Living in Another Language

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Archives for 2012

Dear santa…love, an expat.

Written by: Amanda // Category: Expat Living, Holidays, South Korea

Dear Santa, This year I've felt extra inspired to write due to the lack of holiday cheer over on this side of the world, as well as the ever-pressing fact that Christmas is going to be quite different without family, friends, and snow. My kindergarten students agree that writing you letters will aide in an unfathomable selection of gifts and wishes come true, so I decided to give it a shot. First of all you should know that I've been good this year. Actually pretty darn good. Please disregard the fact that I've broken many traffic laws including speed limits and red lights, refused to eat everything on my plate (sorry pickled sparrow eggs just aren't that appetizing), and stealing others discarded furniture down in the trash/recycle pile ... Read More

Very Inspiring

Written by: Amanda // Category: Awards

No soon had I written my post about accepting the Liebster Award, I received notification that Maria, author of Still Times had nominated me for the 'Very Inspiring Blogger Award!' I originally started writing my blog for my family and friends I left back home. It was an easy way everyone could be up-to-date on the goings on in Derik and I's travels. What I didn't expect is that fellow expats and bloggers of similar interest started reading my blog too!!! I am so appreciative of my readers, it keeps me writing! I am very flattered to receive yet another award for my blog. The 'Very Inspiring Blogger Award' is awarded to blogs that give others inspiration with their passion for what they do (photography, writing, journalism).  The Rules ... Read More

Delicate

Written by: Amanda // Category: South Korea, Teaching, Weekly Photo Challenges

A snowflake. Is there anything else more delicate? Intricate? One-of-a-kind? It still blows my mind that each one is made differently. It reminds me how complex the world was created...and a lot of times we just take it for granted. This week's photo challenge wanted readers to post a photo that means something 'delicate' to them. A few weeks ago I was preparing my classroom to look 'Christmas-y' with my kindi students. I, of course, whipped out the old trick of paper snowflakes. The kids had never made them before and had an absolute blast cutting paper. After trial and error, trial and error (lets face it, it took us ALL a while to figure out that you cant cut all the edges), we finally had a winning batch of truly unique ... Read More

Bring forth the holiday cheer pt.2

Written by: Amanda // Category: Holidays, South Korea

I may have mentioned before about having a few more Christmas photos for Derik and I up my sleeve. We took a 30 min drive to the rocky side of the coastline...and found a rather level area on the purple colored rocks. After a quick hour we succeeded with taking them and having a great time while doing so! I am really, really enjoying my tripod, and even thinking about taking it on the trip to Vietnam (6 days!!!!!)...we'll see how that goes. I would highly recommend...if you have any free time between now and Christmas taking some DIY Christmas photos. Not only is it a blast for you, but relatives and friends benefit from it as well! Just in case you missed part one of this photo shoot, you can check it out here. While ... Read More

Recipes: grandma knows best

Written by: Amanda // Category: Baking, Food, Holidays, South Korea

I don't know if you're like me, but the perfect Christmas cookie recipe is hard to find. Well, look no further. Everyone knows that gingerbread cookies are an American holiday favorite. The soft and spicy cookie is just what anyone needs for the cold holidays...especially paired with a cup of tea or hot cocoa. I was a bit hesitant to share my cherished gingerbread recipe, passed down to me from my Grandmother, with you at first...after all, it's been in the family for years. But being in the holiday spirit, one cannot be greedy and selfish. Also, this recipe is achievable from KOREA with a little help from iherb.com. If you're in for some warm (actually these are even good frozen), soft, and all around darn good cookies...give these a ... Read More

I’ve become domesticated.

Written by: Amanda // Category: Holidays

This year, Christmas has turned me into a person I'm usually not. While others are out in the frigid cold, fighting for that last christmas sale, stopping by Starbucks to buy their favorite holiday drink, and dressing up for Christmas parties, I'm either working or hanging out in my little cozy apartment. I shouldn't have used the word 'hanging' (i.e. chilling, resting, doing nothing), because I have, in fact, been a busy little bee. In my few short hours I have each day (one in the afternoon on my lunch break and two at night- after work and before bed) I manage to cook, clean, shop, pay bills, AND pull out my domesticated Martha Stewart side. I'm not much of a crafter usually, but for some reason, around the holidays I get inspired ... Read More

Liebster.

Written by: Amanda // Category: Awards

The other day I received a notification on my blog that  I've been awarded the Liebster award by the very kind Ttanvi. I was super flattered and thrilled that someone thought my blog was awesome enough to get an award! Thank you so much! I have to admit I had no idea what the heck a Liebster Award was, so after extensive googling I think I have found my answer. Liebster is a German word meaning 'favorite' or 'beloved. This award is usually given to inspirational blogs that have 200 or less followers. Here are the rules for this award: Upon receipt of the award, one is to: 1) Link back to the blogger who gave it 2) Paste the award on the blog 3) Choose 5 blogs to pass this award to 4) Let the recipients know about their nomination by ... Read More

Weekend reunions

Written by: Amanda // Category: Expat Living, South Korea

Some of you may remember our excursion with Ethan and Sandra ( also with Josh and Stephanie!) in September over Chuseok. We had such a great time we knew we wanted to meet again soon to hang out. Unfortunately the only time available was Mid-November-when the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins. Sadly Derik wasn't able to make the four hour trip up to Seoul with me. He has been kept extremely busy with his job, and between his weekend job (working with another construction company), evaluations, lesson plans, and honest-to-goodness rest after 14 hour days, he just wasn't able to make it work. We all missed him, and are excited to hang out next month on our Christmas vacation to Vietnam. I left early Sat. morning (last week) for ... Read More

Bring forth the holiday cheer

Written by: Amanda // Category: Holidays, South Korea

I started decorating for Christmas early. I have always loved the smell of cinnamon, the blinking LED lights, and the glittery ornaments that happily hang on my tree. If it were up to me, I'd have Christmas year around. This year it's been a bit of a challenge when it comes to Christmas decor, especially since Korea isn't that big into Christmas. I've taken that challenge, and am still mastering my victory. As you will see in the next couple weeks I have been trying my hand at making most of my decorations, and some have turned out great...while others have been a flop. I currently have cinnamon salt dough ornaments in the oven...crossing my fingers on that one. Since it is our first Christmas in a new land I was really wanting to do ... Read More

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Currently on Instagram

Our adventures may be few and far between nowadays Our adventures may be few and far between nowadays, but the ones we get to take are oh so sweet. 

My daughters are now 2.5 years and 6 months old. Life never slows down, but only gets faster with each day we’re blessed to live. Social media may not be a part of my life how it used to be, and instead I’m working on living life intentionally each day as we raise our girls during these crazy times. 💕
2020 has been a year has it not? As much as I love 2020 has been a year has it not? As much as I love social media, I found myself taking a break as the things we were all going through made social media so insignificant to me. 

In January/February I had a miscarriage. It was a horrible way to start the year, and little did I know it was just the beginning of it all. 

Even with the loss, hardship of moving back to the US in the middle of a global pandemic, and navigating our new lives here, we were given many blessings. The greatest of those was finding out I was pregnant again in March.

It’s a scary time to be pregnant right now, especially after a miscarriage, because doctors visits are very minimal. Also, Derik was never able to come to a single visit. I was terrified something would happen and I would be told bad news and have to face that alone. But God was gracious to us. 

We kept our special little secret to ourselves, and it wasn’t until our third trimester before we told immediate family and close friends. My pregnancy was very private for me, and a special time to bond closely with the babe growing inside me.

Our sweet little girl arrived November 30, and yes I had to deliver with a mask on, but she is perfect and I truly feel our family is complete. 💕🌈
 
“When a rainbow appears, it doesn’t mean the storm never happened or that we are not still dealing with its aftermath. It means something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds. Storm clouds may still hover but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy, and hope.”
I am in love. As I’m sure every other plant/mons I am in love. As I’m sure every other plant/monstera collector is when you get to behold such a beauty in real life. If there were ever #plantgoals, this is it. 

Since moving from Germany, it has been a long and slow process getting our life back to normal. All of our belongings have yet to arrive so we’ve literally been camping in our house on an air bed and camping chairs for two months. 😂 All that to say, having to start my plant collection over again here stateside has been so much fun! I will miss the plant prices if Germany, but the selection here blows my mind. Anyone else obsessed? We’ve lived here for almost 8 weeks now and I already have 11 plants 😂😬😬😬. I don’t have a bed or a couch, but by golly I have greenery. 😂🤦🏼‍♀️🌱
Oh my heart. I’ve been trying to figure out the Oh my heart.

I’ve been trying to figure out the words to say about our time in Germany, but my fingers can’t seem to type out how to express my love, gratefulness, thankfulness, sadness, and heartbreak I feel about leaving. Every country we’ve lived in has taught us something and has given us so many beautiful memories, as well as opened our eyes a little more to different cultures and ways of living.

But Germany was special. The first time we stepped foot into Germany was in 2015, and we loved it so much we stayed the extent of our travel visa (3 months). I was able to visit again in 2016, and then we officially packed everything and moved in 2017. Germany has always had my heart: the people, the festivals, the food, wine and beer, the immaculate home landscaping, and even all the rules that every resident is just expected to follow to a tee (like recycling every tiny scrap of trash). Our family grew from two to three while in Germany. Bringing our daughter into the world, and raising her for a year and a half in a different culture, will be one of the most beautiful memories of my life.

Our move was impacted by the COVID pandemic, and it took three long months of delays, red tape, and countless phone calls to get everything together so we could actually get on a plane and have our stuff packed and shipped to our new home. 
I am breathing a sigh of relief to know all the stress of everything is over and our new adventure can begin. I am mourning the loss of leaving Germany. I am in a weird transition right now trying to grasp it all, but here we are jumping into new things head first! We are back in the US for a while, in the beautiful state of Tennessee, and look forward to many new memories, travels, friends, and being able to spend time with family! 
Photos from my sweet and talented friend @juliejayphotos
I feel like I failed hard this year at Christmas m I feel like I failed hard this year at Christmas markets. We went to a total of ONE market, which is exactly 19 less than I told myself I would go to this year to make up for not going to any the year before 🤦🏼‍♀️(I was 40 weeks pregnant and not feeling crowds). I will say, it was a great one and the weather was so nice, we stayed out until the market shut down.

If there’s one thing I will miss most about Germany when it is our time to move, will be the sheer enthusiasm this country has for Christmas, and I’m not talking about consumerism. Food, laughter, friends, family, music, dancing: celebration. Also, Germany shuts down for not only one day, but THREE. Stores are closed, mail is not delivered, people aren’t out and about. Everyone is home enjoying time with family, and I love it. However, I may have gone into full blown panic mode Christmas Eve when I realized I had a total of 8 diapers to get us through until the 27th. 👀
We spent Thanksgiving back in North America: Whist We spent Thanksgiving back in North America: Whistler, Canada! A 10 hour flight from Germany , and I can’t say this one was better than the one we took over the summer on our trip to Alaska, but we survived! Entertaining a 11 month old for that long is much harder than a 6 month old, especially when they aren’t into sleeping on the plane AT ALL. 🤪

Whistler was beautiful despite the lack of snow, and we enjoyed our time with family, the delicious food, and as much sightseeing as one could do with a jet-lagged baby. 
This was actually my first trip to Canada ever, (unless you want to count the move my parents took up to Alaska from Arkansas when I was two. 😂🤷‍♀️ ) and I loved it! We would really like to take a big Canadian road trip someday and explore more of the country! 😍😍🇨🇦
Being a mama may mean I don’t always have time t Being a mama may mean I don’t always have time to put myself together, but I would rather spend the extra moments making special memories with our daughter that she can cherish forever. I doubt that she will look at this picture and see a tired, messy haired mama that’s barely had time to wash her face nevermind carefully apply makeup, but am hoping she will see a mama that never tires of carrying and cuddling her, or sharing new experiences with her. 💕
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