[MM]: Am I an "immigrant" now?
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Hello Reader, Heya Fit Travel Tribe! For today's Monday Momentum, let's talk about language. β Language is funnyβwords have definitions, but they also have feelings. And today, Iβm diving into a word that hits close to home for me: Expat. Did you know expat is short for ex-patriot? (Not ex-patriot like someone who abandoned their countryβjust someone living outside of it.) β π§ I was listening to my go-to travel podcast (the ONLY one I listen toβsee below π), and they brought up a great question: β Immigrant vs. ExpatβWhatβs the Real Difference?Okay, let's FIRE UP the Webster dictionary!!! π₯π₯π₯ β Here's what I found (just focusing in on the "noun")... β Okay, then.....So whatβs the really REAL Difference?π By definition (there's a slight distinction π):
Okay, sure so there's a small difference based on intent and long-term planning. But... π‘ By connotation:
β AHHHH! Do you see it now too?? π€π€π€ So, letβs be real then -- the term expat is often used for Westerners moving abroad, while immigrant is used for people moving to the West. Feels a little...privileged, right? Speaking transparently as a cisgender white female coming from America....I don't believe I ever would have called myself an immigrant. Iβm not even sure if Iβd call myself an 'expat.' Sure, Iβm in some expat Facebook groups, and Iβm working on moving to Bulgaria, but I never really made a solo decision to pack up and relocate just for myself. Having a partner here has made the move feel less like a big, solitary leap and more like a natural transitionβlike Iβm stepping into something rather than setting out alone. But, if I picked a word, "expat" would feel like the correct word. And, I don't believe I would be expected to assimilate and learn the local language. I AM learning Bulgarian, though, but also immediately, my partner and almost all of my friends are Bulgarian. I'd like to think that even in a silo, I'd still plan to learn the local language. Also, I don't believe I ever even heard the word "expat" until more recently when I started traveling. I have zero memories of people using the word "expat" for others or themselves within the U.S......"immigrant" - for certain! β What do you think? Ever noticed this difference before? Hit reply and let me know! π π P.S. The word expatriate comes from Latin ex (out of) + patria (native country). So basically, someone living outside their homeland! β β π§ And, speaking of podcasts, this is the one I referenced above π§ My favorite travel podcast: Zero to Travel β π Here are some various travel and fitness related resources you might love! π Hiya from my couch in Sofia! Since I'm so chatty and I love sharing with you all, I've noticed sometimes my newsletter is "too long" and it gets "cut off" at times. I'll attempt to be brief and we'll see if it makes a difference haha β OMG SNOW - My travel friends have heard me say a couple times now, I love walking around in Sofia, but damn, she be icy right now. I saw a video on Insta today about the optimal mode of transportation at the moment because walking is a bit dangerous I'm thinking about my winter boots stored in a box....at my sisters' house...back in New Jersey haha They didn't make the cut when I've been slowly shuttling things over to Bulgaria. Now my morning power walk to the gym is more of a....grandma walk. πβοΈπβοΈπβοΈ I'm heading to Cappadocia next month - I have to bounce out of the Schengen area for 3 weeks so I'm headed to Turkey to volunteer with Worldpackers for the 7th time. I'll be working some evening hours doing guest services at a hotel in the Goreme part of the region. I've never been and heard there's great views from the famous hot air balloons from my hotel! (Check out my experience HERE). After volunteering for 2 weeks, I'll be hitting up Istanbul again (to say hi to all of the cute cats and eat a lot of baklava). I'll Couchsurf for 1 week and then head home to Sofia. ππ¨ππ¨ππ¨ Exciting social media collaboration - Speaking of Worldpackers, I was so excited when they asked me to be a part of their February social media campaign. I created a carousel of images for Instagram and we officially collaborated on the post (it shows up on their main channel as well as my personal home page). And W-O-W, it got a lot of traffic (their main account has over 900K followers)!!! βMy campaign post has been viewed by over 63,000 accounts! I also have 50 new fans following my personal Instagram account which is really exciting (Seriously, I love to connect with other people who can value my travel and fitness content). SPEAKING OF WORLDPACKERS: I did an Insta Live with them last month and you can view the video by clicking HERE! πΈππΈππΈπ New fitness routine - Besides teaching Les Mills fitness classes for over 8 years, I started heavy lifting about 3 years ago. Honestly, I had started to get a tad bored recently. I previously bought a package of workouts for a year, and have recycled through some of the material majority of the time in the gym. I wanted something....a bit different. Insta algorithm for the win! I of course see a lot of gym and fitness reels on social. One account caught my attention since it features moves to "train like an athlete." I purchased a 12-week plan and, after 1 week so far....I absolutely love this new workout program! πͺποΈββοΈπͺποΈββοΈπͺποΈββοΈ β I've been keeping busy with lots of projects and I was happy that I squeezed out this shorter blog post within a few days (to meet my deadline to feature it here haha) You'll see in my previous post on travel workout equipment that I always travel with 2 fitness items. My friends, I give to you...
I usually just post 3 bullet points with related articles, however, given that we're mid-February, I want to address and suggest ways to beat the winter blues. βοΈ Winter can wreck your wellness routineβif you let it.Dark mornings, freezing temps, and that constant urge to burrito yourself in a blanket and not go outside? Yeah, same. It's currently 2:30pm in the afternoon in Sofia (while I'm writing this section) and I've gotten a total of 621 steps since I haven't been outside yet (GAH!!). But staying on track isnβt about being perfect. Itβs about adapting, adjusting, and working with what youβve got. Hereβs the trick: make wellness work for you, not against you. β Here are my top 3 tips for prioritizing your physical wellness this winter: 1οΈβ£ Go on an outdoor walk for at least 15 minutes.β The fresh air will do wonders for the rest of your day. You could even target this as your "social media time" as opposed to sitting on the couch and doomscrolling. β 2οΈβ£ Create a "winter workout zone" in your homeβ Remember, you have lots of resources (like the Youtube yoga channel I mentioned above). Try a short stretch to remove morning stiffness or find a random fitness challenge (like 30 squats a day, 20 mountain climber knees, and 10 pushups). You can even put a throwback playlist on and dance! Just like laying clothes out the night before, having a structure (in your location) sets you up for success. β 3οΈβ£ Master the art of cozy hydrationβ I often remind myself that I feel SO much better when I'm well-hydrated. Also, those multiple bathroom trips = more steps during the day! β At the end of the day, wellness isnβt about strict rulesβitβs about showing up for yourself in a way that actually works. πππ Inspired by two travel friends in Guatemala (totally jealous since I'd love to go back and also travel with these friends haha)... I've written a blog post about this epic overnight volcano hike in Guatemala (seriously recommend: Bucket. List.). It's very difficult, but absolutely worth the challenge. There's ANOTHER famous hike that I'd love to go do called Indian Nose or also referred to as Mayan Face. It's accessible by Lake Atitlan, (where I did one of my yoga retreats) and it's famous for sunrise. Tours typically start from multiple villages around the lake and there are plenty of options. What's great about this hike (in comparison to the famous volcano hike above) is that you also get a cool sunrise view, but it's a lot easier to complete (in roughly 40 minutes). Plus, you get views of the lake which means it's always breathtaking. βRome2Rio: Getting from Point A β‘οΈ Point B βRome2Rio is a travel planning tool that helps you find affordable transportation options, from flights and trains to buses, ferries, and even driving. By showing all your route choices in one place, it simplifies comparing prices and times, making it easier to choose the best option for your budget. What makes Rome2Rio unique is its ability to combine multiple transport types in a single search. For example, it might suggest a flight, followed by a bus or ferry, to get you to your destination for less than a direct flight would cost. To save money, use Rome2Rio to discover alternative routes you might not have thought of, like trains or buses, which can be more affordable than flying. 3 Best Practices for Using Rome2Rio:
βRome2Rio is a great tool for creating a budget-friendly itinerary, saving you both time and money. Wahoo! π€ β Always on my mind: More money for more travel! It's often worth a little homework for those savings πΈ If you've found this travel fitness content helpful, please consider some (or all!) of the following:
Please note that I never make referrals unless I truly believe this product or service is actually helpful π If you use my affiliate links included in the email, it is at no additional cost to YOU, but it does benefit me. It's a small "thank you" and continuous motivation for me to keep sharing this helpful content. Always know you can ask me questions since I'm a continued resource to you at all times. Thank you again so much for your support!! Feel free to always respond back to this email with any thoughts and questions you might have or content you'd love to see in the future. Happy travels and healthy living, Heidiβ β |