Tips on 6 Important Topics to Consider for Location Independence Success

Type in ‘location independence’ to your search engine and the first things to pop up will be staged photos of someone barefoot at a beach stretched out under palm trees totally pretending they’re able to see their laptop screen under the beating sun and with no concern for the amount of sand that will surly build up in the cracks of their keyboard. To have location independent work means to be able to work from anywhere. Often this means in your bedroom, living room, maybe treat yourself to a coworking space a few times months, or maybe actually at a beach if someone has been able to figure this out one.

Growing in popularity

Apart from the romanticized beach pics, location independence is quite appealing to many people for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’re a parent looking for flexible work, maybe you are looking for a feasible way to travel more longterm, or simply LOVE wearing fleece pants all day.

As the desire to work location independently grows, so are tools that support the lifestyle (often created by these workers themselves serving as their location independent business). From traveler’s health insurance, to freelance tools and DIY financial resources, it’s becoming increasingly easier to manifest a location independent lifestyle if it’s important to you.

My story (skip down if you just want the tips!)

While being location independent has essentially become a necessity now that I am in an international relationship that presents its myriad of challenges to be able to legally live in the same country, still even after being married—it was a dream of mine ever since learning of the concept 4 years ago.

Currently I’m living just outside of Baku, Azerbaijan as a location independent graphic designer. Before that I spent about 1.5 years living in Italy, and before that I took a solo trip around the world working remote for my company. It has been a journey- that began by asking my boss from my FT job if I could work remote for a few months while I take time to travel. This turned into choosing to take a risk and try freelancing for a few months upon returning, then moving to Italy where I really had time to focus and research/figure things out.

After, I’d say, 3 years of starting my location independent journey I can finally say I’ve figured it out enough to stay stable and wake up with excitement for the day rather than stress or worry. While I work until maybe 10pm, sometimes midnight often (due to being so far ahead of my USA clients)—I also often don’t start work until after 2pm lunch and am able to take time off- whether thats going out some nights, or going on local or international trips. Generally my lifestyle supports many healthy habits I previously wished I had- such as sleeping in as long as my body needs, low stress mornings, time to exercise, time to cook healthy meals, etc. This flexibility was always my dream and I will say the 3 year struggle to figure it out was definitely worth it. There is a sense of freedom in controlling your day, and especially for me stepping away from my home country has given me fresh perspective. (Both a critical and appreciative one.)

After going through the struggle, and continuing to research and learn, I thought I’d share some tips I’ve learned to maybe encourage some others out there if you are dealing with hesitations. Or, maybe you’ll read this and think it’s too much work and you’d rather just have stability like you’re used to- that’s okay too. ;)

Dislcaimers

1. Working location independent is MUCH more feasible if you have a lower cost of living. The USA (where I’m from) is a very expensive country to live in day to day factoring in rent cost and contracts, health care cost and risks of not having it, lack of public transportation (so dependence on having a vehicle), cost of produce, etc. While I hope you can swing it, just be aware that moving to a more affordable country temporary or long term is a HUGE step to walking away from the stresses living in the USA can bring upon you. Many European countries are much cheaper to live than the USA. (This is asking to be another blog topic I think!)

2. You have to be the judge of your own success. Success means something different to everyone. You have to assess what is important to you and why. Do you value more free time or money? Or do you want to hustle now so you can have more of both later? I say this because you should consider your individual goals ahead of time and shape your lifestyle around this.

3. There is HUGE privilege either being a US citizen (or w/work permit) or native english speaker. Many of these points below are written from this perspective and I apologize for not being able to write more inclusively for others- it’s what I know. It is totally possible to be location independent if one of these do not apply for you (my hubbie is successfully doing this) however I am not an expert on it and can’t write from this view. Not even accounting for the legality of being hired as a US citizen, some sites even favor you just for being physically there (such as Upwork). On top of that, having a US bank account allows you to receive money much easier and cheaper (often free) and gives you access to a plethora of more products that help manage your money. If you are a native English speaker there are opportunities for you simply for that fact. It’s worth noting.

So let’s begin with the tips!

1. FINDING WORK

This is hands down the first challenge in living a location independent lifestyle. I wish I could say this was a quick painless process for me to find stability, but truthfully it was not! And I’m still working on it, and reevaluating my goals on the reg. On one hand it was ‘adventurous’ to move to Italy 2 years ago with no job, on the other (more practical) hand it was pretty terrifying. But I am here to say if you keep persisting, it’s possible.

Jobs in marketing, translation, design, developing, writing, social media management, etc. are great for remote work, but not necessary!

Remember you can always learn any of these skills above if it helps create the lifestyle you want. Either self-taught or through online schooling. Get officially certified for credibility if you need.

There’s an increasing number of job sites you can apply for, but I would also first put out there you may even be able to keep your current job with with a semi-remote or fully remote role. There are a handful of stories I’ve heard where this has been a successful mutually beneficial situation for the employer and employee. It starts with some research and a meeting with your boss to share your proposal. I know it’s probably scary, but what important things aren’t a little scary to get?

If you don’t have this option though, here’s a list of sites to check out, I’m sure there are more:

• Upwork — Most popular freelance site, for all types of skills from translations, design, developing, voice over, virtual assistant. Available across the world, though if you’re US-based you have a HUGE advantage, having access to postings with higher pay rates and less competition. Start with a low hourly rate to gain reviews and go up.

• Appen — This is the actual way I was able to buy some time to build a freelance life. Through a remote job site, FlexJobs, I came across jobs through Appen and started a part-time ongoing data collection job that lasted about 5 months. (It ends when they have enough data.) It’s not glamorous, but dang it was great to have some income stability starting out! My monthly checks were around 800 USD if I remember correctly. (Though note this supports big data which may be an ethical confliction for you?)

• Teaching English: Was English your first language? Just from this you can gain income from teaching kids English remotely! Each site has different requirements, some ask for a college education and some don’t. Look up: VIPKid, Teach Away, DaDa, QKids, iTudor Group, Gogokid...

• Remote Job boards: There are so many remote job boards now, it’s hard to keep them all straight. I’ve personally only used Upwork for one-off jobs because many have turned into longterm clients, however I’m always curious to look at what kind of interesting jobs are listed at well established companies that are often full time and even with benefits sometimes. Dynamite Jobs, WeWorkRemotely, RemoteOK, NoDesk, FlexJobs, Remote Woman, Working Nomads

2. TAXES

The next big question that often comes up is regarding taxes. When you work at a company, you don’t really have to think much about this because you have an estimated tax amount deducted before you receive your paycheck. There’s not much else to worry about because you’ll just input the forms you receive from your employer by April the next year.

When location independent you are collecting your freelance money directly and you need to keep track of it and budget for your deductions ahead of time. Either create an Xcel sheet or use a program like Quickbooks to keep track of how much you are receiving and from who. (I kind of nerded out and made my own pretty-looking chart, maybe I could upload this).

I’m not a CPA of course, though I’m lucky to have several in my family so I was able to learn some concepts from them. It may be beneficial to hire someone, or you can do them yourself/with an online site. Here are just a few tips I’ll pass on:

1. DO keep track of all income you make in a year, record details in case you need for an audit

2. DO keep track of all your expenses, these are considered the cost of running your business and should be written off

3. Do be aware of your tax bracket to properly estimate what you owe as you go so it’s not a surprise

4. DO pay your taxes quarterly- Otherwise known as ‘estimated tax.’ This means you pay 90% of the taxes you paid the year before. It’s divided into 4 payment periods throughout the year. You most likely are required to do this though it’s also much more beneficial to you for budgeting and managing expectations at the end of the year.

5. You can file as a sole proprietor (most likely) and do not necessarily need and/or benefit from an LLC or business entity. This often relates to risk/liability which may not be relevant to many service based jobs. If you are unsure you should talk with a professional!

6. If you live abroad, one or multiple places, for 330 days/year you may want to look into the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. Hire a specialized expat tax company like Greenback Tax to help you if you need, or any CPA knowledgeable in foreign earned income. Not all CPAs will be versed in this niche. Note, physically being in a different country than the USA means you are literally by foot in the country- if you are traveling by plane or boat (under maritime law) this doesn’t count. Just something to be aware of now!

3. LIVING ABROAD

While location independence doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be boppin’ around the world, it could if it’s what you want. Also, as I mentioned above, it is definitely worth considering as many countries might be much more affordable to live than your own, even after factoring the cost of the plane ticket.

Preface/caveat: Often, because of IG culture, ‘traveling’ can be romanticized from the lense of privilege and choice, but working location independent can be beneficial for those also traveling out of necessity. Like I mentioned above, while this was always a goal of mine, living abroad unexpectedly for the past few years due to meeting my husband made it necessary I figured out how to work location independent, since I was/am living in countries I don’t speak the language and it made it almost impossible to get hired in a traditional physical job. Or maybe someone is fleeing violence or persecution in their country, being able to work remote is huge for this. (Though remember receiving money is also dependent on a reliable bank account, which is a whole other topic) . Or maybe those waiting months for their visa to get a physical job. There are so many situations where people would benefit from joining the online workforce. I just want to point out the complex reality for many who would benefit from working online and not follow the same narrative we hear on repeat with these buzz words.

Visa-Free

This topic is highly dependent on your unique passport privileges depending on what country it’s issued from so it’s hard to give a blanket explanation for all. As you may know, the USA passport is highly privileged along with a handful of others.

Go to PassportIndex.com to see what countries you can stay and for how long without prior visas.

Since I can only write from my experiences, here’s some tips from the perspective of the same passport:

A USA passport currently lets you visit 170 (out of 198) countries with no prior visa process. (that’s nuts!)

Legal stays for a US passport currently (this can change, I’m sure I missed some too, check what’s up to date):

• 360 Days: Georgia, Palau

• 180 Days: Antiqua and Barbuda, Armenia, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, United Kingdom,

• 120 Days: Fiji, Jamaica

• 90 Days: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria*, Belgium*, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic*, Denmark*, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia*, Finland*, France*, Germany*, Greece*, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary*, Iceland*, Israel, Italy*, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia*, Liechtenstein, Lithuania*, Luxembourg*, Malaysia, Malta*, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands*, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway*, Poland*, Portugal*, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia*, Slovenia*, South Africa, Spain*, Sweden*, Switzerland*, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vatican City, Zambia, Zimbabwe

*Schengen zone (meaning you have 90 days in these places total/collectively)

Nomadic Life

It’s true many location independent workers end up moving from country to country as their visa stays run out. This in turn makes their life essentially nomadic. There is such a large number of ‘digital nomads’ the group is calling themselves the 200th Nation.

Student Visas

Another very popular way to legally reside in a different country is to become a student. You may be surprised at the affordability of getting your undergraduate or Masters in a different country, especially one that has more social programs to support higher education in their country. For a while tuition for even foreign students in Slovenia was free, otherwise many Universities may charge for example 1200 euros for each year of studying. Of course then you would be signing up to be a student, on top of establishing freelance work at the same time, but if you sign up for minimal courses it might be an overall enriching experience that will also add to your resume.

4. HEALTHCARE

Again this is written from the perspective of coming from the USA, because this if often the number one reason we feel we cannot leave the security of our jobs. Having health insurance there is necessary due to how expensive healthcare costs are currently. While there is no longer a mandate to have insurance, it is very wise to be prioritizing it.

If you plan to live in the USA, you DO need to budget for your own monthly insurance to avoid the real risk of financial hardship.

If you plan to live abroad, read on:

1. HSA globally accepted - If you are lucky enough to have an HSA account already, you are indeed still able to use this abroad where cards are accepted. Just research the transaction fee (mine is 1%).

2. Healthcare is MUCH cheaper in other countries - You honestly might not need insurance at all. Living abroad you will see the whole insurance industry doesn’t exist either at all or in the same way. My doctor visit/tests in Tokyo was about $30 for example, and a cavity filled at the most expensive place in Baku was $55. (Compared to the $400 in the US). (Unfortunately) several friends of mine have had bad accidents in New Zealand requiring many overnight stays but did not walk away in debt in the slightest. (There, as long as you are legally in the country, you are covered.) It is worth researching the countries you plan to live in first. But remember the extreme of stress and worry from not having insurance is a very uniquely American (USA) thing.

3. International health insurance IS available - For peace of mind there’s companies out there. SafetyWing for example covers you when traveling, and even the first month (or 2 weeks if USA) back in your home country! There are a handful of other travel insurance options. Here’s a link with more details on health insurance for nomads.

4. Online therapy - For mental health, there’s an increasing number of companies offering text and video therapy!

5. MANAGING FINANCES

In the past few years there’s been a surge of online personal finance trackers, online banks, investing apps, and resources!

When I stepped away from stability and benefits, I was stepping way from automatic contributions to my retirement. I was taught growing up having this security is important, and also a huge reason many people would opt to stay with a company that does this. But as I jumped into the world of DIY everything, I learned there were many resources out there to educate myself more on finances and tools to help as well. It definitely forces you to be more hands-on with your money and puts more responsibility on you.

First, I would highly encourage you to binge watch as much of the YouTube channel The Financial Diet as possible, especially anything about retirement and investing. (They also have good videos about working remote and passive income.) And really any YouTube channel that breaks down investing and retirement. There are so many resources out there to feel more in control of your future and stability.

Here are just a few tips that I would pass along:

• Know and track your net worth - See the ‘big picture’ rather than focusing on just a number in your savings or checking account. Track how investments let your money mobilize faster and educate yourself! Sign up for a modern, user-friendly centralized finance tracker (and broker) like Weathfront or Wealthsimple.

• Retirement - Make monthly or quarterly contributions to an IRA. Note you can start and/or maintain one on your own, no need for an employer to do this for you! Of course you do not have an employer matching contributions now, something to consider in your risk to reward.

• Investing - Understand investing and have fun with apps like Robinhood, Acorns, etc. Know that you CAN invest in industries you are ethically in line with, like renewable energy for example. BlackRock has been a leader in progressive investing. There is even an ETF for vegan and climate-friendly business.

• Credit cards - If you have access to a credit card optimized for travelers (and use it responsibly, the same way you would a debit card), you can end up saving a good amount of money through points and rewards, and also many of these cards have benefits like built in travel insurance. A popular card with no foreign transaction fees is Chase Preferred. Cards aren’t for everyone, and they often benefit those already spending money. It’s best to research, and if any card changes your buying habits in the slightest- if you see you need to spend a dollar more to get the point benefits, it’s often not worth the value unless you are considering the value of insurance, etc. Credit responsibly. :)

6. FRIENDSHIPS

A topic less technical but just as important to your wellbeing is friendships! Working location independent often means working in isolation. It is very common for people doing this to report feeling lonely, isolated, out of touch with others. Whether this is due to working from home and forgetting to step out of the house, or from constantly traveling so all your interactions become temporary.

Some tips on friendships while working location independent:

• Appreciate them - It is really common for those working location independently to face loneliness and lack a sense of belonging. As you begin your journey, remember to appreciate all the people in your life and remember to put effort into continuing these relationships.

• Keep them - Weeks go by fast, then months, before you know it you don’t know what’s going on in their lives! Remember to check in, and also to not take it personally if they can’t get back to you right away. Value them but remember not to resent them for you not putting effort into making connections where you are. You are responsible for this.

• Make them - If you are reading this, then you understand English and you will be able to make friends anywhere in the world. Join a Facebook group for “expats”, or see if there’s a chapter of “Girl Gone International” where you are. “Digital Nomads”, etc. I was able to start a book club pretty easily by making a post in a group called “Baku Expats".” Before I knew it I was connected to a wonderful group of ladies I am so appreciative to have!

• Facebook groups are a great way to connect, also there are communities like Indie Hackers, Tropical MBA, etc. Besides making friends in your city, there are many online communities of location independent workers around the world going through the same experiences. Often there are meetups within these communities.

CONCLUSION

So those are my tips on 6 important topics for those interested in maintaining a location independent lifestyle. I want to remind people that working location independent is a global trend, and doesn’t always mean one romanticized Instagramable perspective. There are so many reasons for people to want to work remotely full time, from wanting more comfort in your day as an introvert, seeing more of the world as you fund your travels, or are in a position where you can’t legally get a physical traditional job in your location but need to make an income.

I hope some of this insight has helped clear up some questions some of you have about a location independent lifestyle. Just like with any lifestyle, you have to be the judge for yoruself what you find important in life. Certainly having this lifestyle means a more DIY approach- there are some more factors you may have to consider and weigh in order to determine if it’s right for you.

While it took me a few years of perhaps more stress and incertainty, the time freedom and significant deduction of stress I’ve now become accustomed to is absolutely worth the struggle.

If you truly dream of working remote or location independent, I hope you believe you absolutely can do it. It might not be as fast or easy as you’d like, but if it’s important to you it’s worth it.

Any questions you may have for me I would be super happy to help. Just message me at hello@loopandlaurel.design.

Thanks for reading!

—Daniella Attinella

40 Lessons Learned from Traveling Around the World

40 Lessons Learned from Traveling Around the World (in no particular order)

As mentioned in my about page, in October of 2016, I left the comforts of my home and full-time job in Minneapolis for a 5.5 mo trip around the world, visiting 6 continents and 23 countries. Since then I’ve had a lifestyle shift- meaning I currently ‘live abroad’ primarily in Rome, though travel several times a year to my home in Minnesota as well as to and in between my partner’s home in Azerbaijan. Essentially this shift shook me out of routine and opened my eyes to many life lessons that has shaped my views on the world… as well as some small tidbits that might make some days a little more enjoyable.

Rather than going through the stress of dumping your belongings and parting from your loved ones and pets, I thought I’d spare you some time and money with the Spark Notes of what I learned from my experiences.

I wrote this following list after the first trip in 2017 when I lived out of a backpack not much larger than one you’d take to school, and below you’ll find the lessons I’d add now:

Things learned from a solo trip around the world (in no particular order):

1. Groceries are almost always cheaper

2. Greeting new people w/ kisses is so sweet and everyone in the world should do it (though it ends up being awkward if it’s not the same expectations for both parties)

3. People (mostly) are good and are (almost) never their government

4. Always use public transportation when commuting from an airport when possible- it is insanely cheaper and usually completely comfortable

5. You actually don’t need a ton of different outfits in order to feel appropriate for the world if you are smart about layering

6. Living minimalistic eliminates some stresses and teaches you great lessons on materialism, but will still cause some other stresses or discomforts

7. It’s good to be direct and say no when you mean it

8. Plantains are always a good side dish

9. Purchasing oranges and bananas is never wasted money

10. It’s possible to appreciate things and let them enhance your life without having them/buying them

11. There will always be more stuff

12. Getting rid of material items you’re attached to is important, and a slow lesson to learn

13. A lot of people in hostels only stay in hostels, and because of this you often don’t get the best understanding of what a place is really like if you don’t connect with locals

14. Laughing because of stress is always the best way to handle it

15. Planning ahead transportation is always cheaper than leaving it to the last minute

16. Veggies and fruit are always a good purchase

17. If you can get it done now, you absolutely SHOULD. You might not have the opportunity again.

18. It’s OK to not be in control of your day

19. It’s OK to collaborate (and often quite rewarding)

20. Sleeping enough is incredibly important- especially if you can wake up naturally

21. Rinsing with cold water will always feel insanely healthy and awakening- regardless if it actually is

22. Squeezing lemon or ginger into water is a small way to make it delicious all day

23. Forgetting to take said piece of ginger out of your water bottle means you may get stopped and almost fined by New Zealand customs

24. Tasks can get done just the same without overthinking and stressing about them

25. Writing is therapeutic when stressed

26. If you see a cute pen in Taipei with a cat on it, buy two- you’ll definitely use it up and be sad when it runs dry in a few months

27. Expect to make mistakes, so you don’t stress when they happen

28. It’s better to be clean + have clean clothes on when going to sleep (vs in the morning)

29. Seaweed can be incorporated into many more foods than you might think

30. Having an anti-bacterial water bottle is the most valuable item when traveling *though I’ve recently learned its actually really unhealthy to be drinking all your water in something copper-lined, whoops!

31. Headphones prevent people from talking to you

32. If you feel a man (or anyone who could cause harm to you walking alone down a path) is approaching you and you sense he’s about to say or do something uncomfortable, a great pre-defense is to snap up your gaze as if you are locking eyes with a friend just past him and possibly wave. He’ll assume he’s not alone as he thought.

33. If Uber is illegal in a country you’re in, then don’t use it.

34. When traveling longterm add to your budget the cost of sending items back to family for space reasons
    

    Things I’d add now that over a year has passed:

35. Always be humble and assume you could be wrong

36. Having an open mind without preconceived prejudices will lead to the best solutions

37. Remember to show your friends you appreciate them

38. Hosting is a wonderful way to show love

39. Take a walk once a day to clear any chaos from your brain

40. Kicking around a soccer ball is always a good idea
    

    Maybe every year it would be beneficial to reevaluate and life lessons. Every day I feel I’m adding some thoughts to my Notes app, or jotting down something on my notebook.
    
    On a semi-related note, if you are looking for an awesome interactive coffee table book, one of my favorite purchases is the booklet box by Stefan Sagmeister- “Things I’ve Learned in My Life So Far:”

30 Fascinating Facts about Azerbaijan

****Note: this was the first step to one of my websites that is live now! Check out: GoTravelAzerbaijan.com for much more information about the country and traveling there! :D ******

In middle school geography when we were tested on all of the countries in the world, I'd remember Azerbaijan by thinking the 'point' that juts into the Caspian Sea was in the shape of an "A."

To be honest though the name is all I really knew about this country until a little over a year ago before meeting my partner who is from there. Now, I have a deepening appreciation for this small in size / big in history country and want to let everyone know how interesting it is! From what I've found rounding up information for this post there honestly is not that much content out there on the web written about Azerbaijan, which is a shame because there's a ton to say.

So with Onar's help (and the internet) I've compiled some of my favorite facts about Azerbaijan. This list is most likely going to be part of another project we have in the works, so stay tuned. [EDIT: as mentioned above, that project is Go Travel Azerbaijan]

First two questions out of the way

The first two questions that come up about Azerbaijan is 1.) How do you pronounce it? and 2.) Where exactly is it?

If you ask someone from Azerbaijan (written Azərbaycan) the name it will surely have the correct pronunciation and flair it's meant to, but if you are a primarily English speaker asking how to pronounce it you could follow this and be totally fine: Ahs—air—bai—shun (emphasis on each is pretty equal). 

Azerbaijan has its own culture of course, but by location alone you can get a sort of rough idea of the different histories in this part of the world. It is part of the Caucasus region (meaning between the Black Sea and the Caspian) with Georgia and Armenia, and the three largest countries it borders are: Turkey (Just barely from its exclave on the west side, but they share a good amount of cultural similarities), Iran (Azerbaijan borders used to end more south into Persia which is current day Iran), Russia (they were a part of the Soviet Union a couple times):

So now that you know the 'where', I present to you 30 Fascinating Facts about Azerbaijan:

(Scroll to the bottom for my resources and also a few more links/youtube videos I reccomend!)
 

1.

The capital Baku is the lowest lying capital in the world, at 28 metres (92 ft) below sea level (If you're curious what is the highest, it is La Paz of Bolivia!)
 

2.

Baku is known for being incredibly modern with architecturally impressive buildings (it is referred to as "The Dubai of the Caucasus") but unlike Dubai, Baku has a deep rooted history and is one of the oldest in the world- they put great care in preserving and cherishing its walled Old City (or "Inner City) that dates back as far as the 7th century (including a UNESCO World Heritage site) nestled in the middle of it all.
 

3.

Their nation symbol is the "buta" which would be a singular paisley shape. It's used in a lot of their art, logos, tapestries, and rugs.
 

4.

Azerbaijan is home to the most mud volcanoes in one country (400) - They are warm but not hot- you could swim in them but there'd be nowhere to shower off! (business idea?)
 

5.

Azerbaijan has 9 different climates out of the possible 11! From snowy mountain hiking, to bright green rolling hills, to tropical, and semi-desert, there's a variety of climates to experience within this one country.
 

6.

Because of these climates, each region in Azerbaijan is known for specializing in a produce. One area might be famous for their watermelon, another for their lemons. Other specialized produce include potatoes, pomegranates, grapes, apples, and cotton.
 

7.

There is a cave in West Azerbaijan where evidence was found (tools, paints) from the very earliest of humans- 300,000 years ago! For comparison the famous Lascaux Caves in France are approx. 20,000 years old.
 

8.

It was one of the leading countries to welcome equal voting rights for women in 1918- 2 years before the United States and the first country in the East.
 

9.

It is a part of the stretch of land between the Caspian and Black Sea officially known as the Caucasus. People from here (as well as Georgia, Armenia and this part of Russia) are ‘Caucasian.’
 

10.

Its land once stretched further south into what is now Iran and it was part of the Silk Road Trading Route.
 

11.

Because of this border receding, more Azerbaijanis live in Iran than Azerbaijanis that live in Azerbaijan
 

12.

Their national fruit is the pomegranate (nar) and there are several festivals throughout the country dedicated to the delicious fruit that grow abundantly there
 

13.

The language "Azerbaijani" is a Turkic language. (Meaning the language family that spans across pockets Eurasia). If you speak Azerbaijani, you can probably get by in other Turkic language-speaking countries from say Kazakstan all the way to Turkey. Since there is no Rosetta stone for Azerbaijani, you could study Turkish and you'd at least have an understanding of the sentence structures and concepts.
 

14.

During the Soviet Union their alphabet was in Cyrillic, but when they got independence in 1991 (4 months before the USSR collapsed) they switched back to the original Latin-based alphabet. So some elderly Azerbaijanis have a hard time reading their own identification card since they used Cyrillic their whole life!
 

15.

Many people in Azerbaijan are fluent in Russian, and increasingly more (especially the younger generations) are very good in English. It's not uncommon to meet someone able to speak in at least 4 languages. (Azeri, Turkish, Russian, English) Many will watch movies or YouTube channels for example in Russian or Turkish. 
 

16.

Azerbaijan was the first democratically run Muslim-majority country- the country is secular in terms of political operation and often historically lead the Muslim world in progressive politics. 
 

17.

The majority of citizens in Azerbaijan are Muslim but they pride themselves on being welcoming of other religions- they were a place of sanctuary for Jewish people in WWII and have Synagogues and Churches in addition to Mosques.
 

18.

Tea is served often and always with some kind of sweet- commonly, if you go out for example, you will be served your tea with jelly. 
 

19.

Baku currently hosts Formula 1
 

20.

Azerbaijanis pride themselves in their hosting if you are a guest in their home- they want you to feel comfortable and just like family. And, full of delicious food!
 

21.

In Azeri culture, taking care of your family members is highly valued. It is respected and encouraged for example for young adults to live with their family after school and/or college until they get married. It might be seen as 'weird' if you live in the same city as your parents but in your own apartment.
 

22.

Azerbaijan's east coast along the Caspian has a handful of unique natural phenomenons that hold strong historical significance. For example, on the 'beak' of the land that curves into the Caspian just north of Baku is a Zoroastrian fire temple. A constant source of natural gas in this area caused fire to spontaneously come out of the ground in 7 places. This 'eternal flame' has been recorded to exist as far back as 730 AD and just recently went out in 1969.

23.

Food! Popular abundant produce and dishes: pomegranate, walnut, lots of "greens" (meaning fresh green herbs- dill, cilantro, parsley, mint, green onion...), grapes, figs, watermelon, cherry, eggplant, lamb, saffron, cucumber, tomatoes, dolma (stuffed cabbage, grape leaf, tomatoes, eggplant or peppers), shish kebab, homemade yogurt, garlic.... etc. In general there's quite a variety and the dishes have much more complexity and layers to them say compared to Italian cuisine which typically uses the same few ingredients in different variations. This can by tied to the large variety of foods available within the country due to having 9 climates.

Below is an Azerbaijani cook I love to follow, Feride Buyuran! She has an Azerbaijani cook book called "Pomegranates and Saffron":

24.

The Caspian Sea on the east border of AZ is the largest lake (by surface area) in the world. Technically it's a lake not a sea. The northern Russian part of the Caspian is fresh water while the rest is salt water. Do you know what the largest *freshwater* lake (by surface area) is in the world? Lake Superior! 
 

25.

Innovators in oil- The oil wells drilled in 1846 at Bibiheybat in the Baku region were the first mechanically-drilled oil wells in the world. Much of the wealth from the country historically has come from oil. This is also why they were so valuable to the USSR.
 

26.

Speaking of crude oil, did you know you could have a bath in it? There's a specialty spa in Baku that lets visitors soak for 10 minutes in warm Naftalan-rich crude oil (yes it is black and looks like chocolate syrup).  It's believed the Naftalan has healing properties for ailments such as arthritis. 
 

27.

People in Azerbaijan typically celebrate Nowruz (known as the Persian New Year) which is in the first day of Spring and celebrates new life. The origins come from the religion Zoroastrianism, one of the world's most ancient religions that put a strong value on the life giving value of fire and water. For modern-day Nowruz, they will enjoy delicious foods and socialize while a large fire burns down to coals. Once this happens everyone takes turns jumping over them to get rid of bad luck. Below is a scene you will see at Nowruz with fresh grass and 4 pastries:

28.

Baku is home to the Baku Museum of Miniature Books-  the only museum of miniature books in the world.
 

29.

Azerbaijan is known for their variety of rug designs. Just as the climate is diverse in different parts of the country- rug designs are as well. Some rugs might use bold straight color blocks of red, fuscia, and blue, while other rugs might have smaller details in the design such as patterns with the buta (paisley) and use darker earthier colors. There's actually a museum in Baku constructed in the shape of a rug that features the various styles and goes through the history of this important part of their culture.
 

30.

Azerbaijanis have a 'saying' for everything. "In Azerbaijan there is a saying..." is something I'll hear almost every day. They all rhyme too, but in English of course they don't sound as cool: "You can't make a soup with cheap meat" (You can't build something quality without using quality 'ingredients') "You can't hold two watermelons in one hand" (One should focus and appreciate what they have, if they get greedy and try to have two things then they will inevitably loose both)
 

Of course there's many more I could write, like their tasty and beautiful handmade walnut cardamom desserts, and homemade cheeses, but I was getting tired and I assume all you are tired too if you made it this far.

Thanks for reading, and if you are looking for more info do check out our website!

Here are some more resources to check out if you are interested!
 

Some of the mountainous nature of Azerbaijan:

The City in the Sky: http://gulustan.info/2016/02/6567677/

Geography Now episode about Azerbaijan:

https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/xonca-is-to-novruz-what-trees-are-to-christmas-2018-3-21-0/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkic_languages

https://www.azerbaijan.com/v/geography/

http://www.branobelhistory.com/themes/society/the-pivotal-role-of-azerbaijan-oil-and-baku/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz

Two Weeks in Moscow, Russia

It's a red square, get it?!

Growing up in the USA even after the dissipation of most Cold War tension I was still subconsciously influenced to view Russia (and its citizens) as 'scary communists' and certainly not a place to explore as USA citizen. While conversely I observed an embrace of capitalism and too many uses of the USA flag in fashion to count, it is true that Russia still has tight border control in and out of the country for most citizens outside the former Soviet Union making it challenging (ie inconvenient and expensive) to visit!

There are a few ways to see the country within 72 hours- either getting a pretty painless transit visa at a consulate that doesn't require sponsorship- or without a visa entirely through some cruises that may pass in St Petersburg. But to stay longer than that, as I did visiting my partner's family in inland Moscow, it takes a proper visa requiring planning exact days and accommodation months in advance and a hefty (over $200 if mailing) price tag for a single entry.

This is why I wanted to share my 2 week experience in Moscow, because it's a place not many people would necessarily get an inside perspective on, and some of it may be surprising. 

WHY I was there:

To visit my partner's sister and family (husband + 2 daughters). After only actually 'dating' for a collective month, it was decided I'd a) return to Rome to move in with him and b) come with to his annual family visits to Moscow and Azerbaijan. It sounds crazy I know, but sometimes you just listen to your gut and go with it. We spent 2 weeks in Moscow (these dates could not be changed after getting the visa) then one month in AZ.

HOW we got there:

Cost (one way): $160 with Air Serbia

Route: Rome > Belgrade, Serbia (w/ day long stopover- see below) > Moscow

WHAT surprised me the most:

First of all there were not just malls, but really NICE malls everywhere.  I had a completely embarrassingly misguided assumption that Russia was, and is currently, communist— and furthermore that most its citizens were content with this and they despised western capitalist culture. (I know I'm an ID10T, send me the judgement and snark...) This couldn't have been further from the truth. While the government might hold on to some ideals from socialism, they clearly are using capitalism (in the business sense) as part of their economy. I saw many Western brands but also Russian brands too. I can't tell you how many H&M's, english words, and USA flags I saw. Of course keep in mind I was in the capital Moscow and can only share from that perspective. The downfall- I couldn't find ONE shirt with cyrillic on it. Mostly everything was written in the Latin alphabet, in English. A bummer since I really wanted to take home a shirt with Russian on it. (I was learning Russian on Duolingo before the visit and was in love with the aesthetics their alphabet)

GUM- This building in the Red Square is a massive mall.  Shopping, restaurants and an extensive grocery store on the on the bottom level.

Second, I was surprised with all the images of Putin holding cute baby animals. In a bookstore I saw a calendar with the cover being Putin holding a baby leopard cub, and countless magnets made of the image of him holding his Caucasian Mountain puppy. Putin couldn't hurt anyone I mean look at him momentarily father that adorable furry creature!

You can tell by the blurriness of these photos I snapped these discretely!

And third, I was amazed at how beautiful the metro stations were. I had heard this ahead of time, but I wasn't prepared for every little detail of every station to be so emaculate and intentionally designed. I wish I had a better camera to capture them at low lighting, and I regret being shy about rushing to take these, but you can get the idea:

WHAT we did:

The purpose of the trip was for visiting family, so much of our time was spent relaxing, conversing, and eating the most delicious home cooked Russian-inspired Azerbaijani food. We also were able to treat the little ones by taking them to museums and parks, which Moscow has a ton of being in the middle of the boreal forest. We were happy to explore different parts of the city and we could also help out Onar's sister by giving her a break from watching them.

This was the meal we were welcomed with.... WOW is all I can say. So delicious!!!

Countless cups of tea a day, and not one cup was without sweets! The Solomka are candies from Soviet Union era, they kind of laughed that I wanted to take a photo of them because they're so plain/common. Also I'm 100% in love with Onar's sister's ornate dishes for everything.

VDNH:
You can't visit Moscow without experiencing VDNH. It's an insanely large park with beautiful fountains, gardens, food, and cosmonaut themed attractions. It used to have amusement rides but they've since been taken down. The bottom two photos are from opposite ends of the park. Space exploration is definitely a huge sense of pride in Russia, rightfully so. Even though the US was the first to land on the moon, the Russians were first with basically everything else. (And let's not forget how their socialism set high standards for gender equality leagues before the US- the first woman in space was Soviet Valentina Tereshkova in 1963, 20 years before Sally Kristen Ride who was the 3rd woman in space after another Soviet female cosmonaut in 1982.)

This fountain in VDNH is comprised of 16 different prominent females from the different countries part of the Soviet Union.

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Orlov Museum of Paleontology: Because of the extreme conditions in Siberia, dinosaur fossils were preserved significantly better here than other parts of the world. This is the reason why this museum is unique and super impressive. I unfortunately didn't take many photos, but here are a couple of the entrance and inside:

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Parks! Like mentioned above,  Moscow is situated within the boreal forest (same as northern MN) and it is integrated into the city with many large and impressive parks. We walked around Tsaritsyno Palace, which was the palace of empress Cathrine the Great. I don't know if 'park' is really the right word because while there were several units of the palace with beautifully landscaped terrain, much of this place was a straight up forest of pine trees. We stumbled on an open area that was a free dance class for anyone that wanted to join.  We also went to Gorky Park which is more of a place young people hang out- there was a ton of art and interesting activities going on. 

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Moscow Planetarium: The first half was spoken and all in Russian (so Onar understood but not I) but the second half I had headphones of Neil deGrasse Tyson narrating the film so it was all worth it.

And of course.....
The Red Square! 

Not the stereotypical angle of the Red Square, I'm sure you agree with me the flowers are too beautiful not to show. 

Red Square's night market, white intricate booths with (fake) flowers lined all over.

A few last extras:
 

Soviet Union era notebooks- also something people found funny I wanted to take photos of! They are all a different variant of robin's egg blue and very simple. Russian school kids these days find these sort of dorky/basic and prefer more exciting designs with swirls and cats and stuff, as kids do.

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Most delicious Russian fast food, Teremok!!!

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Just a colorful mall entrance.

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Thai rolled ice cream (moroshona)

In conclusion

Moscow was a wonderful city to visit for the parks and museums, and most importantly the family we spent our time with. I would never want to try to summarize an entire place from one small experience, and I recognize that visiting a city for a few weeks in no way means I understand what it's like to live there or how their citizens feel, but I did enjoy how much nature was in the city in the form of free and quality public parks. We spent way more time in malls than I ever expected to with my wildly wrong assumptions about Russia's political stances, and left with a respect for the culture and the people particularly about their early adoption of gender equality that came from socialist belief systems. 

When I was younger and felt a indistinct sense of fear about visiting Russia, I was doing what is unfortunate human instinct to mistakenly group the governmental relations of a country with the citizen relations, when in reality they are often separate. We're all people with the same desires and fears who happened to be born somewhere in the world. Despite what happens to be our ruling government's opinion about how best to serve their citizens, if any of us sat down for tea with a stranger from anywhere in the world we would find infinite more similarities than differences. 

Hope you enjoyed a little peak into some time in Moscow, Russia! 

Thanks for reading,
Danielle

маленькие сердца (Little heart)

Also:

RELATED: How Travel Actually DID Cure My Mind (and How it Didn't)

How Traveling Actually DID Cure My Mind (and how it didn't)

"No matter where you go, there you are"

Backstory: from graduating college in 2010 to 2016 I held office jobs in agencies and lived in Minnesota (basically) my whole life. Since being a kid I felt compelled and curious to see the world and understand other cultures, but I never made it a priority so it never happened. When I was 27 and had only been out of the country a couple times, I made a huge leap to go on a round the world trip solo for 6 months. Since, it's been a complete lifestyle change working remote and living in Rome.

*****Disclosure: I’ m adding this years later after rereading this article. ‘Traveling’ especially solo relies on so many privileges, considering passport, race, nationality, family, being able bodied, and more. I was thinking of deleting this post now that I look back at it considering the level of blissful ignorance! But I guess I will leave it here as it captures a moment of time. Just know that if you are reading this, my mindset has changed!!!! Thanks!!!*******

Recently I read a lengthy visual article on Medium titled "Travel Is No Cure For the Mind" explaining the logic behind why travel cannot fix the mental barriers you must cross to achieve true happiness. If you don't have time to read all of it the general gist is: you might find monotony in your daily life working at an office, so decide to travel. It starts as a few trips, and ends up with actually moving to another country, then in time you inevitably need to find a job again and end up in the same dreadful monotony but with different scenery.

The article concludes with how you must appreciate your current surroundings to be truly free and happy in the mind, that traveling essentially has no affect on this. 

However, I believe the experience of travel cultivates momental life changing skills if you let it. Maybe the author of this article found themselves in a similar monotonous pattern after moving somewhere else, but each situation is unique. Leaving your routine all together in one form or another allows a reevaluation and consideration like no other. You are more comfortable taking those right risks. When there’s no path ahead, you are in full control of your destiny with all your usable attention energy to create something meaningful. Isn't meaning one step above happiness?

Actually it was the common phrase you see written across sunsets shared on FB, "No matter where you go, there you are" that I tried to force myself to believe when feeling stuck being broke and also with only literally 5 days of vacation a year while my best friends were living/having meaningful experiences in other countries across the world.

The issue I see now with this phrase is that it can be interpreted suggesting it's not worth traveling (or trying a lifestyle change) because there's a cap to who you can be, there's a limit to your personality and you cannot work through inner struggles with outer circumstances, similar to what the author of the Medium article was writing. This interpretation is encouragement for mediocrity and simplifies the human experience as something linear and doesn't recognize our ability to grow into completely different lifestyles that in the long run benefits society. Certainly, you will be everywhere you are, that's a good thing. The more present you can be in the now, the more understanding you have of who you are and your place in the world. The world needs more people that think for themselves and have the energy and time to consider how the world might be improved.

No matter what logical reason, graphical explanations or number of times we tell ourselves a phrase over and over, mental barriers sometimes need to be crossed with physical manifestations too.

Let's be honest, isn't it a way more convenient solution to suggest all our problems can be fixed solely in our minds? 
 

Can travel cure a mind? or wherever you go, there you are?

For me, the cliche of leaving my office job for a round the world trip wasn't some external temporary period of time that I returned from and resumed the same day to day as before as was the plan. Instead, it was a physical action that propelled the next chapter in my life I was meant to live. The next chapter didn't include allegiance to an ineffective 9-5 lifestyle devoting my time and energy to another company with the carrot of security and retirement funds. The next chapter included owning my own content, taking risks, creating things, and living in a never-ending state of curiosity. I can soon enter my 30's location independent building meaningful things with potential to generate income for my retirement. That's a risk I wouldn't have taken before my trip, but it's a risk I can't imagine not taking now and my days have an unprecedented sense of meaning and adventure.

As we are all connected, as one person’s revelation is connected to another’s, my story sounds cliche because it is. The reason I’m writing this is because I think many others can relate. Just as someone else’e cheesy story is what made me feel confident to take that risk, maybe someone stumbling on this one day will be confident in themselves too.

So in list form...

How traveling actually DID cure my mind:

• Travel took me out of routine— I was able to see my life choices from more of an objective birds eye view, and pay attention to what felt natural and what didn't (for example, waking up to an alarm 71% of my life with an immediate necessity to physically go to a different place never felt natural, and I never miss it. Unless I have something new and exciting to wake up for, I'm now able to wake up naturally after a complete sleep cycle and take sometimes hours to process and meditate on my intent for the day. Sleep is so important to health and happiness!)

• Travel made me excited to learn again— I didn't realize how numb and simple my brain was starting to mush to until I had opportunity to challenge it again. In high school and college I was so focused on self-guided learning. I'd watch countless documentaries and switch captions and voices on movies between english/spanish/french simply for fun. Curiosity and excitement to learn was inherently a part of me, but after working in the routine of office life without many challenges or threat to comfort in my day made my learning processes dulled. After work I just wanted to have a half glass of wine and zone out to the latest Netflix obsession. I just wanted to be entertained, but I never really felt like I was using my skills toward moving my life forward too. Now, I'm so CURIOUS and am so aware of all that I don't know. I'm learning Italian and Azeri, and am generally interested in other languages too just because it's fun. I still enjoy a few episodes of a show at the end of the night, but now it feels like a truly satisfying rest from living my day with intention.

• Travel made me closer to my family— I know this doesn't make much sense, but I used to live a 20 minute drive to my sister's family, and 1.2 hr drive to my parents. Sometimes, we'd go months without even talking on the phone. On the contrary, while traveling and also now while living in Rome we make it a point to videochat at least once a month, and when we do talk there's more meaning and significance. We listen more, we care more. Of course, there are also downsides which I'll mention in the next section.

• Travel taught me how to take risks— I used to take sort of ‘pretend’ risks, for example dye my hair a color a zany color, or try a new medium when painting. But it always felt these these took the place of the ‘real’ risks a truly wanted to take. Who knows, maybe little risks can slowly build confidence. But I would repeatedly get really close to making a big lifestyle switch then back out. I've since learned with risk can come great reward, and it has brought be much confidence in my decisions and abilities to try for things I might be scared of.

• Travel let me strengthen friendships with people from my past— When you are hyper aware of your physical location in the world, life looks different. Anyone you mildly know in that same physical location as you are so special. The BEST part of my trip was truly all the people I spent it with. I am blessed to have known people from all over and rarely had to feel like a complete outsider staying at a hostel. It was so meaningful to have opportunity to get to know these people more, and go from acquaintance to friends.

• Travel helped my fear of flying, plus my anxiety and depression was absent. Before leaving I was legit afraid of flying. It was something that built as I got older, and more worrisome. Now, while it’s still something I can’t say I love, there is the ability to see a flight as relaxing, almost meditative. It's the one time you can rest your brain without any responsibility.

• Travel helped me learn humility. While this article is pretty heavy on the confident and arrogant side, my experiences making mistakes and being utterly embarrassed were really healthy. (This point I added in 2021 because reading this article is a bit cringey, ha!)

I'm sure there's more, but those are the big ones.

It would be highly one sided and dishonest if I wrote all the ways travel cured my mind if I didn't mention the ways it didn't. So...

How traveling discouraged my mind:

• Traveling means you miss out on important events with family and friends— Thought I'd get the obvious one out of the way. It was kind of heartbreaking to have to Skype with my niece on her birthday like some digital talking avatar. It's hard to see your family and friends on social media experiencing things together and feeling left out, like traditions or seasons you used to celebrate.

• Traveling means you'll loose friends— Before I left, I felt like I had several fun networks of friends I could comfortable meet up with at a bar or party and legit feel welcome. However when you're gone for so long and are busy that whole time, it's hard to reach out to people and no one reaches out to you, and soon a lot of friends start to seem like acquaintances, and by the time you're back in town you feel kind of shy to reach out to them. Despite everyone’s good intentions, sometimes it just doesn’t work out unfortunately. It’s very common for people that travel long term to suffer from loneliness, despite maybe their happy instagram photos on the beach.

• Traveling means you learn how no one really cares— I know this sounds incredibly negative, but hear me out. While going to new exciting places and meeting new people, I rarely felt lonely. I only felt this when I returned and assumed family and friends were curious about my time, but no one expressed interest to see any photos! I had been anticipating maybe hooking up my laptop to the tv and explain things in detail, and maybe that would have happened if all the variables lined up just right, but the reality is no one can really care that much. But how could they? You can't imagine or relate to these experiences, how does it benefit you? And wouldn't that take F O R E V E R to go through the hundreds of photos?! That doesn't sounds fun at all.

Despite these challenges from travel, I still think the benefits (in personal development) outweigh.

Contrary to the Medium article, I would argue that travel can in fact 'Cure the Mind' because it takes you out of the day to day routine of giving your usable attention energy to someone else, reveals the great reward in taking meaningful risks, and teaches invaluable skills and perspectives that can propel you into the life you're supposed to be living.

No matter where you go, there you are learning and creating and carving a new life path.

Thanks for reading,
Danielle