Ich spreche nur ein bisschen Deutsch. I speak a little German. For the first time since I started studying German, I was actually in Germany. The only problem was it had been about ten years since I last took a German class. Starting as a freshman in high school, I took five years of German….
A surprise trip to Hamburg
Dear readers, please forgive my lack of posts this week. On Wednesday we found out my husband had to travel to Hamburg, Germany for work–and he had to leave that night! Being the amazing husband he is and knowing I’ve been dying to visit Germany, he booked me a flight and let me tag along! …
A Cheesey Day in Montauban
Southern France in fall has proven to be very beautiful. The leaves are changing, the weather is mostly mild and the fruits and vegetables are a gorgeous mélange of autumn hues. While the slow shift of seasons is similar to what we were used to in the U.S., the decided lack of fall marketing is…
A Medieval Tale: Carcassone
Part of the fun craziness of Matt’s new job is not knowing where we’re headed next. A few weeks ago we got a calendar outlining our assignments after Toulouse, but just yesterday Matt found out things might change again. Unfortunately the change means we might be headed out of Toulouse for about six weeks to stay…
Toulouse à Pied (or Running in Toulouse)
I could almost title this entry “running around” as busy as we typically are, but instead I’ll focus on what it’s like being a runner in France (Toulouse to be specific). I’m inspired by the fact that we signed up for our first 5K in Toulouse. This coming Sunday, we’ll be joining hundreds of other…
Expat Life: The First Trip Home
We’re back! After a whirlwind trip to the U.S. (including a 26-hour travel day to Tampa from Toulouse), we’re once again on French soil. I have a running list of topics I still need to write about, but as I started typing today I thought the best place to start was our first trip home…
A Sunday Funday in Dublin
Tomorrow we will be heading back to the U.S. for the first time in four months. We are traveling to Florida for one of my cousins’ weddings and are looking forward to spending time with our family and friends. It’ll be strange to be back in our home country; speaking in English, paying in dollars…
Moher Adventures in Ireland
If I close my eyes, I can almost feel the chilly breeze whipping my hair and smell the salty ocean breeze mixing with wind-blown grass. Memories taking me back to the day we stood on sheer cliffs and stared out at the wide-open expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Our fourth day in Ireland was slated…
Kisses and Castles–The Irish Adventure Continues
The power of a kiss is undeniable. Take that kiss, toss in a mystical stone and you may soon discover the “gift of gab.” At least that’s what the legend of the Blarney Stone says. Who am I to argue? There is a stone there, that whoever kisses, Oh! he never misses to grow eloquent….
An Irish Birthday Adventure. Part One: Dublin
Ireland has always been a place of magic and beauty to me. The lush landscapes, the foot-tapping music, the comforting food and who can forget those lilting accents? When my husband suggested perhaps we take a long-weekend trip to the green isle for his birthday, I wasn’t about to argue! We only had four and…
Eat, Drink, Move (Repeat) 