I mentioned a few posts ago that I am changing Living in Another Language to be a more travel-focused blog. My hope is to encourage, inspire, and help answer questions to those that are interested in life abroad. My readers (hey that's you) are very important to me, and I want to hear from you about what you're interested in. I've been weighing my options and reading the comments on my blog, and I think the best thing for me to do right now is to have a reader survey! 99% of the survey questions below are multiple choice, so it'll take you about two and thirty seconds flat (I did not test this) to complete the form, and I will be eternally grateful! As I see my readership grow, it's harder to know where you all are from, what your ... Read More
Archives for October 2014
Queens Park, Invercargill
We celebrated a three day weekend this past week, and Derik and I enjoyed soaking up the free time. Instead of doing something epic like we very much wanted to, we decided to save the money (hey, Christmas is only like 50 something days away) and take it slow. Derik found a couple of used surfboards for sale in Invercargill, so we took a trip down south to pick them up. Saturday was absolutely perfect weather-wise, but wouldn't you know it, it was also the day a nasty migraine came to visit me. I was basically dying in the car the whole way to Invercargill (three hour drive), and immediately after grabbing the boards, we paid for a small cabin in a Top 10 campsite so I could go lay down in a pitch black room. Sucky way to spend a ... Read More
The 5 Types of Travel Bloggers
Travel blogging is a tricky industry. I'm realizing there's no cut-and-dry way to travel blog, except for the fact that it's important you get pretty pictures and information out there for readers to wanderlust at. There are solo travelers, couple travelers, and family travelers. There are those that do it for fun and some that do it as a living. But one of my favorite things to figure out while discovering new travel bloggers, is learning what their travel blogging lifestyle is. This can be tricky, especially since the internet allows us to paint pictures of ourselves in basically whatever way we want. Here are the 5 types of travel bloggers I have discovered in my ventures with blogging. In no way, shape, or form are these true ... Read More
The Lunar Eclipse
I meant to write this post shortly after October 8th, but time got away from me. October 8th was a significant day for two reasons, one being the lunar eclipse (blood moon) that happened late in the evening (my time) or maybe early morning yours. The second significance? It was my 26th birthday. I was actually pretty bummed during the day because I thought my husband forgot my birthday, and I didn't have a single person to go out and celebrate with. But no, I was being overdramatic for nothing, because he came home with chocolates, beautiful brown orchids (seriously they're so pretty), and a dinner reservation at a local Thai restaurant. My day immediately did a 180 degree turn, and I thoroughly enjoyed rest of my birthday with ... Read More
10 Tips to Improve Your Photography
Alt title: How to rock the socks off of whatever you take pictures with. Disclaimer: I can’t tell you how to be an instantly awesome photographer. It doesn’t happen overnight (unless your born with it, which some people naturally are). Just like any art form, you’ve got to learn it, study it, practice it. You can’t just expect to point your shutter at something and win ‘photo of the year’ on National Geographic. I don’t have a super long history with photography (and am not a professional), I've just been working on my skills long enough to know there are little tricks you can use to help improve your photography instantly. Yes, instantly. You just need to know what they are and how to use them! Nowadays, with the technology ... Read More
Minus 5 Ice Bar, Queenstown
You never know what you'll stumble into while taking a walk around town. During our first trip to Queenstown we thoroughly enjoyed three days in the self-proclaimed 'adventure capital of the world,' and spent most of our time outdoors. That is, until we found the Minus 5 Ice Bar located right along Lake Esplanade, one of the most picturesque parts of the town. Sure it may have been dead winter outside with a temperature of 14 degrees (F), but that didn't stop us from giving this icy adventure a go! We donned the coats and hats we were given at the door and headed into the bar. Side note, they had us put the coats OVER the coats we already had on, so we pretty much looked like overstuffed sausages the whole time. Oh well, we can just ... Read More
Rain Boots or Wellies?
Gumboots or Galoshes? Why are there so many names for a simple pair of boots made of rubber? This is one of the many things I think about on a daily basis. I have a weird mind. I'm also quickly discovering that some of the words I learned growing up mean completely different things on the opposite side of the world. For example: pissed actually means drunk here. And just don't ever mention a fanny pack, because that refers to the female anatomy. Not that we use fanny pack in our day to day language as Americans... Anyway. A few months ago I received this gorgeous dress and wellies from JoulesUSA. I most certainly am not a fashion blogger, and I hate being on the other side of the camera. After checking out the company's ... Read More
What Travel Means To Me
It means... ...I get to discover different ways people do life. ...I no longer have control over my environment. ...I end up accidentally acting like a fool multiple times a week. ...happiness is not by acquiring things, but by making memories. ...being outside my comfort zone 24/7. ...I treasure the familiar so much more than I used to. ...the world is bigger than I could ever possibly imagine. ...I have the opportunity to make friends from all corners of the world. ...I will constantly be learning and growing. ...wanderlust will always be a part of my life. ... Read More
Sandfly Bay, Otago Peninsula
If I haven't said it before, I'll say it now. New Zealand is the perfect country to go out for a nice Sunday drive. Every 10 minutes of driving you'll stumble upon a different scenic view, and each view is more amazing than the last! Last month Derik and I went out for our weekly drive down random side-roads, and stumbled upon an absolute treasure of a beach. Sandfly Bay is a popular location in Dunedin, but being newbies to the area, we had no idea. Sandfly Bay is known for its yellow-eyed penguins that live in the sand dunes off the beach during the day and come out at night to feed. Also there are numerous seals and sea lions that drop by each day to sun themselves on the warm sand. We've visited the beach a couple times just because ... Read More
