I’m going to be honest, I thought my seasonal work would be more fun! I was so desperate for a job when I got to New Zealand. It took about a month to find my first gig, and I mostly liked it! My coworkers were great, but it was only about 20 hours a week—…
I love SCUBA. I love the calm below the surface, the sploosh of bubbles, the sway of the surge and anemones. I love how the colors disappear as you descend then roar back to life with the shine of a flashlight. I love the rhythm of slow breaths from the regulator and spying on creatures…
Need something to listen to on your next long flight? What about some inspiration for your next travel adventure? Tripology is easily my favorite travel podcast. I found them through their episode about working holidays visas. The hosts, Adam and Alun, are two best friends who met on the road and their camaraderie is a…
Remember the time I almost got arrested hitchhiking in Egypt? 😬😬 I feel like it’s so hard to get friends to commit to plans. So many grand ideas never make it out of the chat. One of my favorite parts of travel is how many people are up for absolutely anything! A group of 5…
Reading is just travel without a plane ticket. It’s my favorite thing in the world. And for the foreseeable future, when I’m not scuba diving, you can find me with my toes in the sand and my Kindle in my hand. What I’m reading this week: Two O’Clock on a Tuesday at Trevi Fountain by…
How do you break up with a town? I had ached to return to Gainesville– the swamp– my home for the last 12 years. I had missed my favorite haunts, meals I had dreamt of for months, pub quiz glory I had longed to relive, and yet… I felt my heart break a little when…
My Experience Housesitting Pets for 3 Weeks One of the most expensive parts of travel, and living in general, is how much we spend on accommodation. Housesitting can be a great way to deflect some of those costs and get to visit beautiful locations at the same time. I was lucky enough to score a…
Hi, I’m Mandy! Last summer I packed up my classroom and headed out on my one year sabbatical to travel the world. I’ve started referring to it as my Grown Up Gap Year. I had been saving and planning this trip for 3 years, and it has been every bit as wonderful as I always…
“Aren’t you scared?” The number one question I get as a solo female traveler. First of all, yes. So scared. But I know I can do it because I’ve done it before. And like many people, it wasn’t my first choice. In 2019, after months and years of waiting for someone to have enough PTO,…
If money is no issue or fear is a big one, then stick with the red tag taxis in Jamaica. But if you’re a bit more adventurous, interested in a more authentic experience, and want to save a bunch of money, then flag down a local taxi! Would you ever ride the public bus in…