Why I Hope 2014 Will Be Better Than 2013
If I’m being honest, 2013 wasn’t the greatest, especially if I compared it with 2012. There were good moments, for sure, like traveling to Amsterdam and Paris, celebrating our wedding in the U.S., and...
View ArticleThe Spanish-American Ambassador
I’m talking with my coworkers in Madrid, and they casually mention how Americans are. You know, all of us, all the time—how we act (boorish), how we think (hint: we don’t), what we look like (obese),...
View ArticleA Life Lived in Airports
I recently mentioned to my mom that I hate airports. Her reply? “You picked the wrong guy if you really despise them!” Touché. My most-frequented airport, Madrid Barajas What is it about airports that...
View ArticleThe Expat Divide: Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?
The questions are always there, lingering. They are questions you ask yourself. They are questions others ask of you. They are questions that go unanswered. Are you staying? When are you going? Where,...
View ArticleHow I Transfer Money from Spain to the U.S.
Living abroad complicates life, and that includes transferring money from Europe to the U.S. I have a bank account here with Santander (yes, I know, they’re evil), as well as one back home with a local...
View ArticleWhat Do You Miss Most?
You know how, when asked to list what we miss about ourrespective countries, expats always say “friends and family”? It’s true, of course, that we (mostly) all miss those nearest and dearest to ous who...
View ArticleWhat If Your Dream Isn’t Traveling?
Travel bloggers love to talk about travel. And, of course, why shouldn’t they? Their audience is wide: from fellow travelers to wannabes to those who live vicariously through them and their blogs,...
View ArticleYour Spain Experience—Interview with Sarah
Hey everyone! I really liked the response I got to Erin’s interview. (Well, except for one, but when you bring up anything even semi-controversial, I suppose you can expect some of that!) So I decided...
View ArticleTaking the GRE in Madrid
Or How I Took the GRE So You Don’t Have To Wait … that’s not how it works, is it? Oh well. Yesterday I took the GRE in Madrid. Apparently this is a topic of some interest for fellow expats in Madrid,...
View ArticleTypical First-Time English Conversation Assistant Blog Ideas
I try to write with good grammar, but I’m going to depart a bit from the norm for this parody of some typical first-time in Spain English Conversation Assistant posts I read. This is all in good fun,...
View ArticleBarriers
Sometimes I’m the only one who doesn’t get the joke. Some days I smile, reassuring everyone that I’m not on the outside. Some days I even laugh a little. At other times I just keep my face blank …...
View Article11 Things I Would Never Buy and 8 Things I Would at Taste of America
Whenever I’m asked about my hobbies, I always say cooking (and reading). I love trying new recipes, cuisines, and tastes. Luckily for me, I have a husband who’s willing to try almost anything (except...
View ArticleDoomed/Destined to Teach English
Or the life of a native English speaker in Spain. When you move to Spain, you might have high hopes of finding a job, a job that will satisfy you, hone your skills, perhaps even assist in your...
View ArticleWhy Are You in Spain?
Ah, the question. The question. I ask it a lot of others; they in turn ask it of me. I love and hate this question, because I love knowing other people’s stories, but I have no idea how to answer it...
View ArticleHey, It’s Okay!
I admit, I’ve read Glamour magazine a time or two. Do you remember their “Hey, It’s OK!” section? Like, it’s okay to wear the same fancy dress to a wedding or two or three. It’s okay to have a snack on...
View ArticleSpain or the US? The Ever-Present Question.
I prefer here. I don’t want to admit it, especially on the Internet (what with its permanence and omnipresence), but it’s true. For most of the year, I live in Spain, in Europe. And I prefer it here....
View ArticleHealth Insurance For Expats
Ah, insurance. It’s been a hot topic of conversation lately. When I listen to NPR, it seems to always be on their “Most Emailed Stories” list. People are curious about the United States’ new healthcare...
View ArticleThings I Didn’t Do Before Moving to Spain
Inspired by Georgette’s post, I decided to write a similar post about things I didn’t do before I came to Spain. You never really realize how much you’re changing while in the process, but looking back...
View ArticleThe U.S. vs. Spain: Kitchen Tools Edition
After receiving a small pressure cooker from my mother-in-law (yeah, I got the hookup!), I started thinking about which kitchen gadgets seem to be more popular here in Spain as well as which don’t even...
View Article5 Things They’ll Tell You About the U.S. … That Aren’t True
Ah, I get it. You are returning to the United States, and you are preparing for the much-feared reverse culture shock. What to expect? You should expect to find it weird when people address you in...
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