• Life Abroad,  Milestones,  Pregnancy

    A Little Ray of Sunshine: The Next Phase Begins

    Our life adventuring abroad has occurred in big phases. Stepping onto a plane bound for Glasgow, Scotland with no return tickets. Moving to Ceske Budejovice and becoming gainfully employed in Europe. Getting married and coming back to the Czech Republic with renewed commitment. The post-wedding years really coming into our own here. It’s time for what will be the beginning of the next phase: We’re expecting our rainbow baby in July and we’re so excited! You might be wondering some details, so here are the questions I could think of… How are you feeling? Really great, now, at twenty-one weeks. Truly, every single day feels different. I don’t think anyone’s…

  • Summer

    Adventurings, 2.0

    Well, this was a long time coming. I have been on Tumblr for over seven years. How?! Mostly because I’m super stubborn, but I finally had the wherewithal (and most importantly, time) to switch to something a bit better. And I’m (begrudgingly) typing with capitalization; something I had shunned at the time that this blog was born in 2012 and had to keep continuity with (once again: stubborn). But here we are! Hoping a bit of change will inspire some creativity and turning to writing here rather than social media in the next year. So please excuse the mess over the next week or so while we get things organized…

  • Summer

    the actual 500th post: a look back (& survey)

    even though i already celebrated a bit with the wood watch giveaway going on right now (have you entered yet?), you know i have to do a little look back on the blog for my five hundredth post. which is this one. right here. from the very first post to this one, adventurings has always been an output and record for what happens when two people quit their jobs in the united states, buy a one-way ticket for glasgow, scotland, go on a couple-month long vagabonding adventure (no address! no belongings!) until they wind up in prague, czech republic with no money and ready to study how to make more…

  • Summer

    we are permanent residents.

    the reason we decided to apply for permanent residence is, simply, that it’s a longer visa. we have been on the two year freelance visa for ages and as many of you know, our last go-around was rough. it kicked our asses. after five years of residence in the czech republic and passing a basic language exam though, you may qualify for permanent residence. well, this was our first chance to apply (now having lived here for over six years) and the language test wasn’t so difficult, seeing as we have lived here long enough to soak up loads of language and had three full years of czech lessons by…

  • Christmas,  Czech Republic,  Expat Life,  Milestones,  South Bohemia,  Winter

    Christmas + A Big Surprise

    veselé vánoce, friends! my second czech christmas is technically still underway (as people traditionally get the 24th-26th off work) and it’s magical. this year my mother has joined us from far away washington state and we’ve been doing a whole lot of wandering the cobblestoney budějovice city streets, last chance advent markets, and of course: eating a TON of food (i may have gone overboard with grocery shopping, perhaps to make up for what is now known as our poor czech christmas last year) and a lot of relaxing before our trip to salzburg tomorrow. and, oh yeah……. i got engaged! alex and i have had a few chats about marriage before, both…

  • Life Abroad,  Milestones

    six months

    happy march! yesterday was the big six month in europe milestone, since we landed in glasgow, scotland on august 31, 2012 shivering in our summer clothes. six months in europe was sort of the baseline: the minimum time spent here for me to consider this adventure successful. hooray! of course being away from home for over six months (seven since washington!) there are a few comforts i miss….. basically allllll of my billion jackets because it’s cold here and i love them. (the zara jacket i have now is pretty and lessens the pain) and that leafy green plant–kale– is NOT to be found here in the czech republic. it’s…