Hi! I’m Ashley and welcome to my travel blog.
I’m a 22 year-old Michigander who just moved to France to work as an au pair. I have been to 27 28 countries so far and addition to my hometown outside of Detroit I have lived in Buenos Aires, Chicago and Paris… needless to say I’m kind of obsessed.
Why local culture travel blog?
Rather than capital-hop, I prefer to live in other countries or travel really, really slowly. Whether that means helping a French grandmother make apricot jam or practicing my Spanish at a backyard asado, I like to learn as much about a country’s food, language and culture as I can.
Un petit background
My first trip abroad to Ecuador was a complete fail challenge. I was 15 and to sum up the trip I was cold, dirty, hungry and penniless the entire time; picture Oliver Twist wandering around Quito. Strangely enough, I came back already planning my next escape.
I followed that trip up with a home-stay in the south of Spain, a classic European backpacking trip, an empanada-filled semester abroad in Argentina, many trips to Chile to visit my then-novio, a study abroad homestay in Mallorca, Spain and three summers working as an au pair in Paris for the coolest family EVER. Life has been good to me.
This trip to France will be the longest I’ve ever been away from home. I am currently learning lots of fattening recipes and attempting to improve my work-in-progress French skills.
Here are a few posts to get you started:
10 Ways That Travel Permanently Changed Me
How to Couchsurf (and Why I Love it So Far)
Contact
Please send me any questions or suggestions you might have at ashley{at} ashleyabroad {dot} com. You may also contact me here or reference my advertising page. I would love to hear from you!
Quick facts about me
- I love, love, love street art.
- I prefer solo travel in most cases because you tend to meet more people. I also am a huge fan of Couchsurfing.
- Food is a big part of why I travel, and my favorite foods are goat cheese, boudin noir, jamón ibérico, ceviche and movie theatre popcorn – but not together, of course.
- I want to climb Tongariro in NZ (also known as Mount Doom) because Lord of the Rings is my favorite movie. Ever.
- I can barely drive and have no sense of direction whatsoever.
- My happy place is a plastic table on a Mexican beach with a pile of seafood in front of me.
- My dream is to end up in San Francisco working as some kind of writer. Fingers crossed.
Ashley Abroad © 2013
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Hi Ashley,
Just had a quick look around your site, quite cool. I will keep following along with your adventures. Be sure to let me know if you visit Australia any time and feel free to follow my adventures on http://www.adthenomad.com !
Good luck :)
Hi Adam! Thanks for stopping by. Your site looks great, I’m so jealous you scuba-dived the Great Barrier Reef, wow! Let me know if you are in Europe as well.
Best of luck on your travels! Also… isn’t a gander male? Wouldn’t Michigoose fit better? lol
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Haha it is kind of awkward right? I should probably just write “girl from Michigan.”
I totally recommend Budapest, it’s one of my favorite places!
Awesome, I’ll keep that in mind! I’ve heard great things and so I’m really trying to work out plans to get there.
Hi Ashley, I just ran across your blog because I was an au pair in Paris too for a year. Such an awesome time!! I kept a travel blog while I was there, if you’re interested in any new little dives that maybe you didn’t see on your other trips to the city of wonders. :D It’s: http://www.joiedevivre-paris.blogspot.com
Wow, thank you so much! I will definitely read through it to pick up some great tips on Paris :)
Now I see you’re a painter with ambitions to move to San Fran – sorry about my questions in that last post! I’m happy to have found your blog, and I’m looking forward to joining you on your adventure in France.
I’m glad to have you along for the ride! I’ll be reading about your journeys as well, the Chinese superstitions post you have up is fascinating. And actually I’m not a painter, I just dabble in photography, blogging, etc. :)
Hi Ashley,
Love your site. Sounds like a great adventure in Paris. If you have any great photos we have a great photo contest at BarrelHopping where our viewers vote on their favorite. The next one starts Nov 16th. You can see how to enter here http://barrelhopping.com/travel-photo-contest/
BarrelHopping recently posted..Travel Hacks – How To Stay For Free
Wow, thank you! I checked out your site and will definitely submit a photo for the next one, thanks for reaching out.
You have a great website… congrats… only one small suggestion, post more often :P
Thank you, Arpan! I’m definitely working on it :)
just stumbled on your blog – good call on san francisco. the only city that could possibly make me stop traveling. what kind of writing are you trying to do there? there’s a million tech-related jobs, even if you don’t have a technical background. that’s what I do and there’s always a ton of great gigs for me there.
Laurie LeDuc recently posted..Going Down (Under)
Thanks for your comment, Laurie! I would love to work for a travel publication out there like Lonely Planet or Afar but I’m also very interested in social media or marketing. If you know anything please email me, haha!
there’s a ton of jobs in those fields – my best technique is to find companies I like first, then check their openings second. and if it’s a company you really like but they don’t have a relevant position, send them an email anyways introducing yourself and telling them why you’d like to work with them in the future. i’ve been on both sides of the hiring process out here and focusing your search on companies you like is the most effective way to get the job you want. also actively use LinkedIn – feel free to add me there if you want :)
Laurie LeDuc recently posted..I arrived in Australia (Perth) this morning, and was greeted by…
I definitely will! And thanks so much for the wise advice :)
Great story. I prefer Italy over France though. French people were rude to me :(
Aw, I’m sorry… the French aren’t so bad, and it depends a lot on where you are in the country.
Hi… Ashley… Hope you are having good time in Paris…
You had a nice site and thinking to create own. I am not sure about you but what you think about Asia??? Mostly I refer you to travel NEPAL (Country of Himalaya). Nepal is a unique country and am sure its out of your imagination… Where you can see 8000 meters high mountain. Lot of traveling option like, cultural and traditional city, rafting,kayaking, paragliding, Bungy Jumping, canyoning… I am from Nepal and involved in travel business since 3yrs. Thinking to start new one so… Feel free to ask about Nepal always…. (raju_35p@hotmail.com)…
Wish you all the best for your next destination…
Finger crossed for your desired wish (writer, Sans Fransisco)…
Take Care….
:)
Hi Raju, thank you for stopping by :). I don’t have any immediate plans to visit Asia but I’m hoping to make it over there sooner rather than later. Nepal looks absolutely beautiful and has such a unique culture, trust me, I’m already sold!
Hi Ashley… warm greetings from Himalaya… Yes its a beautiful country for those who loves to feel natural cosmic power which just blows from the Himalaya… Have more option in nature with diversity culture and traditional Heritage, you are free to make your trail significant… wish I can give you some guidance during the trip of Nepal… Please don’t forget me to write when you will be in Nepal… Wish I will catch you soon in Thamel (touristic Place) of Nepal…
Greetings and Stay Blessed…
:)
Hey Ashley just discovered your Blog and love it. I am new to blogging and am writing some new articles this weekend. Keep up the wonderful stories and posts. Love reading them :) Martin Blair – Edmonton Canada
Hi Martin, thank you, that’s so nice. I just started my blog at the end of August so I am new to blogging as well! Good luck with your site :)
Okay, I’ll still read and comment, even though you’re from Michigan. O-H-I-O! :-)
I’m a huge lover of street art as well. You must have been in street art heaven while in Buenos Aires.
Fidel recently posted..Five Movies That Inspired Me To Travel
Unfortunately I have like 12 photos from my trip to Buenos Aires… it’s honestly one of my biggest regrets!
Ashley, quick question for ya! Which visa option did you use? -Andi
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Hey Andrea! All au pairs technically file for a student visa (because you are required to take French courses in France), so not a work visa. Feel free to email me if you have any more questions :)
Like several things in your blog: You don’t just jump from place to place but spend time at single place to observe people, place, food, etc etc. high quality photography, unique writing style and last but not least your cute Ashley her self.
Thank you so much for such nice compliments! I’ll sure try to keep up the hard work :)
I’m working as a language assistant in southern Spain right now and am frantically planning a 2-week “whirlwind trip” (to borrow Rick Steves’ term) across France over Christmas vacation. I found your blog via Twenty Something Travel and am already loving the down-to-earth tips on traveling France. And I’m subscribing…now!
Hi Trevor! I’m so glad you found the tips useful :). I checked out your blog and I’m so jealous, I love the south of Spain with all of my heart. Did you know that’s where the American cowboy culture came from? And if you ever come to Paris let me know, I’d be happy to show you around.
Just looking at your site makes me want to get on a plane and travel right now! haha. You mentioned you like solo travel better, why is that?? I would love to do that also!
Thanks!
Hi Jelicia! Thanks for stopping by. I like solo travel a lot because you tend to meet more people – people take you under their wing and invite you to parties, dinner, etc. because you’re all alone and they’re being kind! There are obviously drawbacks but overall I would say I prefer it.
Excited about reading all about your adventures in Paris! I have always dreamed of being an Au-Pai there for a year or two :)
Chanel @ LaViajeraMorena recently posted..Travel Blogger Interview with Journeying James
I’m having a lot of fun so far! And I would totally recommend becoming an au pair :)
Very refreshing to find a new down-to-earth travel blogger! How many times have you been paragliding?!
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Thanks!! I actually only went the one time but I would definitely do it again… the views were stunning from up there.
Hey Ashley, just stumbled upon your site and it’s really cool. As a travel photographer, I always enjoy reading about other people’s adventures! One question I’m dying to know the answer to..how the hell did you end up “cold, dirty, hungry and penniless” in Ecuador at age 15?!!??!? That sounds dangerous as hell! Were your parents around? Can you even travel alone at that age? lol sorry, I am an inquisitive one. Happy/safe travels and I’ll be checking out your blog now!
Hi, Andy! Well, that’s actually kind of a long story but one I would rather tell you in person! I was actually with a group of teenagers though and we had an adult guide and everything- it wasn’t that dangerous. I will be checking out your blog as well, it’s always great to meet another traveler.
Hi! Was reading about my homeland Azerbaijan on Expat Edna and ended up on several blogs like yours :)
So… I’m reading the first sentence in “your story” (actually it’s the second sentence lol) and i’m so damn jealous! You are only 22 and have been to 27 countries already! Well I’ve been studying in Missouri for more that three years and a half, but it’s only the third country I’ve ever visited.
Ok so hopefully you’ll visit Azerbaijan someday, if you can ever find a cheap ticket there :(
Hi, Kamran! After all that Expat Edna has told me about Azerbaijan I would love to go. And the number of countries doesn’t really matter- in my opinion it’s much more important to live in other countries in order to really understand their languages and cultures, like you have done in Missouri :)
Hi Ashley,
Found you through P. Torre news thread. I sure enjoyed being with you in your formative years. You were an energetic kiddo!!!
It is exciting to see where your life is headed. I wish you happy travels and I look forward to reading your blog entries.
Hi, Pam! I hope everything has been going great with you as well, I’m so glad you found my blog!
Love, love, love your story! My husband and I didn’t start becoming travel addicts until a couple years ago (with a dog in tow), so we’re limited at the moment to what we can do. I so wish I had started at your age! I have a nephew your age who is probably going to follow suit, with his fiance’, they’ve made a couple interesting trips so far and are headed to South American on their own this summer. You have a ton of great info I know they’ll be able to use :) I always tell them – do it now while you can carry everything in a backpack and sleep on a couch. Even though I’m enjoying it in my mid-40′s with a van full of “life”, my husband and a dog, the former would have been MUCH easier :) Can’t wait to see where life takes you.
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I’m so glad you found my site useful, it’s always great to hear that. And I’ll be following along with your adventures as well, best of luck!
Hey there fellow Michigander and traveler! I noticed your post on Nomadic Matt’s site and the comment about Detroit and had to follow on over to your blog. Nice site, very impressive travels! I’m happy to see a travel blog from a Detroiter as I sometimes feel like the only one from my hometown out traveling around. I always read bloggers from Chicago, NY, LA, SanFran, Seattle, Vancouver but never Michigan so was a nice surprise. Sounds like you are enjoying Paris. I’m living in Geneva now myself and love making weekend trips out to Paris. Once you get used to the people, its a wonderful city, lol. Let me know if you are even in Geneva and I’ll show you around :)
Hi, Jeremy! Thanks for the commment, I always love hearing from fellow Detroiters. I actually should be going to Geneva soon so you might be getting an email from me shortly :)
Ah that is awesome then! For sure shoot me an email and fell free to let me know if you have any questions about Geneva before hand. Can’t wait to exchange some stories when you are here :)