In order to get your hair done in the 3rd world, you basically need to be at peace with the fact that things may go terribly wrong. You need to go into the situation acknowledging that it’s ‘just’ your hair,…
Sports Day in Congo
What happens when a French girl, a Dutch girl and a Canadian walk into a Congolese aerobics class? We were about to find out! Earlier this week, my friend from Holland asked if I wanted to go to an aerobics…
The French Cheese-Man At My Door
Over Christmas holidays one of my besties in France bought me a hilarious Christmas gift. She coined it her “home made hangover kit” and it consisted of hangover tea, electrolyte tablets for re-hydrating, “poo pourri” bathroom spay(which I later learned…
Body Image From an African Point of View
“It’s too much!” That was our cleaner. She walked in the door and saw me on the spin bike. Again. It was my fall routine since the moment my bike arrived from Indonesia: Netflix in the living room, with me…
Getting Fresh in France
They say never forget where you came from- don’t change who you are. I know that I grew up on the icy, cold, Canadian Shield; but I can’t help it…I’ve changed. I’m currently living in West Africa, four degrees from…
Writer’s Block and Déjà Vu
A word I’d always used, but not until I learned French did I realize it’s directly translated from the French language, meaning, ‘already seen’. The feeling of having already been here before is in full force for me as my…
A Unique New Year’s Eve in France
I’m at a place in my life where I’m okay with not having a wild party on New Year’s Eve (…although I do still believe a big night out every now and then is good for the soul). But even…
Expat Magic
I arrived to my new home in Congo completely not knowing what to expect. As far as expat postings go, I was a ‘first-timer’ in Africa. But here’s the thing about the expat community–once you’re in it for a few years,…
A Trip to the Indonesian Market
When our family lived in France we often spent Sunday mornings exploring the neighbourhood markets, and it grew into one of my favourite things to do. So naturally, I wrote about it and shared my experiences with you I thought it was only…
Let Them Eat Cake (Why Are The French Not Fat?)
As January comes to an end, I can’t help but imagine what life back home must have looked like over the past month. Gyms were bustling with brand new sneakers and line ups to get onto the cardio machines. Health…