Hey! I’m Ashley. I am a 22-year old baguette-lover, bookworm and wannabe writer. I love to travel and believe in living a life worth writing about.
I was raised in an oak-filled town in Michigan, then headed straight to the Windy City to earn a degree in Advertising/PR and Spanish from Loyola University Chicago.
And at the age of 21, three weeks after graduation, I called it quits on normal and moved to Paris.
Here in France I work as an au pair and attempt to parler français as well as master the art of French cooking. When I have time (and euros) I take weekend trips around the continent and beyond.
Why I blog
I want to show others that it’s possible to travel when you’re young and cash-poor- in fact it’s probably the best time! I especially think more female travelers should know that solo travel is an option, Couchsurfing is incredible, and there is no time like the present. Honestly.
This blog is also an online portfolio for my writing and photography, as well as a great tool to meet other travelers, writers and like-minded people. (That’s actually my favorite part of blogging!)
A little about me…
The great loves of my life are food, languages, travel and writing. I love oysters on the half-shell and boudin noir and still-warm baguettes. I’m kind of obsessed with photographing street art and I’m not a fan of margarine, billboards or Ryanair customer service.
Besides au pairing I work as a columnist, blogger and freelance writer. Someday I want to will write a book. My twenty-something goals include eating jerk chicken on the streets in Jamaica and dancing under moonlight at the Full Moon Party in Thailand.
Despite my suburban upbringing, I’m definitely a city girl- so far I have lived in Chicago, Paris, Buenos Aires and San Francisco, but San Francisco is where I left my heart, and possibly my appetite.
I speak Spanish and French due to a studying abroad in both Spain and Argentina and living in France for the past year. I used to know some Portuguese and when I’m really tired you can hear my Michigan accent.
What’s up next?
Clockwise from top left: Wikipedia, Bali Essence, Sightseeing Group, Nomadic Matt
After my time is up in France, I will be embarking on a backpacking trip throughout Southeast Asia! I recently booked a one-way ticket booked to Hong Kong and from there we’ll see what happens. This will be my first time in Asia so I’m extremely excited (as well as a tiny bit freaked out). Considering I don’t have a return ticket home I’ll be exploring the region until I’m ready to come back! Or um… I run out of money.
Contact me!
Please send me any questions you might have at ashley{at} ashleyabroad {dot} com. Feel free to contact me here or reference my advertising page. I would love to hear from you!
