Blog

Two Things

American University of the Caribbean, AUC, Blog

 

There are two things you should know about me before I write any posts on travel or adventure. Which I certainly plan to do now that I have finished my master’s program! It will be nice to write for fun again, rather than cranking out academic papers. I have definitely been enjoying reading for fun again!

 

 

The first life event is our move to Phoenix. Ben and I are back! I arrived a couple of weeks ago, and Ben just rolled into town yesterday. Ben will be doing the next semester of medical school at a hospital in the downtown area. We don’t know where we will be for his next (and last!) semester.

 

 

The second life event is that we are welcoming Johnson #3 in September! Baby boy is due to arrive on September 26. Currently, I am about 32 weeks along! Just a few more weeks before we get to meet him.

 

 

Well, there’s a quick update on our lives! A lot of change, and a lot of things to look forward to.

Frankmuth, MI with a Dog on the Cheap

Blog, International Travel, Michigan, Uncategorized, United States

 

Every Michigander knows about Frankenmuth. There seems to be some debate about whether this is a worthwhile destination or road trip stop. After visiting, I would say Frankenmuth is a must-visit place if you’re in the area, and I wouldn’t mind staying a weekend there! I’ve heard this touristy Bavarian village described as “kitschy,” but I didn’t really find it to be tacky at all. It was really cute, albeit a bit cartoonish in a Main Street Disney sort of way.

 

 

If you’re looking for something fun to do, it’s a great place to go for the day! As a plus, it’s definitely dog-friendly and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun.

 

Ben and I took our big summer trip over Memorial Day weekend. We opted for a classic Michigan road trip– up to Mackinac Island, across the bridge, and up to the UP. This trip served as summer vacation, a celebration of our fourth anniversary, and our babymoon, since we’re expecting Baby Boy Johnson in September!

 

 

On the way back, we decided to check out Frankenmuth at the Bronner’s CHRISTmas wonderland that I keep hearing about.

I actually wrote two or three articles for clients about Bronner’s, even before Michigan was on our radar. It’s one of those unique roadside attractions that everyone talks about, and I was very excited to actually see it in person!

 

 

Bronner’s bills itself as “The World’s Biggest Christmas Store,” and I believe the claim. This place is huge! There are probably a million or two different ornaments inside, You could be perfectly happy wandering around and just looking at the different options, or wandering through the small forest of Christmas trees. I did end up buying some ornaments, because why not get a head start on Christmas shopping in May?

 

How I feel about this store

 

What I liked best about the inside was the international approach. There were ornament sections representing every area of the world! Of course, you can also shop by color, theme, or object.

 

 

We had to take turns seeing the store because the dog was with us, but it wasn’t bad because there are dozens of Christmas displays to check out in the parking lot and lawns around Bronner’s.

 

 

The best part by far was the Silent Night Memorial Chapel. This is an exact replica of the chapel of the same name built in Austria to commemorate the writing of Silent Night.

 

 

You can go inside and learn the history of the song. It’s a peaceful place, and the sort of place that makes you want to stop for a moment and pray.

 

 

Outside, they have the lyrics to Silent Night in dozens of global languages! We hunted down the languages from places we have lived.

 

 

Once we finished with Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, we went to the River Place Shops downtown. The shops were pricey, but most allowed dogs inside. We enjoyed the cool air and the chance to give Kito a bit of crowd training. I don’t know if it was the heat, the long car trip, or just her virtuous soul, but Kito was very well behaved and didn’t touch a thing!

Our favorite shop was Hello Cats & Dogs, which is basically a toy store for pets. Kito was pretty excited to go inside! She was very good and didn’t grab any toys off the shelf, although she definitely thought about snatching a tennis ball.

 

 

We rewarded her behavior with a hamburger patty treat, which was kind of ridiculous at $1, but worth it to give the poor dog something nice after such a long, hot car trip.

Kito quickly became the center of attention in the village. She was so cute and well-behaved, everyone wanted to pet her! If you know Kito, you know she can be a bit crazy! I was glad she was calm during this excursion and didn’t romp around when people came to give her attention.

 

 

After exploring the various shops, we wandered across the river. We looked down at the river cruises, which looked like a lot of fun. They are actually not to expensive, and I think dogs are allowed, but we didn’t have time to take one. We contented ourselves with walking across the covered bridge. Call me a dork, but I was pretty excited to see one in person for the first time!

 

 

It was getting late, so we hunted down dinner. It’s apparently traditional to get a chicken dinner when visiting Frankenmuth, but that seemed a little expensive and overrated to me, and we couldn’t do a restaurant with the dog, anyway. We opted for pretzels, because what’s more German than a freshly baked pretzel?

 

 

I found $3 pretzels in the basement bakery of the Bavarian Inn, and we settled outside the hotel to eat them on a bench. Luckily, we were just in time for the free glockenspiel show they do every few hours! The show included music, as well as a Pied Piper story using adorable clockwork figurines imported from Europe. What a fun way to end the day!

It was particularly fun for me to see a German settlement, since I am mostly German and it doesn’t look like I’ll make it to Germany any time soon. I’m sure the town looks a lot different than it did when immigrants first settled here, but I’ll take what I can get.

 

 

In total, we spent about $45 dollars in Frankenmuth, including dinner, Kito’s reward, and Christmas shopping. You could do it for less, or go all out with the big dinners, carriage rides, hotel stays, and tours. Frankenmuth is fun either way!

Is Frankenmuth worth stopping for? Resounding yes! If you have the time, don’t miss out on the photo ops and the fun.

Great Resources for Finding Work Abroad

Blog, Expats, Expats and TCKs, For the New Expat, International Travel, Uncategorized

 

I’m going to be brutally honest here for a moment. The one thing I really hated about living overseas was trying to find work. There was nothing else that made me quite as discouraged as trying to find a way to make some money! Before I finally found a steady source of income, I probably submitted around 40 applications to a variety of companies, some of which turned out to be scams.

 

Fortunately, you don’t have to go through the same painful process. Not only have things changed a lot in the past three years, but you’ve stumbled across a list of fantastic expat job resources! Take it from an expat (well, a former expat)…. these websites will be a whole lot better than wandering aimlessly around in the interwebs, hoping to stumble across a good job posting.

 

Getting a job abroad is now easier than ever before. Whether you’d like to find a job in Sydney or at a fashion store in Paris, France, international job hunting sites can help you achieve your goal. Here are a few tips and advice on finding expat jobs online.

 

 

  1. Indeed Worldwide

Indeed Worldwide is very similar to the local job search engine bearing the same name. The only difference is that it allows you to search for jobs in more than 60 countries. You’ll find many job descriptions written in the local language, but that’s what Google Translate is for! Nonetheless, chances are you’ll have to know the local language in order to qualify for these jobs.

 

  1. Jooble

Jooble is one of the most popular websites for people seeking for jobs abroad. It is particularly helpful for finding job opportunities in developing countries.

 

 

  1. CareerBuilder International

This website provides job listings in a wide array of countries and territories such as Canada, Germany, France, Sweden, Vietnam, and India.

 

  1. CareerJet

This international job search engine will fetch you job offers in various locations or industries. It also boasts over 60 country websites. If you’re looking to work abroad then here is some good advice for travellers.

 

 

 

  1. Go Abroad

Go Abroad is an excellent resource of expert advice and information on various cultural programs for global travelers. They also post some interesting job offers, so make sure you check out their job board.

 

  1. Going Global

Going Global keeps you updated with the latest trends in the international employment and HR industry. Check out their “Country Profiles” section to see their latest job opportunities, as well as information on work permits, visa applications, and region-specific CV tips and advice.

 

 

  1. Monster Worldwide

Monster Worldwide offers job listings from over 40 countries within Canada, Australia, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

 

  1. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

TEFL is more than an online English teaching certification program. It is also a modern job board with lots of filtering options and features. You can use it to find pre-approved schools currently seeking for English teachers. Read more about their programs and opportunities here.

 

Good luck with your job hunting! If you end up getting a job on one of these websites, let me know. Post your success in the comments to help other expats find a good job, too.

 

This post contains sponsored content and guest posting

The One about Grad School

AUC, Blog, Uncategorized

Hi everyone, I am still alive and well!

I have received some emails and texts recently from people who are concerned that I have disappeared from the internet. Thank you guys, that means a lot! It has been a while since I’ve blogged or posted on Facebook. I guess there’s a reason that most people announce that they’re taking a break for a while!

 

 

Honestly, though, I didn’t take a break intentionally. I’ve just been really busy and exhausted lately. That’s the thing about grad school, at least in my experience– sometimes you have nothing to do for school and you have a lot of free time, but you can’t fill that up with regular activities because when the workload comes, it drops like an anvil from a cartoon sky scraper.

As some of you know, I have been working to earn a master’s degree in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies from University of London. I am attending classes online, which has been convenient in terms of frequent and short-notice moves but very difficult in terms of getting the full grad school experience, including academic support.

 

 

Although it has been very difficult, I’ve managed to pass all my classes and learn a lot about my subject area. This past semester has been pretty intense. I have been working three jobs, and between that at the reading assignments, my life has been pretty busy. And I’ll be honest–after staring at a computer screen for up to 15 hours a day, I don’t really have the motivation to type any more.

 

 

We also have had a weird schedule this semester, which makes it hard for us to get out and do stuff. Ben’s doing his surgery rotation for med school right now. He is gone at least 12 hours a day. We get up a 3:45 a.m. so that he will have time to eat breakfast, warm up the car, and drive to the hospital through the ice and snow. I have been taking advantage of the early hours to teach more classes for VIPKID. I’ll be honest, though, I don’t really mind the early hours because I love my job! It’s easy to start the day early when you’re doing it with a smile and a happy kid on the other side of the screen.

 

Click here to learn how to work for VIPKID

 

At the beginning of this month, I took the hardest final I’ve ever done. It consisted of two 4,000 word essays on political science topics. Since it was worth 70% of my overall semester grade and I only had ten days to do it, it was pretty intense. It wasn’t fun, but I feel pretty accomplished that I managed it and I think I turned out some of my best work yet. I hope my teachers agree! I jumped from that back into work on my dissertation, which is worth 70% of my overall grade for my degree. As you can imagine, it’s a lot of pressure. I signed up for it, though, and I’m determined to finish strong!

 

 

My dissertation is due on March 26, so until then I’ll probably lay low. I am looking forward to the end of March, when Ben’s surgery rotation ends, my dissertation is submitted, and the snow melts! This season of life is good, but I won’t be sad to see it go. March means exploring Detroit and blogging more! I can’t promise I’ll write much until then, and I hope you’ll come back around once this blog comes out of hibernation again.

About Survivor’s Guilt

American University of the Caribbean, AUC, Blog, Caribbean, Expats, Expats and TCKs, International Travel, Saint Martin/ Sint Maarten

This is a short one, I promise. But maybe it’s one you can relate to, as well.

If you read my last couple posts, you know that the horrific destruction of St. Martin by hurricane Irma was devastating to me. It was really hard for me to cope at all for about a week after the storm hit.

I felt so guilty, so angry, so stupid for having trouble coping when I was even personally affected by the storm. I was a little offended at my own reaction, and I was afraid other people would be, as well.

And then something unexpected happened. Other people were having the same feelings I was. Other people were hitting the same mile markers of grief that I was. I got a lot of great supportive texts and emails from other people in the time between the hurricane and the time we actually had regular communication with the island again.

In the words of my husband, Ben, “It’s OK to feel what you feel.” An article on survivor’s guilt that my friend Lezlie sent me said that all these feelings are normal. The faster we allow them to surface, the faster we can be OK again.

So if you were practically unaffected by Jose, Irma, Harvey or Maria and you’re feeling grief and guilt that you don’t understand, it’s alright.

You can do something with those feelings, too. You take your compassion and sadness and turn them into love. Let’s love on these places that were hit by the hurricanes!

Here’s an article I wrote for The Vacation Times about helping St. Martin. Supporting my island will help me to heal, and it can help you to heal, as well.

 

Post Hurricane Thoughts

American University of the Caribbean, AUC, Blog, Caribbean, Expats, Expats and TCKs, International Travel, Saint Martin/ Sint Maarten, Spouses Organization, Third Culture Kids, Uncategorized

Well, I’m probably over-posting on Facebook about Hurricane Irma and the devastation it caused in Saint Martin. I have an awful lot to say about it, though, especially as new updates keep coming through. I figure if you want to know what I have to say about the situation, you’ll read this. And look– here you are!

 

Med Students are OK

After a semi-sleepless night a couple days ago and plenty of tears, I finally started hearing from friends who had been out of contact for a day after the storm.

The people who sheltered in American University of the Caribbean are safe, and not only that, anyone with any medical training (even first semester med students) are volunteering in a makeshift clinic! They even delivered a baby! What a birth story.

Many of the students, spouses and kids were able to evacuate to Puerto Rico. Many others, mostly students, stayed behind.

 

 

 

Tom and Lisa are OK

If you follow me on social media, you probably know a bit about Tom and Lisa Burnett, who ran Player Development Program in Sint Maarten.

I used to go there most days to tutor and mentor the kids. Player Development blew away and the pieces are yet to be found.

But Tom and Lisa (plus their four dogs) are safe! I could breathe easier after I found that out. Their neighborhood was hit very hard.

They survived the storm huddled on a mattress under their table, both of them plus of the four dogs. They stayed there all day, through the storm and even after their roof was ripped off. I am shaking right now just thinking about it.

 

 

 

Still Waiting to Hear from Local Friends

I started following more SXM residents on social media to keep up with videos and photos. Many people seem to be OK and in shelter, but strictly rationing food and water, and in perhaps in pain.

The need help but it is hard to know what to do. Samaritan’s Purse has a fund now, and I they are delivering much needed help! If you want to help, give to them. But I haven’t heard much else, although a friend of mine with a Canadian Rotary Club is planning to try to ship down supplies and suggested that I call my local airport to see which airlines are willing to ship relief supplies down.

I haven’t heard from too many people since the main cell tower was taken out by the storm, and the power company as well, I believe.

Our former foster son, Roland and Laura Richardson, the families from my baseball team, the foster homes, the staff at the medical school, and many other friends still aren’t online yet. So keep praying.

I just keep thinking about how bad I’ve been at communication lately. My life is so out of control right now and I put everyone else on the back burner. I guess you don’t realize you’re doing that until your friends are in a life-threatening situation and you remember that the last thing you said was some stupid thing about doughnuts or worse, nothing at all for the past few weeks.

There’s nothing like the fear that you might have lost someone to make you think of all the stuff you wish you said to them last week.

 

 

 

I’m Grieving

I think I’m going through the stages of grief. I’m partially in denial, because how can those photos be real when they don’t match my memories? That flooded street covered in debris was a sunlit lane when I walked down it just a few months ago.

I can close my eyes and go back to the way it was. I can see and hear and feel and smell every part of the island.

I can hear the way it sounds to knock on the door of one of my baseball kid’s house. In my mind it is still there.

I can feel the gravel at player development under my feet and see the books and toys and everything.

I can see the view from my old balcony like I am standing there again. Pretty sure that balcony blew away.

I can taste the shawarmas at Little Jerusalem and hear the “clink, clink” of Abe and Cathy chopping up meat on the grill.

But then there are those photos of the destruction, the videos of the looting. It’s hard to reconcile.

 

 

 

I Should Be There

And there is this overwhelming sense of guilt, because somehow I feel like I am supposed to be there.

Maybe I wouldn’t be saying this if I’d actually gone through it, but I’d rather have stuck out the day in AUC, where the hurricane shelter was strong and safe, than be here wondering and waiting and watching from afar.

I’d rather be out dragging palm fronds off the street right now. Or something else useful. Maybe that sounds dumb, and maybe it is dumb.

It’s stupid to want to be stuck on an island when so many people are suffering and desperately awaiting help and wanting to leave.

I feel stupid. And useless.

People reading this are probably going to think I’m trying to be some kind of weird martyr or something, but I think I’m just really emotional and stressed out.

I actually called Jet Blue yesterday to find out if I can fly down and when, but I couldn’t get through because they’re too busy handling the crisis.

I don’t even know what I would do if I did go. It’s not like they need more people to use up rations, anyway.

So anyway, now we’re both depressed, you’re welcome. Maybe I should go back to journaling instead of blogging.

That’s what things look like from my perspective.

Now just waiting for Irma to hit Florida, and I can’t wait until that is done and the power is back and I can hear from everyone.

 

Photo Credit Flash Meteo Antilles

Bruce Peninsula Road Trip: From Detroit, Michigan to Tobermory, Ontario Under $250

Blog, canada, International Travel, Nature, Ontario, Uncategorized

 

 

Last call for summer in Ontario! I can’t want to see fall in Canada, but summer is National Parks Season. In just a few short weeks, most of the National Parks in Canada will be closed for winter.

 

 

Naturally, the end of free Canada Parks passes for Canada’s 150th anniversary is a big deal for a budget traveler like myself.

So, when Ben and I both had a three-day weekend over Memorial day, we loaded up the dog and hit the road for a three-day camping trip in Ontario!

 

 

Ipperwash Beach: $0

 

Although we live in Detroit, we ended up taking the Port Huron border crossing. It’s closer to the coast of Lake Huron, where Bruce Peninsula is located.

 

Canadian Monopoly money

 

The way into Canada wasn’t too bad. The guards didn’t even bother checking Kito’s paperwork! It’s up to date, of course, which is actually more important on the U.S. entry than the Canadian entry. After quick formalities, we were on our way!

 

Lucky dog– she’s been to 4 countries now!

 

After we got through the border, we drove along the coast. After living in Saint Martin, where all the beaches are public property, we forgot there would be so many private beaches!

 

 

Of course, there are also some nice public beaches on the Huron coast of Ontario. We decided to stop for lunch at Ipperwash Beach, which is in Lambton Shores.

 

 

Part of the beach does require paid parking, but if you drive to the northern entrance, you can park for free. Exit Highway 21 on Army Camp Road, and you’ll find the lot and a nice picnic area with restrooms.

 

 

The beach itself was nice, and we apparently hit it on a good day! However, it was really crowded, so we made a mental note to come on a day that isn’t a holiday weekend next time.

 

 

The best part about Ipperwash Beach was a guy driving a couple of jet skis into the lake on his tractor. You don’t see that every day.

 

 

The Old Homestead Campground: $42 CAD/ $34 USD

 

Unfortunately, I didn’t plan the first day of our trip very well. I originally wanted to take a longer route and go through Point Pelee National Park on the first day, but Ben very wisely pointed out that the massive loop I mapped out on Google Maps was going to take more than 3 days, unless we never wanted to get out of the car.

 

 

So we didn’t have camping reservations, and when it came time to find a camp, we didn’t have a very easy time of it. Most of the campsites and hotels were full. Finally, I stopped at a general store and asked for advice. The owners pointed me to The Old Homestead, not too far from the highway in Bayfield.

 

 

Honestly, we were a bit underwhelmed by the campground. It was nice, but for $42 CAD I’d expect something different than an unserviced piece of grass on the common lawn. The playground was very close to the campsite, and everyone was packed into tight spaces, so it was pretty noisy. Someone played very loud music until late at night, too.

 

We forgot a pot, so Ben used his “African ingenuity,” as he calls the skills he learned from a childhood in Tanzania.

 

Although I’m more of a camp-in-the-middle-of-the-woods kind of person, The Old Homestead would be nice to stay at on a less busy weekend, if you don’t mind neighbors. It’s clean and well kept, which is always a plus.

 

 

Right behind our site, there was a path that led into winding trails through the forest. This was awesome! Kito loved running around the woods and splashing through the creek. I don’t think she’s ever seen a creek before, and she was fascinated!

 

 

We also found a great place to string up hammocks. We were far enough away from the noise of the camp that we could relax in the peace and quiet of the woods for a while.

 

 

Point Clark Lighthouse: $7 CAD/ $5.64 USD

 

The next day, we packed up and headed further north. We stopped at Point Clark Lighthouse in Point Clark, because who doesn’t love lighthouses?

 

 

I was planning to just look at the lighthouse, but Ben and I were excited to see that this was a Parks Canada Historic Site! Armed with our Parks Canada pass, we headed inside.

 

 

Unfortunately, the Parks Canada pass is not valid at Point Clark Lighthouse. Not sure why Parks Canada would own something but not operate it, but I guess that is why the pass isn’t taken there.

 

 

Because we were on a budget for this trip, we skipped the lighthouse tour. However, if you don’t mind spending an extra $7, it looked like a great place to tour! I was OK to skip it, though, since it was a bonus stop on our trip anyway.

 

 

Sauble Beach: $0

 

If you know anything about the Huron coastline of Ontario, you probably have heard of Sauble Beach.

 

 

Sauble Beach is a resort town on the coast, and it was hopping the day we visited. We were lucky enough to get a parking spot close to the beach itself, so we walked over to have lunch.

 

 

A friendly police officer reminded us that dogs are not allowed on most of the beach, so we stayed in the small dog-friendly area to eat. The view was very pretty!

 

 

 

Fathom Five National Marine Park: $0

 

The Fathom Five Marine Park is located on the tip of Bruce Peninsula, near the town of Tobermory.

For the Canada 150 celebration, Fathom Five Marine Park is open to the public for free. This treat ended already, sadly, and we ended up visiting on the second to last day! Because of this, the park was packed.

 

 

However, you can visit next year for about $6 CAD per adult and $15 for a family, which is an awesome price! If you want to see flowerpot island, add an extra $60 for a private boat tour. Or, go all out and scuba dive through one of the many shipwrecks.

 

 

Despite the mayhem, the crowds did not deter us. They kind of freaked out Kito, who barked at a beagle, a child, and a park bench within the first ten minutes of being in the park. She chilled out once we got on the path, though.

 

 

I took the climb up the tower to see the whole park. Wow! What a climb. the girl in front of me got shaky legs and had to summon all her courage to get all the way up. I tried to take some photos to show how high up it was.

 

 

We took the Burnt Point Loop, which is the hike in Fathom Five National Park. This, along with the trail from the visitor’s center, was about four miles long. It’s actually a side trail of the epic Bruce Trail, which runs from Fathom Five to Niagara Falls! It was cool to get to do a little bit of the Bruce Trail, which is a bucket list item for me.

 

 

The trail was gorgeous, and it took us to incredibly clear, blue water that reminded me of Saint Martin. Despite the many visitors, there were many nooks along the coastline where we could be alone an enjoy the view. A picture is worth a thousand words, so take a look below:

 

 

Follow me on Instagram @3rdCultureWife for more travel photos!

 

 

Singing Sands at Bruce National Park: $0

 

On our way out, we stopped at Singing Sands, a part of Bruce National Park. This is another park that was free in 2017 and closed on Labor Day. Again, it was a bit crowded, but not as crowded as Fathom Five.

 

 

Ben and I would have liked to hike the trail to The Grotto in Bruce National Park, but they were totally booked for the day and turned us away!

 

Ben on his daily run! 112 days and counting.

 

We ended up at Singing Sands, which was still a lovely way to end our day. Besides, the Grotto will be there next time.

 

 

 

Singing Sands doesn’t look like much– until you start walking along the path. Here, you’ll find incredible biodiversity and lovely wildlife! Ben saw a snake, but all I saw were flowers and birds. I’m OK with that!

 

 

 

KOA Owen Sound: $35 CAD/ $28 USD

 

After our time at Bruce National Park, we drove to the Owen Sound Koa, about an hour and a half away. I’m a fan of KOAs, since they’re pretty predictable. In a place where randomly hiking into the woods and setting up camp isn’t allowed, this was a great option.

 

 

We are definitely coming back here! We did have neighbors and a busy campsite, but it was nice and quiet. It was spread out enough and there were tons of trees, so it felt fairly private. It also looked like a fun place to bring kids– a hay ride was taking off just as we arrived.

 

 

We strung up our hammocks by the car and made dinner– macaroni and cheese in a bread pan over a portable stove! Hey, whatever works.

 

 

The most wonderful part of this camp was that it is connected to the Bruce Trail! We woke up early, made a flask of hot chocolate, and followed the trail over the bridge, through the Rock Springs Side Trail, and on to the Bruce Trail.

 

 

Oh, my word! The trail in the morning was so still. It was only about 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but the stillness in the air made it feel comfortably cool. I come from a land of conifers, so this boreal forest was magical. Everything was covered in soft green moss, and the morning light filtered softly down through the leaves.

 

 

I wish so badly that we could take a month and trek the entire Bruce Trail! I’m not sure if that will ever be a reality, but it was a treat to get to walk a couple of miles of the trail.

 

 

Produce Stand at Masse Farms: $13/ $10.50 CAD for produce

 

We had a long drive ahead (and it got longer as the lines at the border increased), so we went straight along the 5-hour route home.

 

 

We did, however, make one last stop! One simply cannot go through farm country without buying fresh produce, so we followed the signs to Masse Farms and bought some sweet corn, meat, strawberries, and tomatoes. Yum! There’s nothing like farm-fresh food.

 

 

We continued on through the cornfields and towns toward home. Each church tower, brick shop, and Victorian estate was something new and beautiful to admire! If you ever find yourself with a weekend to wander, these towns are worth a look.

 

 

 

After a relaxing morning of driving through rural Ontario, we eventually pulled into our driveway. It was a weekend well spent! Next time, we’re heading around the southern coast of Ontario.

 

 

Other Expenses: 

$140 CAD/ $113 USD for gas

$37 CAD/ $30 USD for groceries

 

Total: $268 CAD/ $216 USD

 

We were able to have a three-day trip from Detroit to Tobermory for under $250 USD! Of course, the free Parks Canada pass ends this year, so the parks won’t be free after 2017. However, the parks aren’t very expensive, and if you don’t want to pay, you can always opt for free walks in the nature parks!

The trick to keeping this trip inexpensive — despite the necessary gas for such a long drive — is to refuse to splurge. Don’t go shopping, don’t stay in hotels, and don’t eat out. You can have plenty of fun in nature while eating your own groceries!

For more budget day trips, follow on Facebook or subscribe!

 

Discovering Woldumar Nature Center: Lansing, Michigan

Blog, International Travel, Michigan, Nature, United States

 

Michigan is offering us plenty of new ground to explore! To be honest, we haven’t actually had time to see much so far. We’re working all week and spending the weekends garage sale shopping. I’ve even only seen downtown Detroit from a distance!

Still, we have had one adventure since we moved here. We’re blessed to live two hours away from the only siblings on Ben’s side who live in the States! Stevie, Ben’s brother, and his wife, Kirsten, live in Grand Rapids. They invited us to hang out with them on our first Saturday in Michigan, so we met them in Lansing for a nature walk and picnic at Woldumar Nature Center!

 

What to Expect at Woldumar Nature Center

This nature center goes along the Grand River. It has picnic areas, a small museum, apple trees, a huge lawn, and miles of paths to wander.

 

 

We started off with a picnic by the river. I was very tempted to try the rope swing that hangs over the lake, but then I remembered that I am 23 and not 12, and I can’t get away with running around with wet hair anymore. Sometimes social expectations are so bothersome!

After lunch, we had to decide which of the many paths to take. There are plenty of options, but we picked a long trail that would through the woods.

 

 

We were thrilled to see the apple trees! Ben and I are from Phoenix and we’ve been living in the Caribbean for a couple years, so apple trees are quite an exciting sight for us. Kirsten and Stevie thought our exclamations of delight were funny, but they didn’t mind hunting for windfalls with us!

 

 

Our walk ended at a large grassy field. If you know anything about Ben and Stevie, you probably won’t be surprised to find out that they were both carrying around a Frisbee for just such an occasion. An hour or two of tossing around the Frisbee in the sunshine was just what we needed to relax and unwind!

 

 

How to Get to Woldumar Nature Center

Woldumar Nature Center is located in Delta Charter Township, near Lansing.

The center is located near the convergence of highways 69 and 96. It’s on Old Lansing Road.

Here’s the address:

Woldumar Nature Center

5739 Old Lansing Road

Lansing, Michigan 48917

 

Cost and Logistics

The cost to visit is a donation of $2 each– the perfect price for a group of people with students in the family.

All you have to do is walk into the building, drop your donation in the box on the desk, and grab a map!

Woldumar Nature Center is open from 9 to 4 on weekdays and 9 to noon on weekends, according to Google. However, we were there long past noon on a Saturday, and I didn’t see anyone getting kicked out!

 

 

Woldumar Nature Center is about an hour away from our home in Detroit, which is a lot of driving. Will we be back? Yes, of course! We all need nature escapes now and then, and this nature park in Lansing fits the bill perfectly.

 

Camping in the Middle of Detroit: Michigan Day One

American University of the Caribbean, AUC, Blog, International Travel, Michigan, Nature, Spouses Organization, United States

Have you ever camped in Detroit? I didn’t think so! As it turns out, camping in Detroit is pretty hard to find. However, it is there, if only you look close enough. Believe it or not, Detroit does have its pockets of green wilderness!

 

 

Our pocket of green came in the form of an Airbnb backyard campsite in the middle of a pretty rough-looking urban area. The surprisingly beautiful neighborhood was tucked into an overgrown-looking street not too far from downtown Detroit!

 

 

The people we stayed with are pretty cool. They are both circus performers, and they created a wildlife sanctuary/ backyard campsite out of an old, boarded-up house that had been long forgotten. Inside, the house is a delightful explosion of homey Pinterest-type creativity, which the outside is a woodsy wonderland.

 

 

When we arrived, I was absolutely thrilled to walk from the dark street into a romantically-lit backyard wildlife space with room for campfires, stargazing, and wildlife watching! A people-sized wooden structure was nestled into one corner, surrounding a cozy tent. It looked like a sylvan fairyland.

Good thing our hosts provided a tent, because we accidentally left ours in the moving trailer and probably would not have survived the mosquitoes in our hammocks. We said good night to our hosts and their one-year-old son, and crawled into the tent with Kito.

 

 

Kito was not overly thrilled with the tent life. I, however, was delighted to have found an affordable and outdoorsy option for a night’s stay! After all, how often do you get to move to a new city, make friends, and stay in their backyard wonderland?

 

 

Of course, a new day brought new realities. The stars disappeared into a blue sky and out came the spiders. Did you know that Michigan has about 47 spiders per square inch? I was contemplating whether I would rather have Arizona’s scorpions or Michigan’s spiders as I watched them crawl their creepy little bodies over the outside of our tent. I bet demons have eight legs. However, a quick search on my phone revealed that none of the said spiders were poisonous– 4G is a definite perk of city camping.

The more important concerns of the day came soon enough as well. Long story short, we eventually found a perfect apartment. We had thought to buy a house since there are a lot of cheap ones on the Detroit market, but a safer apartment in the metro area is probably a better bet as we settle in.

 

 

My parents drove the entire 2,000 miles from Phoenix to Detroit with us! I don’t know what we would have done without them. Just handling the Kito factor alone would have made it tough to get anything done. While we were apartment hunting, my parents took Kito to about seven dog parks and playgrounds to run around! By the end of the day, she was wiped.

 

 

Things are starting to fall into place! It’s still pretty surreal that we are actually in Michigan right now. Do you know how long I’ve wanted to try out Midwest life? Maybe I’ll be regretting that sentiment around, say, November, but for now I’m pretty excited to see what it brings!

Palatki National Monument: Hidden Ruins in Sedona

arizona, Blog, International Travel, Nature, United States

 

Palatki? Where’s that? Even people who know Sedona aren’t always familiar with Palatki. However, you are about to be in the know! Here’s a little bit about the Sinagua Native ruins at Palatki, how to get there, and good things to know.

 

 

What to Expect

Palatki is a collection of Sinagua ruins that are thought to be at least 800 years old. They are located on the former homestead of a Mormon settler who actually lived in some of the ruins as he was building his house! Today, the site is a national monument where you can come take a look at the ancient homes and petroglyphs hidden in the Sedona red rock cliffs.

 

 

If you’ve been following this blog for at least a week, you know that Ben and I took a trip all the way up the state of Arizona to visit ancient pueblos. Palatki was number three on our list, and it was definitely different than either Tuzigoot or Pueblo la Plata, the first two we visited!

 

 

For one thing, these particular ruins are located in the shadow of a huge cliff. They also feature ancient rock art spanning probably thousands of years. Pretty cool! It can be hard to find well-preserved petroglyphs.

 

 

Palatki is managed by National Park volunteers who live onsite. Um… where do I sign up? The volunteers give complementary tours of both sites within Palatki. I’m not usually a tour person, but this was awesome. We had a great time and learned a lot!

 

 

How to Get There

Palatki is a bit far from the beaten path, but no so far as to make it hard to get there. It’s worth it, so be sure to go sometime!

 

 

If you are coming from Phoenix, head north on the I-17 until you get to Camp Verde. Then go left on the 260 until you get to Cottonwood. From there, go north on the 89A. Finally, turn left on Loy Butte Road. At the fork, go right on Boynton Point Road. This will take you to Palatki!

 

 

Good Things to Know

  • You will need a Red Rocks Pass, which I believe is $5, or a U.S. National Parks Pass, which is $80. We have the National Parks Pass.
  • The park is open from 9:30 to 3:00, seven days a week.
  • You have to take the tour to see the ruins. This sounds complicated, but it is not. Just call (928) 282-3854 and ask to get a reservation at the time you intend to visit.

 

 

Other Nearby Ruins

Can’t make Palatki, or want to see more? Check out other nearby ruins:

Want more posts on Arizona ruins? Follow 3rd Culture Wife on Facebook for more posts later this week!