FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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| Prague, Czech Republic |
Why did you move to France?
Why not? Honestly, I was 23 years old and spent my entire life in school preparing myself for a job. Don't get me wrong, I loved being a teacher, but there's more to life than just working. So I decided to move to France in order to pursue another passion: traveling. That passion happened after going to Italy with my grandparents. Then it turned into watching travel movies, to researching, to a full blown obsession. I had to do it, even if it was something completely out of my character. So I guess it was just some fantasy that somehow I am managing to live out.
But you were born here, why move back?
Technically I'm a French citizen but I'm not really French. I've been too Americanized. I wanted to really get to know my culture and spend more time with the family that I grew up seeing only once a year. This move was motivated by my heritage and wanting to better connected with it.
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| Helsinki, Finland |
You must have traveled a lot as a kid, do you want to go back to the places?
Growing up I never thought that I travelled a lot. I was oblivious to the fact that it was a privilege to be able to go to France every year to see my family. I never considered myself well travelled because all we did was go to France. Looking back now I see the immense privilege it was to go so often to this beautiful country. I may not be worldly, but I've been on a transatlantic flight or two. Of course I want to go back and see those places! Things are always different with adult eyes than with child eyes. I have some memories of places, and some places I didn't even know that I've been to. So I really want to get a better look with a clearer mindset.
Why did you want to move to Finland?
I chose Finland because for the first time in my life I realized that I can pick where I want to live. So I thought long and hard, did some research, and decided that I wanted to live in a country with equality for all genders, a state that takes care of its people, and a beautiful city. I know, it sounds like I just described any Nordic country, and that might be true, but Finland seemed to fit my personality the best.
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| Bath, United Kingdom |
Did you get a loan/scholarship/funding to fund your time abroad?
I have amazing parents that let me live at home for free for a year or two so that I could work and save up. I also have amazing grandparents that have always helped me with my studies. So I worked and I have funded myself, with the help of my parents along the way and some family members too. So far I am mostly self funded: my year in France I paid for entirely on my own, and so far in Finland the majority of my funding is from my work as a teacher and a few scholarships. But I truly appreciate my family's love and support throughout my journey. Whether it be my dad giving me his airline miles, my mom giving me credit card points, or my aunt and uncle housing me for a month, I am forever grateful to everyone that helped me live out my dreams.
Why Paris, why not _______?
I thought of a few different places. Ultimately I made the right decision. I thought of living in Italy, such as Florence or Rome, but I just didn't connect with it. And I do much better in cold than heat. I thought of London because I love that city but it's more expensive than Paris and I didn't have any real marketable skills to survive in London. I thought of Rouen in Normandy, but if wanted a more central location. I love Paris, I always have, so Paris was a natural decision for me to make. I wanted something foreign, but still close enough to my comfort zone since this is my first time away from home. I mean I never even went away to college!
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| The Vatican |
Why Helsinki, why not _______ ?
When making a decision on what city to move to next, I thought long and hard about all of my options. I went and visited the locations of all the schools that I got accepted to, and fell in love with Helsinki. It also helped that the Master's program also had the best structure that I was looking for. I decided that I wanted to do my Master's in another country, maybe it was just another excuse to travel, so when I knew that I would be living abroad for at least two years, I knew that I had to think long and hard about where I could really see myself. And after spending time in Helsinki, I do not regret that decision.
What are you studying?
This question I got all the time when I was living in France. Is it so weird that someone wants to live abroad just for the sake of it? No I didn't move for a man or a job or school. I did it for me! So what was I studying France? Life, I guess! But in Finland I did move for my studies, which is a Master's in European Studies with a major in Political History. And I have really enjoyed the program in the courses. I feel like I grew as a student and as a person thanks to my Master's.
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| Mondsee, Austria |
Why a Master's?
People that know me know that I said I would never do a Master's in history. I'm pretty sure I said I don't want to spend half my life researching a toothbrush. Well here I am! Does studying political history count as not getting a Master's in history? At that time in my life I was done with school, I wanted to be working. Now that I got a taste of work, I think I have a better idea of what I want to do with my life. While I loved being a high school teacher, I just can't see myself doing that for the rest of my life. I love museums and I love learning, so hopefully one day I will find a job that I love either in a museum or a university. No I don't plan on working for the UN, but it a genocide prevention and education job manages to fall into my lap, I don't think I will let at opportunity slip away. So a Master's is the next logical step in my life, and a good excuse to travel!
What are you doing for work?
In France I was a full time nanny. I found the job through a nanny agency and was able to work while the kids were in school and travel during their vacations. While it was challenging at times, it was rewarding because I still got to use my teaching skills. In Finland I think babysitting is the more appropriate word at the moment since it is not as frequent. But teaching a little bilingual child another language seems to be a bit more than nannying. Thanks to my teaching background, I am able to find some sort of job working with kids and either support myself completely like in France, or at least give me some cash for the week like in Finland.
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| Munich, Germany |
How can you afford to travel?
I set very strict budgets for myself. Plane and train tickets will always be expensive, so I just fly discount airlines and take advantage of discounts for my age group. If it is something that I really want to see I will pay the money to see it. Otherwise in my daily life I just save as much money as I can. I think would I rather have this item or a ticket to this place? Usually travel wins out! As a student though, there is a bit more of a challenge since work is not as consistent.
Is your job waiting for you when you get back to the US?
I wish! I was considered a temporary sub, even though I was a full time teacher. My contract was for the year, so it's not like I quit my job to travel, I just didn't bother looking for a new one. Although they did ask if I would like to return and I had to turn that down. That was the scariest thing! Quitting everything I know and taking a risk and hoping that I would find at least something! So now, I have absolutely no job waiting for my return, which scares me a little, but I know that when the time is right something will come along.
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| Bruges, Belgium |
What do you miss form the US?
I miss my family, customer service, things being open every day of the week, fast service, my car. But honestly, I'm not homesick. I thought I would be, but I'm too busy enjoying life to be homesick. I miss hanging out with my friends, and I'm really bad at staying in touch, but I'm working on it. So yes I miss things, but I'm not crippled by any of it.
You travel by yourself? You must be really brave!
Haha no! I'm just stubborn and determined. I'm the opposite of brave, certain things scare me a lot about traveling, but my determination to see the world outweighs my fears. I'd rather be traveling with someone, but I'm not going to sit and wait around for someone to make a decision either. I'm just really impatient, really stubborn, and really determined.
Any advice for my first European trip?
Do what you want to do. The guidebooks are great to figure out what there is, but they're called guide books for a reason. They're there to guide you, not tell you what to do. Try to eat the food of the area. Make sure to learn please and thank you in the language of the place you are staying in. Don't stay near a train station, they're always sketchy. Find out where the majority of the attractions are and try to stay in that area. Have fun and know that it's ok to go at your own pace, whether it be super speed or enjoying the afternoon at the piazza. Do what makes you happy, it's your trip!
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| London, United Kingdom |
