Once Upon a Trip

20 Life-Changing Travel Hacks YOU Need to Know for Your Next Trip!

As a non-minimalist ex-digital nomad who used to regularly live out of a 55-Liter backpack, Mary Grace has learned how to pragmatically cut corners throughout to truly get the most out of travel. In this episode, Mary Grace handpicks and goes through 20 specific travel hacks that she has implemented in her own life-saving situations abroad, and all of which she believes every traveler needs to incorporate into their trip planning and experiences for the most memorable, worthwhile outcomes - and most importantly, to help avoid as many unexpected, unpleasant surprises as possible! (00:00) Intro & Overview (01:43) Hack 1: The "Splid" App for Expense Splitting (03:26) Hack 2: Downloading All Local Apps (04:48) Hack 3: Free Walking Tours (05:46) Hack 4: Packing Empty Items for More Space (06:43) Hack 5: Packing Cubes, Hanging Organizers & Rolling (08:12) Hack 6: Stuffing Neck Pillows with Clothes (08:34) Hack 7: Compressed Towel Tablets (10:01) Hack 8: Getting Travel-Sized/Mini Everything (10:54) Hack 9: Extra Set of Essentials in Carry-On (12:28) Hack 10: REALLY Research Where You're Going (13:58) Hack 11: Saving Money with Overnight Transport (14:40) Hack 12: Google Translate & Camera for Offline Use (16:07) Hack 13: Offline Google Maps & Pinning Locations in Advance (17:15) Hack 14: Having a Fully Charged, Multi-Charge Power Bank (17:40) Hack 15: Plug Adapters & Voltage Converters, Why It's Important (18:38) Hack 16: Getting a Universal Multiport Adapter (18:56) Hack 17: Carrying Spare Coins for Public Toilets (19:32) Hack 18: Keeping a Written Journal or Taking Lots of Footage (20:36) Hack 19: Befriending a Local & The Alternative If You Can't (21:21) Hack 20: Keeping Digital Copies of Passport & Documents (22:09) Last Remarks

International Business Trip Misunderstandings, Stories, & Communication Tips from a German

If you'd like to level up on your global cultural awareness game to have a higher cutting edge on your next business trip or transaction endeavor, or if you'd just like to be more culturally informed and ready on your next trip abroad, then this episode is for you! In this episode, Marco and Mary Grace discuss their own witnessed and lived-through experiences on business trips and relations in America and Europe, as well as mention important tidbits about Asian and Indian business culture that are crucial to know when wanting to build genuine trust, networking and understanding with those doing business from Eastern-based countries. Marco also highlights his top stories, takeaways and dos + don’ts learned from his own international business trip experiences. (00:00) Intro & Overview (01:19) Differences in How to Address People (03:28) American Personal Lives in Business Conversations (06:01) Importance of Business Cards to Chinese Businessmen (06:21) Indians Saying "Yes" but Not Understanding (07:22) The Texas Politics Business Trip (09:18) The Russian in Utah Misunderstanding (10:55) Asian Work Drinking with Boss Expectation (12:03) The Shots at Lunch in Romania Business Trip (13:24) Work Hierarchy & Communication in Eastern Europe + India (15:19) Should You Learn Some Local Language Words for Business? (17:06) Spain vs. Mexican Spanish Misunderstanding in Mexico (18:45) The American Who Forgot the Date Business Trip (19:18) Tips (and Disclaimers) on Getting Clients & Business in America (22:14) How to Do Business Email Correspondence with a German (24:32) Dos & Don'ts for a Business Trip in Germany (26:09) Business Trip Expenses in Germany vs. America (31:10) Lessons Learned from Business Trips (31:46) Last Remarks

Rabbit Skull in Paella??? All Things Spain & Spanish Culture that You Should Know, featuring Josh Craig

From a borderline passive-aggressive roommate experience in Madrid, to watching friends tear apart a rabbit skull in traditional paella in Valencia, to recommending a wealth of truly Spanish food recommendations and culture tips to be aware of as a tourist in Spain, Joshua Craig takes us on a colorful, more local, cultural-enriching journey through the eyes of his experiences of living twice in Spain - once in Valencia and once in Madrid - as an American. (00:00) Trailer Intro & Overview (01:48) Background on Josh & How/Why Spain (03:31) Time & Life in Valencia (05:32) Recommended Places to See in Valencia (08:17) Paella Birthplace & Food Recommendations in Valencia (09:54) Bad Roommate Story in Madrid (15:25) What to See & Eat in Madrid (17:59) Other Spanish Food Recommendations (19:20) Air Pollution & Air Quality Problem in Madrid (21:52) Spain Eating Times to Know (24:01) Spain's "Later" Culture & Adapting to it (29:31) Quick Barcelona Tips & Tidbits (33:02) What to Know about Spaniards, Degree of Warmth Comparisons (36:21) Other Tips for a Better Time in Spain :) (37:42) "100 Montaditos" Fast Food Recommendation 3 (39:06) Last Remarks

"That is SO not okay!": Data Protection Culture Shocks in Europe vs. America

Why do some Europeans hide their faces on social media? Why don't Americans care more about how their personal data is being used by companies and the government? Why are Europeans seemingly more private and why are Americans seemingly more negligent? What's the best way to approach a European when getting social media permission and how effectively enforced are European data protection laws in non-Europe spaces? All of these questions are ones that Mary Grace and Marco dive deeper into during this episode, both from the American and the European perspectives respectively. (00:00) Intro and Overview (02:04) European Perspective of Online Privacy (03:58) American Perspective of Online Privacy (04:59) Marco's 1st American Data Protection Culture Shock (06:02) The GDPR in Europe (07:05) Penalty Fines & Enforcement (08:08) Why doesn't the U.S. have one single federal data protection law? (09:29) Social Media Privacy (14:04) Marco's 2011 Facebook Culture Shock (16:13) Are Germans more skeptical of posting on social media? (17:19) The Job Application Double Standard (20:18) Blurring Out License Plates in German Media (21:58) Europeans on non-European websites (23:06) Financial Data and Credit Cards (24:55) American Credit Card Culture Shock in Germany (28:29) Health Information and Data (30:44) The American Social Security Number (32:54) Last Remarks

My 20s Dating Fails, Mistakes, and Lessons Learned: The European Edition

If you're curious about how love, crushes and dates all go with Europeans... then this episode will be quite a fun ride for you! In this Part 2 EUROPEAN version and sequel to Mary Grace's earlier episode of Dating Fails with Americans (Ep. 12), Mary Grace handpicks and shares her love treasure chest full of dating mistakes, realizations, very embarrassing moments, and most valuable lessons learned with Europeans that she acquired throughout her twenties - all of which Mary Grace wishes would have been more emphasized to her in younger, single dating days. (00:00) Intro and Episode Overview (02:16) Quick Rebrand Announcement (03:52) Dating Story #1: Polish Guy in Myanmar (05:55) Takeaway #1 and the Myanmar Aftermath (09:48) Other Example: Drunk Dutch Couchsurfer in Amsterdam (11:22) Dating Story #2: Icelandic Guy in Budapest (15:48) Other Example: French Guy Friend in Mallorca, Spain (17:27) Austrian Guy in Vienna, Last-Minute COVID & Perspective (21:04) Dating Story #3: No Pedestals, No Unreciprocated Chasing (25:23) The English Guy Who Crushed On Me + Comfort Being 1000% Yourself (28:12) #4: The Worst Date I Never Went On, Feat. an American (33:20) Last Remarks and Outro