mcbirdie / Jess McCloskey

I first moved to the UK by moving to Bangor, Wales from Finland. The people were very down to earth and the sights are stunning…few things beat those beautiful mountains.

From Wales, I moved to London which is just as eclectic, energetic, and sophisticated as everyone thinks.

I’m now up in Newcastle, where the northerners are friendly, hard-working, and prudent with their money. :)

I moved to Kirkonommi just out of college to be an au pair. It was my first time out of the United States, my first time living so fully alone, and definitely the first time I didn’t have a support system in place. I learned so much about myself from the experience, and I was very fortunate to do so in such an incredibly beautiful country surrounded by such warm-hearted people.

I went on to live in Kuopio for a year while I did my first MSc, and it only confirmed what I learned in Kirkonommi—Finland is breathtakingly beautiful, and exacting…and the Finnish people are wonderful. I would highly recommend a visit to anyone.

I went to university in the Lynchburg area of Virginia and after four years I can confidentially say…there are few places as beautiful. The colors in fall, the parks in summer, the mountains covered in snow in winter…gorgeous. Like the Carolinas, Virginia has so much variety—beaches, mountains, countryside, cities—and it is just full of friendly, wonderful people.

This is also a great state for the history buffs. Colonial Williamsburg is incredible and the great trails offer many chances to read about historical sites.