Week 156: Three Years Abroad
This week, we celebrated 3️⃣ years of living abroad.
Had we stuck to our original expat contract, I would be writing this blog post from somewhere in America since we would have just moved back–which is weird to think about. Thankfully, we got the opportunity to extend our journey and we will get to share a “Four Years Abroad” and “Five Years Abroad” post someday.
As we look back on this year a lot happened–
We visited 12 countries, had 11 visitors stay with us, and flew in 25 airplanes. We crossed into the Arctic Circle twice. Once when the region was shrouded with darkness, and again when the sun never set. We ventured the furthest east we have ever been and returned back to America three more times. We found the yummiest olives in the world in a tiny Mallorcan village and agreed the best food in Europe is in Poland. We slept in an igloo in Finland and in a bubble tent in the Wadi Rum desert. We floated in the Dead Sea, rappelled down a Croatian cave, mushed huskies on a dog sled, walked the sandstone ruins of Petra, and felt the terror of WWII at Auschwitz. We heard the mesmerizing prayer calls across Jordan and listened to Hans Zimmer in concert in Vienna. We completed four more via Ferratas and tried surfing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing for the first time. We road our first roller coaster together in Vienna’s Prater Amusement Park. I tossed a coin over my shoulder into the Trevi fountain and spun three times in the middle of Milan’s Galleria floor. I joined a softball team, hit a couple of home runs, was named MVP and best pitcher of the 2023 softball season, coached a summer camp, and most importantly–found a community that I desperately wanted to have. I contributed to the Bored Panda, again. We received two sponsored trip excursions, and started creating Pack Mama travel guides for those interested in traveling to Austria. Yet, in the midst of these extraordinary adventures, this year also brought the challenges of unexpectedly losing Eric’s dad. A loss that underscored the importance of resilience and the bonds we form with others in this ever-shifting world.
As we reflect on this three-year milestone, we are immensely grateful for the experiences, the growth, and the memories. We realize that Austria has become a part of us. We have formed friendships and carved out a place for ourselves here. Getting to explore new parts of the country this year has only deepened our love and excitement for Austria. Our biggest goal for year four is to really learn the language and grow the confidence to actually speak it. So here’s to another year of adventure and knowledge.
As always, thank you to those who take the time to visit us, follow our journey, read the weekly recap, watch, like, or share our videos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
P.S. If you enjoyed this recap, check out year one and year two–
Year One Recap: Click Here
Year Two Recap: Click Here
Year three Superlatives:
Sarah
Yummiest food: Poland
Coolest experience: Surfing in Norway
Most memorable Moment: Floating in the Dead Sea
Best Hike: Hesten in Norway
Most surprising: Driving in Jordan
Most Photogenic: Switzerland & Austria
Favorite Via Ferrata: Postalm Klamm
Most Likely to Return to: Norway
Eric
Yummiest food: Poland
Coolest experience: Dog sledding in Finland
Most memorable Moment: Call to prayer in Jordan
Best Hike: Hesten in Norway
Most surprising: Watching an avalanche in Switzerland
Most Photogenic: Whatever Sarah says
Favorite Via Ferrata: Delle Aquile
Most Want to Return to: Norway
