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Alyssa Writes

Alyssa Writes

Alyssa Writes

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Travel Tips & Advice

Relationships & Travel, Travel Tips & Advice

So You’ve Moved Abroad for Love – Now What?

15 December, 2015

The decision to move has been made. The flight has been taken. The honeymoon period of being in the same room with your boo has worn off. Then BAM! Reality kicks you in the ovaries. Some people call it culture shock; I call it the What Moment. It’s that moment when you realize the gravity of…

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Alyssa 30 Comments
God is squatting with us, flat hunting in london, finding a place to live in london
London, Moving to the UK, Travel Tips & Advice

Reader Question # 7: How Do I Find a Flat in London?

27 August, 2015

Flat hunting in London is a harrowing experience. I get a lot of questions about it from readers but I have put off writing about it because it’s an elaborate issue and it requires a lot of attention to detail. There are so many factors involved that this post will have a lot of little…

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Alyssa 6 Comments
Europe, Travel Tips & Advice

So You Want to Visit Iceland on a Budget?

12 August, 2015

There’s no use in sugarcoating it. As the fourth most expensive country in the world, Iceland is expensive. Whether you’re travelling to Reykjavík with the intention to go hunting for Northern Lights; driving the famous Ring Road; or seeing the waterfalls, fjords, glaciers, volcanoes, and puffins; you’ll find some tips here to help you visit…

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Alyssa 2 Comments
visa status on CV, getting a job on the youth mobility visa, applying for a job with a visa, getting hired in the UK
Moving to the UK, Travel Tips & Advice, United Kingdom

Reader Question # 6: Should I Put My Youth Mobility Visa Status on my CV?

7 August, 2015

Hi Alyssa! I got my visa in June and I’m due to leave first week of September. I’m just wondering, should I mention that I have the Youth Mobility Visa on my CV or cover letter? How did you go about doing this? Additionally, I’ve got an honours degree in Sociology from the University of…

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Alyssa 1 Comment
young and happy hostel, hostels in marrakech
Morocco, Travel Tips & Advice

Young & Happy Hostel in Marrakech: A Review

10 July, 2015

Hostel and hotel reviews are generally not my thing on this blog, but I just had to write about this hostel in Marrakech! If you recall, I stayed in a few hostels during my last trip to Morocco — like the cheap but not particularly cheerful hostel (or maybe a little too cheerful for me)…

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Alyssa 2 Comments
best beaches in martinique, alyssa writes martinique,
Martinique, Travel Tips & Advice

The Best Beaches in Martinique that aren’t Les Salines

3 July, 2015

I’m going back to Martinique! For those of you who don’t know, I taught English in Martinique for 14 months over two years. It was a time filled with challenges (relationship and work-related), learning, growth, fun, and a place where I was probably my healthiest (read: I had a bangin’ bod and a fabulous tan).…

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Alyssa 15 Comments
Tjornin Lake, Reykjavik, Iceland in Autumn
Europe, Travel Tips & Advice

When Is the Best Time to Visit Reykjavik?

30 March, 2015

If there is one thing that people always ask me, it’s: “When is the best time to visit Iceland?” And honestly, there’s no right answer! I visited Iceland in late September and it was beautiful. The leaves had already begun to change colours, boasting bright reds and sunshiney yellows. If you want to see the…

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Alyssa No Comments
Moving to the UK, Travel Tips & Advice

Reader Question # 5: How do I Deal With Taxes in Canada While On a UK Youth Mobility Visa?

16 March, 2015

Tax season is around the corner and that means I’ve been getting frantic emails from readers about paying taxes in the UK and whether they have to file a tax return in Canada while living abroad. It turns out this stuff really isn’t as complicated as I thought! The short answer is yes, in most cases…

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Alyssa 14 Comments
John Lennon wall, things to do in prague, off the beaten path
Europe, Travel Tips & Advice

5 Under-the-Radar Places You Must Visit in Prague

10 March, 2015

Prague is no longer the hidden gem of a European city it used to be. Everyone knows that Prague is the place for beer, architecture, bachelor parties, and of course, more beer! It’s a beautiful and enchanting city overrun by tourists every year. But like all cities that beckon visitors to explore its streets, there…

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Alyssa 4 Comments
Relationships & Travel, Travel Tips & Advice

Thinking About Moving Abroad for Love? Read This First.

3 March, 2015

“So, what brings you to London?” I hate when people ask me that question. Being the awkward turtle that I am, I have developed a number of canned responses: The professional response: “I wanted to work in digital and there’s no better place to do that than London — at least where I could get…

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Alyssa 183 Comments
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Who am I?

alyssa james, freelance writer, content marketer, alyssa writes

I’m Alyssa — PhD Student and Freelance Writer based in New York City! I write about Travel and Social Justice. Words in MSN, Bustle, the Globe and Mail, Porthole Cruise Magazine, The Local, Matador Network, and more.

About | Hire Me

Where Am I Writing?

Where I Was:

Aix-en-Provence | Thailand | Bali

Where I Am:

New York

Where I Will Be:

Colombia | Martinique | Japan

What Am I Reading?

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