American mom Lauren loves the Barcelona living!

Mom of three, trailing spouse and a writer: The story of Lauren [Click here to view the online version.](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL3dlYmxpbmsucGhwP2lkZW50PUkyLUx6MS1rLXRKa2MmaWRlPTQ0MTVjMGM4N2ZiMzI2MjdiNGMxOTU3N2ViYmY4NTc4Jm50PTE2MDg0NTE2MzcmYWx2PVoyVjJabWRsYm5wdmJubHhhblpoT1RGQWRIcHVkbmt1Y0dKNk9qRTRNalkzT1RJPSZrbmlsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmV4cGF0LmNvbSUyRnZpZXdOZXdzbGV0dGVyT25MaW5lJTJGNTcyMF8zOTYwOTEzXzE4MjY3OTIuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpf2nMS219GZuMKUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Logo](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0TFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL3dlYmxpbmsucGhwP2lkZW50PUkyLUx6MS10My10SmtjJmlkZT00NDE1YzBjODdmYjMyNjI3YjRjMTk1NzdlYmJmODU3OCZudD0xNjA4NDUxNjM3JmFsdj1aMlYyWm1kbGJucHZibmx4YW5aaE9URkFkSHB1ZG5rdWNHSjZPakU0TWpZM09UST0ma25pbD13d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tJTJGZW4lMkZleHBhdC1tYWclMkZXA3NwY0IKX9pzEttfRmbjClIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTFAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Your weekly update from the Expat Mag](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0QiaHR0cDovL3d3dy5leHBhdC5jb20vZW4vZXhwYXQtbWFnL1cDc3BjQgpf2nMS219GZuMKUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Everyday life Lauren or how to love life as an expat mom of three and a trailing spouse](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy80ODM1LWV4cGF0LW1vbS1sYXVyZW4tdGVsbHMtdXMtYWJvdXQtYmFyY2Vsb25hLWhlci13cml0aW5nLWFuZC1sb2NrZG93bi5odG1sVwNzcGNCCl_acxLbX0Zm4wpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Lauren or how to love life as an expat mom of three and a trailing spouse](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy80ODM1LWV4cGF0LW1vbS1sYXVyZW4tdGVsbHMtdXMtYWJvdXQtYmFyY2Vsb25hLWhlci13cml0aW5nLWFuZC1sb2NrZG93bi5odG1sVwNzcGNCCl_acxLbX0Zm4wpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Lauren loves life. You can even feel it in her writing. And it is not like she has not had a few challenges. Just this year, she has had it pretty hard being on lockdown with three children and her husband. But this expat mom, trailing spouse and writer is resilient. She tells us about life in Barcelona doing things that she loves. Read more](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy80ODM1LWV4cGF0LW1vbS1sYXVyZW4tdGVsbHMtdXMtYWJvdXQtYmFyY2Vsb25hLWhlci13cml0aW5nLWFuZC1sb2NrZG93bi5odG1sVwNzcGNCCl_acxLbX0Zm4wpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Moving Expats look back on their return home during the pandemic](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy80ODM0LXRlc3RpbW9uaWVzLW9mLWV4cGF0cy13aG8tbW92ZWQtYmFjay1ob21lLWR1cmluZy10aGUtcGFuZGVtaWMuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpf2nMS219GZuMKUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Expats look back on their return home during the pandemic](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy80ODM0LXRlc3RpbW9uaWVzLW9mLWV4cGF0cy13aG8tbW92ZWQtYmFjay1ob21lLWR1cmluZy10aGUtcGFuZGVtaWMuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpf2nMS219GZuMKUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [It's been nearly a year since the COVID-19 crisis tore thousands of families apart. While many expats chose to stay in their host country, and others were stranded abroad due to travel restrictions, some chose to reunite with their family in their home country. They talk to Expat.com about how hard it was in the beginning and where they stand today. 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[Get my free quote](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0ShaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL3Nwb25zb3JzL2V4cGF0cmlhdGUtaGVhbHRoLWluc3VyYW5jZS5odG1sP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1leHBhdF9tYWdfY292aWRfMTlfZW4mdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9aW50ZXJuYWxXA3NwY0IKX9pzEttfRmbjClIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTFAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Work Switzerland: An Italian expat's views on the German-speaking labour market](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy80ODMwLWFuLWl0YWxpYW4tZXhwYXQtdGFsa3MtYWJvdXQtbGlmZS1hbmQtd29yay1pbi1nZXJtYW4tc3BlYWtpbmctc3dpdHplcmxhbmQuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpf2nMS219GZuMKUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Switzerland: An Italian expat's views on the German-speaking labour market](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy80ODMwLWFuLWl0YWxpYW4tZXhwYXQtdGFsa3MtYWJvdXQtbGlmZS1hbmQtd29yay1pbi1nZXJtYW4tc3BlYWtpbmctc3dpdHplcmxhbmQuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpf2nMS219GZuMKUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Sara is a pharmacist specialising in medical cannabis from Abruzzo who is now living in Thurgau, Switzerland, where she works in an elderly care home. She talks to us about how hard it is to find a job in this part of the country as a non-German-speaking expat, and about the importance of learning the language before relocating. Read more](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy80ODMwLWFuLWl0YWxpYW4tZXhwYXQtdGFsa3MtYWJvdXQtbGlmZS1hbmQtd29yay1pbi1nZXJtYW4tc3BlYWtpbmctc3dpdHplcmxhbmQuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpf2nMS219GZuMKUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Everyday life Sandy feet and salty hair: Christmas in tropical countries](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0ReaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy80ODI2LWhvdy1pcy1jaHJpc3RtYXMtY2VsZWJyYXRlZC1pbi10cm9waWNhbC1jb3VudHJpZXMuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpf2nMS219GZuMKUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Sandy feet and salty hair: Christmas in tropical countries](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0ReaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy80ODI2LWhvdy1pcy1jaHJpc3RtYXMtY2VsZWJyYXRlZC1pbi10cm9waWNhbC1jb3VudHJpZXMuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpf2nMS219GZuMKUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [If you've recently moved abroad, especially to a tropical country, Christmas will probably be different from what you're used to. But what is Christmas like without the snow and the cold, and a cup of hot chocolate by the fireplace? While Christmas is celebrated in most tropical countries, even in the southern hemisphere, some of them have their own traditions. 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Your free investment review from one of Holborn's qualified advisers will show you how to get higher interest rates, reduce charges and access a range of expat-only investment options: - A free personalised financial health check and summary - The best interest rates for expatriates - Understand your tax breaks when investing - Fully regulated and independent advice - Tax efficient savings and investments - Ensuring you have the correct plans in place for you and your family [Get a free review](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0RUaHR0cHM6Ly9leHBhdC5wb3N0YWZmaWxpYXRlcHJvLmNvbS9zY3JpcHRzL2NsaWNrLnBocD9hX2FpZD1leHBhdC1ibG9nJmFfYmlkPTRjNTRmYmNjVwNzcGNCCl_acxLbX0Zm4wpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Everyday life Christmas celebration tips for expat kids amidst the crisis](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy8zOTU4LWhvdy10by1jZWxlYnJhdGUtY2hyaXN0bWFzLXdpdGgta2lkcy1hYnJvYWQtYW1pZHN0LXRoZS1wYW5kZW1pYy5odG1sVwNzcGNCCl_acxLbX0Zm4wpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Christmas celebration tips for expat kids amidst the crisis](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhvZdzP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy8zOTU4LWhvdy10by1jZWxlYnJhdGUtY2hyaXN0bWFzLXdpdGgta2lkcy1hYnJvYWQtYW1pZHN0LXRoZS1wYW5kZW1pYy5odG1sVwNzcGNCCl_acxLbX0Zm4wpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [This year, we'll all be having a Christmas like no other. While some countries are locked down, and others have travel restrictions in place, travelling back home to celebrate with your loved ones is not an option. As adults, we're more likely to compromise with the current situation. Still, for children who are used to celebrating with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, it might be much more complicated. So here are some tips for getting your children into the Christmas spirit amid the pandemic. 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