Most of the friendships I have developed that are online-only are with other travel bloggers. Recently, I’ve met quite a few awesome folks who are half of a transnational couple — someone like me who is dating/engaged to/married to someone from another country OR someone from another country who’s in a relationship with an American. Katie of Singles and Pairs is one of those awesome people.
Katie recently tagged me in a link-highlighting meme, which is similar to one that made its way around the travel blogging community a while back. And now that she has her fiance visa in hand and is days away from moving to the US, I thought it was a perfect time to share this post.
1. Share something that no one else knows about you.
As a storyteller, there’s not much that SOMEONE doesn’t know.
But, one story I don’t think I’ve shared on the blog is the one of my first career ambition. And I find that pretty funny since I’m a career counselor.
In elementary school, one of my teachers asked the class the all-too-familiar question “what do you want to be when you grow up” and I think I had the best answer.
I wanted to work at Hershey’s like my grandmother did. I wanted to work with chocolate every day.
While my grandmother wasn’t actually baking or cooking, I still saw her job as a little Willy Wonka-esque, and to a 5-year old, few things are cooler.
2. Link to one of the posts that I think best fits the following categories:
a) Most beautiful piece: My international, transatlantic love story with Gav — our engagement post.
b) Most helpful piece: When I first arrived in Oz, I had a difficult time finding natural/organic/healthy food stores in online searches. I figured other people had the same problem. When I finally found a few stores (and worked at one!), I drafted this list, which people find on a fairly regular basis.
c) Most popular piece: Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised, but the post that gets the most views (and has since weeks after I published it) describes the difference between macarons and macaroons. A one letter difference makes ALL the difference in the world.
d) Most controversial piece: An entire post dedicated to Vegemite…it’s about as controversial as it gets!
e) Surprisingly successful piece: Thanks to my letter to Adriano Zumbo and several friends who shared this post on social media (especially Nicole who EMAILED Zumbo), I received free macarons from Australia for Macaron Day — at home in the USA. I say that’s pretty successful.
f) Most underrated piece: I figured folks would jump at the chance to offer me tips and advice on what to eat, where to stay, and what to do in Hawaii, but I only had a few replies. I’d still love suggestions!
g) Most pride-worthy piece: Writing how I write best — sharing my reactions, thoughts, and emotions to significant life changes. Here is a series (oh, I couldn’t pick just one!) about making your dreams come true and what comes next after living your biggest dream. Time to Go Home | Re-entry and reverse culture shock | What’s Next? Lifestyle Choices | Return from Australia: One Year Later
3. Pass this on to seven other blogs/bloggers.
I actually participated in a post very similar to this about a year or year and a half ago and tagged bloggers then. Instead of selecting individuals now, I say participate if you would like to do so 
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Twitter Updates
I had no idea there was a difference between macarons and macaroons!
Oooh I LOVE this post! Checking out some of these links of yours that I missed.
I’m so glad I was able to help you get those macarons!!
As for Hawaii, I’ve never been, but I’d love to get over there while I’m living on the west coast!
I’ve only been to Hawaii once and I only stayed there for a few days and my big plan was basically “do nothing” which I did (didn’t do?) spectacularly!
One of my favourite things that I did do though was hop in the car and drive around looking for beaches and turtles.