather, stone, buckle, etc.) And it seemed I always walked out empty-handed when…
Celebrating Christmas in Barcelona, Spain Like a Local
Learn where locals go, what they eat and how they celebrate the most magical time of year in Barcelona, Spain If you’ve just moved to the fabulous city of Barcelona or plan to vacation here over the Christmas holiday, you must be wondering how locals celebrate the most anticipated time of year – Christmas. Look no further for everything you need to know to have a magical holiday season in the Catalonia capital. We’re an American expat family that have been living abroad in Spain for more than three years. And we’ve only ventured back to the U.S. for one Christmas – which…
