Taking Route

Reflections From AbroadChristie ChuMay 12, 2018expat life, goodbyes, summer, transitions Comments

Disconnecting to Connect (Perks and Tips for Your Tech Detox)

Reflections From AbroadElizabeth SpencerMay 5, 2018Africa, connect, expat life, reconnecting, technology, unplugging Comments

Stop with the Thank Yous!

Home & Hospitality, Reflections From AbroadEmily JacksonMarch 10, 2018China, culture acquisition, expat life, helpers, house help, language, Language Learning Comments

A Little Guidance from an Expat Upperclassman

Reflections From Abroad, Travel & MovingGuest WriterFebruary 17, 2018advice, guest post, new expat, transition, wisdomComment

Episode 16: Moving Forward in Brokenness with Julie Martinez

Family & TCKs, Podcast, Reflections From AbroadJulie MartinezFebruary 6, 2018Brokenness, divorce, faithfulness, Julie Martinez, Podcast, single parenting, singlenessComment

Listening to the Rhythms of Life Abroad

Reflections From AbroadElizabeth SpencerFebruary 3, 2018Africa, expat life, routine, slowing down, stress Comments

Episode 13: Staying Steadfast when Starting Over with Philippa Brooks

Podcast, Reflections From AbroadTaking Route EditorsDecember 13, 2017Language Learning, moving, Podcast, Southeast Asia, Starting Over Comments

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Reflections From AbroadElizabeth SpencerNovember 13, 2017distance, expat life, family death, losing a loved one, missing events Comments

Where There IS a Doctor, But You Don’t Trust Him

Reflections From AbroadAlicia BoyceNovember 5, 2017Doctor visits, healthcare abroad, medical checkups in underdeveloped countries, where there is a doctor but you don’t trust him, where there is no doctor Comments

Episode 10: The Trade-Offs of Expat Life with Elizabeth

Podcast, Reflections From AbroadTaking Route EditorsOctober 19, 2017Podcast, the Netherlands, trade-offs of expat life Comments

We're Going Through Transition, We're Not Scared!

Reflections From AbroadEmily JacksonJuly 26, 2017expat life, moving, saying goodbye, transition Comment

What's on Your 2017 Cultural Bucket List?

Reflections From AbroadEmily JacksonDecember 31, 20162017, cultural life, expat life, New Years Comments

Our Actions Speak Louder Than Our Hashtags

Reflections From AbroadGuest WriterSeptember 1, 2016compassion, current events, international issues, reflectingComment

Sorry, Stephen Colbert, but I am America

Reflections From AbroadEmily JacksonJune 19, 2016ambassador, Emily Steele Jackson, expat life, expat reflections, Reflections, representation Comments

Culture Change, Identity Shift

Reflections From AbroadChristie ChuJune 12, 2016change, changes, Christie Chu, culture, expat life, identity Comments

When Fear Almost Killed Me

Reflections From AbroadGuest WriterMay 30, 2016expat life, expat problems, expat struggles, fear, tough days as an expat Comments

The "Suffering" Expat

Reflections From Abroad, Building CommunityAlicia BoyceMay 11, 2016comparison, expat community, expat struggles, one downer, the suffering expat, the thief of joy Comments

Going "All In" (Again and Again)

Reflections From AbroadDenise JamesMay 4, 2016cutting ties, decision making, reflection, security, selling home, doubt Comments

An Expat's Blended Expectations

Reflections From AbroadDenise JamesFebruary 15, 2016expat, expat life, expat reflections, expectations, kitchen problems, transition Comments

An Honest Look at Going Back Overseas

I don't want to go back.There. It's out now. Free for all of the web-a-world to see. I've been afraid to say it out loud; fearful that admitting it will make me weak, wrong or make it more true.When we sold almost everything seven years ago and moved 10,000 miles away, it was easier. The adventure was before me. What's that old saying? Ignorance is bliss.I had yet to get that call that my grandmother suddenly died in her kitchen, alone. I hadn't missed my brother's medical school graduation. I hadn't missed holding my new nieces and kissing their soft little cheeks. I hadn't missed birthdays, Thanksgivings and Saturday morning cups of coffee with friends.The internet is a beautiful thing. It helps me to stay connected. But it can feel artificial. I'm always watching life of my loved ones unfold on a screen while I am oceans away.I don't long for the perpetual heat. And the people questioning my every move, watching my children like hawks and taking picture of us like they are the paparazzi and we are the Jolie-Pitt clan.