As the COVID-19 pandemic spread to each of our corners of the world earlier this year, many of us had to consider access to medical care (or lack of it) as we made decisions about staying or evacuating. When Rachel and her husband found out they were pregnant with their fourth child right as lockdowns began, they had to make the hard choice to leave their home in India and evacuate to America. In this episode, Rachel recounts her experience of leaving on short notice, while sick and pregnant, with three young children. She shares how she and her family have dealt with unmet expectations and loss upon their return to their passport country, and how their experience with cross-culture transitions has equipped them to be an encouragement and support to others in this challenging season.
Read MoreThe tea nook is my favorite place in this room. It's full of vintage tins I’ve collected over the years and every tea you can imagine from all over the world, plus all my favorite mugs from local artists we’ve met throughout our travels (and of course our office themed mugs!). The water isn't great for drinking here so we have these water jugs that produce instant hot and cold water and it is the greatest gift! I drink a lot of hot tea throughout the day thanks to that guy.
Read MoreWhen we first started looking for a home, I was very discouraged by how many homes didn't have an open floor plan. But then we came upon this new apartment in a brand new building that fit in our price range and I was hooked! I pictured plants everywhere and baskets, a coffee bar, and a little stool for my daughter to help me cook. Even though this kitchen isn't exactly what I would want in every single way, it met all of my necessities and I am beyond grateful for the big ole window that brings in all the natural light.
Read MoreHey guys! My name is Whitney, and my family and I live in Jordan. I am married to my high school sweetheart, and a mama to three children. Currently, I am a full time language student spending my days attempting to learn Arabic, which is not always easy for a girl from the south.
If I am being honest with you, I love our apartment, but am not the biggest fan of our kitchen. It’s so… RED. I love all things clean and white, and my dream kitchen would be just that.
Read MoreMy cabinets are full of very random dishes, like mismatched coffee cups — including three Starbucks mugs. We have limited ourselves to places we've lived so the collection doesn't get too out of control. We have plates that don't match, my husband's beloved Auburn University Tervis tumblers, gazillions of plastic plates and cups for when lots of expat guests come over, etc. While I long for dishes that match and are pretty, it's hard to commit to the investment in nice dishes because, well, we still have little kids. In the last six months, I think we've (and by we've, I mean they've) broken a tea cup, two bowls, and two small plates. It's easier to not be frustrated when it's a hodge-podge anyway.
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I can find anything I need for a kitchen here in Spain, as we have Ikea, department stores and even Costco (which sells stuff that’s too big for our place). However, it’s all much more expensive than in the States, so we shipped a lot when we moved, and most of it was kitchen items. I brought my knives, stainless steel cookware, cast iron, and my Kitchen-aid mixer. I still haven’t purchased a converter though, so the mixer has yet to run.
Read MoreOur kitchen has a very modern, European vibe (we’re pretty sure it’s from IKEA.) I love the look of the countertops. I don’t love the white, shiny cabinets. You can see every fingerprint on the surface! The dishwasher is hidden in the cabinet to the left of the sink. I really like that the buttons are not on the outside so that curious little fingers aren’t turning the dishwasher on and off all day.
Read MoreIt has been a struggle of learning culture, learning language, and finding my voice. Because we live in a small town, I don’t know another American in our area. When we first moved here, I was 7-months pregnant with our first child and it was very isolating. Our home quickly became a refuge for me. In the beginning, being able to cook and bake gave me an outlet after a hard day, and opened doors to reach out to my neighbors.
Read MoreAs any expat knows, it takes a long time to figure out how to do things in your new country — especially home improvement projects. We needed a lot of help! First, our hostess's son arranged for a plumber to put in a small sink in one corner of the room. Next, a very talented lady in our churc
Read MoreIf we’re honest with ourselves, we’re probably all interested to see what others’ people’s kitchens are like. The kitchen serves a huge purpose. It where we prepare meals and serve others. It’s like the Grand Central Station of the home, receiving a large amount of foot traffic. And for expats, the kitchen can also be one of the quirkier parts of the home.
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