Moving to Madrid: My first month in La Capi
As soon as I’d said the word, I clasped my hand over my mouth. “Gracias." Not an aspirated graciaaaaaaahhhhh, the final syllable lingering like an afterthought. A full pronounced grah-cee-us.…
Confession: I’m Nervous to Travel After the Paris Terror Attacks
After a late night trip to the bathroom, my hand fumbled across the nightstand looking for my watch. As my fingers crawled over a pack of Kleenex and the smooth,…
When Living Abroad Starts Feeling Like Living in America
I could have easily been in a neighborhood pub back home in Chicago. Armed with two guiri friends and a stomach that hadn't eaten all day, I ordered a cheeseburger…
Let’s Have a Little Talk About Spanish Toilets
The smell hits me like a pata de jamón to the head: a cocktail of bathroom disinfectant, spilled hand soap, ancient pipes and bleach. And that's only if the person before me…
30 Things I’m Glad to Have Done Before Turning 30, part 2
Did you miss the first 16? You can find them here - from things I'm glad I learned to indispensable travel experiences along with career decisions. My 20s brought me…
30 Things I’m Glad to Have Done Before Turning 30, Part 1
Turning 16 was a big deal. So was turning 18, then 21 and even 25. But 30? A week before reaching my fourth decade, I got married to someone I've…