• After living in seven different countries, I've learned a few things that surprised me. 
• Prague was the hardest place to adjust to because of its cold temperatures and language.
• Texas' Dry Sundays, Europe's showers, and Wales' KFC menu surprised me the most.

Moving abroad can be exhausting, but I've done it multiple times, leaving my native island of St. Lucia for college in the US about 15 years ago. Since then, I've lived in places like Wales, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, and Greece. 

Traveling was daunting at first, especially coming from a country with a population of less than 200,000. But I loved immersing myself in new cultures, forming close friendships, and discovering new delicacies in every possible city.   

I felt knowledgeable about my destinations from my education, books, and television, but you never truly know a country until you've lived like a local.

Here are 11 things that surprised me during my travels.

Living in Spain can require a lot of paperwork 

There's always a lot of paperwork involved in traveling, but Spain is a different level of bureaucracy if you plan on living there for more than six months.

First, you must secure the Empadronamiento or "padrón," which is a document necessary to register with the town hall in the region of Spain you live in. This document adds your name and address to your city's census and is also necessary for administrative tasks like applying for a Social Security number, residency, public healthcare, opening a bank account, and getting married.

The process needs to be repeated if you move to another city and your residency must be canceled before leaving the country. Though the process seems simple, spots are often unavailable, so booking an appointment to do so can be very difficult.

The food scene is vast and varied in Prague

As a tourist in the Czech Republic, there are certain meals that you must try: beef steak tartare, Kulajda, Svíčková, and kolache.

Prague's international food scene is impressive, with restaurants representative of multiple cultures and palates. I was even able to find the ingredients to cook a local St. Lucian meal that included chicken backs and ripe plantains.

If you're not sure where to start or want to sample a variety, Manifesto Market features an eclectic mix of cuisines including authentic Hawaiian poké, rump steak tartare with shiitake mushrooms, traditional Mexican tacos, and Mediterranean dishes.

The bars are also stocked with Italian prosecco and a selection of craft beers. 

Italian food is actually as good as advertised

I had often been told that you haven't had real pizza or pasta until you go to Italy, and I can confirm that this is true. 

The best pizza I had was at a small, family-run joint in Crocetta del Montello, a tiny commune about an hour outside of Venice. It was simple, with some well-seasoned sauce and cheese on a crispy crust, but tasted amazing.

The same can be said for the gelato, which is velvety with intense fruit flavor.

I have also always loved spaghetti Bolognese, but enjoying the savory sauce in its native Bologna was unmatched. 

Some states participate in Dry Sundays

During the two years that I lived in Texas, I discovered Dry Sundays, during which liquor-store sales are prohibited on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

If Christmas or New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the liquor store is closed the following Monday.

The law itself can be a bit complex, as beer sales on Sundays are permitted from 10 a.m. to midnight, and wine sales are regulated within special hours.

There are also different stipulations in place if you're attending a fair, festival, concert, or sporting event.

Other states like Kansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee participate in some variation of Dry Sunday as well.

Showering can be an extreme sport in some places

Showers in Europe can be small, making it difficult to move around. The half-door, which doesn't extend all the way across the tub, can also result in a very wet and messy floor.

The shower nozzle can be handheld, and once you figure it out, showering will be a breeze. However, washing your hair can be difficult, so be prepared to lay some towels out on the floor. 

Greece has a Caribbean vibe

As a native of one of the premier vacation and honeymoon spots in the world, if the water is cold or there are rocks in lieu of sand on the beach, I am not interested.

But as I drove along the coastline to Olympia, the blue sea and sunny sky were reminiscent of St. Lucia. Skafidia Beach made me feel at home and showed me that Greece is a fantastic option if you can't make it to the Caribbean. 

Some parts of Spain take siestas very seriously

In Prague, my Valencian roommate retreated to her bedroom every day around two o'clock for siesta, the Spanish tradition of taking a nap shortly after lunch. Our professors at a Barcelona university also scheduled classes during the morning to observe the ritual.

In my L'Hospitalet de Llobregat neighborhood, well outside of Barcelona's city center, the practice was going strong. Stores closed every day from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and I even witnessed a shop owner ask a woman to leave so that he could close at two.

KFC and many other fast-food chains don't have the same menu around the world

Kentucky Fried Chicken struck gold when it opened in the Caribbean Islands, becoming the most popular fast-food restaurant across the region, beloved even by Barbados native Rihanna.

Besides the fried chicken, one of the most popular sides is the golden buttermilk biscuit. Or at least that's what I thought until I wandered into a KFC in Wales only to discover that they didn't have it. After some confusion from workers who thought I was trying to order a cookie, they offered me rice, which I never knew was an option.

Major food chains like McDonald's, Wendy's, and KFC offer location-specific menus to appeal to target audiences worldwide. This can range from a Samurai Burger in Asia to a Chee-Zee Marmite Stuffed Pizza Crust in New Zealand. 

People are friendlier than you might expect across the globe

Friendly faces are always a welcome sight and in Spain, Greece, and Italy, I found the locals to be patient and helpful even if I wasn't fluent in the language.

In the US, I met some of the warmest people when I lived in Detroit, Louisiana, and Texas.

In the UK, I initially thought people were a bit more reserved. However, when I had a problem with my visa, an amazing family in Wales helped me through it.

Though I thought Czechs, had a tough exterior, they also have a wonderful, dry sense of humor.

I learned to travel with an open mind and ignore the stereotypes — otherwise, you might miss out on connecting with some incredible people. 

Prague was the most difficult place to adjust to

With its Romanesque architecture, steep hills, and small rivers, Prague is one of the most gorgeous cities in Central Europe.

However, Prague is also a cold city, so I bundled up in layers — coming from the tropical Caribbean, this was a tough adjustment.

The Czech language was also difficult to learn, and unlike in Spain, where English was very prevalent in the city center, Czech was spoken virtually everywhere. Because Czech falls in the West Slavic language group, it didn't have the familiar structures shared by French, Spanish, and Italian, which made it hard for me to retain.

The Czech Republic is very dog-friendly

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Prague's pet owners proudly walking with their dogs and on the trams instead of strays roaming the streets.

The pets were also incredibly obedient and well-behaved at restaurants and on public transportation. This is the antithesis of St. Lucia's cultural norms, in which pets are not typically allowed in restaurants or public buses.  

This story was originally published on February 1, 2022, and most recently updated on January 8, 2025.

• Earning a perfect score on "Dancing With the Stars" is a big deal. 
• Nev Schulman from MTV's "Catfish" got the first perfect score for season 29. 
• JoJo Siwa and Chandler Kinney got the first perfect scores on their respective seasons.

It's hard to earn a perfect score on "Dancing With the Stars" — but it still happens every year.

Here's the first couple to earn perfect 10s across the board on each season. 

Kelly Monaco impressed judges on season one.

The season's eventual winner Monaco, and her partner Alec Mazo, finally captured that elusive perfect score during their finale freestyle to Jennifer Lopez's "Let's Get Loud."

The judges thought Stacy Keibler did a phenomenal samba during season two.

Week five was very good to former wrestler Keibler and her pro partner Tony Dovolani after they delivered a flawless samba.

However, it was not enough to topple Drew Lachey who went on to win with Cheryl Burke.

Mario Lopez earned the first perfect score during season three.

"Saved by the Bell" star and "Extra" host Lopez broke through with the first perfect score of season three after a scintillating tango with his partner, Karina Smirnoff.

Apolo Anton Ohno's samba blew away the judges during season four.

Olympic champion speed skater Ohno paired with then-new pro Julianne Hough to earn the first perfect score of season four. 

The pair would end up winning the mirrorball trophy that season.

Sabrina Bryan scored a perfect score during season five.

"The Cheetah Girls" star Bryan's shocking elimination was made all the more stunning by the fact that she'd just performed a perfect Paso Doble with partner Mark Ballas.

Judges believed Kristi Yamaguchi's jive was seriously good on season six.

After earning high scores throughout the season, Olympic figure skating champion Yamaguchi and pro Ballas finally received a perfect score for their high-octane jive.

The judges felt Brooke Burke's foxtrot was phenomenal on season seven.

Actor and former "DWTS" host Burke and pro partner Derek Hough's pristine foxtrot was just the first step toward their season-seven victory.

Gilles Marini grabbed the judges' attention during season eight.

The "Sex and the City" and "Switched at Birth" actor Marini had a fairly successful foray into the world of ballroom.

His perfect Argentine tango with Burke was just one of his many memorable moments on the show.

Mya gave judges an impressive samba during season nine.

Singer Mya and her partner Dmitry Chaplin seemed poised for a season nine victory after a sizzling 1970s samba to Donna Summer's "Bad Girls."

But the trophy would eventually go to another well-known vocalist, Donnie Osmond.

Evan Lysacek worked his way up during season 10.

After a rocky samba in the previous week, Olympic gold medalist figure skater Lysacek was looking to redeem himself in the eyes of the voters and partner Anna Trebunskaya.

He did just that, earning a perfect score for an Argentine tango.

Jennifer Grey danced her way to the top on season 11.

"Dirty Dancing" alum Grey and pro partner Derek Hough struck gold with their sensual rumba to Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You." They remained at the top for the rest of the season and made their way to the winners' circle.

Hines Ward made a heroic comeback for season 12.

Super Bowl champion Ward and his partner, Kym Johnson, were looking to make a comeback after a scary fall in practice which left Johnson's neck injured.

They scored a touchdown with their Argentine tango.

J.R. Martinez was twice as nice on season 13.

Former Army vet turned actor Martinez and his partner Smirnoff doubled up on perfection in week eight — first for their waltz and then for an instant dance.

His good fortune continued to the end of the season when he won the mirrorball trophy.

Maria Menounos brought the passion for season 14.

Former "E! News" host Menounos and partner Derek Hough delivered a knockout punch in week seven with a jaw-dropping Paso Doble.

Sabrina Bryan did it again in season 15.

Bryan got a second shot at "DWTS" glory during the all-star season. This time, she was partnered with Louis Van Amstel, and they earned rave reviews for their rumba.

But Bryan was once again ousted in a shocking elimination exactly five years to the day of her last dismissal from the ballroom.

Zendaya rocked the salsa during season 16.

Actor Zendaya and partner Val Chmerkovskiy teamed up with another pro, Gleb Savchenko, for an amazing salsa which brought in the first perfect score of season 16.

Elizabeth Berkley's cha-cha brought the house down on season 17.

Another "Saved by the Bell" alum followed in the footsteps of Lopez's perfection. Berkley and Chmerkovskiy reached the milestone in week six with their cha-cha.

James Maslow found magic during Disney week during season 18.

With partner Peta Murgatroyd, actor and singer Maslow wowed the judges with a contemporary masterpiece set to Disney's "Frozen" track "Let It Go."

Janel Parrish's jazz impressed judges during season 19.

"Pretty Little Liars" star Parrish and her partner, Chmerkovskiy, took a huge risk with their jazz routine, which had to be learned in two days after their original idea was scrapped by producers.

It paid off— they earned the first perfect score of the season.

Rumer Willis danced a rumba to remember during season 20.

Willis and Chmerkovskiy treated the audience to a classic rumba. It impressed the judge and resulted in the first perfect score of the season. 

Change was good for Alexa PenaVega during season 21.

During switch-up week, actor PenaVega took a break from her original partner, Ballas, to team up with Derek Hough for a tango.

The new pair earned the first perfect score of the season.

The week-seven forecast was good for Ginger Zee during season 22.

The first perfect score of season 22 came on Icons Night as meteorologist Zee and her pro partner Chmerkovskiy danced a winning waltz to "I Have Nothing."

 

Laurie Hernandez made history in season 23.

Olympic champion gymnast Hernandez became the youngest contestant in "DWTS" history to earn the first perfect score of the season.

It all went down in week four after her jazz routine with Chmerkovskiy.

Heather Morris' rumba brought the heat in season 24.

"Glee" star Morris' rumba to TLC's "Waterfalls" drew rave reviews from the judges and a perfect score.

Unfortunately, it was not enough to keep Morris off the chopping block. She and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy were eliminated that same night.

Jordan Fisher's foxtrot was loved by judges during season 25.

"Hamilton" actor and singer Fisher teamed up with Lindsay Arnold to turn in a stellar foxtrot to "You're Welcome" from "Moana," earning them the first perfect score that season.

Adam Rippon's jazz routine blew judges away during season 26.

Olympic figure skater Rippon's jazz with partner Jenna Johnson pulled in a perfect score, which he capped off with a season-26 win.

Juan Pablo Di Pace earned the first perfect score of season 27.

Actor Di Pace and Burke did an emotional, fiery samba to "Ni Tu Ni Yo" by Jennifer Lopez and the two received a perfect score — plus a standing ovation from judge Len Goodman. 

During season 28, Ally Brooke and Sasha Farber got the first perfect score.

Although they didn't win the competition, musician Brooke and her star partner, Sasha Farber, took home the first perfect score of season 28.

The two did a jaw-dropping Paso Doble to "Higher" by Ally Brooke and Matoma.

Nev Schulman got the first perfect score on season 29.

Star of MTV's "Catfish" Schulman and his pro, Johnson, earned the first perfect score of the season during the villian-themed night. They did a "Black Swan"-inspired routine. 

JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson earned the perfect score with a "Grease"-themed dance.

Siwa and Jenna Johnson got the first perfect score of the season with a foxtrot to "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)."

 

Season 31 saw two perfect scores in one night.

During season 31, "Bachelorette" star Gabby Windey and partner Val Chmerkovskiy technically received the first perfect score of the season with a tango to "Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship featuring Leighton Meester.

The couple later came in second place in the whole competition. 

Later that same night, comedian Wayne Brady and partner Witney Carson also earned perfect 10s with a samba to "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock. They ended the season in third place. 

Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy got the first perfect score on season 32 and took that momentum to the finale.

Once again, Val Chmerkovskiy scored the first perfect score of the season, this time paired with actor Gomez. The two did a tango to "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." 

The pair went on to win season 32. 

Chandler Kinney got the first perfect score on season 33.

Disney actor Kinney and pro partner Brandon Armstrong earned the first perfect score of the season with an Argentine tango set to "Para Te" by Appart.

Later that night, they danced again and earned another perfect score. Kinney and Armstrong went on to end up in third place, which many "Dancing With the Stars" fans were not happy about.