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Ontario's Cryptic Gravestone created by Samuel Bean

Ontario’s Cryptic Gravestone

Agnes at Egilsstadir Campground

Agnes @ Egilsstaðir Campground in Iceland

Children's Evening Delight at Iho Tewoo Beach in Jeju Island

The Magic of Travel

Akureyri's Cafe Berlin in Iceland - Owner Sveinn

Sveinn @ Cafe Berlin in Iceland

English Phonics & Children's Books

English, Please

About TMc

Heya! I’m Tara (Tar-ah)! Welcome to Travel with TMc where you’ll find quirky language tidbits, travel hacks for Canadians, and stories from the road. I hope you enjoy!
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Jeju Island, South Korea.⁠🇸🇰⁠ ⁠ ⁠✈

Jeju Island, South Korea.⁠🇸🇰⁠
⁠
⁠✈️The second country I moved to.⁠
🏝️The second island I lived on.⁠
🌏The first time in Asia.⁠
🤑The second international full-time job.⁠
👩‍🏫The first teaching job.⁠
👿The first experience with exploitative employers.⁠
❌The first time quitting.⁠
⁠
⁠Moving to South Korea was a MUCH different experience than moving to Ireland. It might surprise you to know that this had 0️⃣ to do with culture shock moving to Asia.🌏 ⁠
⁠
I was hired as a new teacher at a new international school in Korea.📚 I did all my research. I ticked all the boxes. It didn't matter.😳⁠
⁠
My employers lied about everything from pay to schedule to responsibilities, you name it. To top it off, they were smug about it. I was working for less than $5/hour on less than 5 hours of sleep a night for up to 22 hour shifts at a time. 😡 ⁠
⁠
After countless upset phone calls to my very supportive partner and parents, I made a decision. 5️⃣ months in, I finally realized things weren't going to change.⁠
⁠
I QUIT.🛑⁠
⁠
Moving back to Canada🇨🇦 was the best and hardest decision I made that year.⁠ ⁠
⁠
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⁠
For those that have been kicking around this IG space since last fall, you'll know that I returned to Korea🇸🇰⁠ and the island I lived on. (See IG Highlights) While living in Korea, I never felt immersed in the culture or daily life like I had in Ireland. I spent 95% of my time on campus working🏫, 1% touring🎒, and 4% figuring out how to leave without suffering professional repercussions😨. ⁠
⁠
The purpose of my return last fall was to finally experience Korea. Spoiler: I absolutely loved it. 😊 Hopefully one day when the world is safer I can visit again. I'm lucky to have a few friends there I hope to visit and there's still so much more to learn about (and eat!) in this treasure of a place.⁠
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#travelwithtmc #payyourselftotravel #moveabroad #liveabroad #internationalteacher #workandtravel #canadiantravelblogger #korea #southkorea #imagineyourkorea #trazymemories #discoverkorea #koreatravel #visit_korea #dolhareubang #jeju #jejudo #jejuisland #jeju_island #jejutravel #teachabroad #internationalteaching

Dublin, Ireland.⁠🇮🇪 ⁠ ✈️The first co

Dublin, Ireland.⁠🇮🇪
⁠
✈️The first country I moved to.⁠
😎The first time not living at home. ⁠
🏄🏻‍♀️The first time surfing. ⁠
🚗The first time I took a weekend trip with a bunch of strangers (to go surfing...btw, these strangers became friends).⁠
😍The first time I didn't have to correct anyone on how to say my name. (Tara is an Irish name, although I've learned it's in many other cultures and languages too!)⁠
🥃The first cider I tasted.⁠
🏢The first full-time job.⁠
⁠
The list of "first awesome life experiences" in Ireland is endless.⁠
⁠
Moving abroad (alone) is just about the best choice I ever made and it's one I wish everyone could experience in their lifetime. 💯 The personal benefits have a domino effect that ripple throughout our world and in turn make the Earth a better place. Honestly. I could talk forever about it.⁠ ⁠
⁠
When I leapt across the pond, life was rocky. Post-breakup, I'd finished a second university program and had ZERO idea what I was going to do with my life. I think they call it a quarter life crisis?😬 Ha. ⁠
⁠
A very dear friend was heading to Dublin for a semester and, on a whim after asking if she wanted a roommate, bought my plane ticket and arranged for my visa.✈️ Shortly thereafter, I was flying over the Atlantic with 2 nights booked in a hostel and nothing else figured out. Oddly, my parents were more worried about my allergies (they were the WORST on that family trip to Ireland) than where I was sleeping or what I was doing for a job. I think they knew I'd pull through.⁠
⁠⁠
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⁠
I've been fortunate to visit Ireland🇮🇪⁠ many times since my work visa ended, most recently in May of 2019. It's the first place I want to visit once COVID isn't such a raging beast. I'm missing it terribly!😢⁠
⁠
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⁠
Have you lived abroad? What was your experience like?⁠
⁠
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#travelwithtmc #payyourselftotravel #swapireland #usit #ireland_travel #irelandtourism #visitireland #irelandinspires #irelandroadtrip #irelandadventures #irelandlife #bundoran #bundoranbeach #bundoransurf #discoverbundoran #moveabroad #liveabroad #workandtravelcanada #workandtravelireland #workandtravel #canadiantravelblogger.

Did you have the chance to travel as a kid?⁠ ⁠

Did you have the chance to travel as a kid?⁠
⁠
I'm so grateful to have had opportunities for family roadtrips growing up, and later visiting Europe for the first time at 14. (See baby Tara in the Paris airport above.😊) I grew up in a middle class family where travel was a priority, but don't be fooled. It took a LOT of hard work and planning to make it happen. My parents saved for years and my mom planned for who knows how long to take us to Europe.♥️
⁠
Travel often seems impossible for people, with transportation and accommodation the most prohibitive parts of travel.😳 Luckily travel is more and more accessible these days with rewards programs, RV relocations, housesitting, work and travel exchanges, and so on. 🤩 What's even more true is that kids don't need parents to spend a lot of money to make memories. Some of the most memorable times from that trip were playing soccer in the field with the local Italian kids ($0), oggling the most gigantic bull testicles we've ever seen while in Ireland ($0), swimming at the beach ($0), and eating pies from the local bakery ($??).⁠👍🏼
⁠
While we may be in the middle of a pandemic with lock downs and travel restrictions like no one's seen before, it's never been a better time to prepare for travel. 💲 In fact, preparing for travel is EXACTLY like preparing for retirement. You don't start doing so a month before takeoff.

🌍The most spontaneous travellers have life set in motion so that they can pick up and go, affordably.🌎⁠
⁠
By planning to travel ✈️ (even when travel is a distant thought) you allow yourself the freedom to:⁠
⁠
• Rush to a loved on in an emergency🤕, without the burden of last minute flight costs⁠
• Surprise a friend or family member⁠‼️
• Make that dream destination a real-life trip⁠🏝️
• Take control of your financial future⁠💰
• Bring your family on a trip they'll always remember⁠😻
⁠
I'm forever grateful for this first big international experience in the photo above and the choices my parents made to introduce the world to us as kids. I'd love to teach you how you and your family can make that happen too. 🎈⁠

🔗 in BIO

Ciao! Ciao!
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#travelwithtmc #payyourselftotravel

Heya!👋🏻👋🏼👋🏽👋🏾👋🏿 If

Heya!👋🏻👋🏼👋🏽👋🏾👋🏿

If we haven't met before, my name's Tara (pronounced "tar-ah" like the stinky black stuff + the sound you make at the doctor's office). It's a name I've loved and loathed over the years and it's where Travel with TMc comes from. (I'm the Tee to the Mc).

Growing up pretty much no one said my name properly. Actually that's still the case, but I digress! In high school my sister and I played on the same basketball team and it became too confusing for our coaches (her name also starts with "T"), so I started telling people to call me T(ee). From there the nickname T(ee)Mc was born.

When naming Travel with TMc, patience was short. I wanted to purchase a web domain so I could write! A fan of alliteration, I was lucky my jam is travel. Voila! At some point I'll probably change the name of the website because A) I want to, and B) everyone says Travel with T-M-C! (Which, in this case, is probably more my fault than theirs.) Ay yai yaiii! hahah 🤪😅

***

Here's what you can expect coming up on here:

1) A quick intro on how I got my travel legs.

2) PHOTO 📸 series on the 160 UNUSUAL PLACES IN ONTARIO 🇨🇦 I'm on a mission to explore. (🔗 in Bio)

3) PHOTO 📸 series on the FOOD TRUCKS 🌮 I visited. (11 and counting!) Check out all the noms in the Highlights.

4) BUDGET TIPS! 💲 I'm pumped about this one and would love to hear more about what you want to learn in this area. What the heck does budgeting have to do with travel? EVERYTHING! Why the heck would anyone think of travel🗺️ right now? How could you not?! Plus, budgeting is an essential life skill that has allowed me to earn 3 degrees, own a car🚗, have $0 debt, live in 3 countries🌏, and visit 4/7 continents. Budgeting is the BEST!

5) WORD TIDBITS! ✏️ I'm a word nerd to the core 🤓 and can't wait to share more of that on the website and IG. It'll feature everything from etymology, word games, definitions, multi-lingual features, and more. YAHOO!

***

On another note, I've always loved graffiti and while on a dream trip to Barcelona I spotted this beauty.👍🏼

Ciao! Ciao!
-Tara

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#travelwithtmc #payyourselftotravel #travelblogger #explorehome #canadalife

#blackouttuesday

#blackouttuesday

KW Small Business Giveaway Our local businesses h

KW Small Business Giveaway

Our local businesses have come together to give back over $2000+ worth of prizes to our amazing community. We wouldn't be where we are without the love and support of all of you so we want to THANK YOU!

Enter for a chance to win everything listed below and help spread the word about our small businesses.

To Enter:
1) Like this post
2) Follow 5 of the accounts below
3) Tag 3 friends
What you WIN!!!!
@tlb_co ($50 GC)
@mick_media ($250 GC)
@tomo.photography ($325 GC)
@mcandrewtreecare ($100 GC)
@travelwithtmc (30 min Travel Consult)
@trulocal ($100 GC)
@bbmresidentialpestcontrol (Exterior Residential Spray)
@loopclothing ($25 GC)
@modernaddictiontattoos (MAT Hoodie)
@activesoulsproject ($75 GC)
@celebrityspraypaint ($200 24 x 36 Painting)
@elchico.cabinetry ($50 GC towards Dog Bed)
@harvest.wolf.woodworking (Dog Bowl Stand)
@woofloveandco (2 Treat Bags and 2 Bandanas)
@legendarycanine (Shampoo Bar)
@wigglewaggledogservices (3 x 1 HR Virtual Training Sessions)
@leah_maceachern (30 min Real Estate Consult)
Rockway Massage Therapy (50 min Massage)

The winner will be announced June 30th, 2020.

A little local Easter joy arrived today (in eco-fr

A little local Easter joy arrived today (in eco-friendly packaging!). As we stay home to protect one another, people's traditions will be very different this year. I’m even more grateful than usual for the little things:⁠
⁠
• good health⁠
• a roof over my head⁠
• food on the table⁠
• work⁠
• a chance to expand my creativity and resourcefulness⁠
• the opportunity for growth and compassion⁠
• talented local artisans⁠
• spring weather & chirping birds⁠
• slowing down⁠
⁠
The situation is not optimal (I miss hugs the most), however I remember that we are fortunate to be in 🇨🇦, to have the opportunity to self-isolate and social distance, and most of all to support, love, and take care of each other in the smallest possible way: by staying at home. ⁠
⁠
This is not easy for many people. I see you. You are not alone.
⁠
I have been struggling with the stark reality of my privilege, and frozen while wrestling with how to help. Yes, stay home. Yes, social distance. But what else?⁠
⁠
Small things. I can do small things. You can do small things too. They make a difference.⁠
⁠
• 🛍buy local - supporting the community where you can and as you are able to spreads warmth and hope many times over ⁠
⁠
• ☎️reach out - connect to others on the phone, by text, at the end of a driveway, by snail mail (if the last two are still safe?)⁠
⁠
• ✏️write - to yourself, to a stranger, to someone you know⁠ (this will be history at some point and you get to write a part of it)
⁠
• 🚶🏿‍♂️move - exercise feeds mind, body, and soul⁠
⁠
• 🌈dream - of the possibility of today and also of tomorrow⁠
⁠
•😊smile - or don’t; both are okay when your world has been flipped upside down
⁠
• 🌿breathe - you’ve got this, we’ve got this⁠
⁠
If you know of a way I can help, please send ideas my way. The more minds contributing, the better. ⁠
⁠
Stay safe and stay well my friends. I’m thinking of you. 🌻⁠
⁠
#travelwithtmc #kwawesome #dtklove #supportlocal #kitchenerwaterloo #uptownwaterloo #downtownkitchener #wrawesome #waterlooregion #foodie #travelblogger #blogger #holidayweekend #longweekend #staythefuckhome #stayhome #coronaquarantine #lifeinquarantine #quarantinediaries #fortunate #canadian #stayhomestaysafe

Times are wonky right now with Corona sweeping the

Times are wonky right now with Corona sweeping the globe, but you know what? There are oodles of ways that you and I can make and find positivity throughout this experience.
I’ve been thinking a lot about small business owners in the past couple of days. Much of my immediate family are self-employed, many friends are self-employed, I am self-employed / a contract employee, and there are umpteen businesses in the cities I’ve lived in that are run by small business owners.
I’m not the first to say it and I won’t be the last either, but if there is a small business you appreciate and wish to support through the uncertainty, there are a number of ways you can show your support.
1) Ask then how you can help
2) Shop locally online
3) Purchase gift cards to use later
4) Hold off on that refund!
5) Share, like, subscribe to their accounts
6) Have an online session (therapy, coaching, *travel consulting!)
7) Still visit travel blogs online. It’s the perfect time to read up and dream on where you’d like to go next! (Ps this doesn’t affect me since my site is still itty bitty, but many colleagues’ sites have drastically dropped recently and they could use some lovin’.) Some businesses & blogs I’m sharing the love with are: @mptours @tlb_co @thegirlfloral @fourallicecream @aokdtk @charlottevillebrewing @thecuriouscreature @cucinakitchener @ibbtravel @tasteofseoul_catering @legalnomads @tomo.photography @oneikatraveller @laurenm.planning @princesscinemas @settlementcoffee @sevenshores @switchedonbikes @givraldeli @wordsworthbooks @typebooks @rustleandstill
Who would you like to support during this time? @ them below!
#travelwithtmc #shoplocal #supportlocal #dublinireland #wellingtonnz #dtklove #dtk #kwawesome #uptownwaterloo #smallbusinessowner #independentbusiness #lifteachotherup #communityovercompetition #community #wereallinthistogether #helpinghands #solutionfocused #loveoverfear #wegotthis #positivemindset

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