Reading Time: 5 minutes The phrase “bloom where you are planted” is often attributed to Mary Engelbreit, an American artist and illustrator known for her whimsical and inspirational designs. It’s a phrase I have taken to heart, as I have spent the better part of my adult years bouncing around to different cities in Colorado, South Carolina, and France.  Each move was like starting over from scratch. It is scary and exhilarating at the same time. I used to tell my mom while I was in undergrad, “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know.” Then I went off and moved across the country to a ci ..read more

Reading Time: 6 minutes We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed spending time with loved ones. While many know today as Black Friday, for us, it’s officially the start of the Christmas season!  Around this time of year, city centers across Europe transform. As the sun sets around 5:00 pm, Christmas markets help bring spirit and cheer to the otherwise dreary and cold winter month. Lights draped on lampposts, trees, and stalls twinkle in the night. Little stalls line one by one next to each other, selling homemade crafts, candy, chocolates, and Christmas decorations. If lu ..read more

Reading Time: 6 minutes After falling in love with Bruges, Belgium, we looked to explore similar cities in the “Battlefield of Europe.” (Yes, this is Belgium’s nickname). We chose Ghent, a port city in northwest Belgium known for its medieval architecture and authenticity. The city, nicknamed “Medieval Manhatten” (seriously, who comes up with these nicknames), was largely spared from the wars and is full of character with its interconnected canals winding through the city.  Recommended by friends (and also a location where my former employer had an office), we always heard ..read more

Reading Time: 9 minutes Berlin, the capital of Germany, is known for its historical landmarks, colorful cultural scene, and juxtaposition of the past and present. This unique blend brought Berlin to the top of our list to visit. Although the promise of German cuisines like spicy currywurst and drinks like a crisp Berliner Weiss helped tip the scales.  My impression of Berlin is from my first visit back in 2006, fast-paced and a blur. At that time, I was newly 18 and excited to visit my first ever country in Europe. The FIFA World Cup was in Germany, and although I didn’t know what it ..read more

Reading Time: 5 minutes Travel is returning to normal, masks are disappearing, and we have nearly exhausted all possible weekend trips by train. Now, we are taking advantage of easy direct flights from Lyon. And to be honest, we are close to exhausting these options too. When we had a free weekend between our Easter Amsterdam weekend and my work trip to the US, we searched direct flights and decided to “let it be” London. Jordan and I both have visited London before, but separately. Our previous trips, albeit both short weekend trips, took the pressure off to have a jam-packed sightseeing week ..read more

Reading Time: 9 minutes The traditional saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” But for us, Spring arrived early as April delivered blooming fields of colorful tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils right outside of Amsterdam. Amsterdam has been on our list to visit since we moved to France over two years ago. We originally planned to go to Amsterdam over Easter in 2020 and again in 2021. But you know how the story goes, as COVID caused both years of plans to fall through. This Easter, however, would be different. We had a three-day weekend ahead of us with no COVID travel restrictions in t ..read more

Reading Time: 6 minutes Have you ever wondered what it’s like to go to the movie theatre in another country? It’s not something I’ve ever given much thought to. But I hope you’re at least curious to read on. While I avoid finishing up my blog posts on Amsterdam and London, let me tell you about our first experience at a movie theatre in France. It took us a little over two years, but we finally made it to the movie theatre. What movie convinced us to go? The newest Marvel movie, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Don’t worry; no spoilers ahead. As a fun fact, the writer of the movie ..read more

Reading Time: 9 minutes As a cruel April Fools joke, the weather brought snow to Lyon for the first time all year on the first of the month. A quick reminder that while it may be Spring, it’s not Spring weather yet! April Fools Day in France is known as Poisson d’Avril, literally translated to the fish of April. That name almost seems like a joke in itself. As the French tradition goes, the jokester hangs a paper fish behind the back of the person they are joking with, without the person realizing it. It’s similar to a kick me sign, but with a fish instead.  ..read more

Reading Time: 14 minutes Almost five years ago, Jordan and I experienced the northern lights for the first time while on vacation in Iceland. We were driving over a mountain pass in the late evening, and out of nowhere, the sky lit up in hues of green. Jordan quickly pulled the car on the side of the road and set up his camera. We watched as the northern lights danced in the sky, oscillating freely in the darkness. It was magical. We chased the northern lights again last fall on a long weekend in Iceland but were met with blizzard-like conditions each evening. So we planned another t ..read more

Reading Time: 7 minutes Time moves differently as we get older. Some days never seem like they will never end, but months pass with a blink of an eye. How is it possible time can move so fast but so slow at the same time? And while it almost feels like we just arrived, as of February 27, we have officially been living in France for two years. The seemingly endless days when we could only leave our apartment one hour a day are now a distant memory. The original 6:00 pm curfews are now when we leave our apartment to start the weekend. We’ve traded our paper permission slip (attestation)&nbs ..read more