Category: Ashley Abroad

Since I was a child, I’ve been entranced by two things: books and faraway places.

Though I didn’t leave the country until I was 15, I explored as much as possible without going anywhere. I read stacks of books. I took my red wagon to the library. I called an empty closet my ‘travel room’, where I pasted up a world map and stacked shelves with my parent’s old National Geographics.

I’ve always been a bookworm, delving into worlds I’d never know — from Tolkien’s Middle Earth to the American prairies of late 19th century. But as I grew older, I became increasingly interested in the world outside my Midwestern bubble.

The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, one of the sites I most wanted to see as a child

Once I became a teenager, I traveled as much as time and money would allow. I backpacked the Andes and  lived

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Welcome to American Expats, a series that shows you what expat life is like in cities around the world. Today Kate will be sharing about the ups and downs of living in Stockholm. Stockholm seems like a gorgeous, livable city so I loved hearing her take on living there as an expat.

Kate is Canadian, and lives in Stockholm with her partner. Work-wise, she wears many hats, working as a freelance writer, graphic designer, Etsy shop owner, and blogger.

On moving to Stockholm: My partner and I moved to Stockholm in September 2017. He is in the middle of completing his PhD at the University of Leeds and as part of his fellowship, he is required to do his research out of the Ericsson headquarters here in Stockholm. 

On making friends: Making friends has been difficult in Stockholm. Swedes are generally polite but reserved, so it can take a while before

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Me at my college graduation in 2012

In my twenties, I’ve felt so much pressure (both internal and external) to find the right career. I think most of us have.

Since graduating from college, I’ve worked in sales and marketing. I’ve freelanced and blogged and au paired. I’ve entertained many, many career paths, from journalism to the foreign service. At many points in my twenties, I’ve wondered which professional path is right for me.

Now that I’ve finally figured out what I want to do (I just started grad school!), I wanted to dole out some hard-won career advice. Finding the right career path can be agonizing, so I wanted to share what worked for me.

Here are some ideas if you’re feeling lost:

If you’re still in college, do as many internships and extracurriculars as possible. Switching jobs and careers is difficult, so experiment as much as you can

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One thing that surprised me about my trip to Azerbaijan? The food. It turns out Azerbaijani food is amazing. It’s healthy, varied, and fresh, with lots of sour notes and pickled components.

Overall, Azerbaijani cuisine is most similar to Turkish food. You’ll also see influences from other neighboring countries: lots of pomegranates (commonly used in Persian cooking), as well as dill (predominant in Russian food).

How meals work in Azerbaijan

A meal in Azerbaijan usually begins with some light snacks to open the meal: bread, yogurt, cheese, cucumber and tomato, pickles, and fresh herbs. It’s a bit like mezze in Turkish food.

Then you move onto richer main courses: soups, meats, and most commonly, plov, a rice pilaf dish (more on that later).

So if you ever find yourself in Azerbaijan, here are the Azerbaijani foods you have to try:

Tea and jam

The first thing you will

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There is no shortage of interesting things to do in Baku, Azerbaijan – by any measure, it’s a fascinating place.

Some people like to say that Baku is “the new Dubai”. I’m here to tell you it’s not. Thankfully, Baku couldn’t be the new Dubai – it has too much history.

While you will see many sleek new skyscrapers in Baku (courtesy of Azerbaijan’s oil wealth), they’re intermixed with medieval walls and centuries-old carpet shops. The past is still very much alive.

Here are some ideas on what to do in Baku, Azerbaijan’s quirky capital:

Walk Baku’s Old City

My favorite part of Baku is the Old City. Baku’s historical core, the Old City is surrounded by sand-colored medieval walls and filled with restaurants, shops, and traditional carpet weavers. It’s a wonderful place to take a stroll, have lunch, and visit a few attractions.

Climb the Maiden Tower

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Welcome back to American Expats, a series that shows you what expat life is like in cities around the world.

Today we’re speaking to Cynthia, an English teacher living in the Czech Republic. Ahead, she talks about quirky Czech fashion, the live-and-let-live Bohemian lifestyle, and the food she craves when she’s missing home.

Cynthia’s background: 

In 2012, my husband (then-boyfriend) and I moved from Seattle to the Czech Republic to teach English. We originally landed in Prague, but we now live in České Budějovice, a small city in Bohemia two hours south of the capital. We’re still here six years later with our sweet little Czech dachshund in tow.

On first impressions: When I arrived, I didn’t know a lick of Czech or much about the culture or history. Regardless, the locals were so welcoming to us. Many offered to show us around, gave us maps with the best

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Have you ever gone somewhere you knew nothing about? That’s what Azerbaijan was for me — the unknown.

My friend Matt and I decided to travel there in a ‘Why not?’, spin-the-globe sort of way. We wanted to go somewhere different.

What we found was a former stop on the Silk Road, a one-time Soviet Republic, and one of the birthplaces of the oil industry. I enjoyed visiting a place in which I had no expectations, where all I knew about it came from a single James Bond movie (The World Is Not Enough, anyone?).

In these photos, you’ll see Soviet-era rustbuckets, gorgeous oriental rugs, Zoroastrian temples, and lavish afternoon teas (do Azeris love their tea). They all represents different facets of Azerbaijan, a country that feels like a jumble of contractions: where ancient history meets oil money meets the Caucasus.

 

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I googled about a million Camino de Santiago packing lists before starting my pilgrimage. I wanted to get it right – after all, the Camino takes around 36 days, and crosses nearly 500 miles. It’s not short.

Because the Camino is so long, it’s extremely important to pack the right gear. It’s equally important to pack light –  every ounce counts when you’re carrying a backpack.

In my Camino de Santiago packing list, I’ve included recommendations on the best backpack, footwear, clothing, and more. I’ve also included what didn’t work for me, so you’ll know what not to pack.

I hope you’ll find it helpful. Buen camino!

40L backpack with hip straps

Here are few important things to consider when choosing a backpack:

a. Size matters. A 40-liter backpack is probably ideal — not too big, not too small. Originally I bought a 33L backpack, but later returned it because it didn’t fit

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