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round trip travel and lifestyle blog

The Community of Travel

March 1, 2017
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There’s something that takes your breath away when you lay eyes on mighty waves crashing into the shore in an effortless yet rhythmic way.  Even seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time is surreal because it’s plastered all over Pinterest, posters and purses before you even achieve that France stamp in your passport.  The foreign and the unknown allure and draw us into a world we’ve never experienced.  Even more, these sites and monuments draw us into the world beyond ourselves.  Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

My grandpa recently sent my dad some old photos from the 1970s.  And I always love looking at old family photos and making fun of my dad’s ridiculously short shorts and dated hairstyles.  But these photos were of family vacations my dad took as a child to London, Paris and Rome—three cities I toured in my European adventure two summers ago.  And these photos intrigued me immensely.  My aching feet walked on the same ground my dad did about decades before I came into existence.  He posed maybe 15 feet from where I would stand many years later at Piccadilly Circus.

Sometimes my travels feel all my own, which in many cases is true.  Hopping on a plane to L.A. all by myself (big girl things) and doing some soul-searching are some major moments in my life I hold dearly to my heart.  After some very heavy, dark months, these several weeks away gave me some time to reflect and renew at a distance.  But the thing about travel that continues to blow me away is its ability to unite people.  Your experience may be all your own yet it may not stray far from another’s.vintage-picadilly-circus-london-uk-travelpiccadilly

Travel gives us this instant ability to connect and relate to a complete stranger.  If you grab a burger from McDonald’s and another from Red Robin, you’ll be getting two very different experiences, but they’re both burgers and bought in America.  The weather may have been really hot, but a “hot” temperature in Cabo varies incredibly from that of one in Quebec.  Food, weather, tastes, quality and “normal” are all completely relative.  Yet travel offers us a different experience.  The Eiffel Tower that I saw in Paris is the same one you’ve seen in Paris.  The Colosseum my worn-down Sperrys wandered through is the same one you’re heading to soon.  Piccadilly Circus is Piccadilly Circus.  And that’s astounding in a world of constant change.  Heck, iPhones change every few blinks of the eye.  And did I see the McRib is back again?  In a world that’s ever progressing and advancing, few things remain.eiffel-tower-paris-france-vintage-photoDSC_0835 copyvintage-travel-photos-london-uk

Vacation may seem like a time to check out, to see some stunning sites, to allow ourselves to eat entirely too much.  But travel is so much more than that.  It creates a community of people from a wide range of backgrounds and ages all interested in one thing: travel.  Finding something in common with someone from the other side of the country or even the world can be a challenge, but travel often kindles fond memories and creates a safe place to bond.  Cultural norms, what’s trendy, popular fashion and a typical breakfast between two people may not even land anywhere near each other.  But the moment the two realize they’ve both visited Los Angeles, an instant commotion of conversation buzzes: Did you go to In-N-Out?  Which beach was your favorite?  Did you think the water was freezing, too?  Did you go to the Getty?  To me, that’s incredible.  Merely the name of a city can make two people click immediately.  And that is the community of travel.vintage-colosseum-rome-italycolosseum-rome-italy-travelcolosseum-rome-italy-round-trip-travel

My dad said, “Who knows?  Maybe in 40 years, one of your kids will be standing where you were.”  Wow.  There’s an exciting and oddly sobering thought that makes my stomach drop a bit.  Travel has the power to create community now, but it also has the ability to connect many generations.  The Arc de Triomphe and the shores of Laguna Beach will probably look a bit different decades later, but the heart of these places remains.  It’ll be years before I have kids, and I’m confident there are many adventures to come before that one.  But one thing I can confidently predict: “Mom, were those shoes and your hair ever in style?”

{How have you experienced the community of travel?}

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My Fave Finds

Previous Round Trip Roundup: FEBRUARY
Next Finding Beauty in the Unknown

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Comments

  1. myhearinglossstory says

    March 2, 2017 at 10:50 am

    Hello Kristin. What a lovely post. I particularly like the old photos. My parents haven’t traveled much in their lives, so I can’t really share my travel experiences with them. However, I continue to love traveling. It’s always exciting to go somewhere new, especially if it is a different culture to your own. I’ve been lucky that I have worked in places like Thailand and China, and I think these experiences have made me a more open minded and understanding person. I am also much braver too – especially when trying new foods 😉 Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Take care and continue to enjoy traveling!

    Reply
    • roundtriptravel says

      March 2, 2017 at 12:44 pm

      Hi Carly! Thanks so much! I totally understand, but even just old pictures of where you grew up can be really cool and insightful. Travel is so good for the soul and for understanding yourself and others. Happy traveling!

      Reply
  2. lottieflint says

    March 3, 2017 at 9:09 am

    Loving your blog as always! Nominated you for the blogger recognition award if you fancy it! 😀 http://lottieflint.com/2017/03/03/blogger-recognition-award-i-started-blog-ive-learned/

    Reply
    • roundtriptravel says

      March 3, 2017 at 9:13 am

      Thanks, Lottie!! I so appreciate it, and I love your bubbly blog voice. I will get writing 🙂 Happy blogging and traveling!

      Reply
      • lottieflint says

        March 3, 2017 at 9:16 am

        hehe thankyou! 🙂 😀 look forward to reading it! X

  3. yalnazalam says

    March 5, 2017 at 5:27 am

    Loved it! I’m new here, was going through the blogs of people & found yours 🙂

    Reply
    • roundtriptravel says

      March 5, 2017 at 6:43 am

      Hi friend! Thanks for stopping by! I just read your intro post and I’m looking forward to seeing more from you 🙂 happy blogging!

      Reply
      • yalnazalam says

        March 5, 2017 at 6:45 am

        Thank you so much. Means a lot. I was afraid I might never have any followers & that no one would read my blog. Thank you so much for following me & for reading my intro blog! :”)

      • roundtriptravel says

        March 5, 2017 at 6:47 am

        Keep at it, girl! Your voice is unique and if you’re passionate and have something to say, don’t stop! Here’s a post of mine with some of my favorite free blogging tools. Feel free to reach out!! https://roundtrip.blog/2017/02/15/5-free-blogging-tools-i-love/

      • yalnazalam says

        March 5, 2017 at 6:49 am

        Thank you :’) you’re the sweetest ❤

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Hi, I'm Kristin. I'm a content creator teaching English in southern France. I'm all about exploring new places, practicing my French and sharing blogging tips. Allez-viens!
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About

Hi, I'm Kristin. I'm a content creator teaching English in southern France. I'm all about exploring new places, practicing my French and sharing blogging tips. Allez-viens!
learn more about my story

Want free access to my 30-minute travel budgeting course?

#IMO sipping coffee with a friend is truly one of #IMO sipping coffee with a friend is truly one of the best pleasures in life☕ 

Nothing beats finding a new drink to order (or your go-to beverage) and sharing it with another human. I love that coffee seems to spur deep, real, uninterrupted conversations with one another. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve received some of the best advice + wisdom all over coffee dates💗

⌛But as humans, we only have so many hours in a day. Add in time and geographical differences, plus jobs + commitments + kids. And the window for sipping coffee with a friend closes ever so slowly.

👏Here’s the thing: as much as I love creating content for my blog and social channels, I wanted to create a more immersive, intimate experience than a 700-word post or a Cheese of the Week Insta story. I wanted to create some sort of coffee-date ambience with the wonderful humans who have been following and cheering me on along this crazy journey.

📖Enter Round Trip: The Magazine, a 20+ page physical + digital experience with both tips and heart. I love providing practical content for my blog readers — and there is PLENTY of that in my magazine — but I long to show you the other side of the coin. 

✏️The anxiety and fear behind edited Instagram photos. The hustle that is saving every last penny to move abroad. The vulnerability of inserting yourself into a new culture and language. The panic that is navigating Covid lockdowns far from home. The wild goose chase that’s called following down your passions till your body aches.

In these pages, I answer all of the questions that I’ve been getting about my life abroad and from asking you what you want to know. Ever wondered what life in lockdown in France looked like? Curious about the day in the life of an English teacher in France? Ready to explore France beyond just Paris and drool over the most darling French villages? Ouais, it’s all in there.

Link in bio has all the juicy deets😜

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Hi, it's been a minute, and I'd love to reintroduc Hi, it's been a minute, and I'd love to reintroduce myself👋

🇺🇸I'm a Missouri girl living in southern France where I teach English to French kiddos and update my blog, Round Trip. I moved here in the height of Covid last fall, and boy, do I have some STORIES that I dish in my brand new magazine (keep scrolling for the dirty deets)

🐝I majored in magazine editing and would love to talk your ear off about the Oxford comma. Oh, and I won the school spelling bee in 7th grade. Yep, I peaked😂

💃I'm a middle child, and I don't let my family forget that. I've always loved the attention, and I suppose that manifests in my addiction to glitter and leopard print.

📖This week I launched Round Trip: The Magazine, a 20-page print + digital experience. It’s jam-packed with articles about how I moved to France during a pandemic, the best French villages to add to your bucket list and how I saved $7,000 to move abroad. I spill the tea on how travel and life abroad has taught me the best lessons about insecurity and confidence, heartbreak and love👀

So very nice to meet you! Bop over to link in bio to check out this week's magazine launch❤️

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(giveaway) What's a magazine launch week without a (giveaway) What's a magazine launch week without a giveaway?!💥 I recently announced my latest project, Round Trip: The Magazine. This 20-page physical + digital magazine is jam-packed with articles on how I made the move to France during a pandemic, the best French villages to visit, how I saved thousands of dollars to travel and the lessons I've learned through travel. And lots, lots more!

🎉Here's how to enter my giveaway (it takes 30 seconds!):
1️⃣Like this post
2️⃣Follow moi @round.trip
3️⃣Tag a pal who's missing travel like CRAZY

BONUS: Share this post to your story and tag me to get an additional two entries.

This giveaway is not sponsored or affiliated with Instagram in any way. Winner will be selected at random and notified via DM. No purchase necessary. Flat lay design by the wonderfully talented @mariiela_garciia

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😳Here’s a little secret for you: I was terrif 😳Here’s a little secret for you: I was terrified I would fall flat on my face. Now I’m happy and loving every second of life in France, but let’s rewind the clock back to one year ago, shall we?

⏰I was a mess. Last spring, it’d already been several months since I submitted my application to teach English in France. My heart was set on living abroad. And it was shattered as headlines and exclamation points littered the world with this virus called Covid.

🙈Between March and August, I might as well have had the words “I don’t know” tattooed on my forehead. My heart was constantly in flux: do I keep fighting for a dream that exists only in abstract? Or do I give up my dream to move abroad because life is too complicated or rather it’s just not possible?

🍳I had put all my eggs in one basket. I’d told everyone that the plan was to move to France, and now all of life’s questions could be summed up in a slew of question marks. I feared embarrassment and failure. But more than anything, I had long dreamed of living in France. It wasn’t only a question of pride but of passion.

⏩Fast forward to today: I’ve been living in France for six months, and although it’s not always perfect, I’m in love with my life here. Sincerely. I take walks around my neighborhood, look around and constantly say to myself, “Is this seriously my life?”

❓I get a lot of questions about my life in France. And for this reason along with the journey to get here, I decided to create something. This week, I'm launching Round Trip: The Magazine. It’s a 20+ page magazine (digital or physical — you pick!) filled with stories, travel tips, language learning ideas, bucket list destinations and beyond. Plus, a password-protected online portal with bonus content.

🎊And it's available now — link in bio!

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(big news!) ☎️Travel called — it wants you b (big news!) ☎️Travel called — it wants you back. The cabin fever is real as we’ve been cooped up in our homes for the past however many months. Whether you’re booking a flight ASAP or wanting to play it safe for a while, many of us have been daydreaming about travel. We miss the thrill of takeoff, the exhilaration of exploration, the elation of discovery.

✈️That's why TODAY I’m launching Round Trip: The Magazine, a 20+ page physical + digital experience. It’s jam-packed with articles about how I moved to France during a pandemic, the best French villages to add to your bucket list and how I saved $7,000 to move abroad.

❤️My heart in creating this magazine is to provide a more immersive, intimate experience than my blog posts and Instagram stories. 

🍵It’s more than just the practical tips but also the raw + real, juicy deets. I spill the tea on how travel and life abroad has taught me the best lessons about insecurity and confidence, heartbreak and love.

I’ve spent HOURS pouring my heart into these pages, and I’m confident these words will not only help you plan your future trips but also inspire you to chase your passions harder.

Today the pre-sale (and sale price!) is available to my email subscribers. Not on the list? Comment 💥and I'll add you to the list. Allez-y !

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Sometimes I just don’t believe my life🙈 Toda Sometimes I just don’t believe my life🙈

Today we took a casual 20ish minute boat ride to a nearby island I can see from my backyard. We hiked up to the ancient fort and danced to music mere feet from ruins — all with views of the Mediterranean Sea and Marseille in all her sunny glory.

I think back to a year ago when my life felt heavy and full of question marks. I think of all the hoops I jumped through and all the doors God opened for me to be here. I think of the daily prayers for answers, long walks to let out the stress and the anxious tears.

And friends, it was all worth it. What a beautiful thing reflection is! What an amazing thing it is to see the pain that was and the joy that is! 

The months leading up to moving to France were absolute mayhem, but oh, I am so beyond glad I didn’t quit when it was hard. Because I am in absolute love with my life in southern France☀️
Been kinda quiet on the socials as of late👀I've Been kinda quiet on the socials as of late👀I've been soaking up the Marseille sunshine with long walks, picnics and the not-so occasional ice cream😋

💪I've also been hard at work. For the past two months, I've been creating my latest project, Round Trip: The Magazine. I've sent out surveys, edited and workshopped this piece for hours upon hours. And I am delighted to say I am all set to launch in APRIL!!

🤔What is this so-called magazine, and why should I care? Alas, in September, I moved to France to teach English — yes, in the middle of a pandemic. It's been quite the wild ride, and along the way, I've been getting lots of questions about my journey here.

I also wanted to take my blog to the next level. As much as I love sharing my travel tips + life abroad peeks on my blog and social channels, I longed to provide a more immersive, intimate experience. Ya know, like a coffee date with your best gal pal?☕

Given that I have a degree in magazine editing, I thought it only fitting to answer the questions, share my stories and dish all the dirty deets in magazine format. And I am sooo stoked for next month's launch!! Want to be first to hear when this magazine drops and to get the pre-sale price? Comment with ⭐and I'll add you to my insiders list.

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