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Alyssa O Writes

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Travel

European City Breaks, Travel
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March 2, 2016

How To Pick An Icelandic Sweater

How to shop for the best Icelandic wool sweater.

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City Breaks, Travel
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February 22, 2016

Best Places to Eat and Drink in Reykjavík 

The best and most unique restaurants in Rekjavik. The best Fish, coffee, drinks and more.

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Life Abroad Tips, Teaching Abroad, Travel
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February 10, 2016

Why Should Teachers Travel?

Back when living abroad was but a mere twinkle in my eye, I kept a teaching blog called The Apple A Day Project, which is where this post originally appeared. As you can see, I was already a big proponent of teachers getting engaged in their very own experiential learning. I still am, and here's why[...]

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European City Breaks, Travel
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February 1, 2016

How To Pack Like A Rock Star For A European City Break

How to pack light and look fashionable for a solo travel city break.

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City Breaks, European City Breaks, Scotland, Travel
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January 25, 2016

An American Expat Goes Buck Wild In London

The most fun things for an American expat to do in London while abroad including shopping, eating and drinking.

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City Breaks, European City Breaks, Travel
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January 12, 2016

24 Hours in Colmar, France

The best shopping and Cafes in Colmar, France. Make the most of your European small city break.

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Travel
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January 6, 2016

Glam On The Go: Your Guide to Makeup and Jewelry On The Road

Beauty essentials for female travelers. How to pack light with makeup and look great while traveling.

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Travel
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December 26, 2015

The Independent Expat’s Guide to Hosting Guests From Home

Ideas for hosting guests in a foreign country when you are an expat.

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Travel
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December 23, 2015

You Can Do It! Why You, Yes YOU, Should Travel Solo!

Why people should travel solo. what makes solo travel empowering.

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City Breaks, European City Breaks, Travel
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October 23, 2015

Krakow Calling!

What to do in Krakow, Poland. Restaurants, live music, museums, sightseeing and more!

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  • Meet me by the pool, darling... ⛱️ 

Another cool thing about Jupiter Artland? You can actually book a paddling session in 'Gateway' by Joanna Vasconcelos. 

Yes, that's right, for £10 you can have 30 minutes of splashing around plus some time in the geodesic dome of a changing hut. 

It's too bad I didn't bring my bikini and flip flops, but this just gives me another excuse to go back. 

Jupiter Artland is one of my fav day trips from Edinburgh so far, and honestly, it's one of the weirdest places I've been in Scotland. 

How do I top this one? 
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#Edinburghdaytrip #Edinburghscotland #explorescotland #artgalleries #contemporaryart #visitscotland #poolparty #travelblogger #travelwriter #travelphotography #scotlandphotographer #experiencescotland #weirdexperiences #swimming #scottishmuseums #scottishart #scottishtravel
  • When I found out I qualify for Italian citizenship I was shocked! 🇮🇹 

I grew up thinking my wicked Italian American family was exaggerating about how freaking Italian we are... but nope! 

It turns out Italy has one of the most generous citizenship by decent policies in Europe. 

You don't need speak the language or  have parents or grandparents who were born there to qualify. All you need to do to get started is find out if you can prove an unbroken line between you and a direct Italian ancestor born after the unification of Italy in 1861. 

I began my Italian citizenship journey this year and I'm excited to begin sharing more of my path with you. 

So class, is this something you're interested in learning more about? 
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#expatlife #lifeabroad #italianamerican #wickedboston #bostonitalian #italianimmigrants #americansinitaly #expatsinitaly #italiancitizenship  #italiancitozenshipbydescent  #ladolcevida
  • Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
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#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
  • Has dating in another country changed you? 

It changed me! Now I feel so much more comfortable being clear about what I want. 

At first I was taken aback at how blunt Swiss people are (compared to Americans). But then it set me free! 

When I went back into the dating pool in the US and UK, I was disappointed at how everyone seems to dance around what they want in an effort to be polite. 

Why not just say what you need? Everyone wins and I get to order truffle fries! 

Are people more direct or more indirect where you are currently dating and does that work for you? 
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#datingabroad #expatdating #americanabroad #expatlife #cultureshock #lifeabroad #americanabroad #culturaldifferences #lifeintheuk #lifeinswitzerland #expathumor
  • Crawling into the weekend like...

'Firmament' is a giant outdoor sculpture created by thousands of steel rods. You can check it out at Jupiter Artland, an absolutely massive sculpture park, about 30 min outside of Edinburgh. 

I love visiting art galleries when I travel, and I've been to so many amazing and truly unusual ones.

Jupiter Artland is probably the largest outdoor art park I've ever been to, though. At over 100 acres, it's truly massive. 

Do you love to check out outdoor art parks and other unusual types of museums when you travel?

What are some of your favorite unconventional arts spaces?
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#artpark
#artgallery 
#artinstallation 
#scottishart 
#sculpturepark 
#scottishmuseums 
#edinburghdaytrip
#edinburgharts
  • How would you handle this one?

One of the things I love most about Scotland is how everyone looks after each other here. That means little things like checking up on your neighbors, lending a hand and yes, buying rounds when you go out!

Buying rounds is a nice way to make sure everyone feels included, but I an never quite sure how to handle it when I have no intention of keeping up with the group on a night out.

What's going out culture like where you live? Is it different from where you grew up?
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#expatfriendship #expatlife #expatproblens #expathumor #lifeabroad #Americanabroad #cultureshock #lifeinscotland #lifeintheuk #pubculture #drinkingculture

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Copyright 2023 Alyssa Osiecki/ Alyssa O Writes Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts, images and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Alyssa O/ Alyssa O Writes with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. All photography is mine unless otherwise stated. Site Powered by Pix & Hue.

 

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