My Stab at Sci-Fi
My fugitive childhood running from the cops inspired this sci-fi scene, running from an evil slave tycoon.
My Sanity Plan for COVID-19
Are you going stir crazy during your quarantine? See if my 7-point sanity plan helps.
The Finished Earthbag House Tour
After 4 summers and countless hours of labor, the earthag house was finished and moved into. Since then, it has been performing well! Here’s the video tour of the finished earthbag house.
2018-2019 Holiday Letter
In the past 2 years, we have visited many new countries and had some awesome experiences! Enjoy our overview and photos.
2017 Holiday Letter
Happy Holidays from Minnesota! When the clock struck midnight on December 31st, 2016, and the sky in Loja, Ecuador exploded into color as we ate our 12 grapes (representing a coming year of prosperity), I had no way of knowing what a range of emotions we would experience in 2017—from grief we couldn’t imagine to…
What I Do
You know how when you meet a new person, one of the first things they ask is “So, what do you do?” That’s not an easy question for me. I used to have a simple answer: “I’m a teacher.” How convenient to have one-word answers that everybody understands! More… Then I went into my state…
LojAventura – Outdoor Adventure in Loja and Beyond
“We’ve been told there’s a waterfall up the Zamora Huayco river, but nobody ever goes up there. Do you want to go scout it out with us tomorrow morning?” I was on the phone with Diego, one of the founders and leaders of LojAventura, an outdoorsy adventure and tourism group based in Loja. We first…
What to Pack for a Trip to Loja, Ecuador
Are you planning an exploratory trip to Loja and wondering what to pack? I’m a nerd when it comes to packing. I’ve honed my skills over the years from my own multiple trips across the globe, beginning early in life as a child fugitive. I also have many good friends who are avid travelers, and…
Buses in Loja, Ecuador
During our latest trip to Loja, I visited the transportation office and the tourism office, begging for a complete map of the Loja city bus system. Although the buses run along established routes at regular intervals, no complete map seems to exist outside of an Android app called SITU Loja, but since I have an iPhone…
33 Things to Do in Loja, Ecuador
I’ve written a lot about Loja as a potential place to live. It’s the main focus of my book on Loja, and will continue to be a major focus in the second edition of the book. But what about the city and province of Loja as a destination for travelers? I’ve explored this theme in…
A Woman Pursues Ecuadorian Residency in Loja
When I found out we would be returning to Loja (unexpectedly, see 2016 Holiday Letter), I downloaded The Visa Chase and Other Fun Stories of Ecuador, by Diana Cevallos to my Kindle. Diana is an expat from the United States who has been living in Ecuador since 2011 and in Loja since 2012. She spent…
2016 Holiday Letter
Dear Readers, Friends, and Loved Ones, Happy Holidays from Loja, Ecuador! When I wrote the first draft of this holiday letter, less than two weeks ago, I had no idea that a few days later I’d be on a flight to South America! Let me back up to the beginning of the year and…