Naturally, we didn’t think it would be more than a summer fling. Nick and I were from different countries, different worlds, different communities, and different backgrounds after all. It would never work longterm. When I met Nick while we were working in Yosemite, I was infatuated with him. Seems like my years of maintaining unrealistically …
Socially responsible and sustainable travel is imperative to making the world a more equitable, culturally accepting, and better place. A few small actions go a long way. For the past 10 years, I’ve explored and questioned the identity of the tourist through collegiate studies, living and studying abroad in various capacities, literature, film, media, and …
November 2022 This October, I took the opportunity to travel to Peru on my yearly travel credit from Backroads, my employer. I work as a Marketing Writer for the active travel company. As soon as the opportunity to go abroad was presented to me, I browsed our trips and shortly after, booked plane tickets to …
Move to a place I’ve never seen before? Yup. Travel by myself? Oh yeah. Head to Ecuador at 16 years old without knowing anyone? That’s me! But making friends in a new city? That’s another story. And as it turns out, I am not the only one thinking about how to make friends in a …
After having met a number of people with international relationships, like myself and Nick, it has been interesting to reflect on the ways we’ve had to shape-shift in different places that we’ve visited or lived together. Meeting Up in Unfamiliar Locales in an International Relationship Edinburgh: Lost and Together in a Foreign City Seeking Normality …
I have been based in New Zealand for two years. Now I am transitioning back to the US. I thought I would share some of my funniest culture shock moments. Culture shock. I know things are different abroad and people become accustomed to a certain way of life when living somewhere. I would like to …
“Returning Home from Abroad: Tears and a Big Reunion” is part of a month-long series I am doing on my readjustment into the US after living in New Zealand for 2 years during Covid-19. I had a pretty big weekend. I moved continents and countries. I left New Zealand and went long-distance with my boyfriend …
Cromwell offers delicious wine, stunning vistas and small-town charm that is the perfect getaway from the rush of Auckland or the buzz of touristy Queenstown. Head to Cromwell to get off the beaten-track. I was given the opportunity to first visit Cromwell back in 2020 after Covid. The valley is a unique area of New …
When I moved out here, I felt like I knew nothing about New Zealand. I kept reading blogs and guidebooks, and watching videos, but nothing stuck. I felt like I couldn’t understand the culture or determine if there even was one. So there’s this island near Australia and it’s really pretty. Britain colonized it in …
Just the highlights of people’s lives are broadcasted on social media. All the accomplishments, beautiful views, and the picture-perfect curated moments are presented to the world. But what about the not-so-good days, difficult feelings, and the times where life doesn’t go as planned? Ultimately, social media cannot replace human connection although many people treat it …