I have a terrible habit of keeping things in backlog purgatory. I have countless half-finished diary entries written on various Word documents scattered across my hard drive; I haven’t uploaded a proper photo album onto facebook since I went to Australia in December 2011.The most taxing part of it is, I always say I’m going to do all these things — tomorrow. Next month. One day.
Eventually it all gets dragged on so long that my backlogs become backlogged, I’m stressed out for months on end until I finally get around to it, and next thing you know I’m posting photos 14 months after the fact and I can actually hear the internet friends all whispering to each other, WTF Edna? We don’t even care about this anymore.
All of this to say: I’ve been talking about Azerbaijan for quite some time now, and while there’s still much more I could write, after ten posts spread over four months I need to move on. Otherwise I’ll never get to writing about London, or Hong Kong, or any of the travels in between. So I’m making the executive decision to draw the line here, accept that I’m happy with everything I’ve gotten out about Azerbaijan, and start March on a clean writing slate.
So to celebrate the end of my Azerbaijan posts (for now, anyway; you never know when I might pull some material out for a flashback post), I’m holding a giveaway!
While I was in Baku I fell in love with the silken scarves — so much, in fact, that I decided to keep all the colors I bought after my first shopping trip and had to return to buy several more for friends and family.
I also picked one up specifically to give away to a blog reader. It’s silky, colorful, and perfect for spring (plus you have to admit, it’s fun to say, “Oh this old thing? It’s just a scarf I got from Azerbaijan.”).
How to enter
I’m going to make this super easy.
No, I’m not going to make you like me on facebook or ask you to follow me on twitter. (I mean, if you want to, I would love to see you around! But I don’t believe in making people follow you to enter a contest.)
All you have to do to enter is simply leave a comment, telling me about yourself.
I’m listening. (Also, I realize I’m terrible at tying scarves.)
I want to get to know my readers better. I still think that this site is something all of five people read, and am constantly surprised when acquaintances or strangers tell me they read my posts.
So come out of the woodwork! If you read my blog, leave a comment. Tell me about yourself: maybe who you are, how you found this little site, if you’re a traveler or expat, anything at all. Tell me your life story, or just write a sentence. If you’re a regular commenter or a friend of mine in real life, tell me something I don’t already know about you.
I look forward to getting to know you all a bit better!
Contest ends Friday, March 8. Winner will be chosen by a random number generator.
48 Comments
Pamm
February 27, 2013 at 01:29I understand procrastination. I having been meaning to write a Christmas letter for the last four – or is it five? – years. The worst part is not that I intend to do it, but I also save all the Christmas cards and letters to reference when I get around to doing that Christmas letter. Maybe 2013 will be my year…………..
edna
February 27, 2013 at 01:40I do the saving thing too! Which only adds to the stress, of course. For instance, I have lots of blog posts I’ve been meaning to write and I’ll keep other blogs’ tabs up as a reminder/reference, which always leads to 70 tabs being open at once and my computer inevitably crashing… It also leads to me being a hoarder in real life; I’m dreading going through and packing up all my stuff when I leave Paris.
Megan
February 27, 2013 at 01:40Totally understand the procrastination… and then it gets to the point that it seems too late to do whatever it was… then I feel guilty, and promise next time I’ll do better…
I totally appreciate not making me doing lots of crazy stuff to enter a giveaway though… :)
While it’s sometimes nice to follow people on social media, I don’t always want to follow a person through 5 different programs just to win a prize…
edna
February 27, 2013 at 01:45Yep, you get me! The worst I feel is with emails — when you realize you never responded to so-and-so’s question or request and you feel bad, but you can’t reply NOW because now it’s too late and they’ve moved on and you just feel guilty…vicious cycle. Thanks for commenting!
Kay
February 27, 2013 at 01:47So glad that we can now have your blog come directly to our email because I just love following your travels…….& I keep those that will prove so very helpful when I, too, travel to that region.
Thank you !
edna
February 27, 2013 at 01:57That’s very sweet of you Kay, thanks!
Colette
February 27, 2013 at 02:18Hi Edna! I’m a newbie traveler… I went solo backpacking through the Middle East last summer and have been hooked on travel ever since. :) I’m planning my next trip and getting my fix in between by reading great travel blogs like yours. Best of luck in your continuing adventures!
Chanse
February 27, 2013 at 04:55Hey Edna,
I have been following your travels for a while and love what you write. I’m currently going to school for journalism/broadcasting, and will hopefully be taking a semester abroad the end of this year or beginning of next. I knew what i wanted to do with my life a while ago, but travel blogs like yours and a few others really pushed me to go for it. Thanks for always updating us!
Mecha
February 27, 2013 at 05:54I don’t really travel much nor do i want to but I just adore this blog! It makes me so happy to read about all the cool stuff you do and all the places you go! Thanks, Mecha
Camels & Chocolate
February 27, 2013 at 05:55Hmm…well, I’m Kristin from Tennessee, and my favorite food is sweet potato anything (or just sweet potatoes, baked with a dash of sea salt!).
Majida
May 2, 2013 at 00:13I love them with a little lemon juice and a pinch of Garam Masala (the Indian spice)!
Ashley Hufford
February 27, 2013 at 05:58I’m big on the procrastination. And its the worse because I always get myself psyched for a project and then end up committing myself even if I dont have the time and then I feel terrible and it all just ends up with me feeling guilty.
I’m started using my email inbox as a to-do list and deleted (or putting in folders) each email once I complete said task or reply :P It kind of works!
Thanks for writing your lovely blog. Makes my travelers heart, stuck in my quite poor post-grad body feel as though I get to experience a little more of the world!
Michael Smith
February 27, 2013 at 06:22I love reading your travel stories and seeing your photos. I moved from US to South America in Jan 2011 and have been traveling ever since. I understand about stuff stress- when I sold my house in Maryland I had 21 years of stuff. I sold and gave away most of it, including 3000 books that I had collected (I have a bit of a book buying habit). I am glad to say that I asked for and received lots of help from friends in the process. Ranging from practical putting old clothes into bags for Goodwill, to spiritual and emotional support and healing.
I am working on my open tab habit. I now copy URLs that are “to do” into my todo list in Evernote rather than leaving extra tabs open.
Louise
February 27, 2013 at 10:55I’m Louise and I’m your number one fan! I should thank Tom for that really, without him we would never have met. Something you don’t know about me? I love Gwen Stefani like there’s no tomorrow and yesterday we painted our living room! x
Caitlyn
February 27, 2013 at 11:39Haha I could keep hearing about Azerbaijan, it just sounds so intriguing! I found your site through Waegook Tom – we both did a guest post for him and I’ve been an avid reader ever since :) In case you don’t already know, I’m an Aussie expat living in the Netherlands, working as a tour guide around Europe and also obsessed with the Olympic Games. Interesting fact? I am technically married in Cambodia!
Alex @ ifs ands & butts
February 27, 2013 at 12:11How generous you are, Edna! Let’s see, Texas girl, in Germany for who knows how long and no idea what’s next. It sounds more exciting than it is sometimes, but then sometimes, it’s really exciting! Things I miss most: Tacos, American football, free refills.
Ali
February 27, 2013 at 14:25I’m 17 from Scotland and hoping to live in Paris one day. I spent a lot of time There as a young child and love your blog to get my dose of Paris (and your travels). Fun fact would be I collect scarfs! When my friends go on holiday they often bring me back a locally crafted piece and I have them all hanging in my bedroom :) xxx
tia
February 27, 2013 at 16:29Hi Edna! I’m a fairly new reader. I think I found your blog from a guest post you did for another blogger (cant remember which one!). I’m American (from Chicago), I went to grad school in Barcelona, Spain, where I met a Dominican boy, and now I’m engaged to said boy and living in the Dominican Republic!
cosmoHallitan
February 27, 2013 at 17:25Hi Edna, this is such a lovely idea! I discovered your blog when someone recommended it on Twitter and have been hooked ever since. I’m an American gal currently living in Shanghai and travelling around Asia with my husband. This is my first time living abroad and I love it! Though I do miss things like pre-washed baby spinach and baking supplies. Europe is next for us so I will probably spend some time going through your archives looking for tips!
Daisy de Plume
February 27, 2013 at 18:20I am already a proud owner of one of your DIVINE Azerbaijan scarves so I’m just leaving you a comment because I miss you dearly. If we don’t have lunch soon I’ll perish, so drop me a line to let me know if you’re free before your Russian escapade (and why! What fun you do get up to!).
And I love the snap of you listening.
xx
Jess C.
February 27, 2013 at 18:25I’m all too familiar with the backlog problem (still posting about my September road trip through Europe…six months later. Yikes!)
I’m a Canadian, living in Malta, studying marketing. I’ve got a weakness for Moroccan food, wiener dogs, and art history books. I’m a regular reader, and loved all of your Azerbaijan posts (I’m so intrigued with that part of the world).
Jas
February 27, 2013 at 19:43I just visited through my friend share on facebook.
Nakia
February 27, 2013 at 19:53I hear you on backlogs being backlogged. I’ve got babymoon posts and birth story posts that are now over a year late. Life just gets too fun living to post stuff sometimes.
I am not an expat. I haven’t even traveled much other than some cross country road trips within the US, more than a few trips across the US/Mexico border and a handful of three day Baja cruises. I would love to be able to travel one day. And until then, I fill my time reading your blog and others like yours – drooling over beautiful photos and descriptions of lands far off.
Sofie
February 27, 2013 at 21:16Cool giveaway!
I’m not going to go into backlogging. Let’s talk scarves instead!
I’m a die-hard fan. Honestly. For someone who’s called 90% of the time, scarves are perfect. I’ve got some really thick and long ones for winter and some lighter ones for spring and summer. I sometimes even where them over turtle neck sweaters (yes, I own turtle neck sweaters) to keep me warm!
I have a:
– blue (2)
– black (2)
– red
– green
– grey
– white (2)
– apple blue – sea green
– purple
– brown
one.
I don’t, however, own any silken scarf, nor do I own any with patterns! All mine are just plain dull.
So, should I win this giveaway, I would where the scarf with pride (and like, a lot!) and put it at the top of my collection!
Just saying:-)
Laura
February 28, 2013 at 03:30I think I found your blog via Freshly Pressed. I’m currently a law student in Ann Arbor, MI, but I love to travel when I can so your blog is a big source of inspiration!
Ileana
February 28, 2013 at 21:31I found your blog through Diane, A Broad and I think it’s lovely. I am a photographer turned stay at home mom. I live in Florida and have visited Paris once and miss it, which is why I love reading about the lives of you brave expats! Take care.
Vicky
February 28, 2013 at 23:41I found your blog a few weeks ago when I was researching the life and trials of expats..for a hot minute I thought I would be moving to Europe for work in the next few weeks. Needless to say that fell through but it is still something I’m interested in and I love reading about other peoples travels and experiences.
turallino
March 1, 2013 at 00:12I am a Project Control Eng in Oil&Gas and currently working in London, UK. I love to collect the coins and marks from all countries and currently having more than 30 country marks all over the world. I like your posts and pls share your thoughts about the beautiful places u have been.
p.s. when I was in Shaki, I bought one silk scarve and its marvelous.
Firuza
March 1, 2013 at 00:49Speaking of Azerbaijan, thats where i come from:) and i loved your posts about my country, but i think theres soooo much more you could have written and showed the world:) it still made me happy to know that someone out there enjoyed exploring bits of the culture i was born into:)
Steph - The Event Crashers
March 1, 2013 at 01:04False – I DO care when you finally get around to uploading the pics because they’re all so great! Procrastination happens with me, too, all the time. It’s even harder when I have photographers who are submitting work to me and I have to give them an ‘expected publication date’ and then some new trend happens, or I get tired, etc. Meh. I also remember when you posted about those scarves the first time around during your travel posts and I loveddd them! I love having pieces that really tell stories and aren’t just “there.”
ChinaMatt
March 1, 2013 at 02:30I don’t need to enter the contest…and you already know me, so it’s a little pointless to say anything more. Although, I’m still waiting for your return to NYC.
Erica of Kizzling Around
March 1, 2013 at 06:08Hi, my name is Erica. Long time fan.
Maaaaaybe, laughing that after your wrote your tendencies of freaking out to catch up, you post twice today and wondering when you’re going to decide to just add the scarf to your collection. ;)
Ok, but really. I totally do the same thing, only today instead of freak out about it, I passed out as soon as I got home from work. Soooo 6pm. I’m finally now up for intermission before Act 2 of pretending to be sleeping beauty.
Sid
March 1, 2013 at 17:42Adventuresome Kate’s travels led us to you Edna. We are Alaskan’s who travel in the fall for a few months each year but winter in Sedona, Az. Obviously it’s the simple desire to share that truly makes travel one of life’s greatest and most rewarding experience. So. . . just thank you. . . :-)
Sid and Karen
Faro
March 2, 2013 at 06:39Reading expat blogs is my form of travel these days. Hope that changes soon!
Jessica Hill
March 2, 2013 at 13:00I love those scarves so much I’d even buy one from you! I often get home and do the same thing as you…want to keep all of my souvenirs for myself! How will you part with one?
Jean
March 3, 2013 at 05:25I’ve got a pretty boring profile compared to many readers here living away from their home country…..I’m a Canadian, a cyclist for over past 2 decades and living in a sprawled city in the middle of the prairies. I jockey between here and Vancouver.
Antoinette | love.antoinette
March 4, 2013 at 00:32I can’t resist a nice, colorful scarf as I happen to have a large collection! My name’s Antoinette, I live in Brooklyn, born in the Philippines, and grew up in the Bronx. I came across your blog from GQtrippin awhile back about that “I wish I was White” post. I’m currently a pediatric cardiac ICU nurse who travels back and forth often to South and Central America for medical missions and leisure activities. My blog name is love.antoinette as I blog about the things I truly love: travel, NYC, street art, style & fashion, snowboarding, etc… And I’m just like you when it comes to “backlogged” entries and photos… I was in Argentina back in November and I’m still not done posting/talking about it. Other things always come up and I’m glad to know I’m not the only one.
Emily
March 4, 2013 at 19:10I found your blog through other travel blogs (to be honest I can’t remember which one provided the connection, but your blog is now one of those I regularly check out…I enjoy your writing style and am especially fascinated that you went to Azerbaijan). I love to travel and hope to do a world trip for a year with my mister next year…in the meantime I am aiming to save up, establish my own fun-to-read blog and make the most of my current city (Toronto).
Keep up the great posts!
Lauren @ roamingtheworld
March 4, 2013 at 22:31I have a thing for scarves…
Like you, I love the idea of buying things for friends but unless I buy the same color of something, I’m usually too tempted to keep it for myself!
Yes to the backlog. When I’m going to and fro, I often write in my head of blog posts I want to write but then when I finally have time, I’m either focused on other entries or feel uninspired. Ha. Life of a blogger.
Love your honesty!
About me: Unexpected 2nd year in Spain (you figured I’d be back, unlike me) and doing the teaching English thang. Traded sunny Andalucian skies for cold, snowy days and pintxos. They call tapas pintxos in the North!
Merel
March 5, 2013 at 22:53Hi! I’m a Dutch graduate student, currently based in Berlin but planning on moving to London in June. I found your blog through other travel blogs (Adventurous Kate?) and kept checking back after I discovered your posts about Paris and about how you felt that the city wasn’t for you. Before coming to Berlin, I lived in Paris for 4 months (my uni is Paris-based so all students are required to spend at least one semester there) and I did give the city (and the French) a chance, I really did – but I still hated it. Maybe it was my basic French and the fact that I kept speaking in English to people, or maybe 4 months is really just too short, but till the end of my stay I felt like an ‘intruder’ – even in my local Monoprix! I hated how I always had to defend myself against other people’s judgments (“You don’t like Paris?! Come on, it’s PARIS!”). In retrospect, it wasn’t even THAT bad – I mean, I loved the food (!), the museums, walking along the Seine on a gorgeous sunny autumn day.. but I’m still glad it’s over. Here in Berlin I have much more ‘freedom’ – people are relaxed, don’t judge, I can talk to anyone and it doesn’t matter where I’m from or what I’m wearing (going clubbing in sneakers and jeans – check) ! Funny fact – I also lived in Singapore for a while back in 2010!
Ann Shake
March 6, 2013 at 14:18I found your site when i was looking for advice on travel after graduation. I checked out that article along with others on food, relationships etc. I haven’t graduated yet but i hope to travel one day…may be at least 3 countries per year. A girl can dream right? hehe. I love food, music, different cultures and i find plenty of wow moments in your blog:) thank you!!
Julie
March 6, 2013 at 19:36Although I did a ton of living abroad when in college and immediately after, I am sad to no longer have expat status so I live vicariously through your site and all of your amazing adventures! Some random tidbits about myself-
-The most amazing people I’ve met during my travels were my host families in Mexico and Costa Rica.
-I’ve only gotten sea sick once in my life and that was when taking the ferry over to Morocco from Spain (I’m still scarred from it ha ha).
-Julia Child is my idol. Her “official” name was Julie (mine is Julia) whereas she went by Julia and I go by Julie :)
Alyssa
March 7, 2013 at 03:31Hi! I’m Alyssa. I’ve been reading since you moved to Paris. I’m not sure how I stumbled upon your blog, but I’m glad I did. Some things about me:
-I’m horrible at commenting on the blogs I read
-I’m an expat in South Korea
-I studied in Sevilla, Spain
-I dream of South America daily
-I love Scarves ;)
Anne
March 7, 2013 at 03:48Hey Edna! :D
Well I’ve been following your blog for a few months and love it, and you have also been checking out my own blog which I appreciate so much since I am a newbie. You already know my general story I think since you’ve checked out my about page (New Hampshire-born girl who is now freshman in college at The University of Alabama) so I’m not sure there’s much else I can say. I can’t wait until I can travel more in my life, and my next trips include a spring break road trip all the way to Arizona and back, and studying Arabic in Morocco for this whole summer.
cynthia
March 7, 2013 at 08:46hello edna, i am a fairly new reader… have only been reading your blog for a month but i am loving it so far. i am an american expat myself (only recently though) in ceske budejovice, czech republic where i teach english. i find that reading other expat blogs makes me happy– we are like minded travelers that love living in new places even though our friends and family don’t understand what drives us to do this. it’s a great support network, i suppose :)
Karene
March 11, 2013 at 16:15Bummer–I’m a brand-new reader, and I just missed your contest :(. I have been hearing about you ever since I joined fb last spring, but for some reason waited till now to come check you out. I love, love, love travel, but due to current life and financial constraints, my feet are firmly planted in Southern California. Thankfully, we have great weather! So, for the moment, I get my travel fix by living vicariously through all my expat fb pages and blogs. (I just started a blog myself, but am realizing I don’t have a lot to say that anyone would be interested in reading.) I look forward to following your adventures.
Erin Walton
March 11, 2013 at 22:33Haahaha, Edna – talk about procrastination! Here I am on the 11th March, finally reading this post. What I’m procrastinating about recently is getting the internet fixed at my new place – have been without it for a good few weeks now, which means that keeping up with friends and reading my favourite blogs (yours waaaay up on the list!) is just not happening. See you’re on a plane on your way to a new destination…good luck!! Can’t wait to (one day – when I get online finally) read about it. :) Erin
Majida
May 2, 2013 at 00:18Procrastination. hmm, you could call it one of my hobbies! I am based in Switzerland, love to travel and photograph and just started our travel blog. My husband and me travel during vacations, but we also explore Switzerland during weekends and take up smaller trips on short breaks. Thus my blog will be a bit more Swiss-weighed and include our other travels. Would love to see you around. If you happen to be in Switzerland, would be lovely to catch up over a cup of coffee! I did once reply to one of your posts abt discrimination: genetically I am an Asian, however I was born, attended school and university in Europe