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…
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…
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…
Moving Abroad With Kids and How to Share the News with Them
As thrilled as Tony and I were for this next chapter of our family’s life, relocating to Barcelona, I was worried sick about telling the kids. Moving abroad with kids is an exciting adventure, but breaking the initial news to them can be tough! Revealing a surprise to your children like a trip to Disney or a new swimming pool is one of the most enjoyable parts of being a parent. And for anyone that has had to share less enjoyable news you soon realize this is one of the hardest parts. A Mother’s Worries How would we even deliver the news?! “Hey…
5 Pieces of Advice to Future Expats
I like to think that two and a half years of living abroad in Barcelona has equipped me to offer some insight and advice to those looking to move abroad and become future expats. If living abroad has taught me one thing, it’s that living abroad isn’t so…uncommon! I used to think it was – picking up your whole life and venturing to a world unknown. But actually, it seems like every day I meet a new face here from a different part of the globe. People from all different cultures and backgrounds with rich stories to match and offering great pieces of…
How to Live Abroad: 12 Tips from Expats
So you’ve made the decision that you want a change in your life. You’re ready for a new adventure and are planning to go live abroad. Congrats to you, brave soul! Welcome to the club. You are in for the journey of a lifetime. Buuuut, there’s one problem. You don’t actually have ANY IDEA how to live abroad or where to start. And as the days to your departure get closer, anxiety starts setting in. Are you really ready for this? Where will you live? How will you learn a new language? What about public transportation? Where will your kids attend school (if…
