On the Road Again: Where I’m Traveling in 2018

Exactly five weeks from today, my expat adventure in New Zealand comes to an end.

(Gone quick, hasn’t it?!)

I’ve given notice at work, found someone to take over the last of my lease, will throw a big ol’ leaving party then shove all my worldly possessions into a suitcase and return to life on the road.

When I arrived in Wellington in early January, I was fully burned out from nearly two years of full-time travel. The constant flying and packing and moving countries had taken its toll and I craved a smidge more stability — but more than anything, I craved community.

As I alluded to in my last post, I may have overcorrected. I’m ready to GTFO.

But! You live, you learn, and something I focused on while planning 2018 was how to strike a better balance between novelty and normalcy. This means more 4-8 week stints in one city at a time, between all the globe-hopping.

I’ve also realized that as lucky as I am to call so many places around the world home, I’ve slipped into a tendency to fall back on them a little too much (especially Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Venice — all of which I hit up 3-4 times last year). So moving forward I’ll actively try to spend less time in my Comfy Cities and explore more parts unknown, hopefully discovering even more new favorites.

***

JANUARY | New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea

I’m seeing out my New Zealand year by celebrating New Year’s with my friends and hospo family, then fly out of Wellington on January 3 — exactly a year to the day when I moved over.

I’ve managed to sneak in a nine-hour layover in Auckland, during which I’ll power through one last bar crawl with my Aucks-based friends, then hop a red-eye to Singapore.

After four days soaking up alllll the sun (and noodles and cocktails) with my mates there, it’s off I go to Seoul — followed quickly by Pyeongchang, where I’ll be based for seven weeks.

FEBRUARY | Pyeongchang

Time for another Winter Games! I’m currently in the process of applying for my Korean business visa in Wellington and then Olympics #5, here I come.

A typical lunch in my family home in Shanghai. Next year is forecasting a 7396% increase in Asian food consumption

MARCH | China & Vietnam

It’s become a personal tradition that after every Olympics, I take a little breather (after London I stuck around to sightsee; after Sochi I flew straight to Carnevale in Venice). Post-Rio I jumped directly into a filming gig in Asia, which, in retrospect, wasn’t the healthiest move.

After Pyeongchang I’ve decided to spend six weeks in Hanoi, with a six-day layover in Shanghai first to catch up with friends and family ( love that 144-hour Chinese transit visa).

Hanoi isn’t locked in, but short of getting called up for another assignment, I’ve my mind set on moving there for a wee while. It’s cheap, I’ve been wanting to revisit Vietnam since my first trip in 2011, two friends from Wellington are relocating there, and the idea of devouring bun bo and iced coffee every day is pretty close to heaven.

The sister’s last graduation. Please stop growing up so fast.

APRIL-MAY | USA, Canada, Portugal

Once I’m (hopefully) rested from some downtime in Hanoi, I’ll ramp things back up with a big US tour. Next year marks ten years since I first moved abroad, and I’ve now seen more of the rest of the world than I have my own country.

I’ll most likely fly into the West Coast, visiting my best friend in Portland before heading to San FranciscoNorth Carolina, (maybe New Orleans), New York City, and home to Pennsylvania for my sister’s college graduation.

While in the region, I’ll also finally head north and see Canada: Montreal is top of the list, as a good friend from Paris now lives there, but Toronto is a close second.

And in keeping with my tradition of spending each birthday in a different country, I’d like to celebrate the last one of my 20s in Portugal — a country that has eluded me for far too long.

JUNE-JULY | Western Europe

Here’s where y’all get to roll your eyes at me for negating everything I said in the introduction: June is dedicated to the European Friends Reunion Tour. By this point it’ll have been a year and a half since I’ve seen my favorite people and places, which everyone knows is an eternity in Mate Time.

Obviously, I’ll base myself in Paris and London — because, well, duh (though if you’ve only just started following my blog, those are the cities I feel at home more than anywhere else) — but also for their abundance of friends with couches and convenience as travel hubs.

Other stops on the tour: Belfast for Gin Fest, Paris for Fête de la Musique and Bastille DayGothenburg for Midsommar with my best-best friend; and of course VeniceAmsterdam, and possibly Edinburgh to see the rest of my loved ones.

I am the shrug emoji, the shrug emoji is me ¯\_()_/¯ 

AUGUST | Eastern Europe or South America

Here’s where I could use some guidance. When it comes to Europe I’ve still not traveled further east than Vienna, and I’d like to spend a month in a new country. However it is the height of tourist season, so I’m looking for a city that’s affordable, not too hot, and not too touristy in August (so probably no Prague or Budapest). I’ve heard great things about Bucharest….

Alternatively, depending on how certain job things pan out, I might head to South America early.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | Argentina

All things going well, I’ll be in Buenos Aires for at least a month or two in the fall. Coincidentally, it’s one of the last cities on my “Want To Live There” list — so if I end up there for work, I’d love to arrive a couple weeks early and get a proper taste of local Argentinean life, or stay on for a bit after. Who knows? This could be the start of my South American chapter.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | ???

I only have my life planned out until next October. No point trying to guess my state of mind after: I may want to stay on in the Americas and finally visit friends who live in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and head to Rio for New Year’s; I might actually miss life Down Under(!) and use my last working holiday visa to move to Sydney.

Or I could be dying for a wintry Christmas by then and head back to Europe…or find myself somewhere completely random and unexpected altogether, like Dakar or Tel Aviv or Beirut.

In a life of constant flux, the only thing I know for sure is — wherever I end up, it’ll be a brilliantly fun surprise.

Where are you off to in 2018?

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31 Comments

  • Reply
    Tanya
    November 29, 2017 at 21:22

    You’re so lucky!! I’m sure this takes a lot of hard work and planing! I aspire to be like you after college :-)

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 15:53

      Thank you! Yes it does, I’ve been at it for nearly ten years now. It’s a combination of luck and hard work, and choosing your priorities. All the best!

  • Reply
    Marina
    November 29, 2017 at 21:42

    Love this post!! So exciting! AND YESSSSSSS COME VISIT!!!! You are always welcome <3

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 15:54

      Will definitely be in touch! Can’t wait to see you!!

  • Reply
    Astrid Kaniele
    November 30, 2017 at 07:46

    These plans sound brilliant! I’ve just moved to Australia so I’m going to stay in the country and just explore it for the year instead of getting flights out all the time, as much as I’d love to. :)
    Astrid
    http://www.astridkaniele.com

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 16:37

      Awesome! Have fun in Australia! There’s so much to explore within the country alone, I’m sure you’ll have a blast.

  • Reply
    Caroline Eubanks
    November 30, 2017 at 12:33

    Come see me in Atlanta! We’ve got an airport :)

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 16:41

      Haha so you do! I’ll see what I can finagle — I still haven’t been yet! :)

  • Reply
    Helin
    November 30, 2017 at 14:07

    Yay! Portland!!!! I’ll ask a lot of questions about your Olympics experience.

    I’m a bit sad to learn ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ is not called shruggie. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 16:43

      Honestly, it could be.
      I’m so excited to see you and your new house!

  • Reply
    Ashley
    November 30, 2017 at 19:10

    Such exciting plans! Let me know if end up coming to Toronto next year :)

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 16:43

      Will do! Are you back there now?

  • Reply
    Sarah Merusi
    December 1, 2017 at 20:39

    Awesome news to see you’re traveling again. Totally understand the need to refresh and refill the batteries. Super exciting, Edna! We may run into each other in Vietnam in March! Will let you know if I’m there as well.

    Also, please do let me know if you want to explore Chile (in particular, Patagonia). October/November is a great great time to there.

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 16:44

      Thanks Sarah! I would absolutely love that. Etown reunions across the world! Safe travels to you in the meantime as well!

  • Reply
    Amy Morgan
    December 2, 2017 at 15:58

    Wow! Not too much of a busy one then ;-)
    If your London travels get too hectic and you fancy a bit of English countryside/coast ping me a message. Happy travels gorgeous xx

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 16:46

      Haha yeah…I have to be careful not to burn out again but I know I’ll be happier on this schedule than I have been this past year in New Zealand. Would absolutely love some English countryside time with you and S! Let’s plan something for June or July xx

  • Reply
    Laura Bronner
    December 3, 2017 at 13:21

    So many exciting plans! Can’t wait to follow along! I’m ringing in the new year in the UK and then spending the rest of the winter and most of spring in Mexico. Then it’s back to Europe to eat my way around Spain (never been before!), France, and Italy – it’s a sort of 30th birthday present that my boyfriend and I are giving ourselves!

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 17:00

      Amazing! Oh you’ll love Spain, and those are all such good countries to eat your way through! Maybe see you in France or Italy at some point!

  • Reply
    Erica
    December 3, 2017 at 15:37

    *ahem* I couldn’t help but notice you’re going a stone’s throw away from me but not visiting. Explain yourself.

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 17:01

      uhh… well in that case it wouldn’t be so far for you to come visit me in Portland either? :D

  • Reply
    Cynthia
    December 5, 2017 at 07:55

    Good to catch up with your next moves! Generally planning to be in mostly Czech Rep (obvs) with a sprinkle of Provence and a fair amount of Berlin in 2018 – we’re planning to do the Hemmingway thing where we spend a month working on our “craft” there in the summer. Should be a good year! I’ve not really been more east than Budapest but I certainly wouldn’t mind being based out of there for a month. LOVED that city more than I thought possible… and it’s cheaper than CZ which is saying something. (prolly not as cheap as Bucharest, though)

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 17:07

      Ooh I keep getting people trying to get me to Berlin as well. Maybe our paths will cross there!

  • Reply
    Victoria @TheBritishBerliner
    December 5, 2017 at 09:36

    ‘Nice one Edna! You’ve got some great plans there!

    I’m going to India again next year, so that should be interesting. I’ve been trying to sneak in Russia too, but it has just eluded me! Ah well!

    Re-Eastern Europe – I recommend Slovenia or Poland. Both extremely cheap and “east” enough not to feel crowded, or “done!”

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 17:20

      Thanks Victoria! Great suggestions I’ll have to look into. Have fun in India and good luck with Russia!

  • Reply
    Amy
    December 6, 2017 at 09:05

    Sound like great plans, Edna! Will especially be interested in your South Korea adventure (though I know you’ll be working), as I’m thinking about it for myself next year.
    I was in Bucharest last August, and it wasn’t too touristy but it was *hot* and I felt like I kept running into that irritating issue of businesses being closed for the month. You could always consider Ukraine… :) Up and coming, off the tourist track, not too hot, super affordable. I’m leaving in two weeks, but there’s a sliiiiight possibility I’ll be back next July/August myself. Just, ya know, think about it. :)

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 17:20

      Oh yes, the August shut down…would definitely consider Ukraine! Especially if you’re going to be there — keep me updated!

  • Reply
    Sara
    December 6, 2017 at 14:51

    Sounds fun! Let us know if you have time for a NJ stop during your East Coast time! A lot has changed since your last visit :-)

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 17:21

      Absolutely! Will definitely stop by and see you and Michael! And get more of those bagels :D

  • Reply
    Sara
    December 7, 2017 at 21:19

    San Francisco! Also, if you want to go east of Vienna, I had a great experience in Slovenia (not eastern Europe, per se, but less touristed for sure) and there are some cool things going on in Latvia and Lithuania because they’re celebrating a hundredth anniversary. (There’s actually an AMAZING looking choir festival with groups of like 10,000 people singing that I think would be soooo cool to go to, but it’s in July) Great to see what you’re up to!

    • Reply
      Sara
      December 7, 2017 at 21:20

      *not eastern Europe or East of Austria, I should say :)

    • Reply
      Edna
      December 11, 2017 at 17:26

      Ooh that’s another vote for Slovenia! Thanks and yes will definitely chat to you more about this when I’m in SF for sure! :)

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