My Love Letter to Cartagena

This is my love letter to Cartagena.   This Caribbean town that was never on my radar until it was.  A place I never knew I wanted to visit, let alone live.    To Coffee and Coco Rice, and all the Arepa's in between.  To the many new friendships I have made, who will soon …

Growing Up Expat: Going Home

So here we are.  We have told the kids that we are moving home.  They are both excited, but not entirely sure how this new life at home looks just yet.   It is home, but it will also be a new house, new schools, and new routines. We are sub 30 days and I …

An Ode to the Tall House

I have always felt a special connection to my homes.  More than most maybe, but I feel the energy and love we have put into them and I can recall the ways the shadows danced on all my walls.  So it is no surprise that this house I don't own, in a country that is …

Book Review: Misunderstood

I am reading a new book, Misunderstood by Tanya Crossman, a more modern version of the classic Third Culture Kids.  I have bookmarked so many amazing and relevant subjects in this book.   It seems every other page, I am nodding away in agreement. Understanding the unique situation of transitioning in and out of an …

On Having Help

I have wanted and waited to write this post since we first got here 2 years ago.   I knew I needed more time to sort it all out and to experience the true impact in our household.  There is a lot of conversation and thought that goes into how I will write this post, …

The Story of Cartagena Door-Knockers

It doesn't take long to notice the many amazing doors in Cartagena's old city.  They are either brightly colored or pastel, weathered or new, but always grand in size and style.   They frame out the beautiful Spanish colonial architecture and tell a story of the social and professional history of the families that lived …

2 Years In…

This was by far the smoothest transition back into life in Cartagena that we have had yet.  I know it is different for everyone, but the longer we are here the easier it is to come back from a break. My kids started school in the most normal way possible and we jumped back into …

A Year and a Half In…

I felt like I should give a quick update about being a little over 1.5 years into this crazy journey.   What has changed?  What do I know now?  How have my expectations met my reality? We are comfortably into our daily life here, long enough to establish "favorites" but still fresh enough to see …

Medellin: Part 2

After Guatape, we headed into the city for a few days.   The drive in is such a stunning mix of mountains and city scape, and I couldn't quite get a shot that is really representative of how beautiful it really is from the car. We stayed at the newer Marriott and loved its location. …

Medellin, Day 1: From Endless Summer to Eternal Spring

A quick one hour flight from Cartagena and we landed in the beautiful city of Medellin.    I gladly welcomed the cooler temps and mountainous terrain.  It was gorgeous to see all the finca's on our way in and just drive with the windows down.   Proof that I am still a Pacific North West …