People need to spread love toward strangers. We all bleed the same blood and we are all part of a global community now. – Aloe Blacc As some of you know, this year has been the year of international travel for me. As of the end of June, I’ve spent time in 5 countries, not …
The whole thing of clothes is insane. You can spend a dollar on a jacket in a thrift store. And you can spend a thousand dollars on a jacket in a shop. And if you saw those two jackets walking down the street, you probably wouldn’t know which was which. – Helen Mirren Spring is …
By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. – Confucius For me, spring is an easy season for reflection. The cold and often dark months of winter are behind us, and new growth and sunshine are …
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware – Martin Buber Being stationed in Japan is wonderful! Not only do we have the luxury to experience a new culture, but we also have access to an amazing transportation system. Japan’s railway system gives us easy access to much of Honshu, meaning we …
Packing is always a nightmare – Stefanie Powers A new year means a new PCS (Permanent Change of Station) season is fast approaching! Spring of 2018 was my first PCS and my first truly big move. Going from the States to an overseas duty station was daunting. Until then, I had only relocated within a …
A penny saved is a penny earned – Benjamin Franklin Travel is an exciting perk of an overseas duty station. The country is yours to explore, and you may be in closer proximity to other cities and countries than ever before. But trip expenses add up quickly. It can be hard to research and find …
Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious. – Ruth Reichl One of the perks of travel is the chance to discover new food and drink. As much as we can, we aim to find local places to support and enjoy. For those of you that know us …
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. – Helen Keller Sometimes duty calls, making it hard to get away on leave for a large block of time. Thankfully, the military calendar contains a few four-day weekends. Even if you only have a small window of time to travel, don’t sweat it! There’s …
Falling in love with you was easy / You were always meant to have my heart / I was broken all to pieces / You were there to be the missing part. – JJ Heller, “Until You Came Along” It’s our third wedding anniversary. It feels both like we’ve just met, and like we’ve been …
It is only by reflecting on the past that one can create a better future. – Rithy Panh I’ve been following Emily Freeman’s What We Learned blog posts for years now (You can find some of her old entries here). While she used to compile them more often, a while ago she moved them …
