Hola!I'm Becki...a part-time traveler and recovering expat back in the U.S. after two amazing years spent living in Spain.
After debating it forever and agonizing over whether or not to give up my rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco (to which people actually gasped out loud when I told them I had), I left the Bay Area in April 2016 and headed to my tiny hometown in southwest Virginia for five weeks of catching up with family and friends, lots of wine tasting and just generally vegging out. In June 2016, I boarded a plane to Madrid…still wondering if I was making a terrible mistake! I completed a crazy intense TEFL program with TtMadrid, which certified me to teach English to the fine folks of Spain, I was definitely out of my comfort zone teaching every day, but learned new skills and met some awesome people along the way. After living in North and South Carolina, California and Spain, I've come full circle back to the New River Valley where I grew up. I do have to admit that the reverse culture shock of coming back to the U.S. along with the heartbreak of leaving Madrid made the re-entry process incredibly difficult. I'm now working at my alma mater and am lucky to have landed a great position where I enjoy the work I do along with the nicest co-workers. And, while my official "cubicle escape" lasted two years, I'm redefining what a cubicle escape means going forward while working full-time. I hope this site will inspire other full-time workers to craft their own cubicle escapes whether that be exploring local gems in the area such as wineries and restaurants, a short weekend getaway, or a longer trip to a faraway destination. I fell in love with travel when I was 16 after taking my first international trip to Europe with my high school German class and that travel wanderlust has never waned. While I still have several places in Europe I want to check off the travel to-do list, I want to branch out with my travel goals and explore Central and South America, Canada, Asia, the Caribbean and the good old U.S.A. If anyone out there is considering moving to Spain (or anywhere) to teach English, I highly recommend it. It was an incredible learning experience that came with fun times and lifelong friends. And, while it won't always be puppies and rainbows while navigating a foreign land, it was 100% worth it. I'm happy to answer any questions regarding teaching English, travel, etc....get in touch via email or fill out the comment form. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Other random facts: • I graduated from Virginia Tech and am a die-hard college football fan (Go Hokies!). So much so, that you don’t want to watch a game with me if they happen to be losing. • Before moving to Spain, I had been to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England, and Italy (my favorite!). I can now add Denmark, Sweden and France to the list. • I absolutely adore amusement parks…more than the average adult probably should. • Wine tasting, going on food tours and sitting by an ocean drinking cocktails and eating seafood are tied for my three favorite things to do…the majority of the things I did in Europe were wine and food related, which should surprise no one. *Header illustration by the very talented Burton Clarke. |
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