December 31, 2018

How Will You Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet?

littlelivesbig@gmail.com Europe, Living Abroad, New Beginnings, North America, Travel, USA 2018, 2019, america, amsterdam, best year yet, calendar, chase your dreams, christmas, disney world, dreams, dutch, europe, female travel blog, goal setting, goals, happy new year, hollywood, january 1, metoo, millennials, netherlands, new year, new year's day, old year, plans, politics, reflecting, scandals, travel blog, traveling, travels, usa 0 Comments

New Year’s Eve is here and I, like many of you, have been reflecting on the incredible year we’re about to say goodbye to: 2018.

Last year, I wrote a piece called Looking Ahead to 2018: Where Will You Travel? So, I thought I’d write a similar one this year– a sequel, if you will- documenting future plans while simultaneously looking back on the wonderful memories made this year.

2018: It was a year of Hollywood scandals and nationwide movements such as #MeToo and March for Our Lives. In the USA, an unprecedented amount of female and minority candidates won coveted government positions. People across the globe experienced crazy weather and natural disasters such as deadly wildfires, tornadoes, and earthquakes. Game of Thrones finally announced when it’s eighth and final season will be released; and that’s one of the many things we have to look forward to in the upcoming year!

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August 12, 2018

A Female’s To-Do List Before Moving Abroad

littlelivesbig@gmail.com Living Abroad, New Beginnings, Travel big change, big move, blogger, expat, expatriate, female blogger, life change, living abroad, moving, moving abroad, passport, transatlantic move, travel, travel blogger, traveling, visa, working abroad, working permit 9 Comments

If you know me personally, or simply subscribe to my blog, you know by now that I am leaving my home, job, and family in the United States to live and work in the Netherlands. Tomorrow, I will be leaving the USA to live in Europe for a year while I work to establish and grow a brand new international school in a posh little town outside of Amsterdam.

I have been receiving an outpouring of love, support, and congratulations, which I so truly appreciate. Moving to a new place, especially in a new continent, sounds exciting and intriguing to most. But there is a lot of things one must do before taking the plunge. A LOT. So I thought it’d be a good idea to make a list of the many little things a woman must do before moving abroad- in my case, solo. (more…)

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June 18, 2018

Make Your Dreams Your Reality

littlelivesbig@gmail.com New Beginnings, Teaching american dream, chase your dreams, chasing your dreams, dreaming, dreams, europe, fearless, female traveler, goals, ib teacher, international teacher, international teaching, just do it, millennial, moving, moving abroad, opportunities, solo travel, teacher, teaching, travel 2 Comments

Who says dreams can’t come true?

I’ve always believed that if your dreams don’t scare you, you’re not dreaming big enough. Growing up, I was always encouraged to push past my limits- to challenge myself. One of my elementary teachers often quoted, “Shoot for the moon; even if you miss, you will land among the stars.” I love that. It has been one of my personal mottos ever since.

It’s funny- I was born and raised, and currently live, in the United States of America. The USA is a place known for making dreams come true, hence: The American Dream. People have migrated to America for decades in hopes of providing a better life for their families and accomplishing goals they could simply not accomplish elsewhere. But why is it that so many Americans are afraid to chase their dreams? Why is it that so many of us don’t dream big enough? I mean, the majority of working Americans don’t even use all of their vacation days. (more…)

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June 12, 2018

10 Tips to Land a Teaching Job Abroad

littlelivesbig@gmail.com Europe, Living Abroad, New Beginnings, Teaching, Travel abroad, application, career, cv, education, europe, expat, free, getting a gig, ib, international, international teaching, jobs, landing a job, living abroad, moving, moving abroad, netherlands, resume, schools, teacher, teaching, tips, travel 8 Comments

In early August, I am moving to the Netherlands where I will be teaching in an international school.

Many people have been asking me, “How did you get this job?”

The other day, I wrote a blog post announcing my new job and big move. I briefly described how I made the life-changing decision to accept the offer, and outlined my next steps as I prepare to move from the USA to Europe. It makes sense that after reading all of that, people have questions. How? Why? What? When? Where? How long? (more…)

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June 9, 2018

International Teaching: I’M MOVING TO EUROPE!

littlelivesbig@gmail.com Europe, Living Abroad, My Story, New Beginnings, Teaching, Travel 12 Comments

In February 2018, I began applying for teaching positions at international schools in Europe.

I went through three months of early-morning Skype interviews.

I turned down an attractive offer to teach in a small town in Sweden- I was holding out for a job in the Netherlands or Germany, even though I knew I had a slim to none chance of obtaining one.

On May 12th, 2018, I received my Master of Education from Lamar University and began applying to local positions in Maryland where I could put my new degree to use, since teaching in Europe was obviously not going to happen.

On May 25th, 2018 I was offered a primary teaching position at a brand new international school in the Netherlands, 30 minutes outside of Amsterdam!

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December 31, 2017

Looking Ahead to 2018: Where Will You Travel?

littlelivesbig@gmail.com Europe, New Beginnings, North America, Travel, USA 2018, adventure, agenda, around the world, blog, blogger, bucket list, discover, europa, europe, eurotrip, explore, female blogger, female travel blog, globetrotter, goal, millennials, new year, plan, resolution, sights to see, things to do, travel, travel blog, traveler, usa, vacation, visit, wanderlust, world travel 4 Comments

Today is New Year’s Eve and I, like most of you I’m sure, have been reflecting on the tremendous year we’re about to say goodbye to: 2017.

2017. It was the year of ingenious memes, terrible hurricanes and fires, and the most divisive presidential campaign in U.S. history. Malala Yousafzai went off to college and Prince Henry got engaged. Amazon is slowly but surely taking over the world. 2017 also leaves behind a few lingering questions: How much longer until Facebook suffers the same fate as MySpace? Will Apple be able to make up for their super slow iPhones and subpar battery life? WHEN WILL GAME OF THRONES RETURN?! (more…)

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August 5, 2017

15 Reasons You Should Move to a City Before You’re 30

littlelivesbig@gmail.com Millennials, New Beginnings, USA adventure, baltimore, blog, blogger, change your life, cities, city, city living, city perks, discover, dream destination, explore, female blogger, female travel blog, life in the city, living in a city, move to a city, moving to a city, new blog, sights to see, things to do, tourism, travel, urban life, urban living 11 Comments

I’ve always lived near a big city…

Growing up, I was 15 minutes outside of Philadelphia. While I worked toward my Bachelor’s Degree, and even once I secured my first teaching position, I was 15 minutes outside of Baltimore. Having all of the comforts of suburbia and also the conveniences of a bustling city was what I was used to; it was all I knew. I loved being able to venture out to the city for some drinks or to tour a museum. I couldn’t imagine not having a nail salon or Wawa on every corner (now that I’ve been in Maryland, I’ve become more accepting of Royal Farms— but Wawa is better). (more…)

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June 20, 2017

The Moment I Realized My Home Was No Longer Home.

littlelivesbig@gmail.com My Story, New Beginnings 32 Comments

no longer home For eighteen and a half years I lived in the suburbs of southern New Jersey, just 15 minutes outside of the great, historic city of Philadelphia. I attended elementary, middle, and high school there. I earned my driver’s license and bought my first (and second) car there. I danced the night away at three different proms there. I rooted for the Yankees while the rest of town rooted for the Phillies there. My entire childhood is encapsulated there.

For eighteen and a half years, south jersey was home.

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