• Shawna Lum moved to Barcelona from Los Angeles after several failed relationships.
• She said the dating scene differed in Spain because men were "more emotionally available."
• The 31-year-old has now been married to a European she met in Barcelona for three years.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shawna Lum, 31, of Barcelona. She runs a company that offers advice to would-be expats. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I sustained neck and spine injuries when I was doing CrossFit a few years ago. They still cause me a lot of pain. My Spanish husband, Dan, 31, goes out of his way to try to ease the symptoms.

We'll be in a long line at a grocery store, and he'll gently massage my back because I've been standing for so long. He's always kissing me in front of people on the street. He's not afraid of PDA.

Most of the men I dated in the US before I moved from Los Angeles to Europe eight years ago were uptight about it. One brushed my hand away when I reached over to hold his hand in a restaurant. Another was clearly uncomfortable when I ruffled his hair.

In the US, the guys I met were uptight. If I wanted to bring up something emotional that happened in my life, they weren't available to talk about it. Three out of four of my serious boyfriends ended our relationship by text message.

The other dumped me while I was grieving the loss of a beloved aunt. He distanced himself because he was clearly not comfortable with consoling me. In 2016, I started to get depressed that I was never going to be in a relationship that worked out.

I'd spent part of the previous year in Spain as part of my college degree, and I felt happy and carefree. I decided to quit my traineeship as a manager for an oil and gas company and enroll in a master's program at a business school in Barcelona.

I got to know people at Meetup events

I mostly wanted a challenge and a change of scene. Still, my motivation was partly fueled by my search for romance. I thought it would be fun to meet some European guys.

Dating felt less forced in Spain. Instead of going to a flashy place for dinner, I enjoyed doing more adventurous things with people, like cycling or hiking all day.

Meanwhile, I turned to Meetup, a website that organizes trips and events. At events such as volleyball tournaments, yoga workshops, and ceramics projects, you mingle with like-minded people. It's a great way of making connections, whether friendly or romantic.

Another difference between dating in Spain and the US is that more of the guys I dated seemed ready for commitment. If I dated someone and it became an ongoing relationship, they'd call me their "girlfriend" because it was exclusive.

I met Dan, who was born and raised in Malaga, on the Costa del Sol, when I was riding my bike in 2017. I was impressed because he was fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. We played ping pong, went dancing, and meditated together. He was open and talked about his emotions in a way I'd never heard from my ex-boyfriends.

We moved in together, and I got a "partnership visa" in 2018. I employed a lawyer, but it was relatively easy to obtain once I proved cohabitation. I switched from teaching English to freelance work in digital marketing, mostly building websites for American clients.

People from different generations spend time together

Dan, a DJ and music producer, and I got married in October 2021. Sadly, my father was diagnosed with a terminal illness during COVID. Dan supported us throughout. He prioritizes family and community — a common theme in Spain. The different generations mix well. One of the nicest things is seeing kids, young people, and older folks strolling together along La Rambla or gathering in the plazas in Barcelona.

My relocation experience inspired me to set up my company, MoveOverSeasNow, focusing on Europe and South America. I coach Americans on everything from obtaining citizenship by descent to navigating health systems and financial planning for their move.

I deal with many couples but plenty of singles, too. Many of them are inspired by tales of finding romance. While I can't guarantee they'll meet the partner of their dreams in their adopted country, I tell them they'll have fun looking.

Do you have an interesting story to share with Business Insider about moving to a different country? Please send details to this reporter at [email protected].

Different sources have already reported on the possible launch of new iPads and iPhone SE 4 in the first half of 2025. While Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously said that these products will be launched in the spring, he has now specified that Apple expects to launch the new iPads and iPhone SE 4 “by April.”

You probably didn’t have X CEO Linda Yaccarino praising Meta and Mark Zuckerberg on your CES 2025 bingo card, yet here we are. Speaking during a keynote address in Las Vegas, Yaccarino described Meta’s decision to end its longtime fact checking program and implement community notes as “exciting” and “validating.”

Yaccarino and and X owner Elon Musk have both championed the crowd-sourced fact-checking feature that Meta now plans to emulate on its own services. “I think it’s really exciting when you think about community notes being good for the world … and it couldn’t be more validating than to see that Mark and Meta realize that,” Yaccarino said. “Mark, Meta, welcome to the party.”

Meta and Zuckerberg may find themselves in dubious company at the “party,” however. While X often touts the number of users who contribute to Community Notes, some researchers have pointed out flaws in the feature. A report last year from misinformation researchers at the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) noted that many misleading posts, including prominent posts from Musk himself, can rack up billions of views without receiving a correction.

It’s not surprising at all that Yaccarino would praise Zuckerberg's move to cut ties with the media institutions that have been its longtime partners for fact-checking content on Facebook and Instagram. Like her boss Musk, she’s made no secret of her disdain for “legacy media,” and she spent a significant portion of her time onstage railing against “legacy news that is designed to make you think a certain way.”

Zuckerberg’s move to loosen its content moderation standards is the latest sign of just how far the Facebook founder is willing to go to realign himself with the political right as Donald Trump prepares to take office. He also added a prominent Trump backer, UFC CEO Dana White, to Meta’s board and elevated the company’s most prominent Republican executive to run global affairs.

The H5N1 bird flu situation in the US seems more fraught than ever this week as the virus continues to spread swiftly in dairy cattle and birds while sporadically jumping to humans.

On Monday, officials in Louisiana announced that the person who had developed the country's first severe H5N1 infection had died of the infection, marking the country's first H5N1 death. Meanwhile, with no signs of H5N1 slowing, seasonal flu is skyrocketing, raising anxiety that the different flu viruses could mingle, swap genetic elements, and generate a yet more dangerous virus strain.

But, despite the seemingly fever-pitch of viral activity and fears, a representative for the World Health Organization today noted that risk to the general population remains low—as long as one critical factor remains absent: person-to-person spread.

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Some people spend thousands on treatments and designer clothes to look taller and richer, but here at Us we found a fashion hack that does the same — but for way less! With the right dress, you can create an optical illusion for the eye that makes the silhouette look taller and slimmer, all while having a comfortably loose winter fit. To help you get in on the style hack, we rounded up these 15 loose and slimming dress styles from Amazon — and they have a luxe-looking appearance as well.

Sound like a lot of boxes to check off in one dress? It was a tall order but we were able to fulfill it! Some of our favorite stand-out styles are this pleated ribbed knit maxi dress that looks way more expensive than just $30 and this tie-waist striped style that’s consistently an Amazon best-seller? As promised, each of these styles are budget-friendly options as well — starting at just $30!

17 Luxe-Looking Winter Dresses That Slim Pear-Shaped Bodies

 15 Loose and Slimming Winter Dresses on Amazon to Make You Look Taller and Richer 

1. Our Absolute Favorite: Not only do the pleats of this luxe-looking maxi dress elongate the body, so does the a-line silhouette!

2. Savvy in Stripes: The stripes in the skirt of this tie-waist maxi dress help to draw the eye upward, giving a taller appearance!

3. Timeless Turtleneck: One way to make yourself look taller in this turtleneck sweater dress is to pair them with some knee-high boots, which help to make the legs appear longer!

4. Waist Accentuating: Stay comfy and cozy while also accentuating the waist in this loose midi sweater dress that features a tie at the waist!

5. Seriously Comfy: The two elongating elements of this midi sweater dress are the v-neckline and the side slit — plus, it’s made of a soft knit too!

6. Flowy and Fabulous: The flowy skirt and t-shirt-like fabric of this casual slimming maxi dress keep you comfortable while the drop waist elongates the silhouette!

15 Slimming Winter Dresses on Amazon to Look Supermodel Tall

7. Designer-Looking: It’s hard to believe that this designer-looking midi dress is only $30 — such a score!

8. Totally Transitional: A great bang for your buck, this smocked midi dress can be made warmer with boots in the winter and cooler with heels in the summer!

9. Ribbed and Ravishing: With a horizontal ribbed fabric, this effortless sweater midi dress draws the eye upward!

10. Velvety Smooth: A perfect pick for Valentine’s Day date nights coming up is this velvety smooth midi dress has a flowy skirt and slimming smocked waist!

11. Amazon’s Choice: Approved by Amazon, this flowy maxi dress features cute ruffled sleeves, comes in several cute prints and has a tiered skirt!

12. Pretty Puff Sleeve: In case you didn’t know, a puff sleeve dress like this maxi style helps to create a more feminine appearance and balanced proportions!

13. Boho Babe: If you’re more drawn toward the boho aesthetic, you’re going to love this swiss dot maxi dress that also has a cinched, waist-slimming design!

14. Pleats Please: If you’ve been on the hunt for something more elevated for things like weddings or baby showers, you’ll definitely want to check out this pleated midi dress!

15. Feels Like Loungewear: This flowy maxi dress is made of a t-shirt style viscose, polyester and spandex fabric blend that’s truly the comfiest find!

19 Luxe Cashmere and Wool Sweaters Beginning at $11

Prince Harry is set to return to the U.K. as his legal battle continues.

The Duke of Sussex is set to go up against News Group Newspapers (NGN) — which owns The Sun — in court starting this month. Harry, 40, previously accused the media company of allegedly using unlawful information gathering tactics.

Hello! Magazine reported on Tuesday, January 7, that when Harry flies home he won’t be accompanied by wife Meghan Markle. The publication noted that she will likely stay in California with their kids, Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3.

NGN previously admitted to phone hacking at the News of the World, which closed in 2011. They’ve since claimed that there was no wrongdoing at The Sun.

Prince Harry's 2nd Unlawful Info Gathering Case Will Go to Trial

In an April 2023 court filing, Harry alleged that his brother, Prince William, settled with NGN for “a very large sum” in 2020. He also claimed that the royal family had a “secret agreement” with the media company preventing any members from filing lawsuits. (NGN has since denied this claim.)

Judge Timothy Fancourt ruled last July that Harry’s case could move forward solely on the allegations of unlawful information gathering. His phone hacking claims fell outside the six-year time frame to bring the case. The judge also stated that Harry failed to provide evidence of the alleged “secret agreement.” The trial date was eventually set for January 2025. (The hearing is set to last for eight weeks.)

This is hardly the first time Harry is going up against the U.K. media. He was part of a group that sued Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), which owns the Daily Mail, for allegedly hacking into celebrities’ voicemails as a way to obtain personal information. He made a major statement while testifying in June 2023, making him the first royal family member to take the stand in 130 years. By December 2023, a judge ruled in Harry’s favor. Court documents obtained by Us at the time revealed that the judge found “sufficient proof” that MGN “engaged in unlawful information gathering, including phone hacking.”

Prince Harry's Many Legal Cases Explained: Phone Hacking and More

Harry spoke candidly about his ongoing legal battle during last month, noting that his time in court is about “accountability” at the New York Times’s DealBook Summit.

“They’ve settled because they’ve had to settle,” he said of those who came before him. “So therefore, one of the main reasons for seeing this through is accountability, because I’m the last person that can actually achieve that.”

When it comes to the Golden Globe Awards (or any awards show, for that matter), the red carpet looks tend to draw as much attention as the winners. For 2025’s event, elegant yet unfussy makeup enhanced the old Hollywood glam styles, and luckily for ever-curious Us, celebrity makeup artists are sharing insider details on the products they used. As it turns out, two of our favorite actresses ended up wearing the same lipstick!

Golden Globes Glam! Elle Fanning Wore This $14 Beauty Product on the Red Carpet

For Sunday’s award ceremony, celebrity makeup artists Pati Dubroff and Quinn Murphy worked with Kirsten Dunst and Kristen Bell, respectively, ensuring they were ready to pose for the cameras. Both artists used Chanel on the actresses, topping their masterpieces with Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue in Chic Rosewood, a subtly shimmering mocha-rose lipstick. The two-part lipstick has a deeply pigmented liquid color on one side and a glossy, hydrating top coat on the other. It’s a wearable glam hue for all-day everyday or a special occasion!

Get Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue in Chic Rosewood for $48 at Ulta! 

Murphy explained his vision for the Nobody Wants This star.

“Kristen wore a rose-gold sequin gown that was both eye-catching and subtly elegant,” he said. “Rose gold has an undertone that sits in the middle of warm and cool, giving it a delicate and nuanced quality. Rather than opting for a strong eye or bold lip, I wanted to find a balance of features, adding a bit of mystery and nuanced glamour.”

Emma Stone's Stylist Used This High-Speed Hair Dryer to Achieve Her Golden Globes Look

Taking a different approach for Spiderman‘s Dunst, Dubroff opted for strong, dark eye makeup, while the lip shade perfectly harmonized the look.

While long-lasting lipstick is a must for the red carpet, shoppers also love the Chanel lip color, saying it lasts through meals and doesn’t leave lip prints on wine glasses. One devotee, who calls it “Absolutely the best!” raved that the lipstick is a “long-wearing color and doesn’t dry out. The gloss is gorgeous and doesn’t feel sticky. This stuff is magic! Doesn’t transfer all over your cup and is still on by the end of the day!”

A second devotee confirms, “I love this long-lasting lipstick and gloss; it’s the best I have ever tried, and the color selection is amazing!”

Quiet luxury has come for your lips. If you’re going to invest in one piece of makeup that will match any style — and look smashing through the winter into the springtime — don’t hesitate to shop this lipstick today. We’ve already added it to our carts!

Get Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue in Chic Rosewood for $48 at Ulta! 

Golden Globes Beauty! 24 Exact Products Worn by the Stars to Shop Now

In a season filled with lucky breaks for the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes received another one on the homefront. 

Mahomes, 29, revealed his wife, Brittany Mahomes, is due to give birth to the couple’s third baby on Sunday, January 12, during Kansas City’s playoff bye week. 

“He told me his wife Brittany is due to give birth to their 3rd child on Sunday. If she doesn’t give birth by then she will be induced Monday,” CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson shared via X on Monday, January 6. 

The timing is fortuitous because the Chiefs have earned the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs, meaning they won’t begin their playoff quest until the weekend of January 18.

Patrick Mahomes and Pregnant Wife Brittany Share Sideline PDA Before Game

Wolfson, 49, added, “There was def extra motivation for Patrick to get that bye week! .”

Patrick and Brittany — who got married in March 2022 — already share daughter Sterling, 3, and son Bronze, 2. In July 2024, they revealed their third baby will be a girl. 

In an interview with Kay Adams that aired during Netflix’s coverage of the Chiefs’ Christmas Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Patrick said the new addition would be arriving “any day now.”

“Brittany says I’ve been stressing her out too much this season,” Mahomes told Adams, 38, in the sit-down chat. “So I got to try to not put so much stress on her through these football games.”

He added, “Hopefully God works the right way and we can have that baby on the bye week somewhere, and then everything will work out perfectly.”

After the Christmas Day win over the Steelers, which earned the Chiefs the first-round bye, Patrick gushed about the importance of the victory. 

“I told my pregnant wife I was gonna get the No. 1 seed so we can go have that baby,” he said in his postgame interview.

Brittany responded to the interview via her Instagram Story from home, where she was watching the game. 

Brittany Mahomes Offers a Glimpse Into Her Pregnancy Workout

“Always keeping his promises,” Brittany wrote. 

Patrick and Brittany, 29, announced they are expecting their third baby with a joint Instagram post in July of last year. 

“Round three, here we come ,” the post read, which featured a video of Sterling showing off a sonogram of her soon-to-be sister for the camera.

The Chiefs quest for a historic third-consecutive Super Bowl will start on either Saturday, January 18, or Sunday, January 19. Their opponent will be decided by the winners of the Wild Card weekend games, which kick off Saturday, January 11. 

Zendaya is keeping Us on our toes with her hair changes.

Zendaya, 28, showed off a chic fringe look while speaking at a special screening of Challengers on Monday, January 6. The actress slicked her hair back into a voluminous ponytail with her ends curled. She added a glamorous touch to her updo with some strands wrapped around her hair tie. Zendaya tied her coif together with thick clip-in bangs that were cut slightly below her eyebrows with angels framing her face.

Zendaya teamed her hair with a full beat including a dewy foundation, black liner in her waterline and long lashes. The rest of her makeup featured blushed cheeks with highlighter swept across her high points and pink lined lips.

The actress added the perfect amount of sparkle to her look with diamond stud earrings and her new engagement ring from Tom Holland. The sparkler features a large east-west cushion diamond set on a button back ring.

Zendaya Sparks Tom Holland Engagement Rumors With Ring at Golden Globes

Zendaya’s fierce look didn’t stop there. She went topless underneath a black leather blazer which she paired with a frilly tulle mini skirt, both by John Galliano for Dior. In true Zendaya style, she rocked a pair of black Christian Louboutin ‘So Kate’ heels.

Zendaya first showed off her engagement ring at the 2025 Golden Globes on Sunday, January 7. Fans immediately speculated that the ring wasn’t just an accessory and was from Holland getting on one knee, and Us Weekly confirmed the rumors on Monday.

For the Golden Globes, Zendaya wore her hair in a pinned up bob that was styled in Old Hollywood curls. She styled her chin-length haircut with a burnt orange custom Louis Vuitton gown featuring a strapless sweetheart neckline and a column skirt adorned with Watteau train. She accessorized with a massive Bulgari diamond necklace and a matching ring.