Living in Spain: 5 Things You’ll Fall in Love With!
What we quickly learned about the Spanish way of life that is easier and more convenient than life in the U.S. When you’re an expat living with three toddlers in Spain you need more than a foamy cappuccino and a Gothic cathedral to make everyday life run smoothly. And in Spain, where they prioritize simplicity and ease, we have come to fall in love with a few of their cultural conveniences. The first time Tony and I visited Europe we took a twelve-night cruise and immediately fell in love with this part of the world – Venice, Athens, Santorini, Dubrovnik. Our days were…
Expat Life: You Know You’re An Expat When…
While becoming an expat is a short-term arrangement, it’s no secret that after a while abroad the term “expat” takes on an identity of its own. See if you agree… Before our family relocated to Barcelona to start our expat life, I would listen in awe to my husband share stories of other expat families. At the time, Tony worked in the Global Mobility industry and was responsible for coordinating the logistics of moving employees and their families overseas. How could they just pickup and move their whole life abroad, I wondered? Sooo many details and decisions, I couldn’t imagine being faced with…
Are You Moving to Barcelona? Common Expat Questions Answered
Answering some of the most common questions I receive from expats preparing to move to Barcelona. So you’ve decided the expat life is for you (maybe after taking my online quiz here) and you’re ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime! Congratulations on making a fantastic decision to move to one of the most desired cities in Europe. As an expat wife living in Barcelona for three years, this city has earned a very special place in my heart. But before stepping foot here, I spent the months leading up to our relocation agonizing about soo many things. Neighborhoods, schools, apartments,…
Our Favorite Homeschooling Resources from Abroad
Mom, wife, writer, sushi lover, home decor enthusiast – there’s a lot of titles I’d refer to myself as. But teacher?! Maybe tying shoes, potty training and singing nursery rhymes to my kids. But math, science, history? Nope! I prefer to leave the real academic stuff to the professionals! Until now…when homeschooling is a new way of life. Now mothers and fathers all over the globe are thrust into the role of professor, against our free will! With schools closed in many countries for the rest of the academic year, parents are turning to virtual resources to keep their little ones growing, engaged,…
An Open Letter to My Husband After 7 Weeks of Lockdown
What I’ve learned about myself, my husband and the strength of our marriage during the pandemic lockdown in Spain. To My Husband – The other day while standing at the sink washing what seemed like the thousandth dish, I started thinking about our wedding vows. Remember those? On that November day 11 years ago we shivered both from excitement and from the chill in the air. With stars in our eyes and lumps in our throats, we pledged our lives to each other and promised to love through the happiest of times…and the hardest. Couples commit, “through thick and thin” on their wedding…
What It’s Like Living Abroad During a Global Pandemic
No matter what corner of the planet you’re on, the global pandemic has been the focus of all nations. Businesses have shut their doors, many people have lost their jobs. And sadly, thousands have lost their lives. It’s a scary, uncertain and stressful time for us all whether you work on the front lines protecting and treating the sick or are sitting at home waiting for what comes next. Here at home, where we haven’t left the apartment to do more than take the trash out or grocery shop, it feels like we’re in mourning. Mourning the loss of travel, the loss of…
An American Expat in Spain
Truth be told, I agreed to move to Spain and become an American expat having never been here before. No pressure at all, right!? It was during a time when we were done having kids but weren’t ready to completely settle down for the next 30 years. So after some research and lots of late night discussions over wine or coffee – or sometimes both – we decided to stop questioning and start packing! Call it an enormous leap of faith, but also one of the most exciting parts of our move. The unknown waiting to be discovered. What would we find? Who would we…
My Favorite Apps for Tourists and Expats in Barcelona
How in the world would we survive these days without the convenience of technology? Things that seemed virtually impossible 20 years ago are now a finger swipe away. I’ll admit, sometimes I think about the fact that our family has moved to the other side of the globe and wonder if we’re crazy! Language barriers, cultural differences, currency conversions, metric system, city navigating. It’s all overwhelming if you stop and think about it long and hard. But then I’m reminded of how modern the world has become. How very easy it is today, thanks to the internet and tons of useful apps, to…
Take the Quiz: Should I Move Abroad
Before Tony, my husband, and I became expats we would sit in front of the TV and watch other families move abroad. Our favorite show was called House Hunters International and featured a different story each episode. You’ve probably heard me talk about this before ha! Sometimes the people moved for work. Others simply for a change in life. But either way, their lives took a major turn and across the borders they headed! We would watch in awe how these people did it. Left all that was familiar to enter a world unknown. And we wondered, could we ever do the same…
