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Grounded
In recent weeks, I’ve written about the quiet tightening of global mobility and the slow erosion of our ability to move freely through the world. For many, this idea feels dramatic, something that could never happen to U.S. citizens. But this week, we've seen yet another crack in our fragile system. The Federal Aviation Administration has announced plans to reduce air traffic by about ten percent across forty major U.S. airports. The reason is not a storm or security threat,

Jillian Aurora
Nov 83 min read


How to Budget for the Leap
Once you realize that life abroad is possible, not just for the wealthy, not just for the lucky — then the next question naturally is: How do I make it real? Money is often the last wall standing between people and their freedom choice. Not because they don’t have enough, but because they’ve never really seen how far what they do have can go. The moment relocation becomes a tangible option, it stops being a fantasy. The next step is to break it down into real numbers. It's no

Jillian Aurora
Oct 205 min read


You Might Already Have Enough: What Your U.S. Budget Can Do Abroad
If you’re living in the United States on $2,000–$4,000 a month, you know that it’s barely enough to get by in America. You’ve felt the tightness of rent swallowing half your paycheck, groceries that double in price without warning, and a sense that no matter how carefully you plan, one unexpected bill could break everything. But here’s what most people don’t realize: that same income, which leaves you gasping for air in the U.S., can stretch in much of Eastern Europe. The sam

Jillian Aurora
Oct 175 min read


When You Feel Stuck: Leaving with Little
For many people, the idea of leaving their country feels impossible. They may dream of building new lives in Europe and think, that’s not possible for me. Maybe they’re living paycheck to paycheck, maybe they’ve lost everything, maybe they’re simply too exhausted to imagine another version of life. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to be wealthy to begin again. You have to be willing, and curious, and dedicated. The Myth of the “Rich Expat” When people imagine moving abroa

Jillian Aurora
Oct 114 min read


The Privilege and the Purpose of Travel
There’s a certain arrogance that sometimes shows up in conversations about travel—the quiet assumption that those who haven’t seen the...

Jillian Aurora
Oct 73 min read


The Legends of Brașov: Whispers Beneath the Carpathians
Every city carries its stories, but in Brașov, legends feel as present as the cobblestones beneath your feet. Nestled in the Carpathians,...

Jillian Aurora
Sep 284 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


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
HearthFinder: Building safe futures, one hearth at a time.
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