Into the Forests I Go

AMERICAN HEART ON LITHUANIAN SOIL

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Hey y'all! Today's blog post has me looking back at one of my favorite moments of the summer: the Visagino Country Festival. Yes, you read that correctly: a country music festival in Lithuania. I have had allllll manner of musings about this whole situation, so grab your boots and let's get dancing at the link - you know where 😉🤠

#heyyall #visaginocountry #visaginascountryfestival #visitvisaginas #visitlithuania #whatintarnation

Y'all know I love experiencing and learning more about Lithuanian culture. And as I come into my third anniversary living in this beautiful country, I wanted to share my experience at the Song Festival. Yes, Song Festival! I know - I moved to the right country! 🇱🇹 So let's get into it at the link in my b⬇️ooooo

📸 N. Jankauskas

#dainusvente #songfestival #lithuanianculture #sutartines #visitvilnius #visitlithuania #intotheforestsigo

Croatia has been sitting its pretty little self near the top of my bucket list for a few years now, and I finally got to make that dream a reality recently. 💦

Crystal blue waters, ancient palaces and cemeteries, grilled sardines... My latest blog post is gonna give you an insight into, well, why you should book your own trip to Croatia! 🇭🇷

#adriaticsea #croatia #americanineurope #intotheforestsigo #visitsplit #visitdubrovnik #visitcroatia #summeriscoming

An ode to spring in Lithuania? Yes pleeeeease ✨🤍 Step into my world for a moment - it smells like lilacs here. 💜 You know where to go to read! #pavasaris #lilacs #intotheforestsigo #americanineurope #americaninlithuania #springtime

Um, what just happened?

A couple weeks ago, The Scientist and I took a weekend trip to a place called Harmony Park Countryside Villas, and I can't even say we put a lot of forethought into choosing the place. A new adventure? Sign me up. 🙈

But once we got there, we noticed some unusual and repetitive symbology, so now I have to ask... What's the back story with this place? Did I side-step into a cult space? You know where to go to read on... 🐌

#888 #harmonija #harmonypark #lithuania #girlgoneinternational #hiddeninplainsight #intotheforestsigo

Ah, Springtime - cherry blossoms, camping, motorcycle rides. After a long winter (and I do mean a *long* winter), I love it.

But to my mind, it's important to mark this new season with celebration and ceremony. Luckily, beyond my own personal ceremonies, I've got the amazing Romuva people here doing just that.

So today, we'll go a bit more into my recent Pavasario lygiadienis (Spring Equinox) celebration and why I think they're so meaningful. 🌸 You know where to go to read it 😉

#pavasaris #girlgoneinternational #romuva #balticpaganism #paganism #lithuanianculture #balticculture #pavasariolygiadienis #springtime #renewal #rebirth #intotheforestsigo

Greece! I feel like Americans have this thing about Greek Islands - they seem so exotic, harmonizing this ideal of going back to roots with relaxation. And then there's me: an American already living in Europe with a strong penchant for art history and feta cheese. It was basically written in the stars.

Crete was an easy yes, at the end of the day. So that's where my girl's trip party of two headed. Curious about Heraklion, Crete in the off-season - or just my experience in Greece? Let's go 💙🇬🇷

#girlgoneinternational #americanineurope #greekislands #heraklion #crete #snakegoddess #intotheforestsigo #worldtraveler #girlstrip
#ifollowthesun

Back from the United States and... y'all already know I've got some thoughts on the journey 🥲🙃 Check it out on today's blog - you know where to go! #reversecultureshock #america #thirdtimesacharm #intotheforestsigo #unitedstates #expatliving #thesebootsaremadeforwalking

Tallinn, you already know you're gorgeous, don't you? Today's blog post is about my recent trip there - an honest opinion on my third and final Baltic capital 🇪🇪

And by the way, this ain't my first rodeo, but I'm heading home to the States soon (for a visit!), so if you're a fellow expat and you've got tips for reverse culture shock, send them my way! ✨🫠 Check out my feed or stories to read! #tallinnestonia #reversecultureshock #americanineurope #adventures #steventheseagull #ikipasimatymo #balticculture #estonia #🇪🇪

Maybe you've noticed I've been gone a while from my blog, letting a month's time stretch in between us.

But hey, I've been busy filling my brain with melodies - so here's a little insight into what's making me feel alive right now. Check out my link to read on! 😏🎧

#followingthemuse #creativity #singersongwriter #wellness #intotheforestsigo #itsbeenawhile #creativeprocess

Have you ever planned an exciting trip and, for whatever reason, watched your plans change right in front of your eyes? When would you cancel, or would you just plow through and make it happen?

That's been my week, so I'm here today sharing about it - and my unique lens as an expat that brought me to an interesting conclusion. 🧡🔥 Check out the link in my stories! Xo

#suckingitup #tallinnestonia #winteriscoming #seasonschange #americanineurope #intotheforestsigo #baltics #lifeinthebaltics #canceled

It had been *over two years* since The Scientist had the opportunity to get out on the water and sail, so I was pleased to see it happen this weekend so organically - finally. And it turns out: I had some lessons to learn from the experience, too. (Are you surprised? 😉)

Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me below ✨👇⛵ #sailorsofinstagram #trakailithuania #trakaisailing #intotheforestsigo #americanineurope

What do you do when you're on the back of a 48-year-old motorcycle, schlepping its way up high-altitude Swiss mountain passes you'd originally said you didn't want to go up?

You take a deep breath and you sing - if you're me, that is. Today, we're talking about my recent time in Switzerland... and how it changed me for the better. 💙 #swissalps #comfortzone #motorcyclesofinstagram #motoguzzi #eurotrip #americanineurope #intotheforestsigo #thesoundofmusic #anotherinthefire

Remember that early 2000s movie Eurotrip? I bet it inspired countless travellers to this continent, and I'm not gonna say it didn't cross my mind during my many hours on the back of an Italian motorcycle throughout Europe.

Today we're gonna talk about my short time in Italia 🤌, learning how to stay in the present moment as I moved from place to place, up long and winding (steep!) Lake Como roads, and eating some of the best bolognese of my life. You know, just Italy stuff. First in the series, let's gooooo 🍝 #eurotrip #lakecomoitaly #italia #bolognese #intotheforestsigo #americanineurope #jasmineflowers #motoguzzi #hillofdeath #thisisfine

Is there anything in your life you'd consider Type 2 fun? That is, it may feel uncomfortable in the moment, but it offers healthy growth and amazing fun in retrospect. You could say I've been doing a lot of that lately. 🫠🙈

Floating down the river is Type 2 fun for me - so I've decided to share my most recent experience with you, at the cost of being vulnerable. 🥲 Read on to see how I did! Link in biooooo 💦 #floatingdowntheriver #aqueoustransmission #nerisriver #comfortzone #type2fun #healthychallenge #lazyriverfloating #americanineurope #intotheforestsigo #visitvilnius #vilniusgspot

Have you ever been to a Lithuanian wedding? I hadn't - well, until this past weekend - and I'd heard allllllll about how they can go well into the night.

Color me intrigued. 🌈

To make things even more interesting, my first wedding also took place in the home place of my ancestors, so you could say I was going back to my roots... Read on for more - link in bio! #anyksciai #lithuanianwedding #vyrasirzmona #intotheforestsigo #backtomyroots #allnightlong #visitlithuania #🇱🇹

My time in Warsaw wasn't long, but it sure was long enough for me to get a good sense of the city - especially as it relates to my own personal history.

Pierogies, Jewish history, a concert, traveling near the town of my ancestors... This trip had a lot in a short amount of time. Read on for more at the link in my bio! 🥹💙🌹 #ancestors #warsawpoland #intotheforestsigo #ancestralwork #generationaltrauma #warsawghetto #warsawuprising #mordechaianielwicz #pierogi

Well, well, well, if it isn't me right up against the edges of my own comfort zone. 😜

Today's blog post is about a recent experience I had that transformed me and got me out of my comfort zone in a healthy way - nude modeling for a life drawing class. Was it a challenge? Yes and no. Would I do it again? Read on to find out 😉✨ Link in bio!

#growthzone #comfortzone #personalgrowth #wellness #americanineurope #bettertogether #community #intotheforestsigo #artist #easterneuropeblog

Ah, it's finally springtime here in Lithuania - and you could say I'm having a really good year, weather-wise. We've been squeezing as much juice as we can out of this warm weather, so today, I've put together a little guide so you can do the same - and get inspiration for wherever you live in the world.

You're welcome. 🙃😉 Link in bio and in my stories!
#intotheforestsigo #pavasaris #springtime #camping #balsysezeras #zaliasisezeras #beachbabe #americanineurope #easterneurope #wellness #rosehipvegan #saltibarsciai #lithuaniaisforlovers #lietuva #šaltibarščiai #žaliasežeras #ežeras

Ever since I moved to Lithuania, Estonia has been something of a curiosity to me - especially since it seems like the odd-one-out, language-wise. (Lithuanian and Latvian are both Indo-European Baltic languages!) 💙

But, my friends, that curiosity has been satiated - for now - because I just took a long weekend motorcycle trip through Latvia's sea coast into the heart of Estonia: Tartu.

How did I feel about being on the back of a motorcycle for hours? Did I love Estonia? Come find out at my link in bio 😉🇪🇪 #balticstates #intotheforestsigo #motorcycletrip #americanineurope #tartuestonia #visitlithuania #visitlatvia #visitestonia #babyletthegamesbegin

While I'm not a huge fan of setting up tents, I do love waking up to a surround-sound of singing birds and lush green moss - or putting my feet in the sand and running down to the ocean. 💙

So it's really no surprise that I camped in one of Lithuania's many beautiful forests this past weekend - although it *is* surprising that it took me this long to do it. And considering it's a magical experience, I wanted to make sure you knew the ins and outs - what to do, what not to do, and more. Into the forests we go, amirite? 😜 Link in bio! #disconnectinordertoconnect #intotheforestsigo #wildcamping #primitivecamping #campinginlithuania #greenmoss #blueskies #americanineurope #lietuva #backtotheearth

If there's one thing Lithuanians love to ask me, it's if I *actually* like cepelinai, the national dish. And why, you must be wondering, would they be so curious? 😏

Well, it's got a spongy, gelatinous texture and it isn't exactly the lightest food on the menu, but I've got to say: I do *actually* really like cepelinai - with one caveat. I've dedicated all of today's blog to this unusual dish, including the story of my first attempt in making them. How did it go? Well, it, uh, went. 😂 Read on for more - got the link in bi🧡! #cepelinai #lithuaniancuisine #americanineurope #frienddating #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #intotheforestsigo #varske #easterneurope #easterneuropeblog

Photo by: Andrius Aleksandravicius

If you've known me for a while, you know I love to create weekly menus for my little family, to play around in the kitchen and listen to music, and to invite friends over for dinner. Call it a love language. ❤️

But there are some days I just don't want to cook, and that's where brunch in Vilnius comes in. I've got a few favorite spots to share with y'all today - and feel free to share your own favorites in the comments. 😉 Let's go, link in bi🥯! #brunch #vilniusgspot #letsbrunch #balebostevilnius #lolavilnius #sandiegovilnius #visitlithuania #visitvilnius #expatliving #litvak #litvakfood #ashkenazi

Looking out at the last vestiges of winter/early spring (gorgeous snow!), my brain is playing double duty right now: seriously present to the beauty outside - even though it's April - and feeling myself back on the warm beaches of Portugal.

Taip, Portugalija! I recently took a week-long trip there for no reason other than that I CAN because I live in Europe now. 🙃 And while I've taken my time getting back to this blog (showing a friend around Lithuania!), I do have some stories and tips to share about Lisbon and its surrounding areas. A *huge* obrigado to the Portugal travelers and dwellers before me who set me up with the foundation for an amazing time. 🧡✨

Curious about Lisbon - or just my experience in Portugal? Let's go, link in bi💙! #lisboa #portugal #girlgoneinternational #americanineurope #ginjinha #cascais #sintra #intotheforestsigo #worldtraveler #girlstrip #fallingsnow #sunnybeaches #itsallbeautiful #europetravel #praiasaopedrodoestoril #portugalija

Here it is: this blog post encompasses the full story (so far!) of my journey with my Lithuanian ancestry. How does it just keep unfolding!? 🖤

At this point, I'm pretty sure my ancestors are enjoying watching me piece together this puzzle with my limited human brain. 😂

So join me - I've got some new discoveries to share! Meet: my Lithuanian ancestors. Link in bioooooo #ancestralwork #ancestors #ancestorhealing #americanineurope #jewish #litvak #lithuanianjew #anyksciai #panevezys #aniksht #ponevezh #girlgoneinternational #intotheforestsigo

Ah, Poland. Ever since knowing my (apparently very feisty) namesake was from Poland, this country has been on my Europe Bingo card. But like most of my friends and family, I never actually thought I'd have the opportunity to visit. Until now.

And the truth is: it all happened so seamlessly! After considering our favorite spot, Druskininkai, to warm up, our neighbors mentioned they'd just returned from a family spa trip to northeastern Poland. 🖤

And that was it - the lightbulb in my head went off, and a decision was made right then and there. I was on my way to Poland. My experience there surprised me, but since I was with my little friend pack, we made it work. Will I return? Guess you'll have to read to find out 😜 Ačiū, Lenkija! Link in biooooo #whenineasterneurope #whynot #takeacrazychance #sparesort #augustowpoland #americanineurope #americaninpoland #intotheforestsigo #easterneuropeblogger

Today's blog post tells me I've entered a new level of Lithuania living: meeting and connecting with my neighbors. (Hallelujah!) If you remember from my 'Are Lithuanians Rude?' post, they tend to keep to themselves unless spoken to - and even then, they're not going, "Hey, how're y'all doin'!? Need anything?"

That's just not in their culture.

But I've made a bit of quantum jump recently, meeting - incredibly nice! - neighbors. So today, we're gonna share some back story on one specific interaction, and how it feels to this American. Link in bi🥧 #frienddating #lovethyneighbor #balticculture #nextlevel #intotheforestsigo #americaninlithuania #quantumleap #slowburn #languageexchange

I know what you're thinking: why the *hell* is Eva writing about an event that took place almost a year ago!? 😉 Well, y'all, because it's February and the Spring Equinox - or Pavasario lygiadienis - is cycling back around again soon. 🔥

And with only FIVE hours of sunlight in Vilnius during the month of January, I'm just gonna go ahead and grab every ounce of light I can, okay? Today's post is dedicated to one of my favorite spots in Lithuania, Kernavė, a beautiful town filled with ceremony and ritual - at least that's how I view it as a foreigner. So let's get warm together - follow me at the link in bio! ❤️‍🔥 #kernave #pavasariolygiadienis #springequinox #lithuanianculture #americanineurope #ritual #tubshevat #easterneurope #kernavelithuania #balticculture #romuva #paganism #herecomesthesun #sunsunsun #albertcamus #kabbalah #litvak #kernavė #intotheforestsigo #easterneuropeblogger

Doing something a little different AGAIN today with the second part of my interview series on friends + acquaintances in Lithuania - expat and otherwise! This time, we're sitting down with my new Czech friend, Alžběta. 🇨🇿

Alžběta moved here just two months ago from the Czech Republic (!), and while we sat across from one other at Saigon Kava (one of my favorite restaurants in Lithuania!), I realized she'd be a great interview candidate. She's got even fresher eyes in Lithuania than myself, so I was *dying* to hear more about her first impressions, as well as how she's navigating this new culture. If you are, too, read on for more at the link in bio. Thanks, Alžběta, and welcome to Lithuania! 😍🇱🇹 #czechinlithuania #americanineurope #americaninlithuania #movingabroad #frienddating #heyyall #intotheforestsigo #girlgoneinternational #cultureshock #vilniusgspot #govilnius #interviewseries

It's crazy what you'll come across if you keep your eyes open to new experiences - and that, my friends, is exactly what happened a couple days ago. While on our way back from a small town near Molėtai, we decided to visit a beautiful observatory we'd heard whisperings about. 💚

But it wasn't the observatory that caught my attention when I got there. Nope - instead, I was led to some other masterpieces truly out of this world. 👽 I have a feeling I'll be going back soon... Link in bio for more of the story! 🌌 #ufosighting #stonehenge #lithuaniantravel #visitlithuania #moletai #ethnocosmology #romuva #paganism #cosmos #carlsagan #billionsandbillons #palebluedot #aukstaitija #moletaiastronomicalsociety #easterneuropeblog #americanineurope #intotheforestsigo

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Lithuania's Song Festival: A Celebration of Culture

Eva

Jul 19, 20244 min read

Lithuania's Song Festival: A Celebration of Culture

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120 views0 comments

Floating Down the River: Embracing Change

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Draw Me Like One of Your American Couples

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How to Make the Most of a Lithuania Spring Day

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Interview with a Czech in Lithuania: Alžběta

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Interview with an American in Lithuania: Adelaide

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My Favorite Lithuanian Gods and Goddesses: Part One

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My Favorite Lithuanian Gods and Goddesses: Part One

In honor of my Lithuanian language course ending this week (nooooo!), I'm coming here today with something that's been inspiring me for...

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Learning the Lithuanian Language? Buckle Up, Cowboy!

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It's been about two months since The Scientist and I started our Lithuanian language lessons at Vilnius University - a semester-long...

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Hello, COVID Positivity!: Plus, Hymns to the Great Goddess

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My 5 Favorite Rivers and Lakes Around Lithuania

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My 5 Favorite Rivers and Lakes Around Lithuania

Alright, it's official: August is my favorite month here, without a doubt. At this point last year, we were just spreading our wings out...

271 views0 comments

You Doing Okay?: Life's Many Adventures in the Land of Rain

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As one group of American friends moves back home, life has suddenly moved into August. [Cue Taylor Swift song.] Last week, I hosted my...

78 views0 comments

An Ode to My Sweet International Greyhound on her Birthday

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More than any of the three of us (myself, The Scientist, and Audrey, our greyhound), I think Audrey has picked the tallest straw from...

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Another Lithuanian Milestone in the Books: Street Music Day

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Yesterday was something of a Lithuania milestone for The Scientist and me. Let's be real for a second: gathering people together from...

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Spring is Springing: A Photo Album

Here's something I haven't told you about me yet: in a past lifetime, I was a florist. I mean, it's probably not that surprising to you,...

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Apr 24, 20223 min read

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Before you even ask: yes, I'm the loud American at the restaurant. I'm the loud American in the bar. I'm the loud American in the park....

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The 3 Books I’m Currently Reading (And How They Relate to Lithuania)

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Apr 18, 20224 min read

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Anyone else always reading three things at once? Because y'all, my pile just seems to be getting bigger and bigger. This shouldn't come...

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Eva

Mar 27, 20224 min read

My Favorite Restaurants in Vilnius

Since I've been here eight months now (eight!?), it feels like a good time to think back on my favorite restaurants in Vilnius - and I'm...

163 views0 comments

The Redemption Story of Užgavėnės: The Kids Are Alright

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Mar 6, 20224 min read

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Dear readers, thank you for your supportive messages about Užgavėnės. Multiple Lithuanian friends and acquaintances have reached out to...

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Six Month Reflections - Plus, A Vilnius Cookbook Returns Home

Eva

Jan 23, 20223 min read

Six Month Reflections - Plus, A Vilnius Cookbook Returns Home

Wow, it's been six months since I landed in Vilnius - a whole new country, and truly a whole new way of life. It's been a long time since...

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