In May, I spent eight days in Japan with my little sister. And truly, it was one of the best trips, if not the best trip, of my life. Japan is a magical place and I fell completely in love with it. I’ve never met nicer people, seen more adorable objects/foods, or felt more confused […]
What It’s Really Like Living in Scotland as an Expat
For this month’s American Expats series, we’re talking to Camila, a Canadian travel writer who lives in Stirling, Scotland. (P.S. I may need to change the name of this series.) Here, she talks about celebrating Burns night, understanding the thick Scottish accent, and what she misses most from home. Camila’s background: I was born in […]
What Living in Kyrgyzstan as an Expat is Really Like
Today, our American Expats series takes us to Kyrgyzstan where we meet Brittany, an English teacher living in Kyrgyzstan with her husband and daughter. We talked about living in Central Asia’s only democracy, raising a baby abroad, and the one way Kyrgyzstan is surprisingly similar to Colorado… Brittany’s background: My husband and I got married in June 2013 […]
What Living in Madrid as an Expat is Really Like
For this month’s American Expats series, our next stop is Spain. Cat Gaa, a Chicago native, moved to Seville, Spain, in 2007, and now lives in Madrid with her Spanish husband and young daughter. Here, she talks about churros, unique Spanish festivals, and walking the Camino. Cat’s background: Straight after college, I moved to Seville, […]
20 Photos That Will Inspire You to Visit Tbilisi, Georgia
Browsing through my photos of Tbilisi, Georgia, was a slightly surreal experience. Was I really in Tbilisi last summer? Did I actually spend four days in the Republic of Georgia, a tiny country located on the other side of the world? I wasn’t in Tbilisi long, but immediately, I was smitten. Georgia’s capital city is […]
What Living in France as an Expat is Really Like
Today, for my American Expats series, I’m chatting with Diane, a New Jersey native who has been living in France since 2012. Here, she shares about French style, cheek kisses, and the honest ups and downs of living in France as an expat. I’ve followed Diane since 2012, and highly recommend her blog for advice on living […]
Ashley Abroad
Ashley AbroadWhat Living in Mexico City as an Expat Is Really Like10 Excellent Books to Add to Your 2019 Reading List2019 Goals + ResolutionsWhat Living in Norway as an Expat is Really Like3 Days in Mexico City: The Perfect ItineraryWhat Living in Hamburg, Germany is Really LikeMust-have Travel Accessories That Cost Less Than $30Do Readers […]
What Living in Mexico City as an Expat Is Really Like
Hey guys! Welcome to American Expats, a new series that shows you what expat life is like in cities around the world. Next up: Laura, a freelance writer and blogger who has been living in Mexico City for two and a half years. Here, she talks about celebrating the Day of the Dead, learning Spanish, and […]
10 Excellent Books to Add to Your 2019 Reading List
Hey guys! I hope you’re having a good 2019 so far. Today I wanted to share my top reading recommendations for this year. 2018 wasn’t my best reading year (I had so much reading to do in grad school), but I still managed to finish around 25 books. Here are the ones I couldn’t put […]
2019 Goals + Resolutions
Hey guys! As we all know, 2019 is here. Personally, I couldn’t be happier. 2018 was a really tough year for me with lots of change and ambiguity (leaving Uganda, moving back to Michigan, starting grad school) so I’m not sad to see the back of it. I’m feeling very hopeful about 2019, so I […]
What Living in Norway as an Expat is Really Like
Hey guys! Happy New Year and welcome back to American Expats, a series that shows you what expat life is like in cities and countries around the world. Next up we have Silvia, a Norwegian-American who is living in Norway. Silvia is one of my favorite bloggers so I can’t wait to share her story here. Here, […]
3 Days in Mexico City: The Perfect Itinerary
I wrote this itinerary for a friend who will soon be spending 3 days in Mexico City. I thought you guys might find it useful as well, as many of you were interested in my Mexico City posts. Enjoy! There is so much to do, see, and eat in Mexico City. The food is delicious […]
What Living in Hamburg, Germany is Really Like
Hey guys! Welcome to American Expats, a series that shows you what expat life is like in cities around the world. Next up we have our first Germany-based expat — Jordan! Jordan has been living in Hamburg, Germany, for almost two years. Here, she talks about local German beers, the hip warehouse district, and how everything is closed […]
Must-have Travel Accessories That Cost Less Than $30
Over the years, I’ve tested a lot of travel accessories. Honestly, I love buying travel gear — it’s one of my guilty pleasures. So I wanted to put together a post highlighting my all-time favorite travel accessories that cost less than $30. I’ve owned all of these travel accessories for years, and recommend them highly. […]
Do Readers Grow Up to Be Travelers?
Since I was a child, I’ve been entranced by two things: books and faraway places. Though I didn’t leave the country until I was 15, I explored as much as possible without going anywhere. I read stacks of books. I took my red wagon to the library. I called an empty closet my ‘travel room’, […]