Living Abroad

The ten month writer’s block

While I know that blogging rule number one is to never apologize for not writing when life gets in the way, I’m just gonna go ahead and break that rule and explain myself. Here’s why I haven’t written a single word on this blog in more than ten months.

Think twice before calling Madrid a “racist” city.

So I thought it’d be important to preface this post with the definition of two words that are often misused, overused, incorrectly interchanged and rarely understood. After reading my thoughts on this topic that is hardly ever talked about (but I am constantly asked about in private), I ask...

Eight lessons learned (mainly the hard way) during Semana Santa

I would in no way classify my Semana Santa trip as a raving success. By the time it was over, I was exhausted, pissed at the world and in need of complete isolation.  Of course, it wasn’t all bad. I saw some beautiful places and met some amazing people...

Semana Santa 2014: A Spanish road trip!

If you’ve been reading my blog for the past year or so, you know that I love a good old-fashioned road trip.  There’s nothing like the feeling of the steering wheel in my hands and my favorite song on the radio while cruising at 70. Unfortunately, I don’t feel...

How to know if you’re ready to be an Auxiliar

Alright ya’ll! In less than a week, the application period for the Auxiliares de Conversación will close on April 1, and if you’re anything like I was, you applied months ago. However, if you’re still on the fence, hop to it! The waiting period is freaking awful and I spent...

What to do when tragedy strikes at home when you’re abroad

There are so many fears that arise when you decide to move abroad, and one very real fear that no one talks about is the fear that something tragic will happen at home while you are away.  Although all of my family and friends were in good health before...

The Weekend Files: Where to Day Trip from Madrid

Happy Friday (and bank holiday Friday to my auxiliares) everyone! I’m back with another edition of The Weekend Files with some great ideas of places to visit on a short day trip or weekend trip from Madrid. I hope you decide to hit the road this weekend!

A Literary Tour of Madrid

If you haven’t noticed already, I’m a complete nerd. I’m obsessed with history and reading, and I often fantasize about living in eras that I think are way more glamorous and artistic than our current one (um, hello 1920s!). Before I moved to Europe, all I could think about...

Where to Eat in Madrid

The fastest way for me to get to know a city is through my stomach. Yea, I know. Weird sentence. Basically what I mean is that I love to learn about a city through the food I can find there. Learning about Madrid has been…well…interesting. I have mixed feelings...

Reflections on visiting home for the first time after moving abroad

First, I must apologize for the lapse in posting. After arriving to Madrid from the US, I was hit with a heavy case of jet lag that left me disoriented and always looking for the next moment when I could sleep. Then I contracted some sort of stomach bug...