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Alyssa Writes

Alyssa Writes

Alyssa Writes

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4 Steps to Hiring The Right Content Marketing Writer For You

If you need help creating and distributing valuable, relevant and consistent content that attracts visitors and converts them into customers, you need a content

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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
Centro Centro, Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid, Spain flag
Travel Tips & Advice

How to Get a Youth Mobility Visa to Spain for Canadians

31 January, 2018

If you’ve been trying to figure out how to get the Youth Mobility Visa Spain, you’ve come to the right place! This is going to be your in-depth, step-by-step guide to getting the visa, detailing everything you need to get and do for a successful application. What do I know? I just received my working…

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Alyssa 198 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
just arrived in the UK, arriving in the UK, youth mobility visa
Moving to the UK

Arriving in the UK on a Youth Mobility Visa

7 November, 2017

The stress is over. You have successfully received your passport and vignette allowing you to call the UK your temporary home. Your flight is booked, you have a place to stay while you hunt for flats, everything is organized. Well, there are still a few things you need to do before you are officially a…

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Alyssa 102 Comments
Street art in Vienna, FAQ
Moving to the UK, Travel Tips & Advice

UK Youth Mobility Visa for Canadians – Frequently Asked Questions

24 June, 2017

Hi there! I suspect if you’ve found your way to this Frequently Asked questions, it’s because you’re planning on applying for your UK Youth Mobility Visa – welcome! If you haven’t read YMS visa application guide yet, read this first. Just as for the application guide post, the same applies for the FAQ: If you…

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Alyssa 324 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
beaches in martinique, anse macabou martinique, alyssa writes, alyssa james
Editor's Journal

Turning the Page on Travel Blogging

19 June, 2017

This post started out as me announcing some changes — a new look, a new location, a new direction. As I was writing, my preamble turned into a rant. I realized this blog and my social media accounts don’t bring me joy. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love the people I’ve met and become friends with…

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Alyssa 7 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
Toronto, Travel Tips & Advice

6 Day Trips from Toronto You’ve Got To Do This Summer

30 May, 2017

  It’s easy to get caught up in all the things there are to do in Toronto in summer — between exploring all the neighbourhoods, eating all the food, and avoiding all the tourist traps, you could easily fill a week-long itinerary. But why not get out of the city and take a couple day trips…

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Alyssa 4 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.

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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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