Inadvertently, Sean and I have made it a pattern to visit Christmas markets in Europe for our first major vacation at a new post. In 2015 when we left Dushanbe for the first time, we went to Germany and Brussels to get a good helping of Christmas spirit. Last year, we did the same with […]
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About an hour south of Tbilisi lies the unassuming village of Marneuli. At first glance, it looks like any subsistence agricultural town. Herds of farm animals roaming the pastures, quaint houses made of stone and brick, and residents living in extreme poverty. Most of the income in this area comes from outside sources such as […]
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Although I spent 23 years living in Wisconsin, yesterday was my first-ever Green Bay Packer football game. I know some people have been wondering why it took so long for me to partake in one of our state’s great traditions. I have several reasons. For one, my parents are from Chicago, and though my dad […]
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Yesterday was our first full day back in the U.S., and our first full day back in Wisconsin since Christmastime 2017. It also happened to be the first day of the Wisconsin State Fair, so naturally, we had to go. I have fond memories of the fair from my childhood. My brother and I insisting […]
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Georgian food is quite unique. Some things feel very familiar – like dumplings or cucumber salad or kebabs – and some things are entirely new to me. This series on Latitude with Attitude will explore local delectables in detail so anyone traveling here for the first time will know what they are getting into. I’m […]
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We finally have spring in Tbilisi. After a March of absolute garbage weather, it’s actually warm enough to open our windows and enjoy the fresh air. Every week in March, Sean and I would look at the forecast, look at each other, and say “I’m sure next week it will finally be nice.” Yeah. That […]
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The longer I’ve lived in Tbilisi, the more I’ve come to realize this is a city full of surprises. For instance, did you know an area of downtown is actually geothermal? I do now. There are actually several sulfur bathhouses clustered together in the Abanotubani neighborhood in Old Tbilisi that make for an excellent way […]
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One of the most important celebrations in Georgia is ringing in the New Year. It’s a truly unique celebration that mixes European and Asian practices in a way that feels distinctly Georgian. I think the best way I can describe it is somewhat organized chaos. It’s the right amount of unruly where everyone in the […]
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I love a good festival. I grew up in Milwaukee where Summerfest reigns supreme as one of the highlights of my summer. And don’t even get me started on the glory that is the Wisconsin State Fair. Festivals combine some of my favorite things: food, craft fairs, live music, and simply being outside. This past […]
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There’s a word in Georgian – that, of course, I can’t remember because I’m horrible at languages – that roughly translates to “when the eye of the sun enters the grape it’s time to harvest.” This year, that time is now, and we’ve been lucky enough to participate in this ancient tradition of Rtveli, or harvest, […]
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