Books I've Read: Q3 2023

The full rundown of the books I finished in the third quarter of 2023, with my particular favorites from the three-month period in bold.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthOctober 11, 2023books, literature, readingComment

Month-in-Review Highlights: September 2023

So much exploring outside the comfort zone in September 2023—and some family time as well. (Along with writing work, of course, always that!)

JournalLeslie FarnsworthOctober 4, 2023postmortem, goals, writingComment

My Recommendations for a Strasbourg Vacation

With a few days in Strasbourg—one of the can’t-miss cities in France—you can see the must-see sites I’ve listed plus at least one or two of the mix-and-match options I’ve shared as well.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthSeptember 27, 2023France, travel, culture Comments

Life in Lausanne, Switzerland: My Experience

Whether moving to Lausanne makes sense for you will depend on your time horizon, your needs, and your overall situation—so I can’t make recommendations. But I can share my experience!

MigratingLeslie FarnsworthSeptember 20, 2023Switzerland, expat Comments

La Brisolée in Switzerland: The Story of the Swiss Chestnut Feast

Traditional to the Valais region of Switzerland, it’s a meal featuring buckets of fire-roasted chestnuts as a main course.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthSeptember 13, 2023food, culture, SwitzerlandComment

Month-in-Review Highlights: August 2023

Jam-packed months often seem to zoom by, but August felt incredibly long to me this year. Hard to believe it all happened in the same thirty-one days!

JournalLeslie FarnsworthSeptember 6, 2023goals, postmortemComment

Why to Wonder if Someone Reads Fiction

As the years pass, I’ve grown increasingly wary of people who tell me they never read fiction. And studies back me up as to the reasons why.

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthAugust 30, 2023reading, culture, literature, books Comments

How to Push Past Fluent to Fluency in a Language

Even if all the tests tell you that you’ve arrived when it comes to fluency, you can still improve. Here are a few tips for continuing to increase your fluency in your target language.

MigratingLeslie FarnsworthAugust 23, 2023language learning, culture, French, expatComment

Great Restaurants, Snacks, and Treats in Strasbourg

Wondering where to eat in Strasbourg, France? Here’s my guide of where and what to eat for all your food needs while in this gorgeous city in Alsace.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthAugust 16, 2023travel, food, franceComment

Why and How France, Switzerland, and the United States Celebrate National Holidays

I’ve noticed an interesting confluence of holidays celebrating their nation’s founding over the three countries where I focus most of my energy these days: France, Switzerland, and the United States.

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthAugust 9, 2023Culture, France Comments

Month-in-Review Highlights: July 2023

A hectic July didn’t make for much rest, relaxation, personal time—or goal progress, much less achievement. However, I made a few things happen, despite it all.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthAugust 2, 2023goals, postmortem, writingComment

Strange (and Untrue) Stereotypes about the French

You’ll find all types of people in France, as you will in all countries and cultures. As blanket stereotypes, though, these haven’t proven true in my experience.

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthJuly 26, 2023France, French, language learning Comments

Videos: Pyramids and Temples in Egypt

The pyramids and temples in Egypt need capture in video for better representation of the experience and the place, I decided. (And I was right!)

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthJuly 19, 2023travel, culture, history Comments

Books I've Read: Q2 2023

Here’s a list of the books I read in the second quarter of 2023, with my favorites (and recommendations) in bold.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJuly 12, 2023books, reading, literatureComment

Month-in-Review Highlights: June 2023

And on into the second half of the year. I hope the midway of 2023 finds you as centered and as peaceful as possible.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJuly 5, 2023goals, postmortem, writingComment

The Positives and Negatives of Rituals and Routines

I’ve done a bit of thinking recently on rituals and routines. The differences between the two, and the positives and negatives of both.

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthJune 28, 2023cultureComment

How the Obsession with Monetizing Hurts Us

Even the suggestion that you should not spend your time and energy on something without monetizing it significantly reduces the value of the activity.

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthJune 21, 2023business, culture Comments

What to See and Do in Lausanne, Switzerland

I’ve lived in Lausanne several years now, and I finally feel I’ve done and seen enough to have a few favorites and a few go-to handy recommendations.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthJune 14, 2023Lausanne, Switzerland, travel, culture, historyComment