Sunday Scroll No. 3 — The Europe Edition
The Wonder, Wobble, and Reality of moving to Europe
Hola loves —
I’m writing this from the boat to Samui. I missed the one I actually booked (classic), and now I’m stuck on a later, far less convenient one — but hey ho, we move!
It’s about six weeks until our big move to Valencia. We’re buzzing. We’d planned to leave around the 20th of August, but decided to delay — flight prices drop by nearly 30% after 1st September. Worth the wait, right?
I hope you enjoyed Friday’s post on Everyone’s Arguing About Moving to Europe! It’s had an amazing response, and the comments are on fire. 🔥
This week’s scroll dives into one of our spiciest recurring themes: Why Europe? Why now? There’s been a lot of talk lately — online and off — about the wave of writers, creators, and remote dreamers making their way across the Atlantic. Some call it the new exodus. Others, a renaissance. If you’re curious why so many of us are trading one continent for another, this might be a good place to start.
From juicy culture shocks to the politics of idealising a continent, we’re looking back at some of the most resonant — and poignant — stories about choosing (and challenging) life across the pond, so snuggle into your favourite reading corner, grab a cup of something steamy and let’s dive in.
🧭 Europe, Disassembled
Power structures, policies, and the realities that lie beneath the Europhile fantasy.
Why Finnish Dads Don’t Stay at Home — Spoiler: even in progressive paradises, gender roles run deeper than policy.
An All-New European Digital Nomad Visa Has Been Announced — Slovenia isn’t usually on the “top 5” lists — but that might just be what makes it gold for the globally curious.
The Insufferable Snobbery of Europhile Writers — Of all the global problems we could care about… you picked the wrong utensil?
Salento Rising: A New Mediterranean Dream for Sustainable Luxury Living — If the future of cities is small, sun-drenched, and deeply rooted — Italy may already be ahead.
🎭 Lost in Local
Awkward rituals, quiet faux pas, and the behavioural rewiring required to really belong in Europe.
Twelve things I’ve learned about French life — No snacking, no walking while eating, and definitely no ketchup — French food culture is not for the faint of fork.
How to Shop Like a Spaniard — Between jamón etiquette and market gossip, Spanish grocery shopping is a full-blown cultural ritual.
Livin’ La Vida Local — Tourists love “authenticity” — until they have to queue at the post office.
Must Love Bellyflops — Language apps are great, but nothing beats public humiliation and persistence.
Sort of Surviving a Heat Wave in Portugal — Add one turtle, subtract air con, and you get a poetic guide to European summers.
Why I’m Still the Default Parent — Even in France — French parenting logic in one sentence: it’s better if it’s the Mom.
🏠 Settling Is a Verb
Flats, fixes, villages, and all the mess it takes to build a life you can live in Europe
Experiencing My First French Apartment — Nothing like a thermostat mystery and a shared wall with Madame Garlic to make you feel truly abroad.
Not Just Homes: A New Vision of Italy Starting from Its Villages — Regenerating abandoned villages isn’t nostalgia — it’s a radical act of community-building.
🪞 Becoming Elsewhere
Identity shifts, emotional reckonings, and the quiet transformation of self after moving to Europe.
Moving Abroad Won’t Fix you, But It Will Change You Forever — Relocating won’t solve your problems. But it might show you who you are underneath them.
GEN X Expat Tries to Live in France — Gets Ambushed — Boxed wine, midlife madness, and the daily absurdities of French life — welcome to Gen X abroad.
In Defence of Italy — When dreamy ideals clash with real-life Italy, it’s still worth fighting for what feels like home.
Who Needs an Italian Holiday When You Are Exactly Where You Wanted to Be — The problem isn’t Italy. It’s the idea we sold ourselves about what it would fix.
💬 Your Turn
🫖 What’s one “weird” local custom you’ve picked up abroad — that now feels like second nature?
Do you clink glasses differently now? Kiss people on the cheek once, twice, three times? Spill it.
Personally, one of my favourite “weird customs” is sipping miso soup straight from the bowl — something my mom would’ve scolded me for growing up, but in Japan? Totally normal. I learned that one fast. And honestly? I still do it. Every time. No spoon, no shame.
Drop your thoughts in the comments below 💬👇
✨ P.S. Seen the House Yet?
We officially launched Home Abroad on 1 July!
If you haven’t had a peek, come take a wander:
→ Tour the house
→ Read the welcome note
We’re still fluffing the pillows — but it’s already feeling like home.
We’re building this space with you — so if something’s sparked, stirred, or still missing, tell us here. The blueprint’s still in pencil.🖋
🗝 Dreaming of your own move?
Start here with the Dream Life Abroad Starter Kit — your go-to bundle for dreaming, mapping, and finally doing the move.
If you made it this far — truly, merci, gracias, danke, and cheers 💗 ! We see you — curled up in the Living Room, poking around the Kitchen, maybe even tiptoeing into the Lanai for a little eavesdropping. However you found your way here, we’re so glad you did. This place wouldn’t be the same without your curious, kind, global soul wandering the halls with us.