I originally started this blog in 2011 as a way to chronicle my six-week trip to London, England for an internship. Over the years, I updated it when I was abroad and then promptly forget about it as soon as I got home. But now I believe I may finally be in a place to post consistently, so I’m relaunching my blog again.
A little about me…
Hey there, my name is Alex. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
I am a trained journalist with several years of experience working for one of Canada’s biggest broadcasters, both behind the scenes and on-camera. Travelling is my passion and I hope to be able to see most of the planet in my lifetime. So far, I’ve lived in, worked in and visited 27 countries. (Twenty-eight, if you include the Vatican.)
Why should you read?
Well, if I’m honest, I find many travel blogs to be too superficial. Most that I have read are written by backpackers and geared towards other backpackers. They include lots of great information about the traveller trails: getting deals at tourist sites or finding cheap accommodation, but not much information about the daily realities and challenges of living in the countries. Or else, they are geared towards “flashpackers” articles about looking good on the airplane or reviews of hotels and restaurants that a local could never afford.
I was guilty of this too with many of my previous posts on this blog. I wrote reviews of hostels, and posts about cramming in as many tourist sites as possible in a 24-hour city break. I wrote about amazing bars in Belgium and cafes in the Netherlands, but no where did I touch on what daily life was like there, both good and bad.
I would like to change that.
Currently, I’m living and working in Guyana, a unique country, on South America’s northern coast. Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America. Much of the daily life, culture and political systems are still heavily influenced by its colonial past.
After living here for six months, I realized that my experience here has made my more interested in issues I never really cared about before, things like sustainable development, the politics of energy use and gender-based violence. I’ve concluded that now that I know real people and regions affected by these issues, I care much more than when they were just abstract ideas.
I’m hoping that by sharing stories about the places I’ve been, people I’ve met and realities of living there, that I can make you all care too. I worry that our planet is feeling much more polarized in recent years and there has been a rise in hate among its citizens. However, in my experience, people are mostly the same and mostly good. Even if we grow up in very different circumstances, it’s really not that hard to get along.
This blog will include posts about travelling and living abroad. It will include stories that paint a picture of visiting different places both on and off the beaten path. It will include tips for saving money and supporting local industries. It will help you fell like a local, wherever you are.
I hope you enjoy.
Thrifty Abroad 