Get your kicks on Route 66… 沒有什麼比假期更能讓夏天尖叫的了! 在美國，有各種完美的度假勝地可供選擇，包括國家公園、各大城市、遊樂園、小木屋等，而我們選擇了Route 66。 Route 66是世界上最著名的公路，它又有Main Street of America, Mother Road之稱。歷史悠久的Route 66跨越3900公里，橫跨8個州，從Chicago出發，貫穿Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona 以及California，終止於Santa Monica。 1926年被賦予『Route 66』的稱號，一路上有著老式加油站、汽車旅館以及餐廳，體現美國核心小鎮價值。Route 66也是自由的代表，自駕在這條曾經輝煌的道路上，聆聽著音樂、品嚐美食，並欣賞一路上的舊景風光，總能增長自我價值及經歷。隨著時代的進步，Route 66已經被高速公路取代，因此在Google Map上是無法查到它的。如果很想走完整的Route 66，可以在Amazon上購買《Route 66: EZ66 GUIDE For Travelers》，  這次旅程決定的突然，一群朋友在一次聚會中聊到公路66，加上我一直很沈迷於芝加哥系列影集（Chicago Fire,...…Get your kicks on Route 66… 沒有什麼比假期更能讓夏天尖叫的了! 在美國，有各種完美的度假勝地可供選擇，包括國家公園、各大城市、遊樂園、小木屋等，而我們選擇了Route 66。 Route 66是世界上最著名的公路，它又有Main Street of America, Mother Road之稱。歷史悠久的Route 66跨越3900公里，橫跨8個州，從Chicago出發，貫穿Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona 以及California，終止於Santa Monica。 1926年被賦予『Route 66』的稱號，一路上有著老式加油站、汽車旅館以及餐廳，體現美國核心小鎮價值。Route 66也是自由的代表，自駕在這條曾經輝煌的道路上，聆聽著音樂、品嚐美食，並欣賞一路上的舊景風光，總能增長自我價值及經歷。隨著時代的進步，Route 66已經被高速公路取代，因此在Google Map上是無法查到它的。如果很想走完整的Route 66，可以在Amazon上購買《Route 66: EZ66 GUIDE For Travelers》，  這次旅程決定的突然，一群朋友在一次聚會中聊到公路66，加上我一直很沈迷於芝加哥系列影集（Chicago Fire,...WW…

St. Louis，一個低調卻有趣的城市… 也許你從未聽過St. Louis，也或許St.Louis不曾出現在你的必去城市清單中，但事實上，它與其他城市大並無不同之處。在這裏，可以參加體育賽事，比如前往Busch Stadium 觀看紅雀隊比賽、參觀城市博物館或動物園，甚至你可以在St. Louis著名地標Gateway Arch，享受片刻的愜意。我們真正去探索St. Louis這座城市的時間只有近半天時間。為了在最短的時間內體驗到這座城市的美麗，我們前往幾項著名的景點… 這是羅馬天主教會的一座教堂，名字來源於法國國王路易九世，是美國密西西比河以西的第一座教堂。可惜的是，當我們抵達時，教堂內似乎正舉辦著禁止外參訪的活動。因此，我們並沒有機會進去一探究竟。但值得慶幸的是，因為這座教堂有提供免費停車場，且地理位置距離Gateway Arch十分接近，至少我們省下一筆停車費… 這一座地標是由建築師Eero Saarinen塑造而成，這一個拱門目的是為了紀念美國西進運動而設立。 或許你們會認為與地標合個照就結束了！在這個大拱門，你可以有多重的體驗及享受，包括: 在開始我們的旅遊之前，便提前購買乘坐電車登上GatewayArch 的門票。強烈建議一定要事先在網上購票。我們購買搭乘電車的時間是上午9:30，為了避免遲到，我們大概9:00左右便抵達。在入場前，我們在Gateway...…St. Louis，一個低調卻有趣的城市… 也許你從未聽過St. Louis，也或許St.Louis不曾出現在你的必去城市清單中，但事實上，它與其他城市大並無不同之處。在這裏，可以參加體育賽事，比如前往Busch Stadium 觀看紅雀隊比賽、參觀城市博物館或動物園，甚至你可以在St. Louis著名地標Gateway Arch，享受片刻的愜意。我們真正去探索St. Louis這座城市的時間只有近半天時間。為了在最短的時間內體驗到這座城市的美麗，我們前往幾項著名的景點… 這是羅馬天主教會的一座教堂，名字來源於法國國王路易九世，是美國密西西比河以西的第一座教堂。可惜的是，當我們抵達時，教堂內似乎正舉辦著禁止外參訪的活動。因此，我們並沒有機會進去一探究竟。但值得慶幸的是，因為這座教堂有提供免費停車場，且地理位置距離Gateway Arch十分接近，至少我們省下一筆停車費… 這一座地標是由建築師Eero Saarinen塑造而成，這一個拱門目的是為了紀念美國西進運動而設立。 或許你們會認為與地標合個照就結束了！在這個大拱門，你可以有多重的體驗及享受，包括: 在開始我們的旅遊之前，便提前購買乘坐電車登上GatewayArch 的門票。強烈建議一定要事先在網上購票。我們購買搭乘電車的時間是上午9:30，為了避免遲到，我們大概9:00左右便抵達。在入場前，我們在Gateway...WW…

在完成博士班資格考後，總算有時間靜下心來，打出這一篇期待已久的文章。這趟旅遊是在2021年5月完成的，近一年後，總算要來分享讓我在出發前，就滿心期待欲探索的地點-芝加哥！ 芝加哥是一座擁有一切美好事物的城市之一：摩天大樓的誕生地點、美味的食物、世界一流的博物館、美麗的綠地、以及芝加哥湖等等。美國第三大城市擁有大城市的所有喧囂和中西部魅力。對於芝加哥，我有著各種幻想，幻想喝著咖啡走在迷人的街上、幻想在沙灘上跟朋友嘻鬧、幻想從高樓上往下俯瞰這座美麗的城市。為了這趟旅程，我們規劃完美的芝加哥 5 日行程，這樣你就可以花更少的時間計劃並有更多時間享受這個美麗的城市，那我們就趕快開始吧！ 用一頓豐盛早餐以及一杯香醇黑咖啡開啟你的早晨，然後準備好享受這座狂野的城市！ 海軍碼頭之於芝加哥，就像漁人碼頭之於舊金山一樣，是一個很受歡迎的旅遊景點，充滿各種紀念品店以及價位高的餐廳、以及遊樂設施。乘坐標誌性的摩天輪，欣賞芝加哥和密歇根湖的美景。我們在這裡搭乘摩天輪，享受著俯視芝加哥的景色。 如果你需要一個地方大肆採購，就是這裡，它被稱為世界上首屈一指的購物區。數百家商店，從大型購物中心、受歡迎的百貨公司、奢侈品設計師商店和時尚精品店一一排列在大道上，是購物狂的天堂！在這條大道上，旁邊有幾座著名且歷史悠久的建築，如John Hancock Tower 約翰漢考克大廈、Willis Tower...…在完成博士班資格考後，總算有時間靜下心來，打出這一篇期待已久的文章。這趟旅遊是在2021年5月完成的，近一年後，總算要來分享讓我在出發前，就滿心期待欲探索的地點-芝加哥！ 芝加哥是一座擁有一切美好事物的城市之一：摩天大樓的誕生地點、美味的食物、世界一流的博物館、美麗的綠地、以及芝加哥湖等等。美國第三大城市擁有大城市的所有喧囂和中西部魅力。對於芝加哥，我有著各種幻想，幻想喝著咖啡走在迷人的街上、幻想在沙灘上跟朋友嘻鬧、幻想從高樓上往下俯瞰這座美麗的城市。為了這趟旅程，我們規劃完美的芝加哥 5 日行程，這樣你就可以花更少的時間計劃並有更多時間享受這個美麗的城市，那我們就趕快開始吧！ 用一頓豐盛早餐以及一杯香醇黑咖啡開啟你的早晨，然後準備好享受這座狂野的城市！ 海軍碼頭之於芝加哥，就像漁人碼頭之於舊金山一樣，是一個很受歡迎的旅遊景點，充滿各種紀念品店以及價位高的餐廳、以及遊樂設施。乘坐標誌性的摩天輪，欣賞芝加哥和密歇根湖的美景。我們在這裡搭乘摩天輪，享受著俯視芝加哥的景色。 如果你需要一個地方大肆採購，就是這裡，它被稱為世界上首屈一指的購物區。數百家商店，從大型購物中心、受歡迎的百貨公司、奢侈品設計師商店和時尚精品店一一排列在大道上，是購物狂的天堂！在這條大道上，旁邊有幾座著名且歷史悠久的建築，如John Hancock Tower 約翰漢考克大廈、Willis Tower...WW…

現在，終於可以開啟度假模式了，老實說我真的很開心！留學前，趁著這段悠哉的日子做我想做很久的事情。健康真的很重要！我想再次嘗試健康的食物。 現在開始，跟炸物說掰掰！但是冰冷的食物可能得再等等… 我的一些T-shirt、毛衣、短褲看起來有些破舊，是時候該好好整理一下！我打算將不會再穿的衣服捐出去，不能穿的衣服拿到舊衣回收箱。空出來的位置，來購買些新的服飾補回去吧！我非常需要一些襯衫，之後的演講、會議一定會用到！ 我也一直想要一雙Rag＆Bone的短靴，但我害怕德州的季節會讓它派不上用場！ 我不喜歡設定太過遠大的目標，這些遙不可及的目標容易使我陷入失敗的情緒之中。2019年，我曾給自己設下大目標-每天都要運動1小時。是的！想也知道，這並沒有發生。 我今年決定開始定下簡單的小目標-每週要運動五次，每次30-40分鐘。很棒的是，我到目前為止都有做到… 我的部落格內第一篇文章是在3/18發佈的–真的是太瘋狂了，從創立到現在已經超過一個月！老實說，一開始我覺得應該多一些時間去好好規劃及構思文章的內容、網站的風格、設計版面等。現在，在一個衝動、不知所措的情況下就架設網站對於我來說是一件非常棒的事！很早很早之前，就一直有創立部落格的想法。不過，我是一個非常優柔寡斷的人，很難去做一個決定、馬上行動。 現在，我被我的文章所包圍。...…現在，終於可以開啟度假模式了，老實說我真的很開心！留學前，趁著這段悠哉的日子做我想做很久的事情。健康真的很重要！我想再次嘗試健康的食物。 現在開始，跟炸物說掰掰！但是冰冷的食物可能得再等等… 我的一些T-shirt、毛衣、短褲看起來有些破舊，是時候該好好整理一下！我打算將不會再穿的衣服捐出去，不能穿的衣服拿到舊衣回收箱。空出來的位置，來購買些新的服飾補回去吧！我非常需要一些襯衫，之後的演講、會議一定會用到！ 我也一直想要一雙Rag＆Bone的短靴，但我害怕德州的季節會讓它派不上用場！ 我不喜歡設定太過遠大的目標，這些遙不可及的目標容易使我陷入失敗的情緒之中。2019年，我曾給自己設下大目標-每天都要運動1小時。是的！想也知道，這並沒有發生。 我今年決定開始定下簡單的小目標-每週要運動五次，每次30-40分鐘。很棒的是，我到目前為止都有做到… 我的部落格內第一篇文章是在3/18發佈的–真的是太瘋狂了，從創立到現在已經超過一個月！老實說，一開始我覺得應該多一些時間去好好規劃及構思文章的內容、網站的風格、設計版面等。現在，在一個衝動、不知所措的情況下就架設網站對於我來說是一件非常棒的事！很早很早之前，就一直有創立部落格的想法。不過，我是一個非常優柔寡斷的人，很難去做一個決定、馬上行動。 現在，我被我的文章所包圍。...WW…

On a grim morning, zombie-walking to the tube, something grabbed my attention. An explosion of colour in the middle of the very greige city. A bright poster for Martin Parr’s Only Human exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery. It looked interesting and like the perfect thing to do during an April rainy weekend. That evening, I booked tickets online, and thank god I did! Even the queue to pick up the tickets on site was fairly long, so I would definitely recommend reserving in advance to not be left disappointed. Martin Parr is a photographer who specialised in environmental portrait....…On a grim morning, zombie-walking to the tube, something grabbed my attention. An explosion of colour in the middle of the very greige city. A bright poster for Martin Parr’s Only Human exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery. It looked interesting and like the perfect thing to do during an April rainy weekend. That evening, I booked tickets online, and thank god I did! Even the queue to pick up the tickets on site was fairly long, so I would definitely recommend reserving in advance to not be left disappointed. Martin Parr is a photographer who specialised in environmental portrait....WW…

I have recently been a lot less active on the blog, one of the main reasons being I am pretty busy with work; but also our little cat Buffer got suddenly very ill. Nursing him was time-consuming (and expensive!) but he is now much better, although left with some questionable shaved patches where the IV and blood tests were done. This sassy ball of fur has been in our life for 6 years. Buffer made appearances on the blog a few time as my little sidekick (I say little… The dude is actually on the larger side and gets body-shamed by the vet every time). Him getting unwell has really reminded...…I have recently been a lot less active on the blog, one of the main reasons being I am pretty busy with work; but also our little cat Buffer got suddenly very ill. Nursing him was time-consuming (and expensive!) but he is now much better, although left with some questionable shaved patches where the IV and blood tests were done. This sassy ball of fur has been in our life for 6 years. Buffer made appearances on the blog a few time as my little sidekick (I say little… The dude is actually on the larger side and gets body-shamed by the vet every time). Him getting unwell has really reminded...WW…

Well hello there! It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? Rachel Wolchin once said: “My entire life can be described in one sentence: It didn’t go as planned, and that’s okay”. This couldn’t have been more applicable to my life the past three months. So rather than extending this introduction to meet a certain word count, let me get straight into it and give you a little life update! Let’s start with work, shall we? Well, this one has been… Interesting? Challenging? Discouraging? Anti-climatic? Ok, I am just being my French cynical-self, it hasn’t been that bad. There is also a big silver-lining,...…Well hello there! It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? Rachel Wolchin once said: “My entire life can be described in one sentence: It didn’t go as planned, and that’s okay”. This couldn’t have been more applicable to my life the past three months. So rather than extending this introduction to meet a certain word count, let me get straight into it and give you a little life update! Let’s start with work, shall we? Well, this one has been… Interesting? Challenging? Discouraging? Anti-climatic? Ok, I am just being my French cynical-self, it hasn’t been that bad. There is also a big silver-lining,...WW…

This post includes some affiliate links marked with an * They say it takes 12 weeks to form a new habit, and it looks like the Covid-19 lockdown has given us the perfect opportunity to do just that. I know that for many freelancers, myself included, work has slowed down significantly because of the pandemic. It can feel overwhelming, depressing, and at times I would much prefer to go back to bed than dealing with the situation. The temptation to pretend that it is all just a big staycation and binge on Netflix to stay sane is high. Unfortunately, I cannot really afford to feel too sorry...…This post includes some affiliate links marked with an * They say it takes 12 weeks to form a new habit, and it looks like the Covid-19 lockdown has given us the perfect opportunity to do just that. I know that for many freelancers, myself included, work has slowed down significantly because of the pandemic. It can feel overwhelming, depressing, and at times I would much prefer to go back to bed than dealing with the situation. The temptation to pretend that it is all just a big staycation and binge on Netflix to stay sane is high. Unfortunately, I cannot really afford to feel too sorry...WW…

Unless you live in Denver (sorry friends – that blizzard looked rough), there’s a chance it’s finally feeling nice and warm outside. Which is exactly why we’re starting this Tuesday with a big, beautiful, sexy slab of grilled flank steak with cilantro pesto. Because if this doesn’t make you break out the shorts, flip flops, margarita makers and wide-brimmed hats, I don’t know what will. One of the (many) benefits of living in coastal South Carolina is the weather. Minus a few chilly mornings and a few rainy days, the weather has been almost perfect since we moved in. More sunny days than...…Unless you live in Denver (sorry friends – that blizzard looked rough), there’s a chance it’s finally feeling nice and warm outside. Which is exactly why we’re starting this Tuesday with a big, beautiful, sexy slab of grilled flank steak with cilantro pesto. Because if this doesn’t make you break out the shorts, flip flops, margarita makers and wide-brimmed hats, I don’t know what will. One of the (many) benefits of living in coastal South Carolina is the weather. Minus a few chilly mornings and a few rainy days, the weather has been almost perfect since we moved in. More sunny days than...WW…

I always pack hundreds of things in my backpack (well, maybe it’s too exaggerated😂) But to be honest, I always think my backpack is overweight, I still think I should carry all of these things. Okay, let’s get started! Let’s take a look at all the things in the backpack of the first-year doctoral student! How about you? What’s your essentials in your bag? Share with me in the comments below! Leave an email to subscribe my blog, and you will be notified once new post is published! 💋 XOXO// Claire Support me👉 https://ko-fi.com/clairehu…I always pack hundreds of things in my backpack (well, maybe it’s too exaggerated😂) But to be honest, I always think my backpack is overweight, I still think I should carry all of these things. Okay, let’s get started! Let’s take a look at all the things in the backpack of the first-year doctoral student! How about you? What’s your essentials in your bag? Share with me in the comments below! Leave an email to subscribe my blog, and you will be notified once new post is published! 💋 XOXO// Claire Support me👉 https://ko-fi.com/clairehuWW…