It has already been almost two weeks since we returned from Minnesota.  Our trip from July 23rd to August 3rd was fun, but also very busy.  We traveled all over the state visiting friends and family, trekking from Minneapolis, to Atwater, to Duluth, to Wolverton (near North Dakota), and down to Faribault. On Thursday, July … Continue reading Back in Minnesota →

From Thursday July 23rd until Monday August 3rd Melissa and I had a whirlwind vacation back in Minnesota.  After looking forward to the trip for so long, now that we’re back, I’m surprised and a little sad at how fast the time seemed to go, though I’m satisfied with how we spent our time, packing as … Continue reading Traveling Across the Atlantic →

When I started this blog last December, one of my first posts, titled “Subtle Differences”, was about all the little things I’d noticed to be different than in the U.S.A.  Now that a few months have gone by, I’ve noticed a few more things to add to my list. Drinking out of Public Fountains: Most fountains in … Continue reading More Differences →

The cover picture this week is us out at Lake Geneva, on Tuesday, with Melissa’s group.  We were celebrating a birthday, a paper publication, and Bastille Day.  However, we were told by the French people that only Americans call it Bastille Day.  In France they call it either the national day, or the 14th of … Continue reading 19 July 2015 Update →

After eight grueling, scorching, almost unbearable days of high temperatures over 90° F, I am happy to report that our heat wave broke on Wednesday when the high was only 78° F (which is still above the historical July average of 77° F).  It may not seem exceptionally hot to most people, but the struggle … Continue reading Thonon-les-Bains, France →

Even though it’s over 3000 miles to the shores of the greatest country in the world (don’t ask how many kilometers unless you’re a communist), this last weekend “The Land of the Free” was present right here in our apartment within the hearts and minds of six young patriots. Along with Melissa and I, Garrett Swindlehurst, … Continue reading Murica Weekend! →

On Saturday, our last full day in Italy, we packed three historical sites into our itinerary.  In the morning we visited an ancient Roman amphitheater and a volcanic crater called Solfatara, both in Pozzouli. In the afternoon Sam went to the airport to pick up his now finacee (congratulations!!) Marianne, while the rest of us found our … Continue reading Naples, Italy – Day 3, June 20th →

On Friday our tour guide, Sam, had to go to work, so Melissa and I, and Jim and Lee were left to fend for ourselves.  Our sightseeing plan for the day was to check out the Island of Ischia, located an hour ferry ride away from Pozzouli.  The night before Sam had shown us the … Continue reading Naples, Italy – Day 2 June 19th →

After visiting five different European countries Melissa and I were just starting to feel like confident, experienced, European travelers.  Then, from June 18th to 21st, we visited southern Italy.  Even though the Italian border at Mont Blanc is visible from Lausanne on a clear day, we soon found out Italian culture is much different than … Continue reading Naples, Italy – Day 1, June 18th →

Traveling to a foreign country is both fascinating and terrifying in one aspect – all of the communication is done in a foreign language! When the Olsons traveled to Switzerland to visit Phillip and Melissa, we knew we would be communicating in a different language.  As you are aware if you have read Phillip’s blog, … Continue reading Sprechen ze Francais? →