The continuing adventures of June Finnigan, her Man, and Farty Barty the cat. September Reflections Benvenuti to all my Loyal and New Followers Well, September is the month for the Vendemia, or grape harvest to you. In the first week the local farmers got started on the white grapes and so the tractors and trailers … Read more
When an intercultural couple moves abroad this can be an exciting time. This always true when we watch the 30 minute travel show about a couple who ditches their regular life with eyes set across the Atlantic. Is there anything negative that can happen when a loving couple moves abroad? In this post I will … Read more
As I was driving home from the gym today I suddenly remembered I hadn’t written an October post for Expat Focus. It has completely passed me by that it even was October at all, to be honest – despite being “pinch punched” by my daughter the other morning. The days are passing me by because, … Read more
“The end of September always marks a turning point in London. Summer is officially, undeniably over, and the leaves start to turn across the capital. We pull out our wool, our knitted jumpers, and our boots in preparation for the seasons ahead. I’ve officially retired the shorts to the back of the closet and am … Read more
The third weekend in September marks the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine – let’s call them European Cultural Heritage Days. Since their inception in 1984 they have been organised by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication. They went Europe-wide in 1991, encouraged by the Council of Europe; and now 49 countries take part in the … Read more
“Where?” “Is that near Sydney?” “What is there to do there?” These were the questions I heard when my husband and I chose Brisbane as our new Australian home base over Melbourne, a larger and more developed city than Queensland’s capital. We had never been to Brisvegas, as many like to call it, but we … Read more
“MARIA, PLEASE, WE NEED MORE than five minutes to get ready in the morning,” I remind her the night before. She complies and gives us seven minutes the following morning. “It breaks my heart to have to wake you,” she says. I’m about to explain when I see Giorgio put on his coat and get … Read more
At the outset, I should point out that this is my first column about living as an American expat in Germany. Actually, it’s my first column ever, which will serve as the explanation should this also be my last. So your expectations aren’t too low, however, I should say that I have been published before: … Read more
Do you remember that bit in The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy is desperate to get home to Aunty Em but at the same time doesn’t want to leave her new friends in The Emerald City, but then she does get home and she realises it was all a wonderful, scary, crazy dream? That is … Read more
The Netherlands scored 23rd place on the Internations survey and 27th in the Expat Explorer ranking of best places for expats. The (less than tropical) weather and the Dutch language are two reasons for the lower rank. But in fact, the weather isn’t worse than London and this country is, curiously, an excellent place for … Read more