Week One: Addis Ababa

I am notoriously bad at keeping loved ones updated of my whereabouts. In California I would casually talk about my plans for Ethiopia, before the confused looks — indicating they had no clue I was moving there — would register in my mind. So here goes for the interwebz: I’m currently in Addis Ababa, the … Continue reading →

The Summer of Julie, pt. 2

I am happier, more centered, and feel a sense of purpose when I write. The past nine months or so have been a rollercoaster of losses, discoveries, challenges and beautiful, authentic encounters. It hasn’t been so conducive to writing. But again and again, appearing in my field of awareness, is the insistence that I to … Continue reading →

One Second a Day, 2014

As a segue into returning to more regular blog posts, I offer my long overdue video for my time in California in 2014. My previous ‘one second a day’ video ended with my return to California, after spending about a year and a half abroad. So much runs through my mind as I watch this … Continue reading →

Radio silence

Today marks one month in Vienna. By and large, there has been silence on my end. I promised endless photos and blog posts, and yet here is the first of either category. It is difficult to put into words my experience of the past month. The transition into a new apartment was surprisingly smooth and … Continue reading →

Things that make me happy

I feel as though I’ve been holding my breath for the past two weeks. Since learning of my acceptance into grad school in Europe, it’s been a whirlwind. There is so much to do (sifting through and giving away most of my belongings, finding housing in Vienna, etc.) and so many people to see, that … Continue reading →

I’m moving to Europe! (again)

I’m so excited to share that I was accepted into a Master’s program abroad WITH a scholarship, which not only covers the costs of tuition and health insurance, but also includes a monthly stipend and a generous contribution toward travel expenses. My first year of studies will be in Vienna, Austria followed by a year … Continue reading →

2015: Intention, Joy, Dare

At the end of 2014, I recalled my friend’s annual practice of selecting one word to frame the events of the coming new year. I really like the idea: a word is open to interpretation, flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances. Since our lives and bodies are in perpetual flux, our goals need … Continue reading →

Discarding the apology habit

In the wake of my most revealing blog post to date, I initially wanted to follow up with a post of gratitude. I’m so very thankful for the overwhelmingly positive response and the outpouring of support from close friends and acquaintances alike. But my motivations for writing about gratitude were much more complicated than merely … Continue reading →

Capturing the day-to-day

Inspired by this TED Talk about recording a video each day, I re-committed myself to that effort during my backpacking trip abroad, in September 2013. The following video shows the last five-ish months of my travels: it begins in England, following my journey through Wales, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia. This project … Continue reading →

Internal -> external pain

I used to self-harm: I pulled my hair out in clumps, I pinched and scratched myself, I hit my face and other parts of my body until they bruised. I suppose a little backstory is in order… For as long as I can remember, I’ve battled with feelings of unworthiness. As a child, I developed … Continue reading →