My work wife and I got so close that she started sleeping at my house to shorten her commute. We stopped talking when she left the company.

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cartoon of two women high fiving
The author became close friends with her coworker.

Alisa Zahoruiko/Getty Images

I moved with my 3 kids to Spain. They had a hard time adjusting to the food and schools when we moved back to the US.

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Family posing for a photo
The author (in yellow) and her family.

Courtesy of the author

My flight was diverted due to weather 2 days before Christmas. Here's how I avoided being stranded for the holidays.

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Woman on airport waiting for her flight which is delayed due to bad weather
Stock image of a woman at the airport.

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I live in Texas and I'm not surprised so many people are moving here — I'm surprised where they're choosing to settle

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Keyana Darling and her two sons in their new home.
Earlier this year, Keyana Darling and her two sons moved to Katy, Texas, a smaller spot outside Houston.

Courtesy of Keyana Darling

Working retail for over a decade made me hate everything about the holidays. Here's why.

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Photo of a woman fixing decorations on a Christmas tree that has red bows and colorful ornaments on it. The woman has dark brown hair pulled into a bun and wears a green t-shirt and blue apron. Behind her are displays with Christmas decorations on them.
Author not pictured.

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I taught my daughter at school, and it helped me learn something new about being a teacher

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Dad posing with daughter
The author (right) with his daughter.

Courtesy of the author

I've been a professional Santa for 17 years. Here are the naughty and not-so-nice things that have happened on my lap.

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Michael Mele, dressed as Santa, poses with his niece on his lap at Macy's. He is also shown without his costume on vacation in Rome.
Michael Mele hard at work at Macy's and on a recent vacation funded by his holiday work in Europe.

Courtesy of Michael Mele

I went to school in the US and Japan. Japan gave me a sense of community, but the US taught me to have my own opinions.

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Man posing for a photo next to the ocean
The author.

Courtesy of the author

I'm a college-admissions expert. Here's how to ace the alumni interview and get accepted to the college of your dreams.

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a woman shaking hands with two people
You can ace your alumni interview.

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I'm a student at Yale University. Here's what a weekend is like on campus.

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Brian Zhang and a building on yale campus
The author and a building on the Yale campus.

Courtesy of Elishevlyne Eliason & Brian Zhang

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