Field Notes: A Journey Through Life Abroad

Panama City View from Ancon Hill, Panama

Panama

From Nomads to Pensionados: Why We Chose Panama As Our New Home

I like to say that my husband and I are “experienced travelers,” though “seniors with itchy feet” might be more accurate. Travel has always been woven into our lives. He…

People enjoying the summer at the beach at Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia

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Europe

Inside North Macedonia: Europe’s Most Unexpected Reinvention

North Macedonia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 at a time when the rest of the country was disintegrating and at war. Macedonia was able to quietly and peacefully…

Two people sitting on a beach at sunset with waves rolling in and rocky coastline silhouetted against the golden sky

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Costa Rica

Why Some Expats Leave Costa Rica (and Others Stay Forever)

Many people move to Costa Rica announcing, often, that they are staying forever. But a few years later, some pack their bags. It rarely happens all at once. There is…

Woman walking down a narrow street in Havana lined with weathered pastel buildings beneath a bright blue sky

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Cuba

The Reality Behind Cuba’s Romance

The island nation of Cuba has been at the fore of global fascination for decades. Its very existence is romanticised by some and brings ire to others. The word Cuba…

Female traveler standing in Bali rice paddies during golden hour

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Costa Rica

Costa Rica or Bali? A Tale Between Two Paradises

A Life Shaped by Travel As an avid traveler, I find it ironic that I was raised by parents whose world rarely extended beyond American borders. Yet two of their…

Woman steering a sailboat near a tropical island while living a sailing lifestyle at sea

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Interview

When the Ocean Becomes Your Home

For most people, the idea of leaving behind a conventional life to sail across the world’s oceans alone would seem unthinkable. For Captain Liz Clark, it felt inevitable. Raised along…

Aerial view of Puerto Vallarta coastal town with turquoise ocean water, sandy beaches, white buildings, green mountains, and boats anchored in the bay

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Romania

Mexico Beyond the Headlines: The Expat Reality

The killing of cartel kingpin Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho,” has sparked a wave of backlash across parts of Mexico, setting off violence, government response, and…

Daily life in Costa Rica moves at its own pace, shaped as much by culture as by policy.

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Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s Digital DIMEX, Explained

The Pura Vida Approach to Progress Anyone who has spent time in Costa Rica quickly learns that the local rhythm is guided by a unique internal compass. Here, life is…

Raising children with space for exploration, resilience, and wonder.

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Interview

Raising a Family in Motion

For the Willink family, travel has never been about escape or spectacle. Long before children entered the picture, it was already a way of moving through the world with intention,…

A red cable car descends from a lush green mountain, offering a breathtaking aerial view of the historic red-tiled roofs of Brasov, Romania, under a cloudy sky.

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Romania

From Exodus to Opportunity: Romania’s New Chapter

Potentially more than any other country in Europe, Romania has long been synonymous with outward migration. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the Eastern European nation recorded the highest levels of…