On non-working hours

I am still a maker and a listener

You might wonder why my page is called "julialozmin"—well, as a Spaniard, I have two last names! Lozoya is my dad’s family name, and Mínguez is my mum’s. They’re not very common in Spain, so to keep things simple, I go with just the first one.

As for the pronunciation of my name, it can be tricky. I’m still slightly scarred by a co-worker who exaggerated it to the point of sounding like a coffee machine! But over time, I’ve learned to respond to a variety of versions: hoo-lee-ah (the Spanish way, with a soft "h"), joo-lee-uh (like Julia Roberts in English), or even Giulia (in Italian, it’s similar but with more emphasis on the “i”). Fun fact: the Italian alphabet doesn’t have the letter “j,” so it can be extra challenging here! But don’t worry, I’m not fussy—I’ll respond to any pronunciation that sounds remotely close!

Julia Lozoya

I’m currently living in Italy after spending five years in the UK. Back in 2016, after finishing my second degree, I decided to improve my English by working as an au-pair in the British countryside. Taking care of two pre-teen kids was a great way to have grown-up conversations while learning about British culture and language. Plus, I got to meet other au-pairs from all over the world, which made the experience even richer.

The program was supposed to last nine months, but I wasn’t ready to leave the UK just yet. So, I moved to London to find “a real job” and start fresh without the safety net of a host family. I was lucky enough to land a position at a Fintech startup during its growth phase. It was a young, fun team, and there was always someone ready for a beer or a party. I loved the city and the people, but then Covid hit, and I realized how much I missed nature and sunshine (although not the heat!). So, I decided to move to Italy. When I’m not working or learning something new on Udemy or Domestika, you’ll probably find me studying Italian or indulging in my favorite “granny hobbies”—reading, sewing my own clothes, knitting, or painting. I love to multitask these activities while listening to podcasts. Since I can enjoy them in Spanish, English, and Italian, the options are endless, and I always feel like I’m running out of time to listen to everything! I’m into all sorts of genres—news, comedy, art, pop culture, business, or true crime—but don’t worry, I won’t talk your ear off about podcasts unless you ask. :) I also love being outdoors—swimming and hiking are my go-to activities, and I’m lucky to live in Abruzzo, a region known for its stunning nature, with several national parks and reserves to explore on the weekends. Whenever I can, I try to travel back to Spain to visit friends and family. Being apart is challenging and remote work has been a total game changer for that!

When I’m not working or learning something new on Udemy or Domestika, you’ll probably find me studying Italian or indulging in my favorite “granny hobbies”—reading, sewing my own clothes, knitting, or painting. I love to multitask these activities while listening to podcasts. Since I can enjoy them in Spanish, English, and Italian, the options are endless, and I always feel like I’m running out of time to listen to everything! I’m into all sorts of genres—news, comedy, art, pop culture, business, or true crime—but don’t worry, I won’t talk your ear off about podcasts unless you ask. :) I also love being outdoors—swimming and hiking are my go-to activities, and I’m lucky to live in Abruzzo, a region known for its stunning nature, with several national parks and reserves to explore on the weekends. Whenever I can, I try to travel back to Spain to visit friends and family. Being apart is challenging and remote work has been a total game changer for that!

I also love being outdoors—swimming and hiking are my go-to activities, and I’m lucky to live in Abruzzo, a region known for its stunning nature, with several national parks and reserves to explore on the weekends. Whenever I can, I try to travel back to Spain to visit friends and family. Being apart is challenging and remote work has been a total game changer for that!

Whenever I can, I try to travel back to Spain to visit friends and family. Being apart is challenging and remote work has been a total game changer for that!