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May Chaos
When life abroad means juggling surgery recovery, a move, and the end of the school year all at once, I'm learning about letting go of control and being…
May 19
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Jen Cook
6
6
1
How to Renew Your U.S. Passport While Living in Spain
Just got our passports back after renewing them from Spain. Took less than a month, never set foot in an embassy. Here's how it works and what made me…
May 15
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Jen Cook
1
1
Finding an Apartment in Valencia, Spain, is No Joke
The Valencia rental market is tight, especially for foreigners. Here's what we learned navigating it with a dog, no work contract, and a hard deadline.
May 12
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Jen Cook
15
15
1
What I Don’t Miss About the U.S. After Two Years in Spain
Sitting in traffic for 15 minutes just to cross the street to Walmart. A dead mall with nothing but wide corridors and the echo of our own footsteps…
May 5
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Jen Cook
12
9
3
April 2026
Surprise! I Was on a Podcast
A conversation about moving abroad, raising kids in a new country, and why this isn't a fairytale.
Apr 29
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Jen Cook
2
2
1
Unpopular Opinion: I Miss This About the U.S.
Unpopular opinion incoming: I generally prefer American food. 🫣 Fresh off my trip back to the States, I'm sharing the short list of things I miss and…
Apr 24
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Jen Cook
16
33
2
Familiar but Foreign
Returning to the U.S. and realizing you've changed more than the place has.
Apr 21
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Jen Cook
17
15
1
One Foot In, One Foot Out
Two years of $140/month. Nine bags to Spain, six bags back. Here's what was in those boxes and what I couldn't watch leave.
Apr 14
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Jen Cook
17
16
2
March 2026
The Someday People
Everyone says "I want to go there someday." I said it for years. Here's what it takes to stop saying it and what finally made me listen.
Mar 24
•
Jen Cook
6
5
1
Valencia Is on Fire (Again)
Every March, Valencia builds elaborate monuments for weeks, then burns them all in one night. Our second Fallas, in photos.
Mar 19
•
Jen Cook
8
10
2
You Can Research Everything and Still Get It Wrong
A Business Insider piece about one family's move to Spain made me go through their list of mistakes one by one. I'd already learned most of them—except…
Mar 16
•
Jen Cook
13
10
1
How We're Using Points to Take Our Kids to Finnish Lapland at Christmas
My son asked when we were finally going to Disney. I panicked, got weepy, and booked two trips. Here's how points made the impossible happen.
Mar 11
•
Jen Cook
4
5
1
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