SLOW TRAVEL & LIVING ABROAD What You Need to Know About U.S. Embassy Layoffs: Why It’s a Bigger Deal Than You Think Posted on August 14, 2025December 26, 2025 U.S. embassy layoffs and government infrastructure cuts aren’t just bureaucratic changes—they shape who gets access, movement, and representation. This post explores how dismantling government infrastructure affects passports, visas, and basic services, revealing the deeper impact on power, freedom, and whose voices get heard in a shifting global landscape. Read more
TRAVEL MONEY & PLANNING BRICS and Travel Costs: What Americans Should Know Right Now Posted on August 10, 2025December 26, 2025 BRICS is changing global trade, which could affect travel costs, payment methods, and routes. Currency shifts may raise prices for Americans, while new airline connections and upgraded infrastructure could improve travel within BRICS countries. Travelers should watch exchange rates, visas, and local payment systems as these changes unfold. Read more
SLOW TRAVEL & LIVING ABROAD Leaving America: What a Better Life Actually Looks Like Posted on June 1, 2025December 26, 2025 Most mornings feel flat, like I’m just going through the motions. I make coffee, scroll my phone, and nothing feels real. But then I think about the life I had when I lived abroad—how even simple things felt new and meaningful. I remember walking through markets, hearing languages I didn’t know, sitting in cafes with no pressure to rush. That life made me feel awake. I don’t want another quick trip or break from routine. I want a life that feels like it matters—where I’m curious again, where things make sense, and where I feel like myself. Read more
SLOW TRAVEL & LIVING ABROAD Leaving America: The Truth About Staying in the U.S. for Family Posted on May 1, 2025December 26, 2025 I used to say we stayed in the U.S. for family. It sounded noble. Responsible. Like something a good daughter, mother, or sister would say. But after moving back from South Korea and spending a year and a half trying to make that reason feel true, I’ve started to question… Read more
CULTURE, EVENTS & EXPERIENCES What You Need to Know About the Thailand Digital Arrival Card Posted on April 27, 2025December 20, 2025 Starting May 1, 2025, all travelers to Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online. This new requirement replaces the TM6 paper form and applies to all entry points. Be prepared with your travel details, and submit the form within 72 hours before arrival to avoid delays at immigration. Read more
SLOW TRAVEL & LIVING ABROAD Leaving America: When You’re Living a Life You Don’t Want Posted on April 1, 2025December 26, 2025 After years of staying for family, I’ve realized leaving America—at least part-time—offers the space to feel present, free, and fulfilled. Living abroad isn’t about escape. It’s about choosing a slower rhythm, deeper connection, and a version of life that feels more honest than what I’ve settled for here. Read more
CULTURE, EVENTS & EXPERIENCES What I Learned About Travel in 2024 (That I’m Taking Into the New Year) Posted on January 11, 2025April 20, 2026 Looking back on 2024, I’m filled with gratitude for a year of diverse adventures. While I traveled to Italy and Spain early on, most of my trips were closer to home, exploring the Dickeyville Grotto in Wisconsin, hiking Morton Arboretum in Lisle, and savoring coffee at charming cafes in St…. Read more
CULTURE, EVENTS & EXPERIENCES Our Passports Were Stolen in Mallorca—Here’s What Happened Next Posted on December 12, 2024February 19, 2026 As the dimly lit street emptied, a heavy silence settled around us. My purse, once slung carelessly over a chair, was gone. The contents—passports, credit cards, and cherished trinkets—vanished without a trace. Had we crossed paths with a cunning thief or stumbled into a hidden plot? The questions lingered. Read more