For three anniversaries in a row, we’ve somehow found ourselves on our way to Paris. It doesn’t even feel real typing that—lol!
(Technically, we’d been to Paris once before… but we never even saw the Eiffel Tower. In March 2020, we were on our first European trip together when COVID broke out. We had to buy an emergency flight home, which left from Paris. Paris had originally been on our itinerary, but we were visiting Carly in Germany when everything escalated. We quickly took a train to Paris, checked into a hotel just long enough to shower and take a quick nap, then headed straight to the airport, hoping to make it out before the quarantine guidelines were enacted. As you can probably guess, this trip doesn’t really count.)
In March 2023, we had only been living in Brussels for about six weeks, but we knew we wanted to celebrate our first year of marriage in the city of love. And we went all out. A fancy hotel with a balcony facing the Eiffel Tower, exquisite dinner reservations, a photo shoot with a photographer I had been following for years, a boat ride down the Seine, a half-day in the Louvre, put a lock on the lock bridge, see Moulin Rouge, and more. It was a full-fledged, very touristy, three-day/two-night itinerary. We experienced Paris in quite a unique way………right in the middle of one of their largest strikes. Trash was piling up, rats were running through the streets, fires were burning, and protesters were marching. We originally booked train tickets but had to drive last-minute due to the transit strike. Despite the chaos, we had a great time and made some unforgettable memories.
In March 2024, we decided to return for just one night. This time we drove up on Saturday morning, no set agenda, and wandered the city from east to west and north to south, hitting all the major attractions along the way. Because of the upcoming Summer Olympics, many statues were covered for cleaning and several areas were blocked off, but we still managed to have a lovely meal and even reenacted a photo from our first anniversary trip.
On Sunday, we visited the Palace of Versailles—something we didn’t have time for the first time around. I’m so glad we made it happen. Walking through a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV and exploring the ornate royal gardens was such a breathtaking experience. The Palace and Park of Versailles have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, and now I understand why.
My favorite room was the Hall of Mirrors, pictured below.
When we found out my expat assignment was being extended and realized we’d still be living nearby during our third anniversary, Paris felt… inevitable.
So, in March 2025, we decided to do it the European way: by taking the train there for just the day! The ride from Brussels-Midi to Paris Gare du Nord is only 1 hour and 22 minutes on the Eurostar—crazy, right?!
From the moment we left our house to when we arrived at the Eiffel Tower, only three hours had passed. We picked up pastries and sandwiches from a bakery and sat in the sunshine at Place du Trocadéro with the Eiffel Tower in sight.
We spent the day lollygagging around, with no reservations or plans! The weather was absolutely amazing – sunny all day long.
We also got the chance to snap a photo in front of the iconic Olympic rings—so cool! Fun fact: the five ring colors were chosen because at least one of them appears on every national flag in the world.
Our wedding day truly was the best day of our lives—a total cliché, I know, but one you don’t fully understand until you live it. This tradition of ours has been such a meaningful part of our marriage. Every year on March 19, we take the time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going—as individuals and as a couple.
Disclaimer: I’ve already been told that Paris may not be on the table for our fourth anniversary…but hey, a girl can dream 😉
2024 was a whirlwind, to say the least—a year absolutely packed with magical moments, personal growth, and unforgettable experiences. As we step into 2025, I know it will bring yet another year of change. My expat assignment ends at the end of May, and with it, so does this unique chapter of life abroad. Everyone warned me about how quickly this time would fly by, and wow, they weren’t kidding!
Before I dive headfirst into 2025 and all its uncertainties, I wanted to pause and reflect on the year that was. That’s one reason I love having this blog—it forces me to slow down and thoughtfully document my experiences to share with my friends and family. So, let’s take a look back at 2024, by the numbers:
✈️ 22 flights: Over the course of the year, I spent 3 days and 4 hours in the air, traveling a total of 32,181 miles—that’s 1.3x around the world! These adventures took me through 8 incredible countries: Denmark, Italy (twice), the U.S., Sweden, Austria, Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, and Tanzania. Out of those, 5 were new countries for me (Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Luxembourg, and Tanzania). Austria marked my 30th country, allowing me to complete my goal of reaching 30 countries before turning 30.
🏡 13 Visitors: We hosted so many loved ones this year! Elia kicked off the visits in March, followed by Savannah and Ian in Copenhagen in April. Jossue and his brother swung by in May, and then Alex and Sam stopped in Brussels before we headed on our girls’ trip to Austria. Marisa joined me in Milan, Sarah and Zach explored Belgium for a week, our moms visited at separate times, and Ben’s friends filled in the gaps. I love how much joy these visits brought to our year!
💍 3 Weddings: May was filled with love and family time as we flew to NYC for my cousin Abbey’s wedding, then drove to Virginia to see my mom/grandma, then flew to Chicago for Ariana’s wedding where I was a bridesmaid. Then I flew back to Chicago for just a few days in October to be a bridesmaid in Rachel’s wedding. While we couldn’t attend every wedding we were invited to, we’re so happy for all our friends and family who tied the knot this year!
🎶 3 Concerts – In February, we saw Noah Kahan at a small venue in Belgium. He is absolutely my favorite artist right now – I just love his vibe (he was also my number one most listed to artist for 2024). I also went to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour which was so incredible! I wouldn’t consider myself a “Swiftie” by any means, but anyone who can perform for 3.5 hours in a row every night deserves some credit. Another reason I love her is because I felt like I’ve grown up listening to her music – her surprise song was a song I listened to when I had my first heartbreak and it brought me right back to those feelings. I also went 1 day to Tommorowland which is one of the most famous music festivals in the world, and one of the hardest to get tickets to. This experience was unlike anything else, and we walked over 34,000 steps that day!
🤕 1 Concussion: Not all adventures are successful ones. In 2024, I learned the hard way that some risks just aren’t worth it. During a work event that I planned at an adventure park, I attempted a free fall jump, landed incorrectly, and spent days in the dark nursing a concussion. Lesson learned—2025 will include fewer high-risk “fun” ideas!
📸 48 Favorite Photos: Choosing my top four photos from each month was a challenge, given the 17,000 photos currently living on my camera roll! But this exercise reminded me just how amazing this year was:
We threw a farewell party for our friend Burcu, moved into our new apartment, enjoyed a rare snowy day with Mallow, and cheered on Ben in his hockey semi-finals.We hosted a combined housewarming and birthday party for Ben’s 27th, saw Noah Kahan live, and soaked up cozy evenings at home with Mallow.We visited Versailles and Paris, showed Elia around Bruges (my favorite town in Belgium), and celebrated more hockey wins.I spent quality time with my girls in Brussels, explored Copenhagen with Savannah and Ian, and celebrated Finnish Independence Day.A work trip to Venice turned into a mini-vacation when Ben joined me at the end. Later, we took a U.S. road trip for two weddings, saw family, and I finally got to meet my best friend’s daughter, Gwen!We celebrated Ariana and Jerry’s wedding, I went on a work trip to Northern Sweden then met Ben in Stockholm for the weekend, and Andrew/Ben surprised Silvia/I with a salsa dancing double date.Visitors, concerts, and new experiences filled this hectic yet incredible month. It was hard on the bank account but so worth it!A life-changing trip to Tanzania included a safari and an island escape to Zanzibar. Ben’s mom also visited for the third time—our most frequent guest!We hiked with Mallow, cheered on the Bears (who lost, as usual), and then I headed to Chicago at the tailend of the month where I had a quick coffee with Hannah and Gwen + FINALLY got to meet Carly’s baby, Karson.Rachel’s wedding day was incredible and we felt like celebrities walking through downtown Chicago all dressed up. I saw Ariana for a few hours and popped by Gwen’s 1st birthday before heading to the airport. Back in Brussels, we celebrated my friend Laura who turned 30!This was the first month of no travel in awhile. Ben actually planned a surprise trip to Sicily, but we decided to cancel and stay at home because I was so exhausted. We spent our weekends with friends and hosted 14 people for Thanksgiving!My mom joined us for a magical Christmas market road trip through Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. We ended the year with a quiet Christmas at home with just Ben, Mallow, and me.
Reflections on 2024
Of course, not every moment was easy. Spending Christmas just the two of us, while peaceful, felt a little lonely. I also pushed myself too hard balancing work, travel, and hosting, which caught up with me by the fall. And as we look to 2025, there are so many uncertainties—where we’ll live, what our careers will look like, and how we’ll navigate the challenges of returning to the U.S.
But through it all, I’ve learned so much about myself, Ben, and what we want out of life. These “Brussels Bubble” years have been transformative. Our relationship has deepened as we’ve leaned on each other in ways we never had before. I can’t believe we’ve been together for 8 years (as of 1/1/25) — I can’t imagine this life without him.
The 20s are a wild ride full of growth, love, and chaos. One of my goals for this upcoming year is to embrace the twists and turns that 2025 has in store.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Love and best wishes to all my friends and family for 2025.
I cannot believe we have already reached the end of the year! I already feel like I have celebrated Christmas, because earlier this month my mom visited for 10 days and we spent most nights exploring different Christmas markets! This was her second time visiting me in Belgium – she came last April and we had an amazing trip to Prague.
Us in Prague – April 2023
I was so happy for her second visit, especially to show her our new apartment— new is a bit of a stretch considering it was built in the 1800s. Nonetheless, her last visit was when we lived in the city center…and now we live in a much calmer, more pleasant neighborhood. Mallow also thoroughly enjoyed her visit, showing her our favorite local places and how she gets to play off leash in the park. I’m pretty sure Mallow thought that my mom traveled all the way from Virginia just for her!
My mom and I had a bunch of ideas for when she should come and where we would visit together. There are endless places to travel, with so many direct flights leaving from Brussels each day. But when it came down to deciding on when and where to go, the idea of a road trip in December excited us both. If you’re planning a trip to Europe, the absolute best times to visit are (1) summer, of course, and (2) Christmastime. The holiday season here feels like stepping into a real-life snow globe, and it’s magical in a way that’s hard to describe until you experience.
Last December, Ben’s family visited, and we had an adventure through Germany’s iconic Christmas markets. This year with my mom, we decided to change it up and plan a Christmas market road trip that explored some new destinations.
Berlin Christmas markets – December 2023
What I love about European Christmas markets is how each one has its own unique vibe. Some are known for their incredible shopping, others for the festive food, and some are simply all about the atmosphere. Whether you’re there to sip mulled wine with friends or tackle your holiday shopping list, there’s truly something for everyone. Naturally, we were on a mission to experience it all—and rank the markets, of course!
Stop 1: Brussels Christmas Market
We started with our very own Brussels Christmas markets. I’ll admit that Brussels isn’t usually at the top of most people’s travel lists, but during the holidays, it really shines 😉 In fact, the Brussels Christmas markets attract around 2.5 million visitors annually, which is pretty impressive. There are 240 chalets to explore, a Ferris wheel, merry-go-rounds, curling, an ice rink, and my personal favorite—a sound and light show at the Grand Place.
The Grand Place is one of my two favorite spots in Brussels (the other being Parc du Cinquantenaire).
It’s not only stunning but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. My mom and I combed through every single booth while Ben patiently followed with a backpack for our purchases (he’s a saint.)
I will say, however, that I was disappointed they didn’t have the potato pancakes this year—a situation I believe warrants serious attention for 2025!
Stop 2: Luxembourg City Christmas Market
The next day, we drove 2.5 hours to Luxembourg City, marking my 32nd country visited! I didn’t have many expectations going in, but sometimes that’s the best way to travel. Luxembourg is a tiny European country bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. I knew it’s one of the richest countries in the world (thanks to its high GDP per capita), offers free public transportation, and is a popular spot for Belgians to stock up on tax-free alcohol. Beyond that, I had no idea what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised!
The city had five Christmas markets, all within walking distance. With around 100 chalets, the atmosphere was cozy and festive, with plenty of spots to warm up by a fire, grab a drink, or enjoy live music.
These markets attract around 1.2 million visitors annually, and we loved how manageable and charming they were. Luxembourg was initially just a stop to break up the drive, but we ended up really enjoying our time there!
Stop 3: Strasbourg Christmas Market
The next day, we hit the road for another 2.5 hours to Strasbourg, France, the self-proclaimed “Capital of Christmas.” Almost every “Top 10 Christmas Markets in Europe” list puts Strasbourg in the top three, so our expectations were high. It didn’t disappoint!
Main markets are right in front of the famous cathedral!
Dating back to 1570, Strasbourg’s market is the oldest in France and one of the oldest in all of Europe. With over 300 chalets spread across the city, Strasbourg Christmas markets attract more than 2 million visitors each year. We spent two full days here, shopping until we dropped (again- shoutout Ben and his backpack for the assistance).
Strasbourg is famous for their teddy bear Christmas decorations!
My favorite purchase was a small Christmas house modeled after a real Strasbourg building. Last year, we bought a similar one in Germany with Ben’s family, and now we’ve started a tradition. These little houses will be cherished keepsakes forever.
To balance out the hectic market energy, I booked us a hotel with a wellness spa. If we weren’t at the market, we were indulging in the heated pool, sauna, and hammam before heading out for more shopping and mulled wine. Highly recommend!
Stop 4: Colmar Christmas Market
On our last full day, we drove an hour to Colmar, France, a town often said to resemble Belle’s village in Beauty and the Beast. While Disney has never confirmed it as an inspiration, the charming streets definitely feel like stepping into a storybook.
The Colmar Christmas markets featured 180 chalets, but it was so crowded that we only stayed an hour. (Note to self: avoid Saturday visits!) Social media has undeniably amplified Colmar’s popularity, and while the town is beautiful, it’s not quite built to handle the masses. That said, I’ve heard others who visited on quieter days had a wonderful experience, so timing is everything!
Back to Brussels
On Sunday, we drove back to Brussels in time for my mom to catch one of Ben’s hockey games. She even brought a handmade poster all the way from The States! It was her first time seeing him on the ice, and we chanted and cheered the whole game. The team thought it was really funny!
The next few days, we stayed local, revisiting the Brussels markets (yes, again!) and splitting some delicious food. On her last day, I treated her to my favorite place, Waer Waters, which is a well-known wellness spa within the region. With 23 saunas, 24 pools, and 10 relaxation rooms, it’s easy to see why I’m obsessed. We stuck to the dressed area—although the undressed area is the more popular choice here in Europe. There’s no phones allowed, so you are really forced to unwind for the day. We had hot stone massages, a salt cave experience, and had an amazing meal (delivered by a robot) in between the swimming. It was the perfect way to wrap up an amazing trip, and to decompress before we both had to return to work.
Final Thoughts
Ben and I absolutely loved having my mom here right before the holidays. Although it’ll just be the two of us for Christmas Day, it’s sandwiched between her visit and my dad’s upcoming trip in January, so we’re feeling grateful. And who knows? This might be our last quiet Christmas for a while, so we’re going to soak it all in.
Europe in December is pure magic, and this trip was no exception. If you’re ever considering a Christmas market road trip, I can’t recommend it enough—it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
Disclaimer: there was a recent terrorist attack at a Christmas market in Germany. I have mixed feelings about posting in an effort to be sensitive to the world around me. No family should have to go to the Christmas markets and come home without a member…it is a dark and scary world we live in. I feel very grateful that we got to experience it innocently. Life is precious and it’s difficult to not live in fear when terrible things like this occur.
Today marks ONE YEAR of living in Europe, 4,000+ miles away from home. Can you believe it?! It has been a whirlwind for Ben and I…with new jobs, global friendships, hosting 16 visitors, and exploring 12 countries (8 of them brand new!). This year brought personal growth, adventures, and challenges – and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
The Highlights
Obviously, the reason for this international move was for my job. I have had three roles with Komatsu so far, and this one is definitely my favorite! In my recent performance review, my manager mentioned that I have assimilated extremely well into the work culture and have formed relationships at all levels of the organization. She even said that I was exactly what the HR team here needed!
As the HR projects supervisor, I am the European liaison from headquarters to all European entities for HR related topics (Germany, Italy, Sweden, etc.) I have been able to work on some exciting initiatives…from creation to implementation to evaluation. Having a project-based role is right up my alley. In 2024, I will have business trips to our facilities in Sweden and Italy too!
We hosted a “Family Day” back in March on a Saturday. I normally dress more in business attire during the week
Another major highlight is that we have an established community of friends here. I knew that it was really important for Ben and I to find this because we are both super social people who love to host. Because Brussels is such an international city, we have made friends from all over the world, which has brought new insight and unique experiences. We have made friends through work, hockey, and expat groups on Facebook! I am so thankful for these people who we get to celebrate birthdays and holidays with, plan trips with, and have been such a support system during our time here.
Celebrating Thanksgiving together!
Vacation (referred to as holiday) time is extensive, and I am taking advantage of that! Not only that, but it is encouraged at work that you take your time off…even multiple weeks in a row. The famous question “Are you living to work or working to live?” really resonates here. In my experience, the American dream drives Americans to live to work, whereas Europeans are working to live.
And the best highlight…being able to travel at a level I have never before experienced (and will probably never experience again). In 2023, I flew 44,388 miles on 30 flights. That is 1.8x around the world! We spent our first wedding anniversary in Paris, saw the famous tulips at Keukenhof in The Netherlands with my sister, stayed in a villa in the French Riviera with my dad, visited Prague with my mom, went to a music festival in Budapest with a friend from college, went on the “World’s Best Hot Air Balloon Ride” in Turkey with Ben, stayed in a honeymoon suite in Santorini next door to our best friends on their honeymoon, went to Germany for famous Christmas markets with Ben’s family, and so much more!! It sounds like I am making all of this stuff up…I seriously think that when we tell our future children about this life that we lived, they won’t believe us!
The hardest parts
I have received SO much encouragement and excitement from family, friends, acquaintances…even people I haven’t talked to in years. I love getting to share this journey with everyone, but I don’t want it to seem through the lens of social media that everything is perfect. It is easy for everything to appear like sunshine and rainbows, but there are clouds and storms (literally because it rains 200 days per year here!!!).
The most difficult part of this entire experience was trying to focus on living my life here while being away from my life back home. For example, being away from our families during the holidays, missing my childhood best friend experience her first pregnancy, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, baby showers, birthdays, family dinners…people’s lives keep continuing and I’m watching them from a far. There are also so many events I will miss in 2024 and I know I will struggle with that. On the other hand, our family and friends have been SO intentional with planning to FaceTime, sending us letters in the mail, and encouraging us above and beyond. To my people, you know who you are, I love you!!! Thank you for your support.
The second most difficult thing was not having air conditioning. This is such an “American” comment but let me tell you…it SUCKED. There was a 10-day period in July/August where it was above 85 degrees Fahrenheit every day. Ben was back home in Chicago and Mallow and I were so overheated. It resulted in her not eating and me having an actual heat stroke. I finally decided to check us into a hotel for one night so just we could reset. She immediately ate 3 bowls of her food and I started to feel better. All my friends were teasing me for not being able to withstand the heat, but I had no shame! I needed to feel the A/C again LOL.
Mallow at the hotel…naturally she had to bring her frisbee
Another difficult adjustment was living in a country that is sooooo different from my own. Being around people that speak in foreign languages and navigating a completely different culture can be a challenge. For example, the workplace culture is completely different (& I experienced my first ever conflict in the workplace!), the currency is euros, we drive in kilometers, discuss the weather in Celsius, must use our translator app when shopping for groceries, etc. I even got a bridesmaid’s dress tailored by a woman who spoke only French! Every day I’m outside of my comfort zone. Most of the time I can handle it but sometimes things feel overwhelming.
Another battle was the neighborhood we lived in for the last 11 months. We thought we could handle the city center, but it turned out that after surviving an attempted mugging (thanks to Ben’s quick reflexes and my fight/flight response he didn’t get our jewelry), our building being broken into resulting in my favorite blue bike being stolen, and the constant crowds of people…that the city center was not for us. We have just moved (only 3 miles away) to a new neighborhood into the most beautiful apartment! We are so excited for this change and thankful to my company for being accommodating.
Some other funny “challenges” we’ve experienced…one of the hockey teams in the league Ben plays in filed a complaint against Ben. They were inquiring to see if we moved here for his hockey career LOL (because he is the #1-point scorer on his team, humble brag), so we had to provide our work contracts to prove hockey is just an extracurricular. North American hockey is at a completely different level than European hockey, so Ben has been targeted during games. It isn’t fun to watch your husband get slammed up against the boards, and I am now making him wear a cage to protect his face. I just think this is so funny because if we were to move for his hockey career, why do they think we would choose Belgium???
Go #16!!!
Lastly, our challenges in America (political, social, and economic) have undoubtedly tainted the reputation of the United States. For many, they view the US as somewhere they still want to visit but not necessarily live. I take a lot of heat about America…people are always making comments about how I should be use to mass shootings, how the food is so unhealthy there, or how our Presidents are a joke (they’re not wrong). I can handle it for the most part, but sometimes it gets to me. I have to realize that I can’t defend an entire country.
What I’ve learned
I’ve learned that I am adaptable and can handle change. As someone who typically fears changes and struggles with anxiety, this is exciting progress!
My perspective has changed about sooo many things and I’ve learned more about the world and myself more than ever before. I am changing and growing and figuring out who I am and what I like. Part of that is what your 20s are for, but it is definitely intensified in my current situation.
For example, I definitely don’t want to live in the middle of a city. But I don’t think living in the suburbs is for me either. I think I’d like a balance where we could drive/park and have a backyard but also be able to walk to dinner or some grocery stores/markets. Anyone have any recommendations?
I’ve learned more about sustainability, extreme consumerism in America, what’s in our food and how we should treat our bodies, etc. For example, this past year I have shopped less than I ever have. I now only buy things that “speak to me”, whereas back home I would have an Amazon package showing up on my porch every other day…yikes.
Conclusion
I am the first, youngest, and female expat in a male-dominated organization to have an international assignment in Europe. There are not enough words that could ever express this experience. I’ve felt every emotion this year. Happiness, sadness, excitement, frustration, overwhelmed, pure joy…you name it, I’ve felt it. But the thought of leaving here makes me so sad…so I’m going to make this last year count!!!
I haven’t blogged in 2.5 months and that’s because summer has been a whirlwind. Who would’ve guessed that I would still be as busy as usual even though I moved halfway across the world? (Okay the answer is probably everyone who knows me lol) In the time since I have written last…
We’ve had 7 visitors (shoutout to my mother-in-law, Roni, Shannon, Paddy, Justine/Steph, & Gabby)
Celebrated my 26th birthday
Been back to The States 2x (Illinois, Michigan, Texas) where I was in two weddings
Had my first Euro business trip to Lyon, France
Been on 2 personal Euro trips (a weekend in the south of Belgium with my coworkers and met a friend in Budapest)
Ben has had 2 Euro trips (Rome with his mom and met a friend in Ireland)
I am honestly tired just typing all that LOL. Summer has flown by per usual, and this week marks 7 months of living abroad! The weather here hasn’t felt very summer-y though. According to the Brussels Times, this July was the rainiest July in 35 years. I am not even surprised considering Ben and I have the WORST luck with weather…traveling to the top of the Swiss Alps and it being too snowy we couldn’t see past an arm’s length, hiking at sunrise to a lookout in Tennessee and only seeing fog, snowing on our wedding day but being hot and sunny the day after…the list goes on hahah. Any day that we have sunshine here in Brussels, you can bet we are going out for long dog walks and drinks on the terrace of our favorite local spots.
Other than the weather, things have been pretty great! I am still loving my job. My HR team and coworkers have really welcomed me, the projects I am working on have me feeling motivated and creative, and I’m excited for some new programs I am working on that will launch this fall (or as they say here ~autumn~). I am still getting use to using the European way…discussing the weather in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit, measuring distance in kilometers instead of miles, speaking in French/Dutch to make small talk and do simple tasks such as ordering a morning coffee and croissant. Every day here really feels like I am living in a parallel universe…and I love it! I really feel like I have adapted much easier than I expected. (I might never want to come back…jk…maybe…)
Visitors
So when we announced that we were moving abroad, nearly everyone in our lives said that they were going to come visit. I really didn’t expect that as many people would come visit, just because of how busy life is/the expense/getting time off of work/far flight/etc. But we have been blessed with so many visitors! At this point, I can confidentially say that we are professional tour guides of Brussels.
Earlier in June, my mother-in-law came to visit for 10 days. It was her 1st time in Europe and she absolutely thrived!!! She is gluten and dairy free in America, but she could eat WHATEVER she wanted while she was here without having stomach issues, rashes, fatigue, or any other symptoms. Can we just take a minute to realize that the hormones and preservatives that are put into our food in America are not okay? Anyways, her and Ben went to Rome for a few days. I stayed back to work and care for the Mallow. Although I was jealous for three full days straight, I was so happy for the two of them to have that time together. After they returned, we had a ton of fun showing her around and eating all things gluten and dairy filled! I am really lucky to have such an awesome mother-in-law, because I know that’s not the case for everyone!
My next visitor was one of my closest college (university) friends, Shannon. This was also Shannon’s first time in Europe. We spent 5 days together exploring Brussels, the medieval town of Bruges, and one over night seaside. It was my first time seeing the Belgian coast, and it was beautiful. I felt so honored that Shannon came to Europe just to visit me! I visited Shannon once in Colorado where she lived for a couple of years, and we always have the best time. We don’t see each other often, but we have the kind of friendship where we pick up right where we left off.
One of my best friend’s, Alex, her mom and sister were traveling around Europe trip and added on a couple of days in Brussels. It was so great getting to spend time with Justine and Steph. We had a classic Belgian meal and they discovered life without air conditioning. When Alex and I both studied abroad in Barcelona in 2017, Steph came to visit. I thought it was funny how we have had drinks together in 2 European countries! I love the Enright fam and can’t wait for Alex to come visit next 😉
My most recent visitor was another friend from college (university), Gabby. We met up in Budapest and had an absolute blast! Budapest is such an incredible place. We did an e-bike tour of the entire city, went to our first music festival, stayed up wayyyyyy too late, but managed to relax during the days at the famous thermal baths. More to come on the trip to Budapest!
Ben had two friends come and visit, too! One of Ben’s best friends that he played hockey with lives in Sweden, Roni. Roni was also a groomsmen in our wedding. He has already visited 2x, which is so cool that they get to see each other this often! Ben had another friend come visit, Paddy, that he coached with for the Glenbard hockey teams. They went to Ireland for a weekend and visited the Cliffs of Moher. I am sure that with all the time Ben and I spend together, he enjoyed this guy time!
It is always so special for us for our friends and family to experience our daily lives here in Brussels. We loveee having visitors. I have each of them sign our guest book and describe our travels and the time together. Fun fact: I haven’t read any of the entries. I want to save them until the end of my time here…I told this to Ben and he thought I was crazy. We will see if I can last the whole time without peaking in the book!
Trip#1 back home
I can’t believe I have already been home twice! The first time was in June for literally only 4 nights because I am crazy. When I told my European friends that I was going home for that short of a time they laughed at me LOL. Typically when people travel that far, they go for at least a week or two. The first trip home was because I was in charge of my cousin’s bachelorette party and to attend one of my best friend’s bridal showers! Both events were so so fun. I literally drove from the bachelorette weekend in Michigan straight to the bridal shower in Chicagoland, changed in a random bathroom, and carried on. I was dying of exhaustion but laughing along the way. I also managed to see my high school friends, my childhood best friend, and spent some time with family. You can never doubt my commitment to the people I love, that’s for sure!
I flew home absolutely exhausted and had no chance but to adjust to jet lag and repack because I had less than a 24 hour turnaround for my first business trip! As someone accustomed to traveling within the United States, I was very excitement when I found out I would be going to Lyon, France. True to my organization’s values, the travel policy encourages us to choose the most environmentally friendly means of transportation. Instead of taking a plane, which would have been the obvious choice, we opted for a high-speed train journey. This not only reduced our carbon footprint but also allowed us to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. (We will just skip over the part where my boss’ Louis Vuitton suitcase was stolen). During our stay in France, we dined at a Michelin-starred restaurant. What amused me was that, unlike in America where we would typically order an Uber, we happily embraced a 30-minute walk to and from the restaurant. It was a pleasant reminder of the European lifestyle and their appreciation for the simple pleasures in life. This trip also provided an opportunity to engage with our European works council and strengthen our partnership with union representatives. My boss and I stayed an extra night to explore the town and went out for a nice meal and drinks, too!
Lyon is the culinary capital of France!
I finally returned home after traveling for a week straight, and it’s safe to say I learned my lesson that I took on too much. I came home and was sooo sick. Because I don’t want to miss out on these big life events for the important people in my life, I maybe overcommitted and underestimated the toll it would take. What I am slowing starting to realize is that my life is here, for now. That is definitely my current challenge so if you could be praying/sending me good thoughts about being present and accepting that I can’t be everywhere at all times for everyone…I would greatly appreciate that.
Trip #2 back home
A couple weeks later in July, I headed home for the second time. My second trip was still extremely busy, but this time I scheduled in a spa day to force me to relax. Ben and I flew home for my cousin’s wedding where we got to walk down the aisle together as the Matron of Honor & Best Man (so fun to do that together!!). We even gave a combined speech, which I thought was really funny if you ask me. It was so nice to see all of my dad’s side of the family and many of our friends at the wedding. A few days later, Ben flew back to Belgium to take care of Mallow because it is nearly impossible to find a dog sitter in the month of July. We had to ask 9 different people before we could find someone who wasn’t traveling in July! I flew to Dallas, Texas where I was the Matron of Honor in my high school best friend’s wedding. Although it was HOT, it was seriously one of the best days ever. I think I cried 3x that day just watching how genuinely happy she is was.
Two beautiful brides!
I flew back to Brussels the day after her wedding and had a travel day from hell, where I was stranded in London for 14 hours. I was so exhausted from the past week that I literally paid (way too much) to be able to shower and sleep at the airport for a few hours. After finally making it to Brussels, Ben picked me up at 9pm and I went into the office the very next day!
Other Exciting News
I got tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour in Milan, Italy for next July!!!
Ben got a job!! More to come on this because I want him to be able to share all the details
My sister has just returned to the US after living abroad since October of 2022. After graduating from Belmont University with her bachelor’s in social work, she wanted to take some time off instead of beginning her master’s right away. For the past 7 months, she has been an au pair for a family in Italy, and then did some solo traveling through Portugal.
First, I am sorry to our mom and dad for both of your kids moving across the world around the same time LOL. I cannot imagine how difficult that is as a parent…I hope it brings you both comfort that Grace and I have seen each other much more than ever before. She came to Belgium three times, I went to Italy once, and we met in France for a weekend. I was especially grateful to be able to visit where she was working and living, which was a small village in the mountains of Trento, Italy. I was able to see what her daily life consisted of and meet the family she was working for.
Second, something that was really special for me was that I helped her pack to go to Italy and helped her pack to return back home. (Literally made her try every single thing on in her closet and Ben rolled all of her clothes to be able to fit it all in 2 bags). I can confidently say that the same girl who I helped pack up back in October is a different person. Her courage, independence, strength, and adaptability is truly admirable.
Third, the truth is that living abroad is amazing, but it is full of challenges. You are away from all of your comforts, far from everyone you know, your stability is gone, everybody around you is speaking a different language, the culture is different, the food is unique, etc. You must be able to adapt on the fly, and you are challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally. (I plan to elaborate on this in another blog post) I am a big believer that we are exactly where we need to be, all a part of God’s plan. Because Grace and I were both going through similar experiences at the same time, we were able to relate to each other on a level that most people can’t.
All in all, I want to tell my sister that I am so proud of her journey and personal growth.
Raise your hand if you can say “I have been to Paris before but didn’t see the Eiffel Tower”. I’ll wait…
Fun fact: Before this trip, both Ben and I could say that we have been to Paris before but didn’t see the Eiffel Tower. At the end of February 2020, Ben and I departed on a trip to Europe to visit my sister who was studying abroad in Italy and my best friend Carly who was an au pair in Germany. Right before we left, the first outbreak of the c-word occurred in Italy, and we rerouted to London. This was unfortunate because we didn’t get to see my sister, but London is one of my favorite cities ever! By the time we made our way to Germany, Trump had announced a travel ban and intense c*vid regulations. So, we cut our trip short…we took a speed train from Germany to Paris, checked into our hotel, took a shower, then headed straight to the airport to fly back to Chicago, all without even seeing the Eiffel Tower!! Long story short, Paris was on our list to get back to.
An anniversary weekend in Paris sounds like a dream, right? Well, where I go, chaos seems to follow. A national strike has been taking place in France after their President forced a bill through parliament without a vote that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64. Workers across the transport, education, fuel and utility sectors have have been striking, leaving the streets filled with piles of garbage and minimal public transport available. Protestors were gathering, rioting, and starting fires. Police were using tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray. We avoided these areas, walked until our feet bled (literally), but we still had the best time! I do recognize the struggle that that France is facing, and do not ignore my privilege.
How we got there
Originally, we booked a speed train on Thalys to Paris which only takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. However, due to strikes, our train was cancelled. But hey, 1 year ago was the week before my wedding and THAT was complete chaos too (main photographer canceled 3 days before, personalized wedding dress hanger cracked in half, easel for the welcome sign broke in half, my dog got sick, my cousin’s flight was canceled, my hair straightener broke in the middle of getting ready for my rehearsal dinner, the list goes on…) We ended up driving, which only took 3.5 hours. Ben used to make weekend trips to visit me in Michigan during undergrad and that took 3.5 hours…now we can drive 3.5 hours and end up in Paris. A dream!
Where we stayed
The City of Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, and we stayed in the 15th, just a stones throw away from the Eiffel Tour at Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel. This was definitely a splurge for us! But it was worth every penny. On Saturday morning, we ordered room service and ate on our balcony. I never understood why people ordered room service until we had it included our honeymoon in St.Lucia last year, and now I love it!
Like is this even real?
Where we dined
JJ Restaurant – This old-school French restaurant in the 8th was delicious. It was a very small, old-school eatery with white table clothes and exposed beams. I had a steak and Ben ordered fish and we split a bottle of red wine.
Seb’on – This rustic-chic restaurant in the 9th only had eight tables, and has two rounds of dinner each night. The chef creates the menu each week depending on what is in-season. French food is quite unique, and not for everyone. I really liked the intimacy and ambience of this place.
Cafe Louise – Cafe de Flore is one of the most famous cafes in Paris, but unfortunately they do not take reservations. Because we had a full agenda, we opted in for breakfast at Cafe Louise, where we had fresh squeezed OJ, croissants, baguettes, and warm drinks. This place was super cute and delicious!
Angelina’s – This is a famous tea room from 1903, known for their hot-chocolate. We waited in line for 45 minutes, but it was definitely worth it! I love going for tea and this was Ben’s first time. If you don’t have time to wait in the long line, you can stop by the hot chocolate cart in front of the restaurant.
Au Petit Tonneau – This upscale bistro had great French onion soup. However, there it is just called onion soup (lol). We came in mid-day and didn’t realize that we were expected to order a starter, entree, and dessert. The owner made it clear to us that he was unhappy, so he certainly didn’t help with the famous stereotype that the French dislike Americans. If you’re French speaking and want to order a starter, entree, and dessert…then this is the place for you!
What we did there
Let me start by saying that I had waaaaay too ambitious of an itinerary. 48 hours in Paris was not enough, so I guess I will have to go back 😉 Here is what we accomplished:
Visit the Arc de Triomphe
Walk Av. des Champs-Élysées (famous shops like Louis Vuitton, Laduree)
Watch the Eiffel Tower at night sparkle at the top of the hour for the first five minutes
Photoshoot at Pl. du Trocadéro
Take a Seine Cruise
At a Crepe near the Eiffel Tower
Explore the neighborhood of Montmartre & see the Sacré-Cœur
Parisian Cabaret at Moulin Rouge
Louvre Museum (saw the Mona Lisa!)
Put a lock on the Love Lock Bridge (formerly Pont des Arts, now Passerelle Debilly) on our anniversary
Can you tell that I like the Eiffel Tower?!?
Dos & Don’ts
Do: make reservations for dinner and museums
Don’t: go to an upscale French restaurant unless you’re ready to eat at least 3 courses
Do: be super careful of pickpocketing, especially right near the Eiffel Tower and busy areas
Don’t: underestimate how big this city is. There is so much to be seen, and 48 hours was simply not enough!
Do: go to the top of the steps at Place du Trocadero for the best pictures of the Eiffel Tower in the background.
What we didn’t have time for but want to do next time
Walk through Luxembourg Gardens
Visit the Pantheon
More time allotted for the Louvre (the largest museum in the world)
Visit the Palace of Versailles
Overall, it’s safe to say that I LOVED Paris, and we had an amazing time together celebrating and reminiscing on our first year of marriage.
Life with Liv 