What Happens When We Don’t Feel Understood?

What long-term psychological dangers exist for people who feel they cannot communicate and cannot manage to make others understand them?

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthMarch 29, 2023language learning, French, culture, expat Comments

Places to Vacation (Other than Paris!) in France

Many people get stuck when trying to plan a vacation to France that goes beyond Paris. Where else can you go in France? And what can you expect while there?

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthMarch 22, 2023France, travel Comments

The Coronavirus Diaries: The Third Anniversary Edition

I’ve put off drafting notes for this third anniversary edition of the advent of COVID-19 in the western world because I couldn’t believe that I really needed to continue to mull over the pandemic.

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthMarch 15, 2023coronavirus diariesComment

What to Eat in Lausanne

I have a few food favorites in Lausanne—a list to which I continue to add and update as I explore.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthMarch 8, 2023food, culture, travel, Switzerland Comments

Month-in-Review Highlights: February 2023

I’ve just returned home from over half the month of February in Washington, D.C. But! Before I left, I did get quite a lot accomplished.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthMarch 1, 2023goals, postmortem, France, writing, exerciseComment

Moving Cities and Countries: On Being a Restless Soul

Where do you fall on the stay-put to move-often spectrum? What do you feel has shaped you into these place on the spectrum?

MigratingLeslie FarnsworthFebruary 22, 2023culture, introversion, introverts, introvert, expat, stakes Comments

Theme Authors and Approach Authors

In my reading life, I’ve noticed that authors tend to fall into two macro categories when it comes to themes and subjects.

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthFebruary 15, 2023writing, reading, literature, cultureComment

Mosaics in Rome

Mosaics prompt me to imagine and consider these artisans, these hours, this labor. Who were they? What were their lives like? How long did this take?

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthFebruary 8, 2023travel, culture Comments

Month-in-Review Highlights: January 2023

So early in the year, everything still feels possible—which means that everything feels on track.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthFebruary 1, 2023goals, postmortemComment

Where to Take a Winter Vacation in Europe

If you have Europe in your sights for a vacation between, say, mid-November and mid-March, you’ll find plenty of places to delight you. Here are a few ideas from my own travels, to get your brain storming.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthJanuary 25, 2023travel, vacation, France, Switzerland Comments

The Best Books I Read in 2022

I had a total of 38 books I loved in 2022 from the overall total of books read that year, so the narrowing required no small amount of thought and time.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJanuary 18, 2023writing, reading, books, literature Comments

Books I've Read: Q4 2022

Here’s how I closed out the final three months of my 2022 reading year. Excited to discover ever more books and authors in 2023!

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJanuary 11, 2023books, literature, reading, cultureComment

Month-in-Review Highlights: December 2022

How did I do against the goals I set for my 2022? Overall, I did pretty darn well—if I do say so myself.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJanuary 4, 2023goals, postmortem, writing, literature, reading, FrenchComment

A Visit to Milan: Recommendations for What to See and Do

Milan is one of the foremost international centers of contemporary art, culture, and design. If you get a chance to visit, you’re in for a treat.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthDecember 28, 2022travel, history, cultureComment

Museums Worth a Visit in Lausanne, Switzerland

Lausanne punches above its weight in museums—and in art and culture in general. For a city of its size, the number, variety, and quality of the museums it features will surprise you!

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthDecember 21, 2022Switzerland, culture, travel Comments

Traveling with Teens to Europe: Successful Vacation Planning Tips

There are a few travel tricks for trips to Europe to help teens have an awesome time in the moment—and one to remember long after they get home.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthDecember 14, 2022travel, familyComment

Month-in-Review Highlights: November 2022

Reviewing my progress against plans this month, I celebrated my big wins and took stock of what would invariably, given this point in the year, belly flop.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthDecember 7, 2022goals, postmortemComment

Terms for People Who’ve Moved to another Country

Though you’ve heard the terms, you may not have considered them unless you’ve needed to define yourself (or had someone define you) by one or several.

MigratingLeslie FarnsworthNovember 30, 2022culture Comments