Coming Up

I suppose it’s high time I give a little life update on here, as anyone who hasn’t been talking to me daily (and that’s basically everyone because I’m a hermit) might not be sure what’s been going on. Why am I no longer in London? Where am I? What’s happening? Is this real life?

I finished my master’s degree at the end of August and, long story short, decided to move back to the United States. It all came about rather quickly and was really because I felt that was the wisest choice, not because I truly wanted to leave London. In fact, I would love to be back there someday. But for now, I’ve got to focus on the adventures ahead!

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London was where I really learned how much I enjoy both experiencing and writing about travel and different cultures, and I began to hone the focus of A Life Exotic more because of it. This blog used to cover anything in my life I felt like writing about – and if you delve back into the archives and see how random they are, you’ll understand – but the common thread, from the first day I posted from New Zealand, has always been travel.

Luckily, there’s a bit more of that on the horizon. The fact that I love exploring new places is one of the things I am most sure of about myself, and I’ve finally gotten to the point where I’m confident enough to say that’s an okay thing to base my decisions around.

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So anyway, here’s the update: I’m off to California! I’m feeling the need to go someplace that I’ll really enjoy getting to know, yet probably won’t settle in forever, and California fits the bill (don’t take offense, Californians – I’m just an East Coaster at heart). To make matters more exciting, my trusty flatmate Amity and I are going to take our time getting there and spend three weeks roadtripping through the west, living in a campervan which has a paint job that will give even Hip Hop Yellow a run for its money.

On that note (sort of), I’ve created a Facebook page for this little ol’ blog! I always held off on doing that because I didn’t feel like I was legit enough – but that’s the kind of thing I’ve decided to not worry about anymore. I’m not legit but I have a Facebook page – so there. Anyway, if it’s easier to follow along that way, or you just feel like it, go give it a “Like” by clicking HERE. I figure it’ll be easier to share random photos from the road that don’t necessarily fit into a whole blog post.

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So that’s it: we’re setting off in about a week and a half. Until then, I’m continuing to practice my perpetually-in-use skill of fitting my life into suitcases and geeking out over National Parks websites (Leslie Knope would be so proud!).We randomly discovered Roadtrippers and have been using it for planning and, for the most part, I really like it! However, suggestions for western USA must-sees and/or how to survive in a van in Montana in the winter would be greatly appreciated.

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7 thoughts on “Coming Up

    1. Thanks, Jennifer! Glad you said hi 🙂 I’ll have to check out your German adventures – I’m really missing Europe so I could always use more photos & travel stories in my life!

  1. Wow, buddy! Congratulations! West coast is the best coast. 🙂 Couldn’t help it. This will make it so much easier to visit you when I’m back in the US. Love the Parks & Rec reference and the Roadtrippers site. Sometimes all this travel in Europe and the UK makes me realize how little I’ve seen of my own country. You go girl! I’ll be riding along in the backseat (probably offering bossy driving advice) by reading about your adventures. So proud of ya, kid.

    1. Thanks Big Jen (nope, not getting rid of that 🙂 )! I’ll gladly welcome your virtual backseat driving – wish you could come along in real life! As much as I’m dying to still be gallivanting through Europe, I feel like it’s a good attitude adjustment to make myself realize how much there is to appreciate about the US (it’s definitely easy to accidentally soak up some of that anti-Americanism while abroad). Let’s see if I can get back to visit you in London or if you make it home to the west coast first – the race is on! xx

  2. It was your website’s tagline that drove me to go through your writing. I’ve been exploring the idea of home and trying to understand it for a long time now (I sometimes feel I have no home, though I have felt at home in many different places). It’s always exciting for me to get to know new places and people up close as well, but I have never felt the urge to make any one place my home yet. I think I’ll just follow along on your adventures and try to make better sense of my confusions. 😛

    1. I know how you feel – “too many homes” just sounds better than “no home,” so I went with that 🙂 Who knows if we’ll ever resolve the feeling, but it’s comforting to remember that other people feel the same way! I’m glad you stopped by. I’ve just had a look through some of your most recent posts – you’re a wonderful storyteller! Very beautiful and unique writing. I’ll certainly be checking in!

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