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Tag: philosophical

8 Brutal Daily Reminders That You’re Living in a Country Once Ravaged by World Wars

8 Brutal Daily Reminders That You’re Living in a Country Once Ravaged by World Wars

In a lot of ways, daily life in Germany is comparable to life in the States. Living standards are similar, the basics are readily accessible, status quo exists, and people love to complain about the weather. Then, when you least expect it, baaaam – you are confronted head-on with some brutal reminders that you are living in a country that was ravaged by two world wars on its own soil, both of which it sorely lost. These are very strange…

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What July 4th Means to Me as an American Not Even Living in America

What July 4th Means to Me as an American Not Even Living in America

For the first several years of living abroad, I didn’t really think about the 4th of July much. It comes at a time of year when most are preoccupied with planning for summer and wrapping up tasks before said fun begins. Not to mention that in every other country, obviously, this holiday is not a thing at all. Germany has their Reunification Day on October 3rd, which could be considered the equivalent, yet has no traditions surrounding the day other…

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In the Beginning: A Taste of Asia, Europe, and Things to Come

In the Beginning: A Taste of Asia, Europe, and Things to Come

My first time abroad was actually also the first time out of the Midwest, and boy was it a shocker! My family didn’t really go on vacations besides out East to my Aunt’s house in Pennsylvania, so I hadn’t seen a lot besides corn fields and museums during school breaks. While that was a great way to grow up, I had no idea what to even think (or even to think) about anywhere far away. I was and still am…

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8 Tips for Acclimating & Adjusting to a New Culture and Life Abroad

8 Tips for Acclimating & Adjusting to a New Culture and Life Abroad

Adjusting to living abroad is a process, not unlike dating, if you think about it! First, you look at your options, then make a decision to try an option out. It is exciting at first, everything is new and you try new things. Then the honeymoon phase wears off and you realize the strange or annoying habits, and then comes the critical point: are the pros worth the cons? Is your heart in it? If the answer is yes, then…

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Hope, Home, and the Value of Spring

Hope, Home, and the Value of Spring

Spring has officially sprung this week, the forsythia and plum trees are blooming, bulbs are up, birds are chirping…so what?! Spring has become my favorite season here living in northern Europe for many reasons. People (and birds!) finally can be found doing things outside besides just getting from point A to point B. All that rain finally stops, if even for just a little. All that gray finally turns into green. Thoughts migrate toward plans for summer, vacations, time connecting…

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How to Own Your Inner Expat

How to Own Your Inner Expat

It might be kind of early on in the blog for a post about something philosophical and seemingly political like this, but this blog is about real life and real stuff. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious. So, I have a confession to make: I actually haven’t been a huge fan of the term “expat” and have up until now avoided (meaning: never) calling myself one. Yet here I am starting a blog with the term in the title. So maybe fitting…

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