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Updates

Vietnam: Year One

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The New Normal - Settling into Saigon

​Motorbikes, bubble tea, and monsoon rains have all become a part of our new normal here in Saigon, Vietnam. I can’t believe it has been two months since I first arrived here! It has been an odd mix of both slow and fast, from waiting through quarantine then jumping into my new job and everything that came after. We’ve had a wonderful time these past few weeks setting up house and settling into our new life here. 
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The End of the Saga - Our New Home in Saigon

The chaotic journey to Vietnam has finally reached it's conclusion as Kim is released from quarantine and join Alisa in setting up their new apartment in Saigon.
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Good Morning VietNammmm

Kim reaches Vietnam and starts quarantine just as Alisa exits it, beginning her new job and exploring their neighborhood for the first time. 
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Quarantine Diaries Part 2

The second week of COVID quarantine in Vietnam
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Quarantine Diaries Part 1

The first week of COVID quarantine in Vietnam
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Moving Continents Mid-Pandemic

Have you ever wondered what it is like to move across the world in the middle of a pandemic? Well here is Alisa's take on it, hazmat suit and all. 

Istanbul: Year One

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17 Unforgettable Times of 2017

From Bali to Thailand, Ecuador to Egypt, Myanmar to Turkey, 2017 was one for the record books. Have a look at our third year married as we moved from SE Asia to Istanbul and all of the travel and adventures that happened in between. 
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Ferry Rides, Fresh Flat, and France | Fall Update

Our first few months in Istanbul has been filled with settling into our new flat, Kim's adventures in France and running Kim's Kitchen, exploring town, getting my camera stolen, art days and so many other events.
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Istanbul: First Impressions of Our New Home

I've been an official resident of Istanbul, Turkey for two weeks now and I have a full mind, sore legs, and a deep sense of awe. A reflection of our summer before moving and our first two weeks in our new home. 

Year Three in Myanmar

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16 Epic Parts of 2016

Thinking back to the moments that made up 2016 make my heart swell because they were filled with adventure, laughter, travel, family, new experiences, delicious food, friends, and all of the things that make my soul happy. Kim and I were lucky enough to start our third year living abroad as ​ . . . read more
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Yoga Teacher Training in Dharamshala, India
The month of June I spent learning the ways of being a yogi through Siddhi Yoga's 200 Hour Teacher Training in Dharamshala, India.

Year Two in Myanmar

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Christmas, Celebration, & Care Package | December Update
​December in Yangon is just like December back home, minus the snow, and the cold, and the stores mobbed by Christmas shoppers, and the . . . Okay, maybe it is not just like December back home, but I did try to make the month as festive as I could starting with our Christmas Tree and our Christmas Party. December is an important month not only because it is Christmas, but because it is also my birthday month! 
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Election, Ethniticities, & Escape | November Update
After a ground breaking election in Myanmar, we celebrated Thanksgiving and the full moon holiday at the small beach town of Ngwe Sung. Also, an International Day at school made for a fun and colorful day.
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Visits, Visas, & Vacation | October Update
The month starts off with a visit from a friend and ends with a week long vacation in northern Myanmar. In between is filled with art journaling, an unexpected visa run to Bangkok, a photo walk, and other goodies. 
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Fahrenheit, Field Trip, & Fried Frog | September Update
Kim is cooking away at her new restaurant while Alisa takes her students on a perspective altering field trip. Lots of adventuring results in many new street foods to try with videos included. Then there were birthday celebrations, puppy time, and art making. 
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Returning, Relocating, & Restarting | August Update
Our first month back in Myanmar including a relocation to a new apartment, starting school and work again, and reconnecting with friends. 
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Summer Home in Maine | June & July Update
An unforgettable summer in Maine surrounded by our favorite people.

Year One in Myanmar

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Rock, Roaming, & Restaurant | Week 8 Update
A Punk Rock Photography exhibition, wandering around our neighborhood, Kim's first week of work and the preparations of the restaurant. 
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Social, Show, & Slowdown | Week 7 Update
A teacher to teacher social kicks off the weekend followed by a gallery show including work from my assistant and some reflections on the past few weeks. 

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Friday Fun, Ferries, & Fudgsicles | Week 6 Update
A day trip across the river to Dala and lots of fun food finds.
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Circular Train, Couchsurfers, & Cosmos | Week 5 Update
Exploring Yangon on the Circle Train then hosting our first couchsurfers where we had an adventure at a local amusement park and a midweek rainy cosmo date with a friend. 
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Dinner, Demolition, & Doctors | Week 4 Update
Our attempt at getting our leaky kitchen ceiling fixed collides with our "family" dinner then later in the week Kim visits the local clinic for the first time, this week also includes snakes on campus and my open house. 
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Kaba Aye Road, Kitchen Pimping, & Kim's New Job | Week 3 Update
Wandering around our neighborhood, searching for THE Cheese, pimping our kitchen, and all about Kim's new job
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Beginnings, Bootie Bootie, & Beer | Week 2 Update
School begins without hesitation as we enter into our second week which holds hilarious adventures into the local neighborhood. 
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Welcome to Myanmar | Week 1 Update
A busy first week involved seeing the sites, setting up house, getting to know our new neighborhood, lots of orientation, Myanmar culture class, and plenty of tasty eats. 

Preparations for Abroad 

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TAKEOFF WEEK!!!! | T-0 Weekly Update
The final days before we set off to worlds unknown.
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So Long - Farewell, Subtraction, & Storage | T-1 Weekly Update
The big Farewell party at Meg & John's house then Alisa is off to an AP workshop for the week while Kim packs up the house.
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White Mountains, Water Country, & Wait No More | T-2 Weekly Update
A family camping excursion in the White Mountains is followed by doing many of the moving tasks that we have been putting off, with a fun filled trip to Water Country to celebrate Autumn's Birthday.  
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Family, Fireworks, & Fourth of July | T-3 Weekly Update
Wedding photographing and lots of family time, including shopping with Robin and breakfast with Sonny; ending the week in Vermont with Alisa's family to celebrate the 4th of July.
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Last Week of Cooking | T-4 Weekly Update
Wedding photographing, Adopt-A-Kitchen at Meg's House, family and friends beach day, more pet related woes regarding our fluffy cat Macy, art packing, wedding invitation making, and Kim's last day of cooking at Marche. 
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Dresses, Dads, & Dog Decisions | T-5 Weekly Update
Bridesmaids dress shopping with my sister Amanda, Father's Day with our Dads, and making the final BIG decision about Ellie May

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Last Week of Teaching | T-6 Weekly Update
The last week of teaching for Alisa involves presentation to students, Drew's Birthday and 8th Grade Graduation, and our Anniversary.

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Sleepover, Swimming, & Sushi | T-7 Weekly Update
Enjoying the beginning of summer weather, picking our flight itinerary, and the start of packing

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BBQS, Broken Hands, & Burritos | T-8 Weekly Update
A long weekend of camping ending in a hospital trip.

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The List of All Lists | T-9 Weekly Update
The week returning from our honeymoon is filled with family time and celebrations.

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Honeymoon in Cancun - The Easy Life | T-10 Weekly Update
Our relaxing time in Cancun, Mexico for our Honeymoon!

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Our Wedding!!! | T-11 Weekly Update
The much anticipated wedding week.

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The Week of the Parties | T-12 Weekly Update
Bachelorette festivities ensue. 

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The Dog Days are [Not] Over | T-13 Weekly Update
Our troubles in getting Ellie the okay to travel, homemade Pad Thai, and Macgyver's Birthday

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In-Between | T-14 Weekly Update
In between winter and spring, in between moving and here, in between reflections.

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Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots! | T-15 Weekly Update
Our first visit to the Travel Clinic

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Up for the Challenge | T-16 Weekly Update
Thoughts on flipping our world upside down and the difficulties along the way

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Hand in Hand | T-17 Weekly Update
On tackling this adventure that we call life hand in hand

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Focus | T-18 Weekly Update
One life changing event at a time

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Reading Away | T-19 Weekly Update
Gathering resources to learn more about Myanmar

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It's Official!! | T-20 Weekly Update
The big news is released!