"How do you handle the highs and lows?"
Being an expat is a roller coaster. But sometimes, an attitude change is all it takes to get over the lows.
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Sep 28, 20184 min read
"What about the high holidays?"
I spent my first full high holiday season in Israel. See how I spent September in the Holy Land!
Jul 12, 20185 min read
"It's been one year...?!?!"
Looking back on my highlights as I hit one year living as an expat in Israel!
Jun 25, 20184 min read
"What's an Israeli wedding like?"
One thing I have noticed since moving to Israel is how care free Israelis are...and their weddings are no different!
May 29, 20184 min read
When Family Comes Abroad
Being an expat isnt complete without your family coming to visit you abroad! Check out the highlights of my family's visit to Israel!
May 3, 20185 min read
"What's it like to change?"
With expat life, the quicker you can accept change and a bit of unbalance along the way, the better. This past month...I got my fill
Feb 25, 20183 min read
"What's good for your soul?"
Sometimes all you need is a best friend to make expat life the most incredible.
Feb 9, 20183 min read
"What makes you happy?"
Getting over my first bad week here in Israel and trying to turn this week into something great...success!
Jan 27, 20182 min read
"What happens when the newness wears off?"
It's expected that at some point as an expat, the exciting newness will wear off. How do you deal with it? Make your own excitement!
Jan 21, 20183 min read
"How do you let go?"
It’s not a failure to change a plan…it’s realizing what is best and taking action to make it happen. And expat life has A LOT of changes.
Jan 7, 20183 min read
"Do you like pina coladas?"
I think my move to Israel has thrown me for a bit of a loop. I went from a perfectly planned life, to throwing it into complete disarray
Jan 2, 20182 min read
"What about 2017?"
Reflecting back on 2017 before coming into the new year. I spent half my year in America and half living abroad as an expat in Israel.
Dec 20, 20173 min read
"What's a sufganiyah?"
Trying local food is not only fun but super important when getting to know a new place. And the Hanukkah Sufganiyah is a must in Israel!
Dec 6, 20175 min read
Experiencing Israel through a Bucket List
I made a bucket list for things I want to do in Israel and have started to make my way through the list. Check out this week's experiences!
Nov 30, 20174 min read
An Israeli Bucket List
As you may have noticed, I have not been as on top of the blogging as I should be…so I apologize for that. But, I’ve been reflecting...
Oct 3, 20173 min read
"How does it feel to leave?"
Once you've moved abroad, going home can be just as weird as it is exciting. Read about my thoughts on going home for the high holidays!
Aug 13, 20174 min read
"What's balagan?"
My first month in Israel has been pretty smooth sailing...even though I was warned it wouldnt be. Israel is full of magic for me every day!
Jul 27, 20174 min read
"What is Shabbat like in Israel?"
I have officially experienced my first Shabbat as an Israeli and it was just as magical as I expected!
Jul 15, 20172 min read
"How does it feel to be Israeli?"
My thoughts and feelings on my first two days as an Israeli citizen!
May 30, 20173 min read
"Are you scared?"
I find that when I talk to Americans about moving to Israel, they immediately jump to safety and the issues of terrorism. “Are you scared?”
May 17, 20173 min read
"What's in the Old North?"
Moving to Israel alone can be scary...but at least I now have a place to live! I got a new apartment in the Old North of Tel Aviv!
May 3, 20172 min read
"What is mizrahit music?"
My 10-week countdown to making Aliyah to Israel is on! Check out what I'm doing to prepare. Also: a quick Hebrew lesson for you all!
Apr 21, 20173 min read
"What will you do when you get there?"
After finding out why I want to move to Israel alone, most people wonder what I will do upon arrival. Find out what I have planned!
Dec 22, 20165 min read
"Why would you want to move to Israel?"
Why would I want to leave my comfortable American life and move completely alone to Israel?
Jun 30, 20151 min read
A Recap
A recap video of my year in Taiwan living abroad as a Fulbright grantee!
Jun 29, 20152 min read
Goodbye Taiwan
My last weekend as a Fulbright Grantee in Taiwan was filled with family, friends and so much happiness. I don't feel ready to leave!
Jun 27, 20152 min read
Goodbye Su-Ao
I just finished my last day of school as a Fulbright grantee and English Teaching Assistant ): It was a weird mix of emotions.
Jun 25, 20155 min read
The Good, the Bad and the Just Plain Weird (Part 2!)
Some of the odd things about Taiwan, I will just never adjust to...here's a continuation of the oddities I've found in this country (I love)
Jun 20, 20154 min read
As We Go On, We Remember
I say my goodbyes as my students graduate and I get ready to head back to America for graduate school. My time as a Fulbright is almost over
Jun 15, 20153 min read
A Foreigner Goes to the Second Hand Taiwanese Market
Trying to barter and sell things at the local market with minimal Chinese is a disastrous combo....but an experience none the less!
Jun 7, 20153 min read
Run, Forest, Run!
I ran the International Olympic Road Race in Taipei! My first half marathon was (mostly) a success!
Jun 2, 20157 min read
The Most Adventurous Weekend in My 23 Years of Life
I went to Taitung, Taiwan where I went hang gliding and spelunking all in one weekend! Adventure!
May 27, 20157 min read
Happenings In and Around Su-Ao
As my time as a Fulbright grantee winds down, check out some of my most interesting events of the past month!
May 20, 20152 min read
Cooking Veggies in Earth Water: A Taiwanese Hot Spring
My Taiwanese host family took me to a local hot spring to cook veggies! We also stopped at a mochi factory! A wonderful and food filled day!
May 14, 20155 min read
Long Weekend Adventures in Nantou!
A trip to Nantou ended up being one of my favorite weekends in my entire year in Taiwan! Filled with sheep, roller coasters and gondolas!
May 11, 20152 min read
It’s Not the New Year Without Some Lanterns!
You can't experience a Chinese New Year in Taiwan without attending the lantern festivals! We went to the Taipei and the Pinxi Festivals!
May 8, 201512 min read
A pit stop in Japan, then the Herrick clan arrives!!!!
Living abroad in Taiwan all alone can be lonely...but my entire family came to visit! Check out the ups and downs of our trip here!
Apr 29, 20156 min read
Chinese New Year Vacation in Vietnam
A short vacation to Vietnam had me falling in love with Mui Ne and reflecting on my time as a Fulbright grantee in Taiwan.
Jan 19, 20153 min read
The First Outing of 2015
For the first day of 2015, we headed west to Taichung to visit the inventor of bubble tea!
Jan 12, 20152 min read
New Year in Taiwan!
I thought Times Square New Years was cool...but the fireworks at Taipei 101 were absolutely amazing!!!
Jan 5, 20153 min read
The Jew Brings Christmas to Taiwan
As a Fulbright ETA, I try to bring American culture to Taiwan...which definitely includes Christmas...the only problem is I know nothing...!
Dec 30, 20142 min read
The Bird.
In a school completely surrounded by nature, you're bound to get a few visitors...today I got my first one!
Dec 29, 20142 min read
Sammie Turns Taiwanese
In true Taiwanese fashion...I got my hair braided at a local salon...and couldnt look more local if I tried
Dec 26, 20142 min read
23 in Kaohsiung Taiwan
I took my first trip to the South of Taiwan to Kaohsiung and explored the big city!
Nov 21, 20143 min read
Taipei Fine Arts Museum...or not?
I love a good museum but let's just say I was totally underwhelmed by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum...in fact, I even called PETA on the place
Nov 18, 20142 min read
Happy 114th Birthday Su-Ao Elementary!
We had a giant town wide celebration to commemorate Su-Ao Elementary's 114th birthday!
Oct 23, 20143 min read
Fulbright Classroom Observation
I had my first observation by the Fulbright committee and it went better than I ever could have hoped!
Oct 14, 20143 min read
Happy Birthday Taiwan!!!
I had the honor of being chosen to attend the National 10/10 celebration in Taipei along with the President and other high ranking Diplomats
Oct 13, 20143 min read
A Weekend of Ting!
This weekend I got to experience Ting's 1st birthday! And a visit to the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial in Taipei!
Oct 1, 20144 min read
Thank goodness for ponchos
I had my first experience with a typhoon. But for locals like my host family, it was apparently no big deal! We went on a full day adventure
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