I’ve had a very good life. I have parents who weren’t afraid to take chances, and I married a man with a boundless sense of adventure. Both have left me feeling that it’s good to try new things. At Amanda’s (Expat Life With a Double Buggy) urging, I’ve created an expat reverse bucket list – taken stock of all the things I’ve done and accomplished since Ed and I began our expat journey in Poland.
As exciting as all of this has been, you know what it’s left me thinking? That there is so much of my own country that I haven’t seen. This could quickly turn into a Bucket List, but that’s not the intention. Join me as I remissness about the things I’ve done since moving to Poland. I hope it will inspire you to look for and appreciate adventures where ever you may be.
- Eaten at Poland’s first and only Michelin starred restaurant
- Zipped around Paris on a Segway
- Become adept at taking public transportation
- Attended the international mass at Notre Dame on Easter Day
- Learned to cook countless Polish recipes
- Driven through the Alps
- Toured the Pilsner Urquell brewery
- Learned to love rillettes in the Loire Valley
- Made many new friends, Polish and other expats from all over the globe
- Met so many nice people through my blog – some virtually, some in person
- Been interviewed multiple time by Polish media
- Eaten smalec
- Served as a Host City volunteer during Euro 2012
- Taken up bicycling again after a 15 year hiatus
- Spent a month in a Polish hospital, at my husband’s bedside, so thankful to say he survived sepsis
- Learned a lot of history
- Seen new wildlife – a hedgehog, hares, a wild boar, and storks
- Have found a favorite wine bar in Munich
- Been to the top of the TV tower in Berlin
- Found out that it takes me about 24 hours to get home in an emergency
- Had my wallet stolen in Krakow’s Stary Rynek
- Watched Hertha Berlin play in the historic Olympic Stadium
- Learned a lot about European football
- Fallen asleep to the sound of the Spree River
- Lost 20 pounds, post-menopause!
- Cycled through the English Garden in Munich
- Been annoyed by the bad service at the Haufbrauhaus
- Been to the Baltic Sea
- Eaten blood sausage
- With Ed’s help, collected enough airline miles to upgrade to business class, once!
- Seen the famous Danube
- Made flavored vodkas
- Dined al fresco in Prague with a view of the Charles Bridge
- Climbed to the top of the Berliner Dom
- Saw Paul McCartney perform in Warsaw
Check out what some other expats have to say about their time abroad via the link below. What would you put on your reverse bucket list???
An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com, she loves connecting readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook, available on Amazon and on her website.
Meghan Fenn
Fantastic! Loved reading this. My favorite is ‘Dined al fresco in Prague…’ Something I did a lot of when I lived there. Wonderful. And congratulations on losing 20 pounds. Keep up the new adventures!
polishhousewife
Thanks, Meghan! I appreciate you stopping by 🙂
Amanda van Mulligen
Fabulous! Thank you for joining in and linking up – what amazing experiences. Love the dining experience in Prague and the method of transport in Paris!!
polishhousewife
Thanks, Amanda; it was a great exercise – looking back. I’m so glad you suggested it!
Sally Ann
Lois, you really got me thinking!
Here’s my expat list.
Rode in a tuk-tuk in Shri Lanka.
Snorkeled in crystal clear reefs in Bali and the Phillipians.
Mastered mass transit in Singapore.
I’m able to stand at the edge of my balcony on the 32nd floor and look over. (Horribly afraid of heights)
Eaten all types of Asian foods I can’t identify.
Rode an elephant in Kao Lak.
Made lots of new friends from all over the world.
Understand much more of what WWII did to Asia.
Am intrigued by Chinese, Malaysian and Indian cultures melding together over years here in Singapore.
Learned to make curry.
That’s off the top of my head. Thanks for getting me to take stalk and think back over the last few years. We are truly lucky.
polishhousewife
What an amazing adventure you’re having, Sally. As exotic as your list sounds, I’m most impressed at the thought of you on your balcony. We live on the 3rd floor (by European standards, 4th in the US) and I noticed just yesterday how standing at the edge still makes me uncomfortable, my head spins.
Sally Ann
When I first saw this place I couldn’t take one step. Kept my back plastered to the sliding door! Faced my fear- feels great!
polishhousewife
🙂
Kasia
Everything sounds great – except for the kaszanka which I don’t like:( Love reading about your adventures. Lucky to be one of the blog readers that had a pleasure of meeting you in Houston, and in Poznan! Looking forward to seeing you again in June!!!
polishhousewife
Kasia, normally I find kaszanka kind of bland, but I had it in a modern Polish dish recently, very yummy. Kaszanka just needs a little chutney! We’re looking forward to seeing all of you this summer. I can’t believe it’s been two years! 🙂