Throughout the month of October 2020, I’m featuring essays from fellow bloggers where they tell personal stories beginning with the phrase, “what it’s like…” These 15 essays will each fall under one of four categories: travel, parenting, entertainment, and experiences. Kicking off with the travel category, below are five essays from bloggers who share their experiences visiting or living in a foreign country. Check them out and their links below! All links will open in a new tab.
What it’s like to move to England from the USA
By: Jupiter of Life with Jupiter and Dann
I moved from small town USA to England when I was 18, on my own, without most of my belongings. You see, I came from a small town of mostly cows, with the graduating year being about 30 kids in total, with many of them homeschooled. I never wanted to stay in this small town and wanted to explore the world. So when I was a teenager, I saved up all my money to come visit England.
I flew out right after the summer in America to a small sea-side town. There, I spent all of my time trying to figure out how I could move there permanently. After exploring visa options, I was able to go back to America, apply, and get accepted into the country. I then moved to London and live just outside of it now. I’m able to work here, live here, and experience an entirely different world.
Moving to a part of Europe also allowed me to travel to other countries, something many people from my town will never do. I often miss just being able to see my family and did have to give up a lot of my physical belongings to move here. It’s an interesting journey, but one not many people take – I am so lucky I was able to do it.
What it’s like to live in Denmark
By: Karalee Shotola of Tales of Belle
I was born in Texas, and after graduating from university, I moved to Denmark with my boyfriend and our daughter. Moving to a new country was difficult because I left behind all my friends and family, and the only people I knew in Denmark were my boyfriend and his family.
It was a lonely and trying time. However, after living in Denmark for four years and becoming friends with those in my master’s program, I love it here. I love the actual seasons with the warm sunny summers and the cold snowy winters, unlike in Texas where it is either hot or raining.
I love being able to walk anywhere, such as down the street to the grocery store or downtown to the shops, unlike in Texas where I had to drive at least 15 minutes to go anywhere. I love exploring the old cities and castles unlike in Texas where the castles were built in the 1990s and are now used as wedding venues. I love buying fresh-baked bread and pastries from the bakeries unlike in Texas where the only bakeries were for cupcakes.
I do miss living in Texas, but I love living in Denmark.
What it’s like to wander around an international city with jet lag
By: D. H. Schleicher of The Schleicher Spin
Your plane leaves Philadelphia at 9pm at night, and six hours later you’re in Amsterdam at 9am in the morning. Your friend picks you up at the airport and helps you navigate the public rails back to their apartment. They give you their key, and they’re off to work.
You know you don’t want to sleep as everyone says the best way to adjust to the time change is to power through your jet lag. You wander an unknown neighborhood trying to take in all the overwhelming details…stroll aimlessly through Vondel Park…sleepwalk through the Rjiksmusuem where the art on the walls comes alive like a dream.
Back outside on the meandering city streets cut through by canals, you get a little lost. You feel oh-so-tired, a little scared, and very much alive. You eventually find your way back to your friend’s apartment. You lay on their couch in the quiet, empty space and pet their dog, but you don’t sleep. You daydream about all the things you want to do in Amsterdam while in some kind of otherworldly head-fog.
Suddenly you’re out with your friend, enjoying a great meal and great drinks and great conversation. You’re very much awake and energized, you haven’t slept in over 36 hours, and you’re convinced you’re living your best life. You walk past the Red Light District and then stop in awe outside the Anne Frank House.
The next time you do this, it’s Dublin Ireland, and you’re alone. The next time after that, it’s Paris France, and you’re with your future wife.
What it’s like to visit Egypt as a child
By: Kelly of The Kelly Diane Report
As a ten year old child and history lover, visiting Egypt and seeing the pyramids was something I’d always wanted to do. I had very little understanding about poorer countries and what daily life was like. When I was told that we would be going on a family holiday to Egypt, I was thrilled.
My dad had done extensive research beforehand, so when we landed, I expected to see snakes and scorpions straight away but thankfully this wasn’t the case. What I wasn’t prepared for was the heat that hit me as I left the plane and made me feel so thirsty – I could even feel it coming up through my shoes from the tarmac.
Seeing how the poor lived was a real eye opener for me. I remember driving past what was called “the city of the dead”, in which people actually lived in the grave yards. The smell coming from them was something I had never smelt before, a revolting mix of sweat, dirtiness and decay. In the distance I could hear bangs, which I thought were fireworks but were in fact gun shots. Thankfully, my parents had sheltered me enough that I didn’t know what terrorism was, apart from it had happened to the twin towers a few years earlier.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom though because the food in our hotel was so delicious. I had never ordered half of the dishes before, but with seven restaurants to choose from, I wanted to try new things. Overall, I’m glad I visited Egypt and got to see a lot of the historic places I’d watched on tv. However, I don’t think I would ever return and that is probably down to seeing the country through a childs eye and the unsafe feeling that came with it.
What it’s like to drive in Athens, Greece!
By: Darina of Daramiblog
You know how we all learnt to follow the signs, respect the speed limit, give priority to the pedestrian, and so on? Well you can throw all these out of the window once you start driving in Greece.
If on the other hand, you decide to follow all the proper etiquette while driving expect plenty of road rage!
I grew up in Athens but I have always been afraid of the way people drove here. Naturally, getting a drivers license was something I did not have as a priority seeing how crazy they drove. As my priorities changed, so did my view of getting a license. At 28 I was an official new driver on the streets of Athens!
After being a driver for more than five years I still have the butterflies every single time I get in the car.
The danger of having an accident is real everywhere. Unfortunately, in Athens drivers literally play with their luck and are not afraid of anything.
I feel like my adrenaline is off the charts every time I drive.
The chances of having cars get in your lane without signaling, passing on a red light, bullying other drivers to go faster, not obeying the speed limit, to name just a few, are extremely frequent.
These situations make me feel so angry and frustrated. I am angry because I feel like drivers do not value their life at all, let alone other people’s. Being a bit more careful and respecting other drivers and pedestrians will go a long way and it might save someone’s life.
I am frustrated because drivers here do not seem to grasp the danger they put themselves and others into.
Driving while being extra careful doesn’t guarantee anything. Potential danger which no one can predict might still happen but being reckless and not caring definitely makes matters worse.
Other travel guest posts and travel blogger profiles
Hangin’ Out at Elvis’ House: A Visit to Graceland By: Winnie Bachman
Blogger Interview with LaFrieda Smith
Scotland with a Stranger Book Review and Author Interview by Ninya
Blogger Interview with Kristyanna of Volumes and Voyages
Journey to Egypt by Gail Nyoka
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Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this collaboration. Its been great to read everyone else’s experiences. Driving in Greece was something I could relate to because I’ve seen it for myself – they are scary drivers!
Thanks so much for contributing and reading! It’s so interesting to learn about other countries and cultures through firsthand experience.
Love these little short stories that share so many different raw experiences!
This was so fun to contribute. I love everyone’s story and style of writing. Thank you Laura for introducing me to such amazing writers.
Thanks for your contribution and for supporting fellow bloggers during Blogtober!