Category Archives: About Us
On Vacation
We’ve been asked a fair number of times, during the course of dinner at a hostel or speaking with various people around town, whether we’re “on vacation.” Now this is all meant very informally as a social icebreaker of sorts, but frankly, I find that question hard to answer. Almost as hard as the “so where are you from” question. After a five year residency, are we from DC now? Even though we’re not returning there? Is Theresa from Kentucky …
Adios Amigos
Last night we said goodbye to DC with a party, where we were able to gather many of our friends together for a final farewell. Though I was initially resistant to the idea of moving to DC, over the years we lived there, it became home. And last night, as we closed the door behind the last of our departing guests, I think we both felt a touch of sadness. Though there are things we’ll miss about the place, what …
You Can Call Him Doctor
Great success! Jeff successfully presented his Ph.D. dissertation research, smoothly answered all his opponent’s questions (or nicely evaded them), wowed his committee, and was, as a result, awarded his Ph.D. yesterday. This was the capstone of our pre-trip preparation, so now it’s just a matter of tying up a few loose ends. Then it’s infinity and beyond…or South America and beyond. Dr. Jeff with his mentor, opponent, and three committee members. Did you like this? Share it:
Journey of a Lifetime
A lot of people think we’re starting out on the big adventure of our lives in mid-October. But we both know that we actually got started on life’s greatest journey three years ago today (July 30). It started with laughter that has yet to die down. And while some like to debate whether it’s better to travel solo or with a partner, we’ve yet to find a road that’s not best when walked together. Our upcoming trip will be a …
On Conversation
I’m following both my mom and Theresa’s recommendations and am currently reading Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux. Its a great book, a relatively easy read filled with the adventure, difficulty, and aura of travel. What I keep getting from it though, is the myriad encounters he has with locals. How easily he meets people wherever he is, and manages over the course of a few drinks to pull out a captivating life story. He does this over and over. …
Say What
I’m terrible at falling asleep. For some reason, as soon as I lay down, my body ready to rest, my mind comes alive. No, no, it hasn’t been shut off all day, I swear, but it’s been focused, allowed only to think about the task at hand, not wander or wonder. So when there is no more goal beyond getting to bed, my mind explores, recalling things I saw or read earlier in the day, asking questions that have no …
It’s Official!
We have official acceptance of my thesis application! This pretty much confirms my defense date will be September 26th and we’ll be able to leave on schedule in mid-October. I’ll spare you the nightmare details of the Swedish bureaucratic system, but I’ve successfully navigated it and we’ve got approval. So, I guess this means no more meandering stories about bears, its time to get planning. Departure date is now officially less than four months away! Did you like this? Share …
Eight Reasons Why You Won’t Find a Maple Leaf on My Backpack
We’ve all seen them, the backpacks decked out with the red-and-white maple leaf patch—a proud proclamation of Canadian citizenship…or so the wearer wants us to think. Without any interaction with the owner of this maple-leaf bedecked backpack, it’s not always clear who’s sporting this piece of cloth. Is it, in fact, a Canadian, who would rather die than be thought an American? (Because, you know, we are terrible, horrible, no good, very bad people.) Or is it an American who …
14 responses to “Eight Reasons Why You Won’t Find a Maple Leaf on My Backpack”
Nature? Nurture? Neither?
Earlier this year, while in Houston, I visited a good friend from college while she was also in town visiting her dad. I briefly discussed our travel plans with her dad, and as we ended the conversation, he said, “You must have gypsy blood.” I smiled and nodded. If you look at my history, it’s easy to think that. At 14, I told my BFF that I couldn’t go to Florida with her as planned because I was going to …
And Four Traits that Make Us Not So Good Travelers
Because I am incredibly self-aware and always completely unbiased, I thought I’d follow up last Sunday’s post on the traits that make us good travelers with the other side of the coin. I already laid out some of my travel issues in an earlier post about why I wouldn’t be a good contestant on the Amazing Race, but here are four traits that both Jeff and I share. 1. We Like to Change Our Underwear Daily. Jeff doesn’t always like …
10 responses to “And Four Traits that Make Us Not So Good Travelers”
