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Jo Maeder

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How My French Work Exchange Journey Led to a New Life and Love

February 12, 2020 by Jo Maeder Leave a Comment

Hotel de Cours de Thomazeau in Castillonnes, France.

A few years ago I stumbled on the blog Enjoy Living Abroad and began a vicarious journey through Karen McCann and her husband Rich. In 2004, these intrepid Americans decided to live one year in Seville. They’re still there. If you’ve ever dreamed of living abroad or traveling light (they’ve even traveled with no luggage), check out this blog and Karen’s books.

When I visited Seville for the first time recently (a city everyone should have on their Bucket List), I reached out to Karen. A conversation about travel with a purpose led to her interviewing me about an incredible journey I’d taken doing a work exchange in France, alone, the summer of 2017. On the surface, this kind of trip seemed better suited for kids on their gap year after high school. I was…must I say my age? How about 42 Forever. Click on this link to read how a fairy-tale adventure reverberated long after I returned home and changed me in startling ways. I hope it inspires you, or someone you know, to think outside the box when it comes to sojourns abroad. You never know where it might lead! Thank you HelpX.net for playing “matchmaker” in finding my super host.

Photo credits:

Hotel de Cours de Thomazeau: Kelsey & Co Photo

Me in Lougratte, France: Jacques Vanicatte

Filed Under: Author Q&A, Blog, Travel Tagged With: cultural exchange, France, HelpX, travel with a purpose, traveling solo, work exchange

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