After 2 mass shootings in 7 days, the world is wondering what is (still) happening in the USA.

Rachel Smith wasn't afraid of the changes brought on by moving her family to a new country. And then COVID hit. Instead of getting down, she leaned in to the changes and ended up learning some valuable lessons along the way.

Rachel Smith is a lifelong Texan and called Houston home for the past 15 years. She now lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina with her husband, Michael, and their two daughters, Oliva and Claire. The family relocated for Michael’s job nearly 2 years ago.

Back in Texas, Rachel was a partner at a top National law firm, practicing Commercial Litigation and Employment Law. When the opportunity to move abroad came up, she and Michael jumped at the chance. But what would that mean for the career that she worked so hard for? Well, she left it all behind.

In Episode 25, Rachel talks about making the decision to move abroad, leaving her career and uprooting her kids. When COVID hit just 8 months after their arrival, they were in for another big adjustment. Argentina had a very strict lockdown and at one point, they didn’t leave the house, not even to walk around the block, for 2 months.

Luckily, everything turned out for the best and the Smith family is closer and stronger than ever.

• Show yourself grace

• Slow down and lean in

• Appreciate the differences

• Your kids are watching, be a good model even in tough times

• Make time to live a life you love

• Merienda (afternoon tea) is here to stay no matter where she ends up!

Rachel and her family welcomed me with open arms when I arrived in Buenos Aires. It was from their recommendation that I ended up visiting Bariloche. Thanks, y’all.

I will forever be grateful to the Smiths for their hospitality and for looking after me during Kimvember. Special shoutout to Michael for giving up his office so that I could work. And I can’t forget the lovely Smith girls; thank you for the laughs, the delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies, and the stellar sightseeing/photo-taking/movie-making excursion. You are both going to do great things!

I had a fabulous time on the road for the last two and a half months. I visited Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and of course Colombia. You can check out past episodes here, here and here to find out how I spent time in those countries. I’m working on Uruguay and Colombia, so keep an eye out for those soon.

I was just bop bop bopping around, ecstatic to be traveling again. I mean, I was finally going to be able to use my “new” Global Entry (do it by the way, don’t even think about not doing it). After months on the road, I’d perfected my anti-plague kit and was successful at keeping Delta at bay. And then, Omicron appeared….

Delta: As long as you follow protocols, we cool.

Me: Bet (invests in hand sanitizer, N95 masks, antibacterial everything, social distances like a champ).

Omicron: Bwaaa haaa haaa. Tag! You’re it.

These are my top tips on how to prepare yourself for international travel.

1. Only travel if you feel comfortable.

2. Use as many safety precautions as you need. You are not overdoing it.

3. Know the rules of the country you are visiting. Stay informed! Rules change daily.

4. Have a COVID plan in case you get infected.

5. Buy a flexible ticket (free changes, cancellations, trip protection).

6. Get COVID-specific travel insurance.

7. Set money aside for tests/quarantine/doctor’s visits etc. These will need to be paid upfront, you can submit a claim later.

Even though I got COVID (damn!), I do not regret going overseas. After nearly two years of being a shut-in, my mental and physical health both suffered. Me being on the road again, was me re-discovering myself. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Now, I’ve still got some sense. Omicron is among us, and I’m sure more variants are on the way. I am grateful for the space I gave myself these past few months. That time gave me the opportunity to disconnect, recharge and make a plan on how I’m going to best protect my physical and mental well-being going forward. Being alive is great. But so is living!

Congratulations! Many of you were playing along with the guessing game and got this one right. It is the first time I’ve had multiple people guess correctly. You did it, Joe! You did it!

Argentina was the longest leg of the trip, lasting for around 2 weeks. I was able to visit different parts of the country and it was well worth it. Even after 2 weeks, I felt like I had barely scratched the surface.

By far, Argentina had the most involved process to enter that I have seen on the trip so far. Every country has its own COVID processes, and Argentina is taking theirs very seriously. In fact, they had just reopened their borders a week before I arrived.

(*The process may be slightly different for each person. This is my experience as a US citizen. Please check here for up-to-date requirements.)

1. Adults over 18 must be fully vaccinated and show proof. If you’re not vaccinated, you can’t go.

2. PCR COVID test (negative) within 72 hours of entry.

3. Proof of international health insurance with COVID coverage.

4. All the details of your stay (hotel address, phone number, etc.)

5. You must fill out their online form, "Declaración Jurada” (DDJJ), within 48 hours of entry, uploading all requested documentation.

   *This form changes regularly and is a bit of a headache. Tip: Have ALL documents ready to upload, because you may get kicked out and have to start over if you take too long.

You will be asked to show your DDJJ at air/land border crossings. I found it more convenient to print everything out and keep the papers for whatever country I was entering in a little envelope. I just whipped out my documents and handed them over when asked. Of course, being an electronic process, everything was also on my phone, but I didn’t really want multiple strangers handling my phone. Ya know?

Buenos Aires was top of the list, and this capital city did not disappoint. It is the prettiest city I have seen in awhile. I remember visiting Mexico City back in 2019 and saying, “It’s so green for a big city!”, whereas my impression of Buenos Aires was, “Ooooo, pretty!” There is plenty to see and do, plus you can eat and drink yourself into a coma. All the meat! All the wine! Fabulous!

Outside of Buenos Aires, my time was spent bopping around Bariloche and Mendoza. They were so different but equally enjoyable.

For me, the best way to move between the 3 cities was by plane. There are budget airlines in Argentina to get you from Point A to B, and there are also buses if you have a whole lotta time. Once inside the country, you do not have to present the DDJJ form to travel.

Bariloche

• Cold and windy

• Mountains and lakes

• Skiing and hiking

• Gorgeous views

Mendoza

• Warm/hot climate

• Mountains and desert

• Vineyards and Malbec wine

• Stunning views

*KimmyOTRA is being recorded on the road. Super authentic listener experience!

spec·tac·u·lar /spekˈtakyələr/ adjective: beautiful in a dramatic and eye-catching way.

Spectacular! It’s my absolute favorite word to describe Iguazú Falls. It’s one of the few places I have seen that have left me speechless, the last being Machu Picchu. Iguazú definitely deserves its ranking among the Seven Wonders of the World. Simply breathtaking! Even to see it, you won’t quite believe your own eyes, it’s that awe-inspiring.

In Episode 18, I explain my journey leaving Paraguay and entering Brazil. It was an easy enough 5 hour bus ride to the border town of Ciudad del Este, then a quick hop, skip and a jump over the border to Foz do Iguaçu. You will have to get your exit stamp (Paraguay) and your entry stamp (Brazil) along the way, but it is not nearly as strict a border crossing as other countries.

In fact, I walked across the aptly named ‘Friendship Bridge’ later in the day to complete my exit and entry process.

1. Book online at least 1 day in advance.

2. Check out other attractions and tours (ex. Macuco Safari & Itaipu Dam).

3. Visit both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides if you have time (worth it!).

*Click any photo to enlarge

Don’t miss the video!

First things first, we have to acknowledge the most important time of year….that’s right, it’s Kimvember once again! This year is in stark contrast to last year in terms of my celebratory mood. So much so, that I’ve decided that I didn’t age at all and will have a re-do of my 40th birthday. I wonder if I’ll have to update my birth certificate to reflect this change? Anywho…

I’m excited to welcome you to Part I of ‘Kimmy On The Road Again’ #KimmyOTRA. I’ll be chronicling my experiences here on The Kimmytravels Podcast of my very first international trip post Covid shutdown.

As I slowly but surely get back into the travel game, safety is at the tippy top of my list in terms of importance. Rest assured that I have taken every precaution in preparation for this journey and continue to as I navigate this trip. You can call me the ‘Safety Girl’ (did you catch the reference?).

KimmyOTRA Part I takes you through my thought process of deciding to travel abroad again, the myriad of requirements needed to move across borders, and my impressions of the first stop on the trip: Asunción, Paraguay. Vamos!

*Click photos to enlarge

Meeka has traveled to 6 African countries and lived long term in Senegal. It was here that she learned all the do’s and don’ts of dating abroad. In Episode 16, she shares some funny stories and cautionary tales.

I am pleased to introduce The Kimmytravels Podcast’s very first LIVE GUEST!

Larry Wiggs II is originally from Los Angeles, California and made a special trip to Dallas (adjacent) to record the podcast. We took into account COVID protocol and made sure we were both vaccinated and got tested. Once that was all squared away, I rolled out a big ol’ Southern welcome mat! We had a fabulous weekend bopping around town and eating good food. Because, what’s travel without good food?

After 13 years abroad, Larry decided to move back home permanently. But it wasn’t so easy! He attempted to repatriate (move back to your home country) three times before it finally stuck in 2019.

Larry learned many valuable lessons along the way and on that final try, made sure not to repeat past mistakes.

Since he’s been home, he’s made steps towards pursuing both new and old passions such as, photography, videography and photojournalism.

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Alondo is originally from Atlanta and has been nomading in Mexico since the start of Covid. Seriously, is there a better place to lay low?

He is a software developer by trade and in the past six years has either lived or worked in 31 countries. He got started by going on a ‘Remote Year’, where he was one of 70 digital nomads who traveled to 12 countries in 12 months. Of course, things didn’t go quite as planned, but sometimes in those moments, you find your true calling.

Alondo is a man of many talents. He hosts a podcast, takes full advantage of his buttery voice as a voice actor and has a YouTube channel. He promises he’s not like those other YouTubers! On his channel, you’ll find Alondo explaining not only how to make a living abroad, but how to make a life. Be sure to check him out.

1. Give yourself the space to make your way.

2. There are many different ways to get started. There is no “right way”

3. If you get somewhere and you don’t like it, you can leave!

4. Be flexible and adaptable.

5. You deserve to be happy.

You can find him @cocoanomad on all the things

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Brittany is originally from South Carolina and moved abroad for the first time in 2014. She has lived in China, South Korea, Madrid and the UAE. She and her husband are currently based in Mexico.

In Episode 17, Brittany shares her expert tips for preparing to move abroad, the most important being to remain open-minded.

1. Research the history of the country you will live in.

2. Know about the political and social atmospheres.

3. Study up on the language, even a few phrases will be helpful.

4. Google is your best friend! All the research!

5. Make sure your credit cards work internationally/consider online options like Transferwise.

6. Join online communities through Facebook and other social platforms like Meetup.

Facebook: Brittany Benjamin

Instagram: its_me_brittanyb