Influencers Who Don’t Make You Cringe | Expat Grit
Sarah with a Smile
by Sarah Emery
1y ago
Now that travel has reentered the chat and getting off Shutter Island is less of a hassle, I’ve been happily exercising my travel wings. And in doing so, I’ve been pleasantly enlightened by conversations with complete rando’s that I’ve crossed paths with along the way. On a recent trip back to the Philippines. I found myself in two separate chats with delightful individuals whose personal stories demonstrated their true grit. After learning of their background, it was evident they figured out the 3-step process of how to live a successful life that mirrored the advice of Andre’ De Shields. In ..read more
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Melbourne, Australia | Give It A Go
Sarah with a Smile
by Sarah Emery
2y ago
I like to think of myself as one who gives second chances and is open-minded. But when an opportunity to revisit Melbourne arose, my immediate thought was no thanks.   Which is an odd reaction for someone who jumps at any opportunity to get off Shutter Island.   And I know what you’re thinking (and probably rolling your eyes).  What a privilege to travel. And why publicly write/vent about having to make that choice? I have a point, I promise. My meh feelings to revisit Melbourne were because of the memories of my previous trip. Those memories were …. well…. n ..read more
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Discover Solvang, California | And Its Origin Story
Sarah with a Smile
by Sarah Emery
2y ago
There’s a must-stop charming town along Highway 101 that’s visually alluring as it is gastronomically delightful. Nestled in California’s rolling hills of the Santa Ynez Valley lies comfortably a provincial Danish village called Solvang (meaning ‘sunny field‘ in Danish). Dubbed as the “Danish capital of America” its rich history and heritage catches the attention of millions of visitors each year. When arriving in Solvang, the thatched and gabled rooftops, half-timbered homes, and windmills set the tone for a cultural emersion experience into the Scandinavian way of life. Back in 1911, when So ..read more
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Finishing 2021 and Starting 2022 | Travel has re-entered the chat
Sarah with a Smile
by Sarah Emery
2y ago
Two years without travel is a long time for those with itchy feet. So, when the time came to cross the pond (because it was less of a logistical and financial burden). We took this shiny beacon of light as THE signal to go and see our long-awaited families. The Plan and the Purpose The plan was simple; take 2 months for an epic road trip in the U.S. to see as many friends and family as possible. The plan sounds a bit nutty. With regards to space. After spending years cooped up in a 700+ sq. ft. apartment and never being apart from my beloved for more than 6 hours. We chose to drastically reduc ..read more
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Expatriate life in Singapore | Year 4#
Sarah with a Smile
by Sarah Emery
2y ago
Whoa! Year four in Singapore. When many expatriates start their overseas assignments, most never think getting past the three year mark. And to be fully transparent. I internally struggled a bit to publish this expat anniversary post because…., well, simply put. Year four (while okay), it wasn’t all that memory-making (as far as intrepid exploration goes). Yet, here we are. Has it been better than year three in Singapore? One thousand percent! I can say, it hasn’t been a dumpster fire of a year. So what have we been doing if not gallivanting around Oceania and the South East Pacific? Hmmm ..read more
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12 Non Touristy Things To Do Anywhere | The Hidden Gems of Travel in Open Sight
Sarah with a Smile
by Sarah Emery
2y ago
After you’ve checked off all the sightseeing places, tour buses, guides, and museums. There’s a good chance, you may think, “what are the non-touristy things to do?” This is where the crossroads meet and separate the travelers from the tourists. Don’t get me wrong, tourist spots should be visited as we can learn a lot from those sites. But when we activate our curiosity to intentionally engage with local life. Our viewpoint goes from standing on the observation deck to being on the ground floor as an active participant. So what and where are these non touristy / hidden gems? Spoiler alert. The ..read more
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Mishaps That Occur When Living Overseas | Expat Dream Team 13#
Sarah with a Smile
by Sarah Emery
2y ago
The obvious reality of expat living is, life is not always on autopilot mode. Simple things such as getting in a car on the correct side can sometimes take more brainpower than necessary (who moved the steering wheel?). Naturally, expats get comfortable with subtle disruptions, and we go about our day feeling life is good, albeit a bit different, but everything is good. As the universe would have it, that’s when unexpected moments happen. A sudden change in the wind, can quickly divert our thoughts to, Hold up! What’s going on here (and why is no one else freaking out)? Expats are on ..read more
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Mid Autumn Festival in Hot Singapore
Sarah with a Smile
by Sarah Emery
2y ago
To a westerner the term sweater weather is not applicable in Singapore (unless you’re stepping into a movie theater, where it’s like entering a walk-in freezer). When the annual Mid-Autumn Festival rolls around. I get a little temperature, attire, and time frame disoriented. As someone who grew up on the East Coast in the U.S. for many years. Experiencing the turnover of four seasons is truly an all senses phenomenon. It’s natural that I link certain smells, taste, touch, and sights to particular times of the year. So, when autumn comes about, the first signal is usually daylight savings. It’s ..read more
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23 Things 7 Expatriates Wish They Knew Before Moving| Expat Dream Team #12
Sarah with a Smile
by Sarah Emery
2y ago
Have you ever thought over a life experience and instantaneously wished, “REDO?!” I’m talking about the, “Ahhhh! If I’d only known about X, I would have done Y, which would have avoided *$%#!” In expat life, these scenarios occur quite a bit. Painstakingly more so at the beginning stage of moving abroad (but it gets easier, I promise). While being pragmatic, well researched, and organized, are the seemingly obvious courses of actions to prevent any sort of calamities. It’s the invisible pitfalls that go unchecked. Aka, the tribal knowledge that (unfortunately) exists in the expat world. Here t ..read more
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15 Best Travel Gifts | What Every Traveler Must-Have
Sarah with a Smile
by Sarah Emery
2y ago
There are traveling items, then there are the must-haves of traveling items. And I’m willing to bet, the traveler in your life already has their next trip planned. Whether they need a replacement, an upgrade or an introduction to a new product that would improve their wanderlusting life exponentially. These are the perfect gifts that every globetrotter must-have that are super useful and helpful in both traveling and daily lifestyle. Useful Travel Gifts for Jetsetters Gifts that can be used during travel and in everyday life. Travel tumblers, better yet a water purifier Staying hydrated is a t ..read more
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