In planning for a life abroad and deciding where will be best for your next home or new home, whether as an expat, a digital nomad, or a slow traveler, assessing the monthly cost of living by country is one of the most important factors to consider. Though safety, air quality, internet speed, and general … Read more
As my plane landed in Istanbul I had a whole new appreciation for Turkey. What initially felt like a risk, a danger, coming to a country bordering war zones with ongoing bad relations with the US, ended up being welcoming, complex, and rich with culture and history. Now that I had landed in Istanbul, the … Read more
On this trip, I hit a new level of planning anarchy. Even in Turkey, at its “level 3 security threat warning” according to the US state department, I decided to go with the wind. Two places kept coming up – Cappadocia and Pammukale. For lack of time, I would not be able to make … Read more
The relaxed port city of Izmir was a wonderful respite after the past two months of being busy and proactive nonstop. Despite the long list of sites to see in the city, I intentionally took it slow and saved the fomo for another city. My days were spent leisurely wandering the city observing the contrasts between … Read more
The sun was shining bright, reflecting off the concrete ground and walls of the port as I walked through the port city of Mythilini for the last time. One more stroll through its tiny streets. One more overpriced espresso at the corner coffee shop I had become familiar with. As I passed through passport control, … Read more
As my time on the Greek island of Lesvos neared a close, I was contemplating where to go next. For nearly two months, I volunteered with refugees by teaching English and translating in the refugee camps of Lesvos, but it was finally time to move on and backpacking Turkey emerged as a viable option. Backpacking … Read more
A country sitting between two worlds, the Middle East and Europe, with its capital bridging the two perfectly. Once home to empires (the Romans as well as the Ottomans), Turkey has fallen from power but still boasts plenty to lure in every kind of traveler. Rich, hearty, and unique cuisine that has influenced countless countries … Read more
Amazing food, hundreds of years of architecture, and never ending nightlife sit sandwiched between the mountains and the sea. Whether you have a day, a week, or a year, Barcelona sightseeing, food, and nightlife is worth it. My Adventurous side says: I could urban hike through the hills and and swim in the until the sun … Read more
More from the Series: Adventures as a Global Volunteer – Lesvos and the Refugee Crisis Preface: Voluntourism – What Is It, and Why to Avoid It Part 1: The Beginning. The Reasons. The Dilemma Part 2: Teaching English, Serving Coffee, Going Solo Part 3: Translating in Moria Refugee Camp, Steps from Hell, and the Meaning … Read more
Just as I thought my days on Lesvos were becoming slow and predictable, the worst happened – a riot in the refugee camp between Kurds and Arabs exploded. Unwilling to exist in another war, the Kurds fled Moria Camp, walking 10 kilometers in the middle of the night holding everything they owned. For the … Read more