“It’s a girl… it’s a quesadilla… wait no, it’s A Wandering Casiedilla!”
Yup, that’s me, AWC here! The wanderlustin’, local-lovin’, adventure-thirstin’ girl disguised as yes, a quesadilla. Four years ago, freshly graduated from college and with big prospects waiting for me in NYC, I decided office life wasn’t for me. I bought a one way ticket to Spain, moved to a tiny rural village where I was the only foreigner, got a job teaching English, and started this blog. Crazy? Maybe. Hungry for connecting with people around the world? Damn straight.
Here’s the AWC goal:
To INSPIRE you to pack your bags and just go for it. Move to a foreign country. Buy a flight and spend some quality time with your backpack. Try food you’ve never heard of. The time is now.
To INFORM you on how to explore a new country like a local. From local food and adventure guides of off-the-beaten-path destinations, to practical tips on how to make the move abroad.
To IMMERSE you in a new world. Whether you’re sitting on your living room couch reading (and drooling) about local street food in Vietnam, or studying up on local Spanish slang to earn you some calle cred. To travel is to gain understanding and empathy. Not just to see.
Since that one fateful Europe-bound plane ride, I’ve lived in Spain, Vietnam, and managed to travel to 27 countries on a shoestring budget, all with the help of locals. And you know what the most awesome part of all of this is? If I can do it, so can you.
Can I get an AMENNNNN!
My passion is helping people do it. Do somethin’ crazy! If you don’t find the info you need in any of my posts, please pretty please with a cheesy Casiedilla on top, shoot me an email and ask away! I’m here (wherever here is) to help.
After my four year travelganza experiencing life abroad, I’m now back in the USA and living my best big girl life in San Francisco.
Hey it’s Megan (we met at the training in Caceres!) love love love your blog. I look forward to reading more, would be great to meet up in another sunny Spanish destination soon! X
Hi Casie!
Thanks for finding and following my Pickled Wings blog.
I really like your blog and the concept behind it. Local food is such and integral part of the travel experience; local, regional and national character is often reflected in food and drink.
I live in the south east of the Czech Republic, quite close to the major Czech wine region. When I travel to other parts of the country, I can see slight personality differences. People seem just a bit more laid back and relaxed here in the south east.
If you’re interested, you might want to check out my other blog. It’s about life and travel in the Czech Republic outside of Prague; sometimes I make entries about Czech cuisine and gastronomy:
https://beyondprague.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the comment! Im glad you appreciate my concept 🙂 it really is true that local cuisine is a direct reflection of the culture! I will ansolutely check out your other blog, sounds right up my ally 🙂 i look forward to following each others travel tips and tales in the future!
Thanks for liking my post! You’re blog sounds great (and we sound like we’d be natural friends 🙂 ) Looking forward to reading your posts!
Thank you! As im looking forward to reading yours 🙂
Omg, your* hahaha
So you’re NOT a real Quesadilla? I’m disappointed now 🙁
Oh wow! Your blog is a gem!! I can identify so much with the things you say, since i went to India last year on exchange to teach kids too. Wasn’t really my choice either.
Also, Im Spanish, and I just LOVE how you’ve appreciated our culture! You are fantastic!!!
Hey Casie! I just found your blog and I am really having fun reading your observations about the Spanish! I love Spain and I have lived in Spain in total for about 1 year and I also had many cultural shocks although not all the same as you, I guess small villages have a bit different kind of life from what I got to know. But it’s a lot of fun to read it and be able to agree on most of the stuff. Somehow Spain just found a way to my heart and I love to come back. And ugh, the reverse culture shock, don’t even get me started. It was crazy when I was coming back. Well anyway, keep up the good work, I love food and travel so I can’t wait to read more articles from you! 🙂 G.
Hey we met in Budapest on the walking tour! I love you blog, so cute! How was the rest of your trip, and can’t wait to see all your traditional Hungarian finds! Was Spinoza any good?
Shana
Hey Shana! The rest of my trip was awesome! Didn’t actually end up going to Spinoza, went to Kazimir instead! It was soo good. How was the rest of your guys trip?!
Hope you keep following the blog and safe travels back to Israel!
Hey, I was casually doing some tapas research about Granada (as one does) and stumbled across your blog. Then realised we have a similar story…I also decided to not get stuck into the 9-5 life after my degree and somehow I ended up teaching English in Granada! Glad to know there’s more graduates like myself that took the non-conventional route post uni 🙂
Hey Abi! Great to hear from a likeminded person 🙂 taking the conventional route is totally overrated! Are you still here in Granada now?
Cheers & Happy Wandering!
Casie (AWC)
Yep, I’m still in Granada. I’ve been here for 5 months and still loving it! C’mon, where else in the world gives you free food? I wouldn’t wanna be anywhere else haha. If you’re still here, maybe we could even meet up one day. It’ll be nice to know a fellow blogger/English teacher 🙂
Yes, I’m still here (cause why would I leave a place with free food?) haha. I’d love to meet up! Send me a message on my FB page and we’ll set up a day 🙂
Sounds great, I’ll send you a message now 🙂
Casie,seriously do you think Spain culture is flamenco,siesta,vino and jamon?,…you are dreaming in your New York home actually if so.
These are topics.”Guiri” topics.
Hi Ivan,
I write about a wide range of topics regarding Spanish culture. I’m aware life in Spain is more than that! But regardless, you have to admit that Spain does have wonderful vino and the world’s best jamón…topics that must be discussed on a food and travel blog! -Sincerely, AWC
Still,if i would be allowed,i advice you to go to the north(Asturias,Galicia,Basque Country..),to eat seafood and to drink cider and other local drinks,you will see.
Helllo lovely !!
My most deep thank yous for the Mexico /NOT/ Spain map. Fabulous – I cpuldn’t believe North Americans couldn’t generally tell the difference when living there.
Just a sharing : I’m from the north and nobody ever around me (family, friends, co workers) has ever had siestas. I guess if you have had that experience mught have been bc. of extreme heat after lunchtime (which means extended evenings) or priviledged working hours. In Madrid, where I work now we wake up extremely early and come back home in the evening …
Please ¡help to stop the siesta stereotype!!!
Bye, gorgeous open-minded American 😀
Hi Oli! I’m so glad you enjoyed that explanation and the map 😀 I have discussed on previous posts (check out “The Spain Culture Guide”) that people actually don’t take a siesta. Even when all the stores are closed, 99.9% of people AREN’T sleeping! Hopefully that will help the world understand that all of Spain doesn’t take adult nap time in the middle of the day 😉 Bye Oli, and happy to have you following along! Saludos desde NYC! -Casie
Hi!
Frozen American in Cantabria.
Radiators everywhere but when I turn the nobs……….NADA.
I never thought I would love an appliance but…..Im going to marry my hairdryer..
Vale!! Te sigo!
Richard, oh how I feel your pain!! Hence why I moved to Vietnam after living in Spain for three years (I don’t even own a blowdryer here! Best divorce ever.) There are countless things I miss about Spain everyday, but wearing my winter coat indoors isn’t one of them! Wishing you all the “suerte” in the world this winter…Stay warm!! -Casie (AWC)
Hi Casie!!
Thank you for great advice! Just finished up our first tapas (asked for the Spanish name but they spoke too fast). It was a perfectly cooked stringy beef stew:) Now off to our second drink. CheersSuzanne and Onno (Dutch living in Estepona, Spain)
Amazing!! You have quite the tapas adventure ahead of you. 😉 Where in Spain are you now?! Enjoy!!!
Casie (AWC)
Super awesome blog posts and info!
I’ve been in Granada for a few weeks now and have just decided to stay on for another month.
So nice here and the Tapas is great! I wanna go out and eat tapas every second day!!!
I have no idea how they make money. How do the Italians make money on Aperativo? Sometimes it’s a huge buffet!! Anyways, I’m a bit of a digital nomad and can live anywhere, so apart from Vietnam, where else would you recommend that has the same level of vibrancy, culture and food of Granada/Spain, preferable still in the EU?
That’s a rally good question Carlo! First of all, so jealous you’re in Granada right now – PLEASE eat some tapas for me!! As far as other places with the same level of vibrancy, culture and food – I do believe that Granada is very special in that sense. Have you been to San Sebastian? I’d recommend there as well! Other places outside of Spain – Lisbon stole my heart and would love there in a heartbeat if my visa allowed it. Would do you think about Lisbon?
Yes i’ve heard about the Pintxos of San Sebastian. I should really check it out. Lisbon is nice. Portugal generally is super laid back and really down to earth even compared to Spain. It’s ‘cuter’. I did however prefer Porto over Lisbon. I found a nice art gallery/ live music/theatre/collective there that was at the top of a car park in the middle of town. Really really nice creative people all working there. Keep it up! I look forward to reading about your next adventures!