Costa Rica A Braud walks into an African restaurant and orders the daily special. She may think she’s getting the same dish millions of West Africans are eating at home, but that is probably not the case. Read more “Cheap Eating Around the World”
Australia After living abroad for almost four years in four different countries, my life has changed for the better and I learned things beyond my wildest imagination! Read more “5 Reasons to Live Outside of Your Country”
Encouragement Congratulations, Steph! In case you don’t know, our very own Stephanie De La Garza earned New Zealand residency status earlier this week. As per usual, Steph is out there living the dream while many of her fellow Americans flounder in the backwash of a volatile presidential campaign. Read more “Post-Election Travel Escapes for Americans”
Driving Each year that I traveled abroad, without fail, I would bring back the obligatory souvenir for my friends and myself. Usually something mass produced, maybe something original and handmade once in a while. Something that would probably be forgotten or thrown away eventually. Everyone has a souvenir from someplace. Read more “The Souvenir”
Driving I’d always lived in the ‘burbs until I hit the road in 2013. I went from a population of 1.4 million to a few thousand overnight when I moved to Costa Rica. Ever since, I’ve pretty much lived in small communities for the past three years. I used to think I could never do that, but yet again, being open to new places and stepping out of my comfort zone taught me some valuable lessons. I now see the allure to living around less people and am hesitant to go back to city dwelling, traffic gridlock and fast paced action. Read more “5 Reasons Small Town Living is Better Than Cities”
Food With the weather turning colder, it only feels natural to make Chicken Tortilla Soup. I’ve been through multiple copycat recipes from several San Antonio restaurants, trying to concoct my own personal recipe that suits my taste. I’m still working on it, but I did make a large pot the other day. Being so excited about having it again (a twice a year experience, typically), I failed to remember how to actually eat it “properly”. I had remembered the cheese, but left out the lime, forgot to buy tortilla chips, avocado (not in season now) and add the little cilantro I’m growing on my windowsill. The following day, I added the three of four and it tasted much better. Read more “Desperate Times, Desperate Measures”
Food “We serve breakfast all day long! We also have mimosas and some fresh berry Bellini’s,” a lovely lady exclaimed as she stuck her head out the doorway of a café in Pacific Grove. My eyes glanced down the menu posted in the window and I noticed a Philly cheese steak sandwich. I got excited and said, “Wow! I haven’t had a cheese steak in ages! How are they here?” She responded, “They’re great and they come with fries and a salad!” I was sold, so in we went. Read more “Reverse Culture Shock”
New Zealand As my boyfriend and I sat at the bar having a drink, I gazed up at the clock – 1:15.
“I should get to the airport…I need to be there at least an hour early.” I paused for a moment, looking up at the clock again. “But I don’t remember what time it leaves!” Read more “All Packed With Nowhere To Go”
Annoyances There’s an air of mystery that surrounds wanderers, gypsies, perpetual tourists, nomads…whatever name you want to give them. I think a lot of people wonder why they would choose to not have a home or settle down like “normal people”. There MUST be something wrong with them. They MUST have done something bad. I’ve even been asked the question, “So, what are you running from?” Read more “So, What Are You Running From?”
Animals After working with Bill out on the farm, we came back to the house and I helped him put the temporary fence posts away. When we were done, he said, “Come in here,” and walked into the workroom shed. Maybe it was the way he said it, but I followed behind wondering what was about to happen. Read more “The Sweetest Gift”