Breakfast, anyone? Image by Samantha Marangell. It would be an under-exaggeration to say that I’ve fallen for Melbourne. After years of floating from semi-permanent setup to semi-permanent setup, I was…
Moving in a Rush? 5 Steps To Help You Pack Up Fast
Moving abroad doesn’t have to feel insurmountable. Image by Flickr user Cambodia4Kids. Attempting my eighth move in the last eight years, I’ve honed the ability to pack up and move out…
Try Laughter Yoga for Language-Free Bliss
Go ahead, make silly faces! You’ll feel better! Image by Flickr user Matthew Grapengieser. For a social activity that doesn’t require knowing the local language, try heading to a laughter…
How Someone Else’s Wanderings Intersect with Yours: A Review of “Six Years of A Floating Life: A Memoir”
Image by Flickr user pdomara. For anyone who has wandered or has wondered about wandering, this memoir will be a pleasurable representative of that experience. The Humanness of Travel As…
Should I Stay or Should I Go? How to Decide Whether to Move…Again
Deciding to move countries every year can be exciting but stressful. Image by Jacob Axford. I have a confession: I’m sometimes jealous of those who travel the world with a…
Peace Corps Wishlist: The Top 3 Practical Things I Wish I Had as a Volunteer
Pulling water from this well every time I wanted to bathe made me much less likely to want to spend two buckets on washing my hair. Image by Samantha Marangell….
Why Should You Make Central Europe Your Next Destination?
You could get used to this. Image from Pixabay. After four months in Central Europe, I have come to appreciate that this region is its own unique animal, neither entirely consumerist nor…
4 Tips for Nakedness in a Czech Spa
How do you feel about public nakedness? Image from pixabay.com. The dimmed light reflected off the dark blue tiles of the spa hallways, making it too dark to be humiliating…
What’s Mushrooming? There’s More to Do in Karlovy Vary Than You Thought
Karlovy Vary is a charming little town in western Czech Republic. Image courtesy of Samantha Marangell. Living in this beautiful little Czech spa town has been quite delightful. Karlovy Vary…
Harassment: How to Respond to an Unwanted Ass Slap
How do you respond to harassment? Image from Wikimedia Commons. It was a spontaneous weekend filled with saying “yes” to last-minute road trips and never-ending festivities. It was a weekend…
Camping, Condoms, Dirndls: 7 Oktoberfest Tips for Newbies
Samantha (center) and her flat mates at Oktoberfest! Image courtesy of Samantha Marangell. The trip started out as chaotic as it would end, complete with sleeping on floors, missed connections,…
Top 5 Things I Miss About Peace Corps
Few bonds are as great as those between fellow Peace Corps Volunteers. Image courtesy of Samantha Marangell. People often ask if I would do Peace Corps service again. What they really…
“Just One?”: 3 Simple Ways Restaurants Can Welcome Solo Diners
Eating alone takes courage. Image by Flickr user Jim Pennucci. For solo travelers, eating out alone may be second nature, but there is often something (additionally) uncomfortable about eating out…
6 Joys of Post-LASIK Travel
New sight after surgery. Image from Wikimedia Commons. I’d never have thought I would put my delicate eyes under the knife, but getting LASIK eye surgery has proven to be,…
5 Reasons to Train for a Marathon During the Winter
The frosty outdoor run… Image from www.sdri.net As winter both attacks and teases Boston, I find myself hibernating like a spoiled Californian. But when I think about it, I was so…