From Jet Lag to Job Plans: My First Euro Trip (And What’s Next)

I can’t believe it took me 37 years to finally visit Europe — but I did it! This April, I “hopped the pond” and touched down in the South of France, grateful for the three years of high school French I barely remembered, and armed with a head full of travel tips from Rick Steves and various YouTubers.

The journey over was the longest flight I’ve taken so far: Phoenix to Paris, followed by a connecting flight to Marseille. My first stop was an artist residency in a tiny town in Provence, which served as my home base for a few day trips before I headed to Prague for a week, then finally back home to the States.

I’ve been to about 27 states. The U.S. is massive, so in terms of miles traveled, I’ve definitely covered some ground. And while there’s a wide range of cultures across U.S. states, there’s still a sense of continuity — same language, same general systems. But I knew that if I wanted to be a “real” travel blogger, I needed more international experience. Up to this point, the only country I’d visited was my beloved Mexico, along with my 25-ish “lower 48” states, plus Alaska and Hawaii.

(And yes, to my European readers — I know Hawaii and Alaska are still U.S. states! But one required crossing an ocean, and the other took me from Central California to the Arctic Circle, so I think it’s worth noting separately.)

At home, I usually travel solo — and this blog is meant to follow an aspiring solo traveler’s journey — but for this trip, I intentionally sought out group experiences and travel buddies. I was admittedly nervous about jet lag and culture shock (which, yes, are real!), and figured there was safety — and better problem-solving — in numbers. I also had to learn to embrace the “group trip energy,” which comes with its fair share of compromise. I needed that support for this first international trip, but I now feel empowered enough to go it alone next time… or the next 500 times. I’m officially addicted to world travel.

La Maison de Beaumont: My First Stop in France

My first destination was La Maison de Beaumont, an artist residency located in the tiny countryside village of Beaumont-de-Pertuis, about an hour from Aix-en-Provence. I applied on a bit of a whim, passport in hand and eager to finally travel to Europe. I was thrilled when I was accepted to spend time working on my creative projects and connecting with other artists.

And connect I did! I met so many amazing artists and creatives. The experience was deeply socially stimulating — I loved seeing others’ work, hearing about their books and projects, and having real conversations about the business of being an artist. It was inspiring to witness how others approach their careers and lives.

I’ll be sharing a full feature on La Maison in my next post — stay tuned for that!

I also took two unforgettable day trips: one to Aix-en-Provence and another to the stunning seaside town of Cassis. I deeply regret not staying longer in Cassis… maybe forever? Seeing the Mediterranean Sea in person was the crown jewel of my trip. I’ve never seen water so blue and clear — it looked like liquid sapphire. It’s now tied with the Northern Lights as one of my top travel experiences.

That night, I fell asleep Googling digital nomad visas for countries along the Mediterranean because… I’m obsessed now.

(A full “Day Trips” feature about Aix and Cassis is also on its way!)

Prague: A Dream Destination

I wasn’t ready to go straight home after France — I wanted to visit one more country. I’ve always been fascinated by Eastern Europe, and Prague was at the top of my list as an art and medieval history lover (especially one traveling on an Eastern European budget). It felt like the perfect pairing for France on this first big trip.

I spent the last week of my journey in Prague. A friend from the residency decided to tag along, and I also met up with a friend from the States who was in nearby Pilsen for a challenging 10-day WW2 historical reenactment. We crossed paths in the city for some great travel moments in the “Bohemian arts capital of Europe.”

Prague absolutely exceeded my expectations: the architecture, the food, the history, the green spaces, the vibe, the kindness of the people. My only regret? I fumbled the chance to see any Mucha — my favorite Czech artist. I saved the exhibit I wanted to see for the last day… and it was closed. 😭I also feel like the countryside is probably stunning as well, and wish I had more time to take some day trips from Prague as a home base. 

Still, I had an unforgettable time. I experienced Easter Sunday in Prague, explored Prague Castle, attended a medieval dinner theater, caught a performance at the National Theater, and visited the Museum of Communism. I also walked what felt like 20,000 steps a day and ate a ton of amazing Czech food.

I stayed at a cozy “aparthotel” run by a host who now feels like family. I already miss Aunt Kristina and can’t wait to go back — not just to finally see the Mucha Museum, but to spend more time in that magical city. I could have easily stayed a month! Although now, I hear Budapest calling…

(Prague will get its own feature post soon, too.)

What’s Next

As summer approaches, I’ll be diving into more detailed posts about each of these experiences. But since I’m a redhead and part vampire, I avoid travel in the summer. It’s too hot, too crowded. I prefer taking three big trips during the other seasons. So this summer will be what I call a “Vampire Summer” — spent in New Mexico, mostly indoors with iced coffee and air conditioning. The only place I’ll be traveling to is the public pool!

That said, this summer is a special one. I’ll be using the time to upskill.

I’ve been an editor, journalist, and art teacher for years, but my true passion — the thing that inspires all my creativity — is travel. That’s why I’m enrolling in a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification program, with a specialization in Spanish-speaking students. I love teaching art, I love the written word… so why not add language to the mix?

The TEFL program I’m enrolled in includes job placement — both in-person and remote — but I plan to start with just a few hours of online teaching each week. It’s a smart way to qualify for job-sponsored visas in Spanish-speaking countries, while still keeping up with my remote work, my art channel, and of course, this blog.

A friend of mine went the TEFL route years ago and is still happily teaching in China — that’s what first sparked the idea for me. I thought, I want to do that! So… I will!

I’ve always dreamed of moving abroad, and now that I’m making real plans, I’m focusing on Spanish-speaking countries where I can immerse myself in the language and culture while continuing to grow my skills. I like to keep my income streams diversified, and this program gives me the flexibility to either teach abroad or stick with the online route — which is where I’ll likely begin.

I’ll be announcing my official “fly south” plans later this summer, once everything is more figured out. But I know one thing for sure: I want to explore both Europe and South America more deeply over the next couple of years!

In the meantime, I’ll be here for the summer, be sharing travel tips, stories, and reflections from my recent trip as well as looking ahead to my next adventures. I can’t wait to tell you all about them.

Thanks so much for being here.

Until next we travel,
<3 Skye