Books I've Read: Q3 2021

A list of the books I read in Q3 2021, with my favorites in bold and a quick video overview. Any recommendations for my next reading list?

JournalLeslie FarnsworthOctober 13, 2021books, reading, literature Comments

Month-in-Review Highlights: September 2021

Life came back to Lausanne in mid-September, when people returned from their summer vacations and school had reached full swing.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthOctober 6, 2021postmortem, goalsComment

Great Restaurants and Sweet Treats in Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux abounds with creative and unique sweet treats and with gut-warming casual restaurants and heavenly fine dining.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthSeptember 29, 2021France, food, cultureComment

Day Trips around Bordeaux, France

Though no one will fault you for visiting the Bordeaux region of France for the wine and the wineries, the region has more to offer than all things viticulture.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthSeptember 22, 2021France, culture, travelComment

Bad Vacations: Three Factors that Can Negatively Influence Your Experience (and How to Avoid Them)

These three factors can bias anyone’s travel impressions and experiences. We can’t control for these variables in all cases, yet we can take them into some level of account when planning.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthSeptember 15, 2021vacation, relationships, travelComment

Finding New Friends in a New Place

Going out into the world to encounter a bunch of strangers will intimidate anyone. The good news: The risk of meeting new people pays off more often than not.

MigratingLeslie FarnsworthSeptember 10, 2021culture, expat, friendship Comments

Month-in-Review Highlights: August 2021

Writing (or lack thereof), progress in French, and mental and physical expansion.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthSeptember 2, 2021postmortem, goals, fitness, health, exerciseComment

Tips for Driving in France as a Tourist

Driving in France isn’t as overwhelming as it may seem. Let’s go through the key points you need to know.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthAugust 11, 2021culture, France Comments

Month-in-Review Highlights: July 2021

I feel slightly disheartened that I haven’t done more than plan so far this year, given that I really thought I’d set realistic to even overly low goals for 2021.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthAugust 4, 2021goals, postmortemComment

Changing Routines to Shift Your Thinking

Finding a way to create a complete change of rhythm for a few days will fizz your brain and show you where you have opportunities to grow.

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthJuly 28, 2021health, happiness Comments

Games to Try and Games to Avoid for Multicultural Groups

I’ve always loved board games—and only recently realized that many don’t work for cross-cultural groups. Fortunately, great games for multicultural gatherings abound. You just need to know what to avoid and what to seek.

MigratingLeslie FarnsworthJuly 22, 2021friendship, expat, culture Comments

Books I've Read: Q2 2021

The books I read in Q2 2021, with my favorites in bold. What would you recommend I read next quarter?

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJuly 14, 2021books, reading, literatureComment

Month-in-Review Highlights: June 2021

Achieving full vaccination lifted a lot of my easy excuses for postponing several goal-related activities, especially the ones I rarely consider intrinsically motivating.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJuly 7, 2021coronavirus diaries, goals, postmortemComment

Why People Like Stressful Entertainment

Given that we use entertainment to amuse us, teach us, and provide us an escape, what role does stress, then, play in it?

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthJune 30, 2021fiction, culture Comments

The Connection between Strength, Flexibility, and Balance

Follow me on a journey of light-bulb moments that took me through an exploration of physical flexibility, strength, and balance into their essential role in building more balanced, resilient societies.

How to Have a Good Restaurant Experience in France

Understanding the cultural differences will help you have a better restaurant experience when visiting France. And who doesn’t want to have a wonderful dining experience in a country celebrated for its food?

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthJune 16, 2021France, culture, travel Comments

My Experience with the COVID Vaccine

In which I chronicle my experience—straightforward and completely honest—with the Moderna vaccine and booster for COVID-19.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJune 9, 2021coronavirus diaries Comments

Month-in-Review Highlights: May 2021

Here’s to full vaccination and antibody-empowerment by mid-June, after which some of the lagging goals can get a bit more attention.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJune 2, 2021coronavirus diaries, goals, postmortemComment