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Who Is at Risk in Times of Political Unrest?
In every era of upheaval, there is a temptation to believe that danger belongs to someone else. That it will pass us by. That only “those people” will be targeted. History warns us otherwise. Political unrest rarely unfolds in clean, predictable lines. It spreads like fire — sometimes slowly, sometimes all at once — catching groups who thought they were safe until the flames licked at their door. Those Who Speak Out Journalists, writers, clergy, teachers, artists - voices of

Jillian Aurora
Sep 233 min read


Keeping the Hearth Alive in Transient Times
A hearth doesn’t disappear just because the walls around it are temporary. Sometimes the fire burns in borrowed spaces — a short-term...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 232 min read


Brașov: A City of Crossroads, Legends, and Resilience
Brașov sits at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, surrounded by forests so lush they seem to breathe. Today it is one of Romania’s...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 232 min read


The Forgotten Companion
Gray-winged wanderer of stone streets, you are no ornament, no rare beauty. And yet, you endure where others vanish. Once, you were our...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 231 min read


Desire is the Spark of Survival
Drawn to the glow, fragile wings beat against a light that could both warm and burn. She does not question, only moves toward what calls...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 221 min read


Survival Begins With Refusing to Minimize
One of the hardest lessons of history is that survival often belonged to the people who refused to ignore what was happening. They...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 223 min read


Quiet Steps Toward Leaving the U.S.
Leaving a country is never as simple as buying a ticket. It is layered with paperwork, planning, grief, and hope. For those of us...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 223 min read


When a Hearthkeeper Doesn’t Have a Home
The image we conjure of the hearth is solid —it's a stone fireplace, a warm table, a circle of chairs where people gather. But what...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 212 min read


Delivering Hope on Horseback: The Book Women of Appalachia
In 1935, America was in the grip of the Great Depression. Families in the hills of Appalachia faced more than hunger — they faced isolation. Factories stood silent, breadlines stretched long, and in the remote valleys of eastern Kentucky, access to schools or public libraries was almost nonexistent. Yet in the middle of that despair, a quiet army rose. They carried no weapons. They carried books. They were called the Book Women. A Program Born in Crisis The Pack Horse Library

Jillian Aurora
Sep 214 min read


Surviving Civil Unrest: What History Teaches Us
When we look back at times of crisis, it’s easy to see only the violence and despair. But history is also full of stories of resilience —...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 206 min read


Where Residency Is Most Accessible in Eastern Europe
If you have a strong itch to leave for Eastern Europe, what matters most isn’t where you can land for a 90 day short stay — it’s where...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 203 min read


Finding Your Way to Residency in Eastern Europe
Imagining a move abroad can feel overwhelming in so many ways. A long distance move is already stressful without considering if a country will even let you stay - that's daunting. But in Eastern Europe especially, there are multiple ways to build legal residency. Unlike Western Europe's high income requirements, skilled job requirements, or other deterring factors, Eastern Europe's requirements are often more reasonable and realistic for the average American.

Jillian Aurora
Sep 193 min read


Fun Facts about Transylvania
Here are just a few of the amazing things that make Transylvania the hidden gem that it is: 1. A Living Medieval Town Sighișoara is one...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 192 min read


Mental Preparation for an International Move
When I look back on our move, the hardest part wasn’t the logistics—it was how much I underestimated the mental and emotional toll. I miscalculated time. My time-blindness made me overly optimistic about important deadlines, and I leaned too heavily on paperwork while other practical tasks were pushed to the back burner. Although I had a few, I still didn’t build enough back-up plans. And nothing—absolutely nothing—could have prepared us for the grief: the loss of our home, o

Jillian Aurora
Sep 183 min read


Wednesday in Transylvania: A Story Only This Land Could Tell
There’s something about Transylvania that you can’t quite capture in a photograph or even in words. The mountains stand heavy with...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 182 min read


Lessons from Rwanda: Warning Signs & Resilience for Today
HearthFinder is about building and protecting hearths—whether that means starting a new life abroad or finding ways to stay safe where...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 175 min read


A Day in European Life: Between Strain and Beauty
When people imagine moving to Europe, they often picture fairy-tale streets, slow mornings with espresso, and endless time to enjoy art,...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 172 min read


Welcome to HearthFinder: A Home Beyond Borders
For the past decade, I’ve dreamed of living in Europe. I wanted the rhythm of old cities, the slower pace of village life, and the chance...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 172 min read
HearthFinder: Building safe futures, one hearth at a time.
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