About Me

I am a writer and traveler originally from the U.S., although I've been traveling and living internationally for the past five-plus years. I spent my childhood growing up in the Midwest, my college years in Colorado, and the majority of my adult life abroad. My first time leaving the U.S. was to study abroad for a semester in France, an experience that ignited my love for travel and inspired my eventual move abroad. I am currently based in Morocco and have also spent a significant amount of time traveling through South America and Europe.

My firsthand experiences inspired me to create this site: after traveling solo, on a budget, and often without anything planned, I wanted to share my unique travel perspective with others. The Candid Connection focuses on authentic, genuine travel, emphasizing travel over tourism and ways in which we can connect, both within ourselves and with others, while in unfamiliar places.

My time spent traveling, living, and working internationally has led me to truly get to know a place for its essence, going beyond the tourist spots and digging deeper to understand what makes a city, country, or culture unique. In my travel consulting services, I aim to give travelers a breakdown of the destinations you'll be visiting, talking through what areas are worth visiting, answering your questions, and sharing any tips that will make you feel more at ease during your trip, both in terms of safety and understanding local customs.

In developing my consulting services, I kept thinking about the question, "Where is the first place you go after coming back home?" When asked about what to see in Casablanca — the city I've called home for the past three years — my instant reaction is to tell travelers to check out the Hassan II Mosque or the Corniche boardwalk. And yet, while these places may be worth seeing for first-time visitors to the city, they don't capture the true essence of Casablanca. In thinking about where I go when I come back after time away, my answer is simpler: to the markets where I stock up on groceries, ordering spices and dry goods by weight and filling bags with seasonal produce. Next, a stop at my local hammam, for a rejuvenating steam and exfoliating scrub.

While I can give travelers a breakdown of the most popular locations in the places you plan on visiting, including my recommendations for which ones are worth checking out versus skipping, the heart of my advice focuses on authentic recommendations that will allow you to truly get to know a place and its culture. I only offer consulting calls for places in which I've spent a significant amount of time, with my destination offerings continue to expand the more I travel. I also offer consultations for those interested in moving abroad and steps for getting started.

As a writer, I understand the importance of language and how it influences our decisions and biases. Many times, I've been told that certain countries or cultures are "dangerous," yet my own experience in those places has consistently proven otherwise. We are quick to write off what we don't know, often out of fear, yet exploring what is unfamiliar to us tends to lead to the most transformative experiences. My blog includes posts reflecting on significant travel experiences I've had, breaking down assumptions, and highlights from long layovers in new cities — one of my favorite ways to explore somewhere new on a budget. I also write nonfiction essays at the intersection of home, my body, and my experiences traveling solo as a woman. Through my writing and consulting services, I hope to make travel as accessible and authentic as possible.