Once Upon a Trip

As a non-minimalist ex-digital nomad who used to regularly live out of a 55-Liter backpack, Mary Grace has learned how to pragmatically cut corners throughout to truly get the most out of travel. In this episode, Mary Grace handpicks and goes through 20 specific travel hacks that she has implemented in her own life-saving situations abroad, and all of which she believes every traveler needs to incorporate into their trip planning and experiences for the most memorable, worthwhile outcomes - and most importantly, to help avoid as many unexpected, unpleasant surprises as possible! (00:00) Intro & Overview(01:43) Hack 1: The "Splid" App for Expense Splitting(03:26) Hack 2: Downloading All Local Apps(04:48) Hack 3: Free Walking Tours(05:46) Hack 4: Packing Empty Items for More Space(06:43) Hack 5: Packing Cubes, Hanging Organizers & Rolling(08:12) Hack 6: Stuffing Neck Pillows with Clothes(08:34) Hack 7: Compressed Towel Tablets(10:01) Hack 8: Getting Travel-Sized/Mini Everything(10:54) Hack 9: Extra Set of Essentials in Carry-On(12:28) Hack 10: REALLY Research Where You're Going(13:58) Hack 11: Saving Money with Overnight Transport(14:40) Hack 12: Google Translate & Camera for Offline Use(16:07) Hack 13: Offline Google Maps & Pinning Locations in Advance(17:15) Hack 14: Having a Fully Charged, Multi-Charge Power Bank(17:40) Hack 15: Plug Adapters & Voltage Converters, Why It's Important(18:38) Hack 16: Getting a Universal Multiport Adapter(18:56) Hack 17: Carrying Spare Coins for Public Toilets(19:32) Hack 18: Keeping a Written Journal or Taking Lots of Footage(20:36) Hack 19: Befriending a Local & The Alternative If You Can't(21:21) Hack 20: Keeping Digital Copies of Passport & Documents(22:09) Last Remarks

If you'd like to level up on your global cultural awareness game to have a higher cutting edge on your next business trip or transaction endeavor, or if you'd just like to be more culturally informed and ready on your next trip abroad, then this episode is for you!In this episode, Marco and Mary Grace discuss their own witnessed and lived-through experiences on business trips and relations in America and Europe, as well as mention important tidbits about Asian and Indian business culture that are crucial to know when wanting to build genuine trust, networking and understanding with those doing business from Eastern-based countries. Marco also highlights his top stories, takeaways and dos + don’ts learned from his own international business trip experiences. (00:00) Intro & Overview(01:19) Differences in How to Address People(03:28) American Personal Lives in Business Conversations(06:01) Importance of Business Cards to Chinese Businessmen(06:21) Indians Saying "Yes" but Not Understanding(07:22) The Texas Politics Business Trip(09:18) The Russian in Utah Misunderstanding(10:55) Asian Work Drinking with Boss Expectation(12:03) The Shots at Lunch in Romania Business Trip(13:24) Work Hierarchy & Communication in Eastern Europe + India(15:19) Should You Learn Some Local Language Words for Business?(17:06) Spain vs. Mexican Spanish Misunderstanding in Mexico(18:45) The American Who Forgot the Date Business Trip(19:18) Tips (and Disclaimers) on Getting Clients & Business in America(22:14) How to Do Business Email Correspondence with a German(24:32) Dos & Don'ts for a Business Trip in Germany(26:09) Business Trip Expenses in Germany vs. America(31:10) Lessons Learned from Business Trips(31:46) Last Remarks

From a borderline passive-aggressive roommate experience in Madrid, to watching friends tear apart a rabbit skull in traditional paella in Valencia, to recommending a wealth of truly Spanish food recommendations and culture tips to be aware of as a tourist in Spain, Joshua Craig takes us on a colorful, more local, cultural-enriching journey through the eyes of his experiences of living twice in Spain - once in Valencia and once in Madrid - as an American.(00:00) Trailer Intro & Overview (01:48) Background on Josh & How/Why Spain (03:31) Time & Life in Valencia (05:32) Recommended Places to See in Valencia (08:17) Paella Birthplace & Food Recommendations in Valencia (09:54) Bad Roommate Story in Madrid (15:25) What to See & Eat in Madrid (17:59) Other Spanish Food Recommendations (19:20) Air Pollution & Air Quality Problem in Madrid (21:52) Spain Eating Times to Know (24:01) Spain's "Later" Culture & Adapting to it (29:31) Quick Barcelona Tips & Tidbits (33:02) What to Know about Spaniards, Degree of Warmth Comparisons (36:21) Other Tips for a Better Time in Spain :) (37:42) "100 Montaditos" Fast Food Recommendation 3(39:06) Last Remarks

Why do some Europeans hide their faces on social media? Why don't Americans care more about how their personal data is being used by companies and the government? Why are Europeans seemingly more private and why are Americans seemingly more negligent? What's the best way to approach a European when getting social media permission and how effectively enforced are European data protection laws in non-Europe spaces?All of these questions are ones that Mary Grace and Marco dive deeper into during this episode, both from the American and the European perspectives respectively.(00:00) Intro and Overview(02:04) European Perspective of Online Privacy(03:58) American Perspective of Online Privacy(04:59) Marco's 1st American Data Protection Culture Shock(06:02) The GDPR in Europe(07:05) Penalty Fines & Enforcement(08:08) Why doesn't the U.S. have one single federal data protection law?(09:29) Social Media Privacy(14:04) Marco's 2011 Facebook Culture Shock(16:13) Are Germans more skeptical of posting on social media?(17:19) The Job Application Double Standard(20:18) Blurring Out License Plates in German Media(21:58) Europeans on non-European websites(23:06) Financial Data and Credit Cards(24:55) American Credit Card Culture Shock in Germany(28:29) Health Information and Data(30:44) The American Social Security Number(32:54) Last Remarks

If you're curious about how love, crushes and dates all go with Europeans... then this episode will be quite a fun ride for you!In this Part 2 EUROPEAN version and sequel to Mary Grace's earlier episode of Dating Fails with Americans (Ep. 12), Mary Grace handpicks and shares her love treasure chest full of dating mistakes, realizations, very embarrassing moments, and most valuable lessons learned with Europeans that she acquired throughout her twenties - all of which Mary Grace wishes would have been more emphasized to her in younger, single dating days.(00:00) Intro and Episode Overview(02:16) Quick Rebrand Announcement(03:52) Dating Story #1: Polish Guy in Myanmar(05:55) Takeaway #1 and the Myanmar Aftermath(09:48) Other Example: Drunk Dutch Couchsurfer in Amsterdam(11:22) Dating Story #2: Icelandic Guy in Budapest(15:48) Other Example: French Guy Friend in Mallorca, Spain(17:27) Austrian Guy in Vienna, Last-Minute COVID & Perspective(21:04) Dating Story #3: No Pedestals, No Unreciprocated Chasing(25:23) The English Guy Who Crushed On Me + Comfort Being 1000% Yourself(28:12) #4: The Worst Date I Never Went On, Feat. an American(33:20) Last Remarks and Outro

In this short and slightly different-than-usual episode, Mary Grace highlights a common challenge and phenomenon that sometimes even the most hardworking, motivated versions of ourselves inevitably face due to the lack of time and energy: doing our best and showing up, even when things aren't 100% perfect for us, and how we can best recover from our slump moments. Please feel free to share your current experiences, moods, methods in overcoming a slump, etc. in the comments! (00:00) Intro and Some Explaining To Do(01:10) Sharing is Caring(02:02) Lessons Lived By This Week(06:22) Let Me Know What YOU Do! (07:13) Last Remarks & What's Coming

You said WHAT??? In today’s episode, Mary Grace transparently shares her top wildest, most adventurous, and most eye-opening discoveries and lessons that she picked up from her 10-day experience traveling in different parts of Morocco—many of which completely caught her off guard, and of which she deems valuable for people planning a trip to Morocco to know for themselves.(00:00) Intro and Episode Overview(02:04) Getting Scammed in Chefchaouen and the Art of Haggling(05:58) The Moroccan Flight Attendant(08:53) The Racist Bathroom Stop(12:09) Goats in Trees and "Apple Juice"(16:13) Marrakech Chaos and Getting Scarred from Henna(21:27) Random Four Wheeler Ride on a Camel Beach(24:20) 14 Hours to the Sahara and Camels(28:13) Other Notes and Recommendations(29:27) Last Remarks

Which would you rather live in: America or Europe?In this episode, Mary Grace and Marco take a deeper dive into this question and share their own takeaways and experiences of living both in America and Europe - at different times of their lives - and how their current home, lifestyle and culture in America have all shaped and gradually changed the way they view the norms of Europe and Europeans.(00:00) Intro & Episode Overview(01:53) Question of the Hour(02:49) Germany is Stuck in Its History(06:47) Workplace Appreciation, Entrepreneurship(08:20) Attitude Towards Debt, Jealousy Over Successful People(10:23) Judgment and Superficiality(13:00) Ease of Travel in Europe vs. America(14:52) Home Ownership in America(17:36) Charity and Giving Back(20:25) What Europe Does Better(22:13) Advice to Those Wanting to Live in Europe(26:52) Verdict: Is it Better Living in Europe or America?(28:02) Last Remarks

Arguably the most hilarious, full-of-nonsense episode that Mary Grace and Marco have done to date! Grab yourself your favorite drink of choice and enjoy a laugh or two (or ten) as we dive into some quite peculiar yet educational entertainment to kick off our week! (00:00) Intro & Overview(01:40) The Language Question(03:09) The Hitler Questions(07:50) The Toilet Question(09:45) The Dating App Question(13:54) The Berlin Jelly Donut Question(16:34) The Pink Food Question(18:06) The WWII Bomb Question(19:44) The Autobahn Questions(20:41) The Communism Question(22:40) The Country & Geography Mix-up Question(24:42) Wienerschnitzel + Why do Americans not know a lot about the world?(27:10) The Oktoberfest Question(28:04) Debunking Misconceptions about Germans(30:36) Small Words of Advice(31:21) Last Remarks & Funny Ending

In January 2016, Mary Grace embarked on one of her most memorable, eye-opening, heartwarming trips to date: an extensive 10-day trip to Russia, in the cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow, where the friends she met, the things she saw and the biggest lessons she realized about people on the other side of American TV news set her young travel bug energy in motion for the next decade to come. (00:00) Intro & overview(02:20) Decision to go to Russia & what I did for it (03:50) Russia bound & third party scam scare(06:30) Arriving in St. Petersburg + 1st night experiences(11:06) When my mom found out I went to Russia(13:20) Russian tipping, culture, sights (19:00) Eye-opening evening in a Russian home(23:24) Sights on Sapsan train ride to Moscow (24:24) Moscow surprises(28:01) Arriving in another Russian home + next etiquette lesson(29:14) Overview of Moscow, Soviet soda machines, what to do in Moscow(31:53) Saying goodbye + lessons not taught by the news(34:32) Review of all key takeaways (36:45) Last remarks

Official unofficial New Year's episode on the whim!In this episode, Mary Grace pieces together and touches upon four main categories of lessons and unspilled tea - time management and priorities, friendships, travel, and proclaiming self-worth - along with her own "aha moment" of burnout that she experienced in 2024, all with recommendations on how to best approach and capitalize on them to kick off 2025 with a bang.(00:00) Intro & Talk About Burnout(03:59) Balancing Our Time Plates & Priorities(08:21) Seeing Through Friendship Dedications(12:33) Realizing Travel Values & Shifts(15:15) Realizing Self Worth & Value of Time(17:39) Plans for Once Upon a Trip(19:26) 2025 Travel Plans(20:32) Last Remarks & Outro

A Christmas and New Year's fusion episode! Six years ago, on Christmas Eve 2018 in Wroclaw, Poland, Mary Grace said goodbye to a short-lived long distance relationship with Mario, a Romanian native from Bucharest, after he had constantly ghosted her and showed that he was never going to change. Mary Grace then spontaneously changed her New Year’s plans with Mario and went solo to Kyiv, Ukraine for some bigger and better surprises. This short episode is a sneak peak into a young, naive, one-sided relationship built on superficial excuses and ignored red flags.(00:00) Intro & Overview(01:33) Background & The One Recurring Thing(03:08) 1st Time in Romania & Next Red Flags(04:23) “Yeehaw” Moment & Deathly Rum Chocolates(05:49) The Attempted Christmas Planning(08:49) Christmas Eve Moment of Truth(10:52) No Regrets on Going Solo to Ukraine(11:50) You’re in Control Over Change(12:50) Last Remarks & Wishes

A Christmas holiday trip down memory lane!10 years ago in 2014, 19-year-old Mary Grace went to Prague, Czech Republic with her dad just a few short days before Christmas to meet and spend long-awaited time with her online friend and Czech crush in the city, 25-year-old Liam. This episode recounts a highly personal account of Mary Grace’s short fairytale and memories with Liam at Christmas time in Prague, as well as dives deep into the innocence, emotional struggles of long distance and the lack of regrets in actively seeking out a young long distance love potential. Enjoy!(00:00) Intro(00:33) Episode Overview(02:33) First times in Europe & Setting the Scene(03:21) My Dad in the Airlines, Standby Flying(04:29) Wanting to go to Prague & Background on Knowing Liam(06:28) Taking Back the Host Offer(07:23) Making the Journey to Prague(08:55) Arriving and First Moments in Prague(10:20) The Hotel Perspective Moment(11:33) Getting Settled and Moments with Matthew(14:00) Free Walking Tour and Prague McDonald’s(15:14) First Time at the Prague Christmas Market(16:43) Day 2 Festivities(17:52) Setting the Night Scene(18:30) The Santa Christmas Elf Moment(20:53) Hanging out at Liam’s Apartment(22:09) Making a Move(23:48) Change of Plans(25:38) The 2am Night Stroll & Street Car(26:17) The Hardest Goodbye(27:59) Going to the Airport(28:25) The Amsterdam to New York Flight(29:46) Aftermath, Reality of Long Distance & Rough Season(32:05) What Happened After Prague(33:58) Importance of Living in the Moment(35:02) Episode Last Remarks

A Frohe Weihnachten/Merry Christmas themed video episode!Grab yourself coffee, Glühwein, or other hot drink and be sure to ho, ho, hold your horses today as Mary Grace and Marco both share their various Christmas season upbringings, memories and holiday experiences in Europe (especially Germany) and in the United States - all of which the children and adults in ourselves have lived through once before.Enjoy! Cheers and happy holidays!(00:00) German "Greetings"(00:32) Intro & Glühwein Toast(02:28) All Things Christmas Markets(04:41) Christmas Markets We've Been To & Would Recommend(08:30) The Christkindl Market in Chicago, USA(10:51) Other Christmas Markets(12:12) Memories of Snow & Sleighing(13:11) December 6th | Saint Nicholas Day(15:17) Tree Decorations, German Schwibbogen, & Stern(19:06) Family Christmas Cards, Christmas Cookies, & Stollen(21:41) Other Little Differences(22:33) American Christmas Traditions & Santa Claus (23:34) Coca Cola Influence on Santa(24:16) Coca Cola Christmas Trucks in Germany(25:04) Santa Traditions in Germany vs. U.S. (27:33) Go to Germany in December(28:00) Episode Last Remarks & Wrap-up

In December 2022, Mary Grace went on a trip to Washington State having a friend there, and came back to Georgia six days later breaking things off and no longer having that friend in her life. This episode is a very detailed account of the six-day series of events, bottled-up emotions, harsh conversations, awkward confessions, and the reality of taking an eight-year online friendship offline, just to see and unravel all of the reasons that it was a friendship never meant to be.(00:00) Intro(00:32) Episode Overview(03:24) First Day in Bothell, Washington(06:33) First Night & No Privacy(09:45) Second Day & Mercer Island(11:52) Second Night & the Restaurant(14:13) Third Day & Seattle(17:06) The Workout Session(18:10) High Expectations Salvaged & Pet Peeves(20:37) Fourth Day & Moments of Truth(26:13) My Mistakes(29:01) Fourth Day Cont’d & Bust in Leavenworth(30:42) Fifth Day & Decision to Leave(34:41) Morals of the Story & Reflecting Now(37:30) Episode Wrap-up

Thanksgiving holiday themed episode with the twist of a European perspective! Join Mary Grace and Marco as they share their personal Thanksgiving experiences, as well as their takes on witnessing the chaos of Black Friday and all that they are thankful for this year. Enjoy! (00:00) Intro(00:32) Episode overview(02:34) Marco’s thought on Thanksgiving(03:30) A little background and history(07:03) Do Germans know about Thanksgiving?(09:05) Thanksgiving Experiences(10:01) Thanksgiving Experience #1(11:45) Thanksgiving Experience #2(14:16) Thanksgiving foods that you don’t like(19:34) What foods can you find at a German feast?(21:21) Black Friday in Germany vs. America(27:55) What are you thankful for?(34:17) Episode wrap-up

A deeper snippet and deep dive into the American dating scene and stories!Join Mary Grace as she divulges her experiences, fails executed and witnessed, and lessons learned from dating four different American guys in Atlanta, Georgia throughout the year after she left her life in Turkey and Europe behind, plus, as she reveals more about the one European from Germany who changed up the dating game entirely.(00:00) Intro(00:33) Episode overview(02:00) Dating apps & being convinced to use one(03:54) Guy #1: Mr. Bright and Handsome(06:40) Dating fail #1 with Mr. Bright and Handsome(07:53) Dating fail #2 with Mr. Bright and Handsome(09:07) Why it ended & one sidedness(10:31) Guy #2: Mr. Southern Christian Boy(13:32) Different futures & ultimate dealbreaker(14:56) The list(16:17) How it ended & people are still good(16:41) Guy #3: Mr. Superficial(17:37) Mr. Superficial’s dating fail(18:30) Work Inflexibility & insecurity(19:05) How and why it ended(19:36) Guy #4: Mr. Oblivious and Selfish(23:48) Dating fail at the brewery(24:45) Confronting the oblivion and selfishness(26:51) Transition to guy #5: Marco(27:47) My dating slump & prayer moment(29:16) Meeting Marco on Hinge(31:05) What Marco isn’t and is(32:15) Last takeaways(33:14) Episode wrap-up

Inspired by a recent friend group trip to the northern cities of Tayrona, Barranquilla, and Cartagena, Colombia, Mary Grace and Marco take some time to casually reflect upon and discuss a number of scenes and situations they witnessed of locals and what they learned from them during their short time in this vibrant, biodiverse and multi-faceted country than either of them are used to. Enjoy! (00:00) Intro(00:33) Episode overview & catch-up(03:11) Some takeaways from Colombia(04:37) Thoughts on Cartagena(07:35) The police stop in Barranquilla(08:50) Language barrier & you NEED Spanish(09:51) Socioeconomics in Colombia(11:28) Humidity(13:35) Cash, road tolls, measurements(17:19) Colombian 9-5 & happiness(20:55) Shakira statue & Barranquilla(22:32) Local cuisine, costs, drinks(25:51) Local chain recommendation: Narcobollo(26:40) Organized chaos traffic(28:54) Demographic diversity in Cartagena(29:46) What we wish we would’ve known before going(32:24) Recommendations for tourists(35:34) Episode wrap-up

A little throwback to high school days! Join Mary Grace and Marco as they talk about some of their school experiences and comparisons between America and Germany respectively (but primarily from Marco's and the Europeans' point of view). Enjoy! (00:00) Intro(00:33) Episode overview(01:41) What kind of student were you?(02:53) Transportation to school in Germany(04:33) American yellow school bus & choosing your school(07:08) Quality of education in Germany vs. America(07:59) Class schedule and breaks in Germany vs. America(10:44) Teachers own their own classrooms in America(11:34) School desks in America vs. Germany(13:58) English class and learning in Germany(18:36) School lunch in Germany vs. America(21:45) Extracurriculars in Germany(23:04) Grading system in Germany(23:44) Summer school and detention don’t exist in Germany(25:09) Where were school field trips taken?(28:31) School size in America vs. Germany(29:37) Last remarks(29:50) Episode wrap-up

One of those "do as I say, not as I do" travel throwback stories. In this episode, Mary Grace divulges a very vulnerable and fortunate sequence of events that she experienced on her very first night after arriving solo in Medellin, Colombia, and the aftermath and realization of what happened going into the following morning and day. Fully intended NOT to endorse naive and poor decisions by any stretch, but rather to use this personal, young experience to educate you about Colombia things and always watching after yourself. :) (00:00) Intro(00:33) Episode overview(03:11) The journey to Colombia(05:06) Getting to Airbnb & first sights of Colombia(06:32) The Airbnb & my terrible Spanish(07:50) Preparing for the food tour(08:33) The people on the food tour(10:13) Trying the local specialties(11:09) The local bar and introducing aguardiente(14:08) The rooftop bar(16:43) Waking up the next morning(18:28) What actually happened & true colors exposed(22:55) How I got lucky(23:58) What happened next & day in Guatapé(25:34) Morals of the story(26:44) Episode wrap-up

So many laughs packed into one collaborative episode! Join me today with my wonderful friend from my time studying abroad in France and at the University of Georgia, Josh. We talk about all sorts of things France and share French cultural insights, tips and memories from our own experiences studying, working and living in France as Americans that we believe you'll really get a great kick out of. Allons-y and enjoy!(00:00) Intro(00:33) Episode Overview(01:44) Welcome and where we’re recording today(02:24) Intro to Josh(03:20) How Josh and I met and studying abroad(03:36) Living with a Senegalese French host family(05:55) Beach times in southern France(06:33) Our American study abroad group(07:34) Opinions of Paris(08:25) Keep these in mind when in Paris(08:55) Parisians and French people(09:18) Trash on the streets of Paris(09:55) Other thoughts on Paris and France(10:17) Getting tear-gassed in Lyon(10:54) The Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Jackets) protests(12:10) Funny stories from teaching in France(13:08) Kids going on strike in France(15:44) The UGA “doggy-doggy”(16:11) Things you hated about living in France(16:37) French Bureaucratic administration(19:14) Writing a LETTER to cancel a phone plan(20:23) Writing a LETTER to close a bank account(21:58) Things you loved about living in France(22:42) it takes time to befriend French people(23:46) Other things you loved(24:59:) A little French goes a long way, but it's hard(25:50) The English menu may be more expensive(26:53) Tipping culture in France(27:55) Things French people should know before coming to America(30:05) The “Too Good To Go” app for discounted baked goods(31:22) Last thoughts and remarks(32:07) Episode wrap-up

A spontaneous mini VIDEO episode and announcement to throw into our weekly mix! Enjoy!(00:00) Intro and hello(00:31) The podcast name has changed!(01:19) Your feedback(02:21) Why I’m changing the name(04:15) Why “Once Upon a Trip”(05:51) Next things to come(06:32) Dedication and appreciation to you :)(08:07) Wrap-up

In today’s episode, we take a very comprehensive dive into this highly popular question that Mary Grace has been asked regularly throughout the years, and how Mary Grace was able to live and travel abroad in Europe and Turkey for the majority of her twenties.Enjoy!! (00:00) Intro & episode overview(02:19) How it all started & my first trip to Europe(03:35) Studying abroad in France & how I traveled as a student(05:30) Transparencies(06:53) Budget travel in Europe is cheaper and easier(08:20) Online friends in Europe made travel easier & websites to meet people(10:58) Summary of how I traveled as a student(11:48) How I could live and travel abroad post-university(12:39) Living arrangements, salary, & costs in northern France(13:48) How I was able to travel as a teaching assistant & what I did(15:37) The next opportunity to stay abroad, salary, strings attached(17:32) Where I lived to make my money go farther(18:34) The first hack & fun unexpected fact(19:12) Social media is deceiving & truth about my content(20:25) First hack continued & how to apply it(21:44) The second hack on how to travel so much(22:35) How I booked and took flights(23:23) The third hack & things I didn’t have to pay for(24:55) Summary of hacks to traveling so much(26:05) My perspective these days on how to travel so much(27:33) Last remarks & wrap-up

It's throwback time! In this episode, Mary Grace and Marco take a trip down childhood memory lane and talk about their kiddy favorites and flashbacks growing up in America and Germany, respectively, in the late 1990s and early 2000s.Listen for nostalgic and happy feels, thinking about your own childhood experiences, hometown, foods, candies, TV shows and cartoons, and the things about childhood that Mary Grace and Marco now miss that you may miss just as much. Also listen for a very special German 1st day of school tradition that’s especially huge in the East of Germany that you may never have ever seen before.Enjoy! Much love from the Ameropean at heart 🤍(00:00) Intro(02:47) Character and Personality(04:36) Marco's home environment(05:50) Mary Grace's home environment(06:24) Suburbia difference in Germany(07:19) German Zuckertute school tradition(08:39) Random German kid stereotype(09:25) Other candy for Zuckertute(10:12) Marco's favorite sweets(11:36) Mary Grace's favorite sweets(12:13) Marco's favorite snacks(12:53) German kids drink hot tea(13:26) Mary Grace's favorite drinks and snacks(14:35) Favorite fast food place(15:56) Bosnia doesn't have McDonald's(16:19) Summer holidays and where you traveled(19:44) Marco's favorite cartoons(21:14) Mary Grace's favorite cartoons(22:03) Bernd das Brot German ''cartoon''(22:56) Other TV shows shown in Germany(23:26) American TV show Mister Rogers(24:08) German science TV show with Peter Lustig(24:43) German TV show "Die Sendung mit der Maus"(25:10) What are things you miss most about being a kid?(28:17) Episode Wrap-up and Outro

The first of many dives into all things Turkey!In this episode, Mary Grace tears apart personal experiences, insightful details and not-so-well-known facts about 7 things she loves and 7 things she hates about Turkey, a place where she used to live and call a home for two years in her mid-twenties.Listen and enjoy if you’d like to gain a deeper, moving understanding and perspective about life, culture and people in Turkey in comparison to those in North America and Europe. You just may learn a new thing or two ;)(00:00) Intro and episode overview(03:01) The 7 things I love (03:30) The 7 things I hate (04:06) Details about the things in Turkey I love (12:15) Details about the things in Turkey I hate (22:27) Why you should travel to Turkey (23:46) Episode wrap-up and outro

Buckle up and pour yourself a drink for this fun one! In this week’s episode, Mary Grace unpacks the details of her entire very first crazy, culture shock filled night in Hanoi, Vietnam from the Westerner’s perspective, plus shares a handful of valuable, tried-and-true tips that she wishes she would have known before diving head first into the Southeast Asia experience as a solo traveler.Listen for local transportation tips, language barrier struggles, Vietnamese money conversion tips, electronics packing tips, and one specific, unexpected culture shock point that never remotely crosses the Westerner’s mind when it comes to food shopping in Vietnam.(00:00) Intro and episode overview(03:02) Transportation mishaps at the Hanoi Airport(06:46) The biggest culture shock of all (09:56) Additional culture shocks in Hanoi(12:00) The beginning of the end at Pizza Hut (13:01) An even bigger disaster(17:59) To sum up the culture shocks(19:02) And MORE culture shocks(21:21) Reflection and why these culture shocks were okay(24:35) Episode wrap-up and outro

Continuation episode of all sorts of things Germany and America! Listen for the German and European perspective of ice in drinks, clothing styles and stereotypes of both Germans and Americans, what surprised Marco initially about dating an American, how American road signs are different than in Europe, three things that Marco misses about Germany, American fast food, how Marco sees size differently after having lived in America, if Americans get easier access to Oktoberfest being with a German, and a special edition of Marco being a German pronunciation circus animal.

The beginning of all sorts of things Germany and America! Mary Grace introduces the very first episode with her boyfriend originally from the East of Germany, but now living in the U.S., Marco. They not only share the details that remind them of being with someone stereotypical of Germany and America, but they also go a little further and discuss cultural differences and interpret "American" behavior. In Part 1, listen for a German's interpretation of American small talk and adjectives in conversation, the American relationship with money and tolerance with debt, language barriers, what both families think of the other, what Marco has grown to love being in America, the American feeling of constantly being in Europe without ever needing to board a plane, and the car routine of lashing out at American drivers in German. Stay tuned for Part 2!