I love meeting fellow expats living awesome adventures abroad, and if you do to I have a treat for you today!
Meet Samantha, a fellow American living in Sweden with her husband where they are tearing it up on the ice with their hockey teams (how cool is that!). When she isn’t at the hockey rink she is studying for her MBA (I know she is one busy lady!) or traveling around the world and sharing her pretty pictures with us all on her blog. As if she didn’t sound awesome enough this gal is even in the US hockey hall of fame!
But enough from me, lets here from Samantha!
1. Why did you start blogging?
I began my blog in June 2013 when my husband and I made the decision to move to Sweden. At the time, I knew nothing about blogging and wanted to use it as a way to connect with friends and family back home. The more I have learned about blogging, the more I have loved the community and connected with other people. I can’t imagine life pre-blogging anymore!
2. What does your average day in Sweden look like?
On an average day, I usually wake up around 8-9 and then spend an hour or so catching up on my favorite blogs and perhaps beginning to write a new post. After this, I will take 1-2 hours to work on some of my coursework for my MBA. By the time I have done these tasks, it is usually around lunch time, so I throw something in the oven for lunch and hop in the shower while that is getting ready. My husband will get home around 1 or so and we have lunch while chatting about our days and watching a TV show. Then, it is time for more homework and blogging. Whenever I need a break from homework or blogging, I love to browse travel websites and plan upcoming vacations! Most evenings I either have hockey practice, or my husband has a game, so almost every night is spent at the hockey rink. Once I am home from the rink it is time for a late dinner and then off to bed to do it all over again!
3. Being an expat is a roller coaster of a lifestyle. What do you enjoy the most about being an expat and what is the most difficult?
The best part about being an expat is being exposed to new and different experiences, peoples, cultures, and just daily life. You really learn so much about yourself and the world when you are immersed in a new culture. On the flip side, the most difficult part about being an expat is missing out on the important milestones of friends and family back home. I have missed out on engagements, weddings, babies being born, job promotions, and so many other things. However, while it is tough not being present for these things, it makes me value each of my friends and family that much more. Our time together when I am around them is so valuable now, and I wouldn’t trade their presence in my life for anything!
Her family looks pretty awesome to me!
4. What is your favorite destination and what is your least favorite destination?
My favorite place that I have ever visited is definitely Thailand for my honeymoon. We were able to do so much on our trip there, and have a lot of time as a couple to relax and hang out.
However, if I select a destination I love going to and frequent, it would either be Las Vegas or Stockholm. I don’t think I have ever really had a least favorite destination really, as each new place offers different things!
I wish I could visit the charming Stockholm frequently, so pretty!
5. Where is on your travel bucket list?
Anywhere and everywhere! I love exploring the world, and can’t imagine life without traveling. Most of my upcoming travels are throughout the U.S. and Europe, as that is where I am based- but I definitely have an eye out for Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea, oh just name any country and I want to go!
6. What is your favorite post you have written recently?
I think my favorite recent post would be a tie between Welcome to Sweden: Just Like Real Life for Expats and 10 Best Travel Tips for Couples. The first post talks about the similarities between the TV show Welcome to Sweden (which you will see me on in season two!) and expat life, which is definitely a very personal thing that myself and most expats relate to. Of course, my post on travel tips for couples is personal as well, but I was excited to generate a lot of good feedback on the post. I always love hearing from people who read my blog, so it was great to get tons of feedback!
7. Anything exciting coming up soon you want to share with us?
Truthfully, this post comes at a super exciting time for me. My hockey team starts our playoffs today (February 28) and it is also the last regular season game of my husband’s team, so playoffs start in just a few days for him! Spring is always an exciting time of year for us, between the playoffs and then eventually heading home. Last year after the playoffs we finally had the opportunity to take our honeymoon and spend a terrific month in Thailand. This year we will be headed to the Dominican Republic for two weeks, and I absolutely can’t wait!
Bonus! Samantha has an awesome giveaway for you all. A $75 giftcard to use with Tour Radar , perfect for all my fellow travel lovers! Enter for your chance to win below and head over to Samantha’s blog to say hi!