Every trip has its own set of packing requirements. For short weekend trips it’s easy to throw stuff in a bag last minute, long backpacking treks require more planning ahead and items that can serve different duties, and moving to a new country is too overwhelming to to think about. How can you pack for […]

When I first left home and moved to Thailand two years ago I wasn’t really stressed, anxious or worried before I left. People would ask me if I was scared to go, and I wasn’t at all. I wasn’t really excited either, or didn’t feel as enthusiastic about it as I thought I should. Instead […]

I’m going home next week for the first time in more than a year and the entire thing kind of scares me. I want to go home.  It’s time.  I need it.  I want to see my family and friends and eat cheese and Mexican food and bake and sleep in my bed and see […]

After two years of living abroad, there are a few tips for expat living that have come up frequently that make life and settling down in a foreign place a little easier.

Last week I wrote about how much money I made teaching in Thailand and monthly break down of my expenses here.  Today, I want to call out some money sucks of living and traveling in Thailand. While it’s incredibly affordable to live and travel here, I’ve still heard many people complain that they’re spending a […]

So doing my taxes, I realized how much money I actually made teaching in Thailand for 2012…it’s laughable.  Ready? $6,000 After I had a minor freak out (I made more money when I was a teenager!) I took a step back to look at how I could still be so comfortable after making such a […]

I could go on all day about how beautiful Northern Thailand is.  Lakes, mountains, rivers, caves, waterfalls and jungles are everywhere just asking to be explored and the weather is usually some of the best in the country – cooler, yet still clear and sunny. That is, until February and March. While November, December and […]

Last month I wrote about the Saturday Walking Street in Chiang Mai and am currently working on a round up of all the Chiang Mai markets – there’s a lot!  There are different types of markets in different parts of town opening up and shutting down throughout the day and night.  A few are well […]

…is difficult.  I guess that should come as no surprise – trying to order food in a foreign language is difficult enough,  so obviously dating should be a bit tricky.  Communicating in any sort of relationship is always complicated at times, even when you do speak the same language.  Add to that a different culture, […]

Thailand is 94% Buddhist – 94% – and it shows. Temples are everywhere, monks in their bright orange robes can be seen walking down the street at all times of the day and people regularly tum boon, or make merit, by giving donations, food and flowers.  Every week in connection with the moon cycle there […]