• HOME
  • Archives
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
Menu

Hola! It's Erica

Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
living an adventure-filled life

Hola! It's Erica

  • HOME
  • Archives
  • ABOUT
  • Contact

5 Foreign Cities I’d Move to ASAP

June 14, 2018 Erica Cook Carter
5 Foreign Cities Header.PNG

YOLO.

The motheracronym of acronyms in the 21st Century.

“You only live once!” or YOLO, is so much more than a trendy hashtag, meme, drunken club anthem, excuse for bad decisions, and Drake rap lyric.

It’s a life motto. Like Hakuna Matata, which means no worries, except YOLO, well, you get the point.

Moving on.

Have you ever had an urge to pack your bags, buy a one-way ticket, and set off to the great unknown? To try something new? To ditch your comfort zone for the adventure of a lifetime? Because, same. Always. I refer to this craving as “itchy feet”, and it’s both a blessing and a curse. It’s taking a chance on an urge, which is obviously a risk, but could also be the best decision you ever made. Because the world is big and you only live once, so why not? 

I blame my perpetual restlessness on the way I was brought up. Having been raised around the world, I call many places home, thrive in changing environments, adapt quickly, and long for the next adventure. I love all the places I have come to know, with their cultures, quirks, and people I now call family. Because I had a generally positive experience (although, of course, this lifestyle wasn’t for everyone nor was it perfect - as all things, it had its downsides and sacrifices), I’d love to introduce my husband, and eventually our children, to the experience of living abroad. Adam’s always expressed a keen interest in moving internationally, and we agree that our children would benefit greatly from it, as I did. We’ve decided to prepare for a couple years, see how our app pans out, and continue to travel to discover and explore countries and their cities to find what might feel like the best decision and a potential future home for our family. And take the plunge!

Some of these cities I’ve been to and others I haven’t, but would still move to anyway because I’m sure I’d love the experience. I’m a sucker for adventure and trying new things after all. So without further ado, here are the top 5 cities I would move to in a heartbeat if I could.

5.       Somewhere in England

london-cityscape-big-ben-2018-billboard-1548.jpg
Screen Shot 2018-04-21 at 11.28.13 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-04-21 at 11.40.05 AM.png
x5cgi0ode66q6vuxezqmehmexwer6bt-xlarge.jpg
160418174709-beautiful-england-7-cornwall-port-issac-super-169.jpg

I have to admit, I’m not very familiar with the country of England as I have only ever traveled to London, and even then, I wasn’t there very long at all. I was also a teenager last time. Although I’m not sure I would raise a family in London because of what I’ve heard about the weather and the high cost of living, Adam is all for it. I put “Somewhere in England” because there are so many other places in the country that have caught my attention in my “research” (you know, Google searches, watching British shows on Netflix, and reading blogs and forums, ha). While I’m not sure yet if I would move to London, I’m drawn to the quirky, artsy city of Brighton (which gets bonus points because it’s by the sea), for example. My dad lived in Folkestone, Kent in his 20’s, and he absolutely loved the experience. So I’m interested in exploring the county of Kent, as well as others. The English countryside is beautiful, as is the seaside - I think I’d move to Cornwall or Devon in a heartbeat if I could, because the scenery is breathtaking and it seems so peaceful there. In fact, I’ve always dreamt of someday living in a little cottage with a beautiful garden, by the sea!

4.       Tokyo, Japan

644e904b5ed5ff5ae30163c350b47fbb.jpg
harajuku-district-tokyo-japan-august-crowds-walk-takeshita-street-night-65475528.jpg
robot-restaurant-tokyo-japan-shinjuku-0909-800x532.jpg
wd8tf3ig680kfqfmmkpq.jpg
robot-restaurant-peace-robot-800x528.jpg
Robot-Restaurant-Tokyo.jpg
amazing-places-japan-15-57512c4696b13__880.jpg
amazing-places-japan-27-57512c64d7402__880.jpg
Shibuya-Crossing-from-top-view-at-twilight-in-Tokyo-Japan.jpg
image.jpg.png
shibuya-crossing-night-tokyo-japan-december-pedestrians-cross-one-world-s-most-famous-scramble-crosswalks-51760207.jpg
kawaiimonstercafe_13-e1485477454820.jpg
A_4-600x400.jpg
The-Eight-Amazing-Places-to-Visit-in-Tokyo-Japan-crossing.jpg
Robot-Restaurant-Bar-1024x1024.jpg
Shinjuku-Tokyo-Japan-1024x1024.jpg

Because I’m sure we’d love Japan, and I mean, who wouldn’t think living in Tokyo would be a cool experience?! Although I’ve never been, I already know it’s an incredible and thrilling one-of-a kind city - super modern, entertaining, and a feast for the eyes as well as the belly (authentic Japanese quisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Like, sushi and ramen and miso and onigiri every day? Cheap chirashi?! Yaaaaasss). After all, there’s a reason Tokyo is one of the most popular cities in the world. Adam has expressed keen interest in the possibility of this happening someday, and I can’t get the thought out of my head. I've practically been obsessed with the idea of moving to Japan since I was in middle school, so yeah (even taking Japanese language lessons at the age of 14) - pretty sure it's been calling my name!

3.       Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Amsterdam-Bikes-and-Canal.jpg
Amsterdam-Autumn-Colors.jpg
5d47bc13a5141e6669b24f18b62872ac.jpg
Amsterdam-The-lights-on-the-bridges.jpg
7863bf4fce590a2ffb2c265bd245738a.jpg
De-Pijp-Amsterdam.jpg

Fun fact (and one I’m really proud of!) - I was born in Den Haag, the Netherlands - and I’m proud of it! My parents lived in the Netherlands (also known as Holland) for a couple years, and said they loved the experience so much they would have never left, if they hadn’t needed to relocate for my dad’s job. My parents have only spoken very highly of it and by the sounds of it, the Netherlands is pretty high on the list of best places to raise a family. I’ve been back a few times and I can never get enough - I have a special place in my heart for it! The friendly people, the fact that bicycles are practically the main mode of transportation and are everywhere, the stroopwafels (Dutch waffles), and so much more. But the main reason we would actually live in and raise our family in Holland? We share a lot of the same values as the Dutch. They are family oriented, love children, and the government takes good care of its people. Healthcare is actually a right and is mandatory, and the overall benefits and freedoms the Dutch receive put the American way to shame. Holland is generally peaceful, safe, and unified as a country, and it’s people are considered some of the happiest in the world. (Take notes, USA. You have a lot to learn!) Basically, not having to worry about the things we worry about here in the States would be refreshing…and that makes the Netherlands an irresistable place to move to.

2.       Kyoto, Japan

2a0958a2d8a3359a6060a75b7fd9748b.jpg
644e904b5ed5ff5ae30163c350b47fbb.jpg
amazing-places-japan-10-57512c3aa812f__880.jpg
amazing-places-japan-20-57512c52c845a__880.jpg
amazing-places-japan-40-57556e025102b__880.jpg

Again, even though neither one of us has been to Japan (yet), it’s at the top of our list. I can confidently say that I’d love Japan because I already do love so many things about Japanese culture - the food, my favorite, the art, Studio Ghibli films, kimonos, cherry blossoms and ancient temples mixed with modern society, Tokyo, I could go on…Kyoto is on my list of potential places to move to because from what I’ve researched, it’s more relaxed and less expensive than Tokyo, while boasting amazing historic landmarks, beautiful sights, nature, and rich cultural heritage. Sounds like just the right place. And from these photos, it looks like it, too. It’s no surprise that Kyoto is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world! (Florence, too!)

1.       Florence, Italy

Screen Shot 2018-04-21 at 11.41.24 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-04-21 at 11.32.41 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-04-21 at 11.33.05 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-04-21 at 11.51.14 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-04-21 at 11.52.11 AM.png

 

Ah. What can I say? Where do I begin? If you’ve ever been to Florence, I need not say more. You most likely fell in love with it, because really, who wouldn’t? I remember going as a child and loving it even then, never forgetting it and always longing to return. And when Adam and I did so as newlyweds in 2015, we found ourselves enamored and desperately plotting a future that involved returning with a one-way ticket. It's hands-down our favorite city. The locals are so friendly, and while the atmosphere of the city is lively and vibrant with music at every corner, it is peaceful and serene, and I found it much more relaxed and amiable than bigger cities like Rome and New York. Added bonuses? It's dog-friendly, and has the better weather on this list. Of course, Adam and I have never lived in Florence, and as always, I’m sure there are differences between visiting as tourists and actually living there as residents, but I’m pretty sure I’d be happy to put up with anything if it meant waking up to the bell chime of the Duomo and watching the sun set over the river Arno from the Ponte Vecchio. Weekend getaways to the Tuscan countryside and the best wine in the world always at my disposal? Yes, please. 

I believe that everyone should live outside their home country at least once in their lives. You don’t have to feel unhappy to want a change and try something new. I believe that we are always changing, and so are our interests; life is the sun, and we are the planets orbiting it. So why not try something new? You just might be surprised how happy you are that you did. After all, the world is big and you only live once.

 

What is a foreign city you would move to if you could?

FullSizeRender-1.jpeg

VIEW RECENT POSTS

Featured
5 Foreign Cities I’d Move to ASAP
Jun 14, 2018
5 Foreign Cities I’d Move to ASAP
Jun 14, 2018
Read More →
Jun 14, 2018
Yo. Izza update.
Apr 13, 2018
Yo. Izza update.
Apr 13, 2018
Read More →
Apr 13, 2018
Dear Restless Spirit
Jan 12, 2018
Dear Restless Spirit
Jan 12, 2018
Read More →
Jan 12, 2018

SEARCH THE ARCHIVES

  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • September 2014

FOLLOW @HOLAITSERICA ON SOCIAL MEDIA

In Goals, Lists, Travel, Thoughts, Bucket List Tags travel, thoughts, goals, bucket list
Comment
IMG_3062.jpg

Hola! I'm Erica the twenty-something, and I live in a little harbor town with Adam the husband and Koda the dog. I reflect on things, rant about things, and basically do other things. Oh, and occasionally take pictures. Let's be friends!

Currently reflecting on: Intentional Living

Learn More

Follow

sign up!

Enter your email address to get news and updates delivered straight to your inbox!

We respect your privacy.

Thank you!

Pet Adoption

No Hands But Ours

sheldricktrust_02[1].gif

msg me!

Name *
Name
Thank you!

ARCHIVES

  • June 2018
    • Jun 14, 2018 5 Foreign Cities I’d Move to ASAP
  • April 2018
    • Apr 13, 2018 Yo. Izza update.
  • January 2018
    • Jan 12, 2018 Dear Restless Spirit
  • December 2017
    • Dec 26, 2017 Holidays + Gratitude
  • November 2017
    • Nov 10, 2017 BOO!
    • Nov 7, 2017 Best. Email. Ever.
  • September 2017
    • Sep 13, 2017 COMPS: A Goodbye to Carefree Days, by: A Graduate Student Just Trying to F*cking Graduate
  • August 2017
    • Aug 7, 2017 Steadfast
  • June 2017
    • Jun 22, 2017 An Exciting Endeavor!
    • Jun 19, 2017 Monday Thoughts
    • Jun 9, 2017 10 Reasons Why Hayao Miyazaki is the Greatest Animator of All Time
    • Jun 2, 2017 Just Us
  • May 2017
    • May 31, 2017 A Special Somewhere
    • May 30, 2017 More Than Just a Dream
  • April 2017
    • Apr 17, 2017 Unapologetically Me
    • Apr 11, 2017 Welp.
  • March 2017
    • Mar 20, 2017 Settling In
  • February 2017
    • Feb 7, 2017 Year Two, Woo-hoo!
  • January 2017
    • Jan 6, 2017 A Letter to my Future Adopted Child
    • Jan 5, 2017 Hello 2017
    • Jan 2, 2017 Lola
  • December 2016
    • Dec 28, 2016 Merry Christmas!
    • Dec 19, 2016 Disney Birthday!
    • Dec 14, 2016 'Tis the Season
  • November 2016
    • Nov 29, 2016 Thankful. (+ Little Letters!)
    • Nov 4, 2016 Bye October!
  • October 2016
    • Oct 25, 2016 10 Ways to Better Connect with People
    • Oct 13, 2016 Dreaming and Wondering
    • Oct 6, 2016 The A-Z About Me
  • September 2016
    • Sep 29, 2016 An Overdue Update!
    • Sep 27, 2016 A SIGN OF LIFE.
    • Sep 13, 2016 Overwhelmed.
    • Sep 1, 2016 12 Tips + a Checklist for Worry-Free Travel
  • August 2016
    • Aug 24, 2016 Today's 20 Random Thoughts
    • Aug 22, 2016 What Does It Mean to Need Someone?
    • Aug 17, 2016 Clearwater Beach
    • Aug 12, 2016 Calm Before the Storm
    • Aug 8, 2016 It's the Little Things
    • Aug 7, 2016 5 Favorite Low-Budget Dates!
    • Aug 4, 2016 "The Wizard of Oz" Date Night!
  • May 2016
    • May 30, 2016 Life Lately
  • April 2016
    • Apr 7, 2016 Spring Cleaning
    • Apr 5, 2016 What Am I Doing Here?!
    • Apr 5, 2016 Cohabitation Virgins Unite
    • Apr 1, 2016 5 Wedding Do's and Don'ts
  • March 2016
    • Mar 31, 2016 A Tidbit on Weddings and Marriage
    • Mar 30, 2016 But FIRST!
    • Mar 16, 2016 Hi There!
  • September 2014
    • Sep 30, 2014 A Dream Come True

LIFE

H a p p y  4  Y e a r  A n n i v e r s a r y ♥️ 2/7/15
Our last anniversary as  j u s t  u s .
.
It’s just after midnight, and I’m up looking at our wedding photos and reminiscing on that unforgettable day 4 years ago, and how strong our marriage has grown since then. Pregnancy hormones sure don’t help but I’m having alllll the feels right now.
.
This photo in particular seems to fit what I want to convey in this post. Just us two, looking forward, so happy, peaceful, content. Excited for the future, so busy and restless. Aware that life won’t always be easy, but up for the challenge. In love and infatuated, but naïve to how much love could grow.
.
I will always remember this moment.
Just us, and a whole lifetime of our best days ahead of us.
.
I’ve been struggling to acknowledge this, but I’ve realized what my mixed feelings are as my due date approaches.
.
I’d be lying if I said I can’t wait for this baby to come.
.
Because, to be honest, I can.
.
In fact, I want baby to stay in as long as possible. But why? I’m excited to meet our first child, to speak their name, to hold them, to finally find out if I’m having a son or daughter. But why...do I feel sad, too?
.
The truth is, I’m a little sad that our days together - just my husband and I - are coming to a close when baby arrives. We’ve made the most of our 6+ years together, and they’ve been the best of my life. I know a baby is going to add even more joy to the equation. I know my life will never be the same in the best kind of way. I know I won’t want it any other way when I become a mom. But I know there will be harder days, days that we won’t have much time for each other, when we can’t just spontaneously get away like we do now. I’ve realized that I really don’t feel like our relationship has lacked anything. I’m so content in my marriage that a change this big is bittersweet. We are excited to become parents, but I’m so glad we waited to start.
.
@adamcarter2715, my best friend, you’re “Still the One” and always will be! Happy Anniversary. ♥️ #latergram #soulmates #weddinganniversary #TBT
Always my baby, too. 🐶♥️
✨
#Christmas2018 #Memories #TBT
Not so #TBT to a picture I never posted of our last Christmas as a childfree couple...
This year Christmas will be completely different ✨ Looking forward to creating new memories & traditions with our little crew. ♥️
Also, it’s crazy how much and how quickly my body has changed throughout pregnancy. 🤭
#Christmas2018 #Memories #Bittersweet
The best present of 2018 ♥️
Not so #TBT to this past Christmas, and our last Christmas as just the two of us. There were so many feelings running through me during the holidays and at first I was confused about them...but now I understand them. And I’ve embraced them. (To be continued in my next post - I have some pics to catch up on!)
#Christmas2018
Woah, well that escalated quickly! Belly is bigger, rounder, and lower, and my pajamas can no longer cover it. 😆 I think weeks 24-26 have been my favorite yet! I feel more bonded to baby than ever, and have so much love for them already.

I’m sure by now you’ve rolled your eyes more than enough at belly photos on social media and listened to pregnancy jibber-jabber (including my own) with a forced smile feigning interest - and I get it, I’ve been on the receiving end. You already know about the joys of pregnancy because you’ve heard it a million times. But you might also know that pregnancy isn’t always a blissful, glittery-feeling experience. Yes, I marvel at it and think it’s fascinating, but let’s be real, we women aren’t always going to feel like magical unicorns. Because we’re just not, and that’s okay. There have been several times in pregnancy that I felt less than graceful, glowy, and other frilly synonyms associated with it. I just choose to focus on the positive feelings because those are the ones I want to remember.
📝
Dear baby, some days I ooh and ahh at your soft movements in my belly, little reminders like you’re saying, “Hey! Mom! Dad! I’m here! Hi!” You’re a little tenant renting out a studio in my belly, and the walls are thin and sometimes you knock on them as if you’re communicating with me in Morse code. Yeah, it’s cute.

Then there are most days, when I scold you for treating my uterus like a jungle gym. And your dad thinks you could be a soccer player like him, because you kick like you’re practicing penalty shots. There are those nights when I wake up to pee, readjust, or both, and beg you to let me sleep. It’s been months since my last night of uninterrupted sleep, and boy, it feels like a lifetime. I guess I should thank you for prepping me for life with a newborn, huh?

On all days, though, I love talking to you and getting belly kisses from your dad, who can’t go a day without feeling you move, and already wears the proudest smile on his face.
...
And these days? My current cravings are grape soda and apparently listening to David Bowie’s “Starman” on repeat. Just a couple of those things I want to remember.
#Bumpdate #24weeks #26weeks
Next up...weeks 22 & 26! I spy two things that changed 🕵🏼‍♀️:
1. My bump suddenly got a lot rounder and pointier in 2 weeks, and I’m officially flabbergasted at how.
i n s a n e. the female body is. 😳
2. Our Polaroid game is improving. 😅
.
Also, I swear this child is as active as as an Olympic gymnast on speed.
#Bumpdate #22weeks #24weeks
About to spam you with lots of bump pics...I have to catch up to this past week (26 weeks)! 🙈
.
I want to always remember week 20 as the week I felt baby kick...or, should I say, finally noticed that, oh yeah, that must be baby kicking and not gas! 😆
.
Not a super noticeable difference between these two, but if you really look my bump dropped a little and is slightly pointier at week 22. Just wait till you see week 26. 😛
#Bumpdate #20weeks #22weeks
Current (and favorite) view 🥰
.
Feeling you move has become your dad’s favorite thing - he talks to you every day, prays for you, reads you bedtime stories and kisses & cuddles you! (well, my belly! 🤰🏼)
#26weeks
😌🙏🏼 Nothing but good vibes & love to all this holiday season. ♥️
Cobblestone streets & crunchy leaves... 🍁☺️
Mommy & baby’s adventure back at 20 weeks 🧡💛
#November2018
 

TRAVEL

A picture of beautiful V e n i c e for you 🌹 because it's been a while and I love that place 😘
Sorry I've been MIA. I've been focusing more on enjoying the moment in the here and now, and using my personal IG (@holaitserica). There was a time after our trip to Italy when I was really torn between the "What If" and the "What I Have". It soon became about "What I Want", which, if dwelled upon, can turn treacherous. I experienced what you might call an existential crisis, or what I call a "quarter-life crisis". I found myself wondering if I was becoming who I wanted to be, if I was meant to be where I was, in this place, in that point in time - here, or there? Could I be anywhere? Could I go everywhere? And where would I be at my ultimate happiness?
.
Suddenly, I found myself slipping down the slippery slope of self-doubt. Try saying that five times fast. I had everything I had ever wanted, and I still wondered if there was more out there. Or, did I not have everything I wanted? Obviously, I was confused. I was basically living in oxymorons and contradictions, my friends.
.
Then, one day, I had the realization that I was wrong. It was all wrong. All of it. And by all of it, I mean my thinking. My feelings were normal; of course I felt like traveling, I longed for far away places, I felt happy in vibrant, exciting times. And who wouldn't? That wasn't the point, though. I let those feelings dictate my thoughts. I assumed, "Well, since I really miss being anywhere else besides here right now, I must not really be happy here. I must not want to be here." Wrong. I thought, "I feel so sad and angry about this country's political situation, so bored with routine, so tired of the sameness." Wrong. No. You see, I realized this one night when I could've been gallivanting in Europe but instead I came home from work to a vase full of flowers on the dining table: I am allowed to feel whatever the f*ck I want to feel. Life will never be perfect. Life is no damn vacation. Life is not a stroll down the streets of Paris without a care in the world, with an immunity to the bullshit. Life is seeing the ordinary as another day to be grateful to be alive. Life is embracing where we are even when we wish we were somewhere else. I chose this life for a damn good reason. 🦋
Have you ever been somewhere where you'd wish you could get lost? We're lucky to be good paper map-readers and decent direction-followers, but in a way I secretly wish we weren't.
Our dreams took us there; mesmerized, we felt our appetite for wander only grow greater...but all we could do was keep dreaming of days like this.
We dreamt of sailing away into the great unknown; it was us versus the world.
.
(Can you spot a famous landmark?)
Ah. I can finally breathe a little easier now that midterms are done with and I settled into my new position at work. I'm glad to be back. You see, you all are so lovely, and I love this lil' IG community.
.
A lot has been on my mind lately. Sometimes I don't know if where I am where I'll always want to be. In fact, most nights I find myself lying awake and feeling restless because I wonder what it would be like to be somewhere else. It's not that I'm unhappy, no, and it has nothing to do with my marriage. It has to do with p l a c e. On days when I sit in my car, in traffic on the interstate for an hour, and the only view in front of me is a giant billboard or the occasional palm tree poking through the cement, I wonder. I daydream. And sometimes, I dwell. Before I know it, I'm standing on a hill in Polperro overlooking the Cornish coast, and a breeze sweeps through my hair. .
I snap back to reality before I miss my exit. I wonder how many more commutes I'll make before I fly away someday.
.
I will be posting a reflection soon on my blog. (But you can check out other posts in the meantime!) Stay tuned. ☝🏼️
Hey guys! 👋🏼 Trip coming up soon? If so, check out my blog - I recently teamed up with SimpliSafe to bring you 12 worry-free travel tips ✈️ (plus a checklist)! Link in bio!
We arrived in Venice and were instantly captivated by it; it hadn't changed since the last time I had been there as a child. It pulled us into its narrow alleys, each one leading us on a different adventure around the maze on water. We fell under its spell instantly; we did not want to be found. ✨
Ready, set, VENICE!
Next stop: V E N E Z I A!
.
We left the Stazione di Firenze Santa Maria Novella with adventure and excitement in our hearts, even to just be on the train! The train ride was nice on the way over. It was surprising how suddenly the landscape changed and we were on the City of Water (or also known as "The Floating City"). We were so excited as the train slowed to a stop...and couldn't wait to explore this beautiful city! Amazing photos to come ✨