Attentively warding off any tendencies toward creeping bad eating habits and keeping an eye out for “alone” turning into “lonely” mean, in my thinking, that eating alone has far greater benefits than it does risks.

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthNovember 8, 2023food, culture Comments

Month-in-Review Highlights: October 2023

Much accomplished on several fronts—and just in time, as my hibernation season indeed set in toward the end of the month, when autumn settled in Lausanne.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthNovember 1, 2023goals, postmortemComment

Day Trips from Strasbourg: France, Germany, and Switzerland

You’ll have more than plenty to see in Strasbourg—and if you have enough time, I’d recommend you visit other cities and sites in the region as well!

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthOctober 25, 2023travel, culture, France, SwitzerlandComment

Scary Creatures from France and Switzerland: A Monster Mash

Seeking French and Swiss monsters? I went on a creature quest and uncovered one good mythical monster story from France and one from Switzerland. And I’m on the hunt for more!

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthOctober 18, 2023France, SwitzerlandComment

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, cultureComment

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