the day of love on all forms… most importantly self-love <3

Carolyn and I chat about our first year doing NALCAP (North American Language and Culture Assistant Program) in Madrid.

“Do it for the plot — but know your Spanish phrases.”

- Carolyn Parmer, English language aux 24-25 🙏

featured questions:

1. ​ Did you have teaching experience before this program?
2. ​ What is your teaching work schedule like?
3. ​ How do you go about lesson planning?
4. ​ Did you experience any cultural shocks coming to Madrid Spain?
5. ​ How did you adjust to living life in a new country?
6. ​ What do you love most about living in Madrid?

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listen to the episode we recorded for Carolyn’s podcast here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6JfWdZIDIUUWGIrnVqqDtV?si=lgzcTb96QbeiXnbA_TJINw

NALCAP:

https://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/eeuu/convocatorias-programas/convocatorias-eeuu/nalcap.html

connect with Carolyn here:

✨ Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/_carolynp?igsh=MXJrN2NkY2s5NGQyOQ==

✨ podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/529w7qVlascQY6baju4TCF?si=yZB7IAxTRa6H5TzidcEwqg

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connect with me! :)

Instagram:

✨ @lydiaschultzz

https://www.instagram.com/lydiaschultzz/

✨TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@lydiaschultzz

✨ Travel Blog:

gottacaseofwanderlust.com

✨ Thatch Travel Guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@gottacaseofwanderlust

Margherita Cara is a solo female traveler and also psychologist from Milan, Italy.

Margherita prioritizes slow, cultural based travel and has backpacked through Latin America, Southeast Asia and Europe.

on this episode, we chat about:

- Margherita’s solo travels in Latin America

- solo female travel safety advice

- traveling responsibly and ethically

- and much more!!

featured questions:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the term “solo female travel”?

2. How do you balance protecting your safety with being open in a new destination?

3. How can we step out of a consumerist/colonialist mindset when traveling?

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connect with Margherita here!

✨ Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/duamima_?igsh=dWp4ZWEzM2VtOWoy

✨ Travel guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@margheritacara

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connect with me here :)

Instagram:

✨ @lydiaschultzz

https://www.instagram.com/lydiaschultzz/

✨Travel Blog:

gottacaseofwanderlust.com

✨Travel Guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@gottacaseofwanderlust

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Nicole Figura is a solo female budget traveler originally from the Philippines, but has also lived in Saudi Arabia and Canada.

Nicole has traversed big cities from New York City and London to villages throughout South East Asia — and is currently working in food marketing.

on this episode, we chat about:

- budget travel advice

- must try foods in Southeast Asia

- food shocks in SE Asia

- and more!

featured questions:

1. How do you go about finding where to eat when you travel?

2. What are some of your favorite foods you’ve had in each Asian country?

3. Where’s the best street-food country for carb-lovers?

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Hawker stall in Singapore mentioned:

Keng Heng Whampoa Teochew Lor Mee

connect with Nicole here!

✨Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/nicolefiqura?igsh=ZXBxNTg3Nnlwajcz

✨ Travel guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@nicolefiqura

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connect with me here :)

Instagram:

✨ @lydiaschultzz

https://www.instagram.com/lydiaschultzz/

✨TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@lydiaschultzz

✨Travel Blog:

gottacaseofwanderlust.com

✨Travel Guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@gottacaseofwanderlust

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Lucie grew up in the Czech Republic and has traveled throughout Europe via Erasmus as well as through various work exchanges.

on this episode, we chat about:

- how Lucie travels the world on a budget

- her favorite place she’s traveled to as an Erasmus student

- the best food in the Czech Republic

- and more!

featured questions:

1. What are some of your favorite things about living and growing up in the Czech Republic?

2. Can you share how you’re able to travel so much?

3. Can you explain how the Erasmus program works?

4. Which city did you have the best Erasmus experience?

5. What is your favorite destination for food?

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connect with Lucie here!

✨ Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/_slivkovaal_?igsh=YXNucjR4Nnl1bTJo

✨ Travel guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@lucieslivkova

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connect with me here :)

Instagram:

✨ @lydiaschultzz

https://www.instagram.com/lydiaschultzz/

✨TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@lydiaschultzz

✨Travel Blog:

gottacaseofwanderlust.com

✨Travel Guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@gottacaseofwanderlust

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Darja Karstens, originally from Germany, has been living in Lyon France as an expat for 4 years.

Daria has worked for as a travel tour guide and shares her insights from this experience as well as living abroad.

on this episode, we chat about:

- tips for adjusting to life in a new country

- finding friends in a new place

- advice for aspiring tour guides

- and more!

featured questions:

What were some of the initial cultural differences between France and Germany?

1. ​ What was the most difficult part about adjusting to life abroad in Lyon?
2. ​ For those interested in being travel tour guides, what advice have you learned in your experience that you wish you would’ve known before you started leading tours?
3. ​ What was the most difficult part about being a tour guide?
4. ​ How did you balance enjoying the tour and navigating the stresses of leading?

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connect with Darja here!

✨ Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/flying_awaay?igsh=MW5jMjRxbThhZ2poZA==

✨ Travel guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@darja

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connect with me here :)

Instagram:

✨ @lydiaschultzz

https://www.instagram.com/lydiaschultzz/

✨TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@lydiaschultzz

✨Travel Blog:

gottacaseofwanderlust.com

✨Travel Guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@gottacaseofwanderlust

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Joanne Fan is a Taiwanese American social media travel influencer extremely knowledgeable about

Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

on this episode, we chat about:

- how Joanne moved to Seoul, South Korea

- expectations vs. reality about living abroad

- working as a content creator on social media

featured questions:

1. What were some of the initial biggest challenges you faced when adjusting to life abroad?

2. What advice would you wish you would’ve known beforehand?

3. If you had to choose, what’s your favorite and least favorite part about living in Seoul?

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connect with Joanne here!

✨ Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/joanneffan?igsh=b2w5cnlmYmFhbDl1

✨ Travel guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@justjoanne

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connect with me here :)

Instagram:

✨ @lydiaschultzz

https://www.instagram.com/lydiaschultzz/

✨TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@lydiaschultzz

✨Travel Blog:

gottacaseofwanderlust.com

✨Travel Guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@gottacaseofwanderlust

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As someone who was born, raised and currently living in Egypt in the coastal city of Alexandria, Farah is an expert on Egypt and shares her advice for traveling to this amazing country.

on this episode, we chat about

- solo traveling in Egypt

- cultural do’s and don’t’s in Egypt

- must try food in Egypt

- and much more!

featured questions:

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connect with Farah here!

https://www.theegyptiantraveler.com/post/debunking-myths-about-traveling-to-egypt

✨ Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theegyptiantravelerblog?igsh=MnpxNGo1Ymw5Zzdw

✨ Travel blog:

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connect with me here :)

Instagram:

✨ @lydiaschultzz

https://www.instagram.com/lydiaschultzz/

✨TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@lydiaschultzz

✨Travel Blog:

gottacaseofwanderlust.com

✨Travel Guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@gottacaseofwanderlust

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Faatimah is a solo female traveler passionate about local cultures, photography, and travel planning for Muslims.

on this episode, we chat about:

- advice for Muslim solo female travelers

- Faatimah’s favorite destination

- Faatimah’s experience getting scuba certified

- and more!

Featured questions:

1. What advice would you give to those wanting to solo travel?

2. Can you describe how traveling as a Muslim woman may look different than non-Muslim women?

3. Which destination was particularly memorable as a Muslim traveler?

4. What is your favorite neighborhood in New York City to photograph?

5. Why was scuba diving a life-changing experience?

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connect with Faatimah here!

✨ Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/faatimah_travels?igsh=MWhzbnZxNzF0bml1ag==

✨ Travel guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@faatimah

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connect with me here :)

Instagram:

✨ @lydiaschultzz

https://www.instagram.com/lydiaschultzz/

✨TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@lydiaschultzz

✨Travel Blog:

gottacaseofwanderlust.com

✨Travel Guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@gottacaseofwanderlust

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Petra was born and raised in Thailand and now works as a digital nomad in the United States.

Petra also has cultural-based travel expertise in South Korea and Brazil.

On this episode, we chat about:

- what it was like for Petra growing up in Thailand

- the gastronomy of Thailand and South Korea (must eats!)

- how to have more local cultural experiences

- and much more!

Featured questions:

1. As someone who grew up in Thailand, can you share any aspects of the culture you appreciate?

2. What recommendations do you have for those wanting to travel to Thailand?

3. If you had to pick your favorite Korean and Thai dishes, what would they be?

4. Does South Korea or Thailand have better street food?

5. What were some cultural shocks you experienced when moving to Brazil?

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connect with Petra here!

✨ Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/polyglotpetra2.0?igsh=cDdoZWsyam5ueWNx

✨ Travel blog:

https://polyglotpetra.com

✨Homestays in Thailand:

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connect with me here :)

Instagram:

✨ @lydiaschultzz

https://www.instagram.com/lydiaschultzz/

✨TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@lydiaschultzz

✨Travel Blog:

gottacaseofwanderlust.com

✨Travel Guides:

https://www.thatch.co/@gottacaseofwanderlust

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