This episode from the archive features author and She Hit Refresh member Lori Tharps just before her 2021 move from the U.S. to Spain with her husband and two children. At that time, Lori was just 9 days away from hopping on a plane and making her life abroad dream with her family a reality!

Lori gives us an insight into those final days of closing up shop on your life in one country and prepping for a big move with your family to another continent.

And we’ll be posting an episode this season where we’ll catch up with Lori to see how it’s going now that she’s settled into her life in Spain.

In this episode:

• How Lori's love affair with Spain started

• Why she’s moving to Spain at age 49

• Why she left her tenured faculty position

• How her kids feel about moving abroad

• How Lori and her husband will support themselves abroad

• Her experience as a Black woman in Spain

• What the last 9 days of her life in the U.S. were like

About Lori

Lori L. Tharps is an author, journalist, educator, and podcast host who uses her words to spark conversation and change around issues of race and diversity.

She is the author of the book, Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America and a memoir, Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain, and she has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Essence, and Glamour. Lori is the mother of three, can say “I love you” in seven languages, and considers any independent bookstore her happy place.

Connect with Lori:

• Website: My American Melting Pot

• Reed, Write, and Create podcast
• Instagram: @loriltharps

Thank you to our season sponsor, ⁠⁠International Living⁠⁠!