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Mont Blanc with Ali
The invitation: Me: Any chance you’d be up for a hiking adventure this summer? Olga: I would LOVE it. It’s amazing what a simple inviation can intiate! I’m guessing the majority of our core memories in life begin after the extension of a simple invitation. This summer was no different, but while the invitation itself…
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How I Became a Guide at the Corrie Ten Boom Huis Museum
“Welcome to the Corrie Ten Boom House Museum. My name is Ali, and I’ll be your tour guide today.” In November 2021 just a few months after my family and I moved to The Netherlands, we decided to go walk around the adorable city of Haarlem for the day. It’s a city that I was…
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Is bigger better?
When I was younger, I loved the idea of a scavenger hunt. I didn’t partake in many myself, but the concept seemed so fun. What could bring more excitement to a kid than competing against their friends as they run around collecting random items from the neighbors? Even today, I think it’s a fun activity…
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Walking in a winter wonderland: My Top Five Favorite German Christmas Markets
Nothing ushers in the holiday season like walking through a winter wonderland. And nothing is as enchanting as when that wonderland is situated along cobblestone streets and old half-timbered buildings. German Christmas markets are festive with lights, music, and oversized Christmas pyramids yet cozy with hot mugs of spiced glühwein to warm your hands and…
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From the water’s point of view: My Top 10 Favorite Places to Kayak
Some of my best memories as a child include playing in or near water. Pools, lakes, seas, or oceans, I didn’t discriminate. As a young girl, I played every pool game imaginable from underwater tea parties to Marco Polo, and I lost track of how many times I was “baptized” by friends in the shallow…
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Cheetah Print Obsession
At first glance, the Dutch culture feels pretty “normal” or, to be more accurate, seems quite similar to the American culture I come from. Compared to many cultures, I’d say that’s an accurate assessment. However, the longer we live here, the more aware I become of the subtle differences between our two cultures. I moved…
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No. 1 New projects
It’s 5:20 AM and while many admirable people are awake at this hour on a regular basis expending calories and refueling with a protein rich breakfast, I am not. I should be sleeping, but instead I’m lying awake in the dark (minus the glow of my monitor) listening to the fan as I think about…
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Stockholm
We were scheduled for our home leave during the summer of 2024, and while it was great to reconnect with family and friends, I was a bit sad about leaving The Netherlands during their best months of the year and heading to the Southwest US where temps were soaring. I was equally sad about not…
With Ali
A general interest blog with atypical journal-style entries
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@amredling
