I’ve been in a job that’s been nearly 100% remote since the pandemic. The company I’m with was in the fortunate position to have an ending lease during the pandemic, and the one they replaced it with is much more creative; open-air community spaces, meeting booths, and a coffee-shop style setup. If you need to come in, there’s a hot-desking system that works on a … Continue reading What Working Remotely Taught Me About Slow Travel
This week marks over 13 years of living in London. It was an adjustment, certainly—although I’ve written about how hard it was for me emotionally, some of the hardest culture shock moments actually happened gradually, as I was living in London as a Canadian. Culture shock in London can sneak up on you; there many things I never thought were unusual in my hometown of … Continue reading Culture Shock in London: 23 Things That Surprised Me After 13 Years
This week, I’m celebrating 13 years of living in London—what started as a post-university trip to get an internship became a full-time job, and although I’ve travelled a lot, London is the place I’ve called home for over a decade. I’m not a big history buff; it was never my favourite subject in school, and I can’t say that it’s something I go out-of-my-way to … Continue reading 3 Ways London’s History Shapes How the City Feels Today
The further we get into 2026, the more I’m convinced that this is the year of taking in-person hangouts seriously. After the pandemic-era lockdowns lifted, it felt like there was this boom of going out, coupled with anxiety surrounding a new, new normal. People now had different expectations about hugging, sharing spaces with strangers, and coming into work with the sniffles. In-person jobs started to … Continue reading How to Start a Dinner Club To Beat Loneliness & Explore Your City
Earlier this week, I wrote about how my wedding coming up has taken up a huge chunk of my variable-expense budgeting (ie, I’m now less able to travel as much as I’d like). And when I think about this too much, I do get a little blue. The thing is—I actually haven’t had time to think about this too much. Between the bustle of work … Continue reading Resting on Trips: The Most Productive Thing I Do
I love to travel, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love coming home after a big trip. Coming home is like being wrapped in a warm hug for me—seeing my things, that familiar smell of home, and knowing I can kick off my shoes and be myself without any pretence is so gratifying. The trip doesn’t even need to be that long—hell, … Continue reading Setting Up Home to Make Travel Easier
Today was the first day where to get close to the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy, it came at the cost of €2. From 9am to 10pm, lower-level access close to the fountain is no longer free for tourists; to help manage the bustling crowds in the piazza, those who want to get closest to the fountain will be charged for the experience. The fee … Continue reading The Trevi Fountain’s €2 Charge: A Step Too Far For Tourism?
I’ve never been someone who wants to go on the same trips year after year; I know some people have a favourite place to spend their Christmases or summers, but I always want the novelty of a place I’ve never been before. Whenever I go somewhere new, I often feel the need to suck the marrow out of every experience. My rationale is: this might … Continue reading Revisiting Places: A Waste, or Chance for a New Perspective?
This is my 25th blog post of 2025, and I wanted to use the opportunity to re-introduce myself. Who Am I? My name is Charlotte, and I’m a blogger in her 30s who loves travel. I moved from Canada to London over a decade ago, and since then, I’ve been using the proximity to a lot of other European cities to travel as much as … Continue reading Welcome to No Small Wander!
I moved from Ottawa, Canada, to London, England, about 12 years ago. I was 23, naïve, and assumed that everything would work out for me. I’m super lucky that it did; I got a job, a houseshare with some amazing people, and was able to build a life I’m really proud of. I had no money, but a ton of delusion. Recently I was thinking … Continue reading The Emotional Impact of an International Move
No Small Wander 