Category Archives: Bucket List

Semana Santa

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Andrea

Whether you call it Spring Break, Holy Week or Semana Santa, the week when the world takes a spring holiday is here. In Costa Rica this vacation time falls on the week leading up to Easter, also known as Semana … Continue reading →

Posted in Bucket List, Costa Rica, Expat Life, Travel | Tagged baby monkey, Ballena Bay, basilisk lizard, beach, beach landings, birds, boats, butterflies, Costa Rica, crabs, deluxe tent, Drake Bay, flights, glamping, hanging bridge, hawksbill sea tutle, hiking, insects, Isla Caño, jellyfish, Las Caletas Lodge, litter patrol, migration, Nature Air, ocean, ocean swimming, rainforest, scarlet macaw, scorpion, small planes, snorkeling, spotted dolphin, tadpole frogs, three-toed sloth, white tipped reef shark, white-faced capuchin monkeys | 6 Comments

New Year, New Adventures

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Andrea

Happy 2015 to all my readers!! I spent the first part of the new year on the second half of my “staycation”, traveling around Costa Rica with my parents. They arrived in the afternoon of 30 December and we got … Continue reading →

Posted in Bucket List, Costa Rica, Food, Travel | Tagged boa constrictor, boat tour, bugs, cacao, caiman, casque headed lizard, chifrijo, chocolate, cocao, cocoa, cuban food, eyelash pit viper, green iguana, hanging bridges, howler monkey, patacon, rain, rainforest, sloth, snakes, Tortuguero, toucan, waterfalls | 7 Comments

Final Days

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Andrea

Just under two years ago, I stepped out of the Abu Dhabi International Airport into the hottest most humid weather I had ever experienced, and it was 1am. In a few days I’ll be headed to the Dubai International Airport … Continue reading →

Posted in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Bucket List, Expat Life, Food, UAE | Tagged 24k, emirates palace hotel, gold leaf, high tea, Ramadan, saying goodbye | 4 Comments

Back to “ojalá”

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Andrea

When I started this blog I wanted to choose a title that represented the journey I was taking from my teaching job in Woodburn, Oregon to a new job in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. I chose the title “From ojalá … Continue reading →

Posted in Bucket List, Expat Life, Work | Tagged adventure, Arabic, blog, Central America, Costa Rica, history teacher, international job, international teaching, jobs, life decisions, Oregon, Santa Ana, Spanish, teaching, teaching job, transitions, United World College | 12 Comments

How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Andrea

When planning the second part of my spring break, I mentioned to Liz that I might want to go to Salzburg, and wondered if she would like to join me. She said yes and added that we could book a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bucket List, Expat Life, Food, Friends, Travel | Tagged Austria, Germany, history, Mirabel Gardens, Munich, Rick Steves, Salzburg, Sound of Music, Trapp Villa, travel, Vitualienmarkt, Von Trapp Family | 2 Comments

Spring has sprung

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Andrea

It is officially spring, today is the two year anniversary of my blog and I am in the final trimester of my final year teaching in the UAE. I am looking forward to what may come in the next few … Continue reading →

Posted in Bucket List, Expat Life, Food, Friends, Travel, Wine | Tagged Alhambra, beach, dirndl, Germany, Granada, Munich, Salobrena, Spain, starkbier, Starkbierfest | 4 Comments

The mountains are calling!

Posted on December 7, 2013 by Andrea

A week ago I was going from shop to shop in the Thamel district of Kathmandu trying to find a good deal on a North Face knock-off sleeveless vest. The fact that I was wearing a genuine North Face soft-shell … Continue reading →

Posted in Al Ain, Bucket List, Expat Life, Travel, UAE | Tagged Buddhist, Durbar Square, Escape Dubai, Escape Travels, Expo 2020, hiking, Himalayas, Hindu, Kathmandu, Nagarkot, namaste, Nepal, rickshaw, Thamel, Thanksgiving, UAE National Day | 4 Comments

The Birthday Ball Weekend

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Andrea

Nope, it wasn’t my birthday, but it sure was a great party! Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have a soft spot in my heart for the U.S. Armed Forces. I wanted to be in the Navy for … Continue reading →

Posted in Bucket List, Dubai, Expat Life, UAE | Tagged Aston Martin, black tie, cars, dancing, Dubai, Dubai International Motor Show, Marine Birthday Ball, Maserati, Nikon D7100, U.S. Consulate, U.S. Marine Corps, US Armed Forces | Leave a comment

India’s Golden Triangle

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Andrea

It has been a few days and I’ve been able to process most of what I did and saw on my short trip to India. I joined another Escape Travels (Escape Dubai) trip this past weekend. We visited what is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bucket List, Expat Life, Travel | Tagged Agra, Amber Fort, Delhi, elephants, India, Jaipur, New Delhi, Oregon Ducks, Taj Mahal, University of Oregon | 3 Comments

Amsterdam

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Andrea

After an amazing time in the United States I had to say goodbye to my beloved family and my favorite place on Earth, Oregon. Whenever I travel I realize how lucky I am to call Oregon home. It has so … Continue reading →

Posted in Bucket List, Expat Life, Oregon, Travel | Tagged Amsterdam, bikes, canals, castle, culture, demographics, Muiderslot, museums, red light district, van gogh museum, windmill | Leave a comment