From the first year we visited when I was only seven years old until I graduated from high school at 18, my Aunt Linda and I stayed at Ranch Rudolf (RR) year after year without fail. When I went off to Michigan State University and later moved to the Netherlands, the tradition ended. Until this summer.
On Thursday, August 6th I had the opportunity to meet the founder of #CultureTrav and my co-host Nicolette Orlemans of Culture With Travel in person. The two of us talk via social media almost daily, so it was special to meet up (finally!) in Amsterdam. Maaike van Kuijk of Travellous World, a regular #CultureTrav chatter whom I had met prior, was able to join us, as well.
We had ideal weather and a day filled with meaningful discussions – about travel, culture and friendship. We ended the gathering with #CultureTrav, an online travel-related Twitter chat that takes place every Thursday at 2:30 p.m. EST (8:30 p.m. CET). This week in particular was extra special, as we planned to discuss the topic “Memories.” The chat brought back some fond memories. The timing was also fitting as I just returned from the United States, where I was visiting family and going through old photo albums and pictures. All of these activities combined made me nostalgic, and I would like to share some of these wonderful travel and childhood memories with you.
Today on #CultureTrav Pink Pangea and Nikki Vargas from Pin The Map Project (who has also contributed to Pink Pangea as a writer) joined us to discuss Travel Writing. Below is an interview to help you get to know Pink Pangea better.
Thank you to Deb of Tag Along Travel for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers award! I am truly touched by the gesture. I enjoyed answering her thoughtful questions and am excited to share them with you today. To provide a little bit of background, Deb travels with her husband Steve, who is frequently on the road for business. In the beginning, she constantly dropped him off and picked him up at the airport. Tired of the routine and waiting at home for him to return, about ten years ago she decided to start tagging along. Through the written word, she recounts her journeys, discussing her favorite destinations, the adventures she encounters and helpful tips and tricks. Read more to see the questions Deb asked me.
Thank you so much to Elizabeth and Dale from E&D Abroad and Nicolette Orlemans of Culture With Travel for the Liebster Award nomination. I am truly honored by the gesture. I really enjoyed answering your thoughtful questions and am excited to share them with you today.
Savannah and I initially met through Twitter, but it turns out we live only an hour apart, her in Alkmaar and myself in Amsterdam. Over the past two years or so, I’ve gotten to know her and her family, hearing the stories and looking at the pictures. Their travels are truly an inspiration and every time I visit, I want to immediately hit the road. While many of you may know her already, perhaps as the co-founder of #TRLT or social media rock star, a world traveler or author, I wanted to take the time to share a bit more of Savannah’s tale.
When it comes to Euro-hopping, travelers have to keep our common sense, if we don’t want to stand out like an inexperienced sore thumb. But how to go about blending into the background like a globetrotting pro? Well, more often than not, a little glass of something local is not a bad place to start. Guest author Gudmund Lindbaek gives us the lowdown.
You may know her already, perhaps by her Twitter handle @Nicolette_O, but I would like to take a moment to formally introduce the founder of #CultureTrav and my amazing co-host Nicolette Orlemans.
Kathryn Pisco is a social entrepreneur from Chicago with a passion for travel and giving back. After years of working in sales for large corporations, she took a career break with her husband and travelled the world, doing a mix of personal travel and volunteer work. She returned from the trip inspired her to create her own social venture, Unearth the World, an organisation that focuses on service learning and responsibly pairing volunteers with international nonprofits. Read the interview to learn what inspired Unearth the World.
Moving to a new country can surface a range of emotions: the bubbling excitement in the wake of a new adventure; the five senses acutely stimulated, anxiously ready to explore the new environment; the anticipation of new experiences and meeting new friends. Relocating can also instill fear or dread, walking into the unknown and unsure of what to expect. It can be daunting to start over from scratch, having to relearn even the simplest of things like the location of the nearest grocery store. Expat life has so many complex facets.
Last week’s #CultureTrav topic with founder Nicolette and our guest host Cherrie led me to reflect on my own life as an expat. In February 2011, I moved to the Netherlands and have been living in the country ever since. We lived in Utrecht for a year and in Amsterdam now for three. Over the last four years, I’ve experienced a range of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade my time abroad for anything. This Blog outlines three tips I’ve learned along the way to help expats integrate into a new culture.