Off the Beaten Path

Sometimes when we travel, we can get caught up in the seemingly never ending list of sights to see in the usual cities on most everyone's list.  These attractions are crowded, expensive and have long waits. I'm not saying some of these aren't worth it,  but in an age where there are several documentaries on the Crown Jewels, is it really worth it to spend £15 and 2 hours of your time to see them in person for 10 minutes? In an age of "seen it, done it" more people are opting for adventures off the beaten path, away from the crowds, cameras and madness. This can enable you to "breathe in" your surroundings, and throw yourself into the moment without worrying about missing your allocated time to see this or that. 

Allow yourself to toss the itinerary and map, even for just a day and go find your paradise. It may be in a place you least expect. 

PS-Speaking of off the beaten path, check out this amazing video about some of the UK's most beautiful and least visited places.

Travel Itinerary-Frankfurt

As the take off day approaches, more and more little things have fallen into place. I managed to sift through all the student loan paper work and submit it without any errors the first time around! A major accomplishment since international students must submit loan paperwork the old fashioned way (think spreadsheets and very little electronic help). My visa is my last BIG hurdle, which should hopefully be taken care of by the end of the month. Although I still have a lot of little things staring me in the face (banking, cell phone, plane ticket, selling possessions) I've managed to make some fun plans for the first few months I'm there. The biggest of which is flying out to Frankfurt for a long weekend to the Frankfurter Buchmesse or the Frankfurt Book Fair. It's the largest book fair in the world and from what I could judge based off of the pictures, looks to be the next incarnation of Comic Con. People cosplay at these events! But it's also a fantastic opportunity to meet well established people who work in the industry and network your ass off. Which is exactly what I plan to do. Literary agent anyone? Have your been to Frankfurt? What are some things to do and see while I'm there?

Find Your Truth, Get Brave

Summer is in full swing here and I took a few weeks off to enjoy it! I just realized the other day that England doesn't really go above 75F very often, so my days of hot and sunny summer days are numbered! I am now only 2 months away from leaving!! Really, where does the time go?

I was conversing with Sarah from A Nonsensical Education the other day about bravery. What is bravery exactly and why do some of us seem to have loads of it while others none at all? TV and movies have told us that bravery is standing up to the bad guys, taking them down and in many instances saving the world. Or maybe it's standing up to a friend or fighting for what you DO want. The hero. Looked up to by many, imitated by even more. Lately though our focus seems to have shifted to the antihero, the everyday guy or girl who just happens to be in the right place at the wrong time. We tend to gravitate to people we can most identify with so that's no surprise there. They don't want or feel like they know how to be brave, they have to figure it all out as they go. As much as I love a good antihero movie, I stop and wonder about those acts of bravery that no one talks about or that is taboo. The act of finding out what is best for you and going for it.

This often involves stress, the struggle to figure out who you are, and lots of objections and what ifs. You could drive a person mad with what if scenarios. Inevitably you'll encounter a split audience. Brick walls will abound and your plans may morph a few hundred times. Fear will creep in, and that is the defining emotion that decides whether we will take the leap or not. Think of it like a universal game of truth or dare, only instead of picking one or the other, your choose both, first to find and speak your truth, then to be dared to face that truth head on. And just like the game you played as kids, there are always a few that would rather sit it out and just watch. They know they COULD participate, but what if the question is embarrassing? Or they're too scared to do the dare? No, no chances for these folks, and they will be sitting on the proverbial sidelines for much of their life. Others will take the truth, hoping to God it isn't too personal, answer (truthfully or not, who knows) and slowly slink back into the circle. They're in with the crowd, but don't yet have enough self awareness to jump in 100%. The vast majority of people end up right here, a condition of the play it safe dogma that seems to run rampant now a days.

Then there are the ones who yell DARE before the question is even asked because they are ready. They know all their truths are out there for the world to see and they are so ready to take on the challenges that the world has given them, even if that dare is to streak through the neighbors yard wearing only a giant cheese head (I live next to Wisconsin, I've seen it happen). Seek out your truths and get ready to 'streak' through life showing off all that is you. The universe will thank you for it.

PS-New signature!! Do you like?

Keep it Real

When I move to England in the Autumn, I'm not expecting Prince Harry to fall madly in love with me thus facilitating our move into Kensington Palace where I will become besties with Catherine. (Lovely thought though!) I'm fulfilling my dreams, but I have to continually practice keeping my feet on the ground while my head is in the clouds of what could be.

Don't get me wrong, dreaming is what got me here in the first place. I closed my eyes and jumped. I believe more people should do this. But even if you make it to where you want to be, don't expect every experience to be all roses and butterflies. Always plan and keep in the back of your mind that perhaps plans will change or get altered completely. You could start in England and end up in India. Or maybe what you have built up in your mind to be the end all be all of dreams turns out to be not what you imagined. That's OK. It's an experience that you were meant to have.

So what do you do when the rug gets pulled out from under you on your carefully laid plans? Breathe. Take a moment to acknowledge that things have changed. You've been rolling with the unexpected thus far, you will be able to keep the momentum going. PLAN--well, as best you can. You've been thrown a curve ball, no reason you can't at least mildly prepare for it. You'll feel better for it. Keep your sense of humor intact. It will keep you stress levels down and learning to laugh at the unexpected will help to put things in perspective for you.

Life puts you on certain paths for a reason, if plans change, don't assume the worst. You've either completed a phase in your life or learned all you need from where you are now. Smile and wave hello to the next adventure.


tea drops,

samantha

5 To Know-Cheylene-Girl in London

I am thrilled to bring you my very first interview with Cheylene from the blog Girl in London. Cheylene moved to London several years ago in search of a new adventure, and since then has made travel and adventure her main priority. In 2011 she wrote an article 'Musings: Why I Left the USA' and it really struck a chord with me. Someone who saw the faults in the system, who wasn't blinded by the promise of the ever deteriorating "American Dream".  She was someone who knew she could find a better life for herself in a different country and proceeded to do just that. So I was thrilled when she agreed to answer my 5 to Know. 5 to Know is a new series where I ask travelers and ex-pats 5 questions about their travels, thoughts on their new country, why they left, how are they different now and so on. Check out what Cheylene has to say! 

What fears, if any, did you have before you left the US?

I didn’t have time to be afraid! I went from turning in my visa application to hopping on a plane in a matter of months. There was so much going on in that time frame that I honestly had no time to reflect and think about my fears. I do remember, however, sitting on the plane as it took off and thinking this better work because there’s no going back now!

What are the top 3 things you wish you had known before you went abroad?

1.       US/UK Taxes – US expats still have to file taxes in the US and navigating how to file taxes in two different countries that have different tax years was mind boggling at first. It would have helped to study up on that a bit more before actually moving and earning a foreign paycheck.

2.        Where to buy stuff – It sounds trivial, but knowing where to go to buy household goods, clothes, etc. is so important. Not knowing this made life really difficult for the first few months.

3.       Neighborhood info (i.e. best places to live) – I did some research on this before moving, but not enough to avoid getting stuck in a less-than-optimal rental. Part of the reason why I wrote a whole series of neighborhood guides on my site was to help give future expats an idea of what to expect from different areas of London. 

Is there anything in particular you miss about the US or do you find yourself missing very little? Are you surprised at your response?

I didn’t really miss anything about the US for the first year or two, apart from the food. As time goes on – I’ve been here nearly four years now – I find myself watching US television shows and getting almost teary eyed when I see shots of California, the Southwest, and other places I used to live. That comes as a big surprise because I’ve moved around my whole life and never considered myself to be attached to any one location. I guess I’m not as tough as I thought I was!

In what way has living in other countries changed you? Mentally? Emotionally? Do you think you are better off now?

The reason I moved abroad was because I wanted to grow mentally, emotionally, and professionally. Living in a different country changes the way you think about the world and yourself. I see myself more as a citizen of the world than I did in the US. The great part about living in London is having the opportunity to meet so many people from all kinds of different backgrounds and countries, and I think all that exposure has really helped me to grow up and take charge of my life. 

Do you ever regret your decision to leave the US or find yourself asking, ‘what if I had stayed?’? If not, and besides the obvious (work, family) what is it about the UK that makes you stay?

As much as I sometimes miss parts of the US, I have no regrets about leaving. I have a pretty good idea of where I would have ended up had I stayed, and I think I’ve done much better for myself on the other side of the pond. The professional opportunities are what keep me in the UK, and in London in particular. I am also currently on course to gain UK citizenship in the next 2-3 years, which is beneficial for a number of different reasons.

Watch for more 5 to Know in the future!

tea drops,

samantha

Be Yourself...Just like Everyone Else

It's the end of my first month of blogging!! What a fantastic ride it has been. At the end of every month, I'll be doing a feature highlighting what I've learned over the past month of introspectiveness and planning. This month it's all about what I've found to be true about being yourself amongst a sea of people trying to do just that.


Ever heard that? Be yourself, just like everyone else? We are all encouraged to be individuals, to seek out our own truth, to make an idea our own, but what is truly original? The other day I was watching a video made by a friend of a friend when I noticed a few similarities to a fellow blogger. I watched another and noticed even more things, the subject of her video, even the way she waved was taken directly from this other, more established person. The subject of the video was how to be you most authentic self. Ironic, considering she was applying what someone else was doing to her own life. That wasn't original, I though, that's just mashing the best bits of others into what you think you want to be. But a lot of people do that, don't they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? It may be in all respects sincere, but that's not fair to who YOU are.

Ever stop to think how many masks we wear in a day? At work, home, with friends, even in trying to convince ourselves of something? We've taken what we see and think is comfortable to others and slap that on for the day. Some of us know how to take those masks off, to remove them for a time when we feel we can, when we are finally at peace with those around us. But what about those who's masks have melded to them, the mask has essentially become a part of them, of their personality, however insincere it is, however much it may not really fit.

Looking up the word 'original' in the dictionary gives me this response "Present or existing from the beginning, first or earliest. Created directly and personally by a particular artist; not a copy or imitation." Not a copy or imitation. So does that mean that everyone who's ever imitated a person they admire is a fraud? Does that mean that after reading Jerramy Fine's book about moving across the Atlantic and wanting to do so myself makes ME a fraud, a unoriginal person?

There's a difference between being 'inspired"  by another's work and taking what is theirs and making that your own. Most people know that. But what about the subtleties of life? Lifestyles, general ideas, those melded masks? Is it all a grey area of life? We have to remember that the more we experience in life, the more new ideas and inspirations we will come across. We will be tempted to take some of those and make them a part of who we are. But we first must look inwards and figure out who exactly it is that we want to BE. This often takes a lifetime of questions and answers, like moving pieces of a puzzle around, trying to make things fit. Looking at yourself in the mirror and saying,  "I want to be Jackie O" won't make you Jackie O. Wearing what she wore, talking as she did, these will bring you new insights, but do they fit into the puzzle of your life?Of who you want to be? Or is it another mask to hide behind because you just don't have any clue as to WHO you are?

So how do you find yourself in a sea of half-hearted originality? Be quiet. No really, take 15 minutes when you can, shut out all distraction and sit with yourself. See what pops into your mind or ask yourself questions. You may be surprised at what you find. Take stock of what you love. I mean really love.What you love will hold the key to what you are passionate about. There will be situations where you will feel the need to put on a mask, even I do on some occasions. You might feel the need to start waving like your favorite blogger does, dressing in the same designer duds as your friend, adopting the mindset of a certain group of people you admire. Stop yourself and ask if these things fit with who you are or who you want to become. Then, instead of just adopting them as your own, mold them to YOU. In taking inspiration, we mold those ideas to best fit our true core selves, instead of letting those ideas change the core of who we are because we don't really know what that core is all about.


So go travel the world, dress, read, or quote your most admired influences, bu where they went right, you go left. Follow the path but make the journey your own.

tea drops,

samantha

A Dreamer's Inspiration

There are so many factors that influence us; different situations, people, and events. These things shape who and what we will become, what path we will take in life and if we chose to take a detour into something else. Whether I am shaping my dreams, doubting them or changing them, there are key individuals I always keep in mind. I’d like to share with you my biggest inspirations so far.  

Jerramy Fine

I first heard of Ms. Fine a few years ago when her book, “The Regal Rules for Girls” came out.  Finally someone who had dreamt of moving across the Atlantic as much as I did! She was unashamedly honest as she described her love for all things British, including the dashing Peter Phillips, and her quest to achieve her heart’s desire was nothing short of inspiring. She has her critics, those who claim she is setting feminism back, that her dreams are just childish, and those that just plain disagree with everything she stands for. Through all the naysayers, the hardships, and the triumphs, she’s persevered and shared her story with other like-minded girls who just want to jump the pond in search of home. I believe Ms. Fine to be of a new breed of woman, the ones that have open minds while adhering to the traditions of old, maintaining a clear path and plan but still throwing caution to the wind when called for to achieve their dreams. A 21^st century mind coupled with the tried and true ideas of old. She is and always will be the compass pointing me towards my dreams.

Her site-www.jerramyfine.com/ 

Amy

I have mentioned Amy before in a previous blog post, but she’s inspiring enough to warrant another mention! I first met Amy back in 2005, when I was still at university, and my dreams were just beginning to form. She was this juggernaut of positive energy and from day one has always told me to go for it. As I’ve said earlier, she has recently packed up her family and moved to the sunny coast of Costa Rica. Sun, sand and fresh food galore! The move hasn’t always gone as smooth as she would like (read her post about her boarder run!) she has had her fair share of ups and downs and she’s persevered through them all, always with a positive outlook and always, ALWAYS, listening to my constant ramblings of can I? Should I? I can...I can’t. What if?? I can firmly say that I would not be on this path today if it weren’t for her. 

Her blog-http://amkusamhan.blogspot.com/

My Friends!

Of course I couldn’t end this without thanking everyone who’s given me advice over the last year. I am blessed to have a wonderful group of friends that have helped me decide, hash out details, tell me when I’m being ridiculous or encouraging every dream I have. We’ve stared for two days straight at a door (royal baby), had a bit too much to drink whilst watching the Academy Awards, pretended to be, as she puts it “white girl ghetto fabulous”,  and some of us even received birthday cards with a certain Benedict on them. I could not have asked for a better, more inspirational group of friends. So many of them are chasing down their own dreams this year, interning with local government, running their websites, a few are even crossing the pond with me, ending up in London and Paris! It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Who are your inspirations? How have they shaped your dreams?

tea drops,

samantha