A Farewell to Spain: on to the Next Chapter

As I write this, I’m sitting in my childhood bedroom in northeast Massachusetts. I’m not in Spain, and I don’t have plans to go back at any point the foreseeable future. I’d be lying through my teeth if I told you I was completely psyched to return to my hometown at the very beginning of […]

Third time’s a charm: Palma de Mallorca

Almost two weeks ago I arrived in Palma de Mallorca, the capital of Spain’s Balearic Islands where I will spend this next year as an English language assistant for secondary school kids – quite the welcome change from the boogers and babies I dealt with on the daily last year. And, I’m back from a […]

Guest Post: Donde comer en Jaén/Where to eat in Jaén

Those of you who know me are probably not shocked to see that I didn’t post much about food this year. As someone who doesn’t really eat meat, living in a place where the cuisine is carne, carne, and that’s right, more carne, means I ended up cooking a lot for myself. Anyway, I’m lucky […]

It’s a wrap: here’s what I learned from teaching English to Spanish babies

The image I had dreamed up of living and teaching in Spain for a year did not include screaming babies, dirty diapers, and snot. But, in the end, that’s what I got, and like I tell the kids, you get what you get, and you don’t get upset. Although, for the record, I did get upset […]

Writer’s block, life lessons, and six months in Spain

Last weekend, two of my friends who are spending this semester in Granada came to visit me (shout out to Lila and Nadia). We trekked through the winding streets of the old quarter up to the castle, ate tapas in one of the tascas, and shared a few coffees. It was nice being the “local […]

In Praise of Sister Trips to the Land of Liquid Sunshine

When we were kids, we somehow managed to erupt into full-out brawls during the ten minute drive to the grocery store, ripping one other’s hair out in chunks, and maybe even throwing the occasional punch. By the time high school rolled around, we had moved past the hair pulling, but getting ready and in the […]

Thanks, 2017: looking back on the last 365 days

I’m not usually one for resolutions, but I think a new year calls for a bit of reflection, especially when it’s been one as eventful as 2017. One of the most important things I figured out last year is how to (attempt to) keep my cool and improvise when plans go awry. It’s far from […]

Thoughts on a Thanksgiving Abroad

The other day, I was asked to name some of the positive aspects of my country. Let’s just say with everything going on in the news, it was a challenge, but with Thanksgiving coming up it got me thinking. As an American living abroad, I am made acutely aware of the problems going on […]

KT keeps it real: this chick is homesick

My mission when I set out to create this blog was to be as real and as transparent as is possible. In the age of social media envy it’s tempting to add filters to life, especially life abroad, and while curated photos may be pretty, curated writing is just about as, if not more, vomit […]

No pasa nada: learning how to live more and worry less

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about change. It seems that as soon as I get used to a place or a job, it’s on to the next one. The fact that my college graduation was almost two months ago, and that the same amount of time stands between me and Spain, never ceases to […]