We recorded this episode a little differently—on the beach, cava in hand, with the sound of the Mediterranean as our backdrop. The kids are finally (mostly) back in school after a long summer that started way back in May, and we’re finding our rhythm again.

This week, we share:

• Two schools, two worlds: Amalia started at BFIS, the American school, while Milan and Savana are at a Montessori that feels very European. Both have been eye-opening—Amalia has 20 new classmates (most American), while Montessori is a melting pot of kids from all over Europe.
• The independence factor: Amalia wants to ride the bus solo like a true pre-teen… except it’s the same bus Sara takes with the little ones. Cue teenage eye rolls.
• Community through soccer: Amalia’s team played their first matches, and suddenly we’re part of the Catalan soccer world—weekend tournaments, proud parents, and even our first conversations with local dads in Catalan and Spanish.
• The “say yes” philosophy: Whether it’s dinner invites, coffee meet-ups, or trying paddle for the first time, saying yes has already opened doors to friendships and a sense of belonging.
• The realities: Grocery shopping without a car, balancing late-night work with a nine-hour time difference, and navigating first-day-of-school nerves remind us that this isn’t just vacation—it’s real life in a new country.

Two months in, we’re still in awe of the differences—sometimes challenging, often beautiful—and grateful for this chance to experience Barcelona as more than tourists.

👉 Give it a listen, and if you’re thinking of making a similar move, we hope our stories help you picture what it’s really like.

After weeks of visitors, soccer camps, and juggling routines, we finally hit a milestone: our first stretch in Barcelona without extra hands. Just us five, figuring things out. Honestly? It felt like the training wheels came off.

In this episode of Tapas in Therapy, we unpack what life looks like now that we’re settling into our own rhythm:

• Parenting without backup: When grandparents left and Ro flew to London the same day, Sara was left holding down the fort—three kids, no car, and still no school in session. Survival mode quickly turned into quiet reflection about what “support” really means when you move abroad.
• The WhatsApp life: Forget text messages—here in Spain, WhatsApp is the operating system of life. From school parent groups to paddle tennis sign-ups, even your internet company prefers to reach you there. We talk through the pros, quirks, and little hacks we’ve learned (like running dual numbers on certain Android phones).
• New friendships, old connections: Starting over means flexing those “making friends” muscles again. It’s equal parts humbling and energizing. At the same time, we’re reaching back to old friends more than ever, using distance as a reason to reconnect.
• Weekend in Tarragona: A quick hour’s drive landed us at a nearly empty beach sitting beneath a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater. It was one of those pinch-me moments—history and sunshine layered together, all for the price of a €5 ticket and €7 paella lunch. Oh, and yes, we’re slowly turning into beach people. Who knew?
• The car rental hack: Buying a car here is a bureaucratic headache, but renting one? Surprisingly cheap. We share what we’ve learned about day-to-day rentals and why a monthly car rental might be the perfect expat workaround.

As we wrap this episode, the kids are about to start soccer, school is just days away, and we’re even hosting our first barbecue with new friends. It finally feels like life here isn’t just a vacation—it’s our life.

If you’re considering a move abroad, or just curious about how families adapt, we hope our stories give you both a laugh and some practical insight.

Episode 2 of Tapas in Therapy is here — and this time, we’re joined by a truly special guest: our dear friend (and honorary family member) Andrea Masry. She’s been with us through our first six weeks in Barcelona, from helping us haul 13 bags across the Atlantic to sharing in the excitement (and surprises) of our new routines.

In this episode, we explore what it really feels like to settle into the Barcelona way of life — the habits we’ve picked up, the changes we didn’t expect, and the little cultural differences that make daily life here so unique.

We cover:

• Walking and public transport — going from a car-centric life to 10–20,000 steps a day and buses that actually run on time.
• Food culture — why bread, fresh markets, and simple ingredients have become a guilt-free part of our daily meals.
• Coffee customs — smaller cups, slower pacing, and the mysterious rules around when (and how) to order.
• August in Barcelona — why the city feels like a beautiful ghost town this time of year.
• Cultural etiquette — including Sara’s now-legendary “fruit shop” story in Bilbao.

Loving the Mediterranean Lifestyle

It’s not just about what’s different — it’s about how these changes are making us more present, more social, and more connected to our surroundings. Andrea also shares her take as someone visiting for an extended stay, and why Barcelona has quickly become one of her favorite cities.

🎧 Listen in for:

• Our favorite new daily rituals.
• The quirks that caught us by surprise.
• How walking everywhere changes the way we connect as a family.

If you’ve ever thought about moving abroad — or simply wondered what everyday life looks like beyond the tourist lens — this episode is full of honest reflections, funny stories, and practical takeaways from our first chapter in Barcelona.

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Please share our journey’s with anyone you think may be thinking about jumping across the pond!