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Alyssa Writes

Alyssa Writes

Alyssa Writes

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Destinations

Pyramid outside the Louvre, Paris museum
Europe, Travel Tips & Advice

How to Work in France: Get a Working Holiday Visa

6 January, 2020

So You Want to Work in France? If you want to work in France and you’re between the ages of 18 and 35, you’re in luck! The France working holiday visa is easy as pie to get. Why should you listen to me? Well, it appears that I have come to be known as the ‘youth…

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Alyssa 137 Comments
Morocco, Travel Stories

On Finding Serenity in the Chaos, Chefchaouen

25 September, 2018

Beep! Beep! The sharp honk of a white scooter pulled me out of my trance. Monday in Chefchaouen: it’s a market day. Traders set up stalls or lay their wares on tarps along the sidewalks down Calle Zerktouni, a short street off Avenida Hassan II, and continue into the residential areas.  Outside the blue and…

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Alyssa 1 Comment
Honest Ed's at dusk
Musings, Toronto Francais

Toronto, je t’aime

6 July, 2018

  En sortant du métro vers le remue-ménage du centre-ville du samedi soir mon coeur sursaute. Parfois, je marche dans la ville juste pour voir ce qu’elle fait, Toronto. Est-ce qu’elle est bruyante ? Est-ce qu’elle rit ? J’aime ses quartiers, sa diversité, et le fait qu’on puisse sortir chaque soir pendant un an sans…

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Alyssa 4 Comments
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Gaudi, Spanish History
Europe, Musings

On Spain: An Unfinished Country

16 May, 2018

I sat quietly among the flurry of languages on L2 on the Barcelona metro. We were heading west towards La Pau, but few would go that far. At 2:30 in the afternoon, it was unlikely that these were commuters. I looked around and tried to guess who would be getting off at the same stop…

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Alyssa 4 Comments
Martinique, Relationships & Travel

When It’s Not Really Goodbye

10 April, 2018

“On y va!”, Tommy yelled, the boat starting with a roar. As I sat on this boat filled mostly with Martiniquais, I picked out a young couple sitting in the back. They were British. The woman had her hair cornrowed into a ponytail, a blue printed dress, and was scribbling notes in a maroon leather-bound…

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Alyssa 4 Comments
Life Abroad, Musings, Toronto

When Home Isn’t Home Anymore

13 February, 2018

I stood in front of the red double doors of a Toronto subway carriage, holding on to the silver stanchion and staring at the reflection of myself in the window pane. It wasn’t the same reflection I saw seven months ago, before I had moved to the Caribbean. My skin was tanned and my hair…

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Alyssa 4 Comments
st lucia with your friends, things to do in st lucia, vacation in st lucia
Caribbean, Relationships & Travel

5 Things To Do in St Lucia With Your Best Friend – Or When You’re Not On Your Honeymoon!

13 December, 2017

This island may be the world’s top honeymoon destination, but whether you’re travelling solo, with a friend, or even a partner… there are tons of non-romantic things to do in St Lucia!   You may have seen my Facebook post where I talked about my best friend coming to visit me in Martinique. Would you…

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Alyssa 1 Comment
Europe, Travel Tips & Advice

7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Prague in the Winter

23 November, 2017

I woke up earlier than everyone else, determined to make the most of our short trip to Prague. It was around this time in January last year, so I was expecting sub-zero temperatures. I bundled myself in a white chunky knit scarf, hat and a matching grey sweater, my warm duffle coat, and thin black…

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Alyssa 8 Comments
myvatni, iceland layover, short layover in iceland
Europe

3 Ways to Spend Your Short Layover in Iceland

21 June, 2017

I’ve had more than one layover in Iceland. On my way to London, I did my own self-guided walking tour of the city. On the way home, I slept in the airport. I also had a brief stop when I travelled between Toronto and Frankfurt in December. Oh, and then there was the emergency landing (irate…

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Alyssa 2 Comments
Moving to the UK, United Kingdom

Announcing: The Essential UK Youth Mobility Visa Handbook!

12 June, 2017

  I can’t believe it’s been four years since I moved to London on the UK Youth Mobility Visa! Since then, I’ve received thousands of comments and emails, and met with a dozen people who moved to the UK or wanted to. Over the years, I have read their stories and responded to their questions.…

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Alyssa No 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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