Stories From Around

Maryann on touuur. My most favourite time of the year. I'm counting down to my travels in August and couldn't be more excited. Here's the catch though...I haven't booked anything yet! I'm still not set on where I wanna go but...we shall be going somewheeere. And also, when's the last time I went on a Solo trip? Must've been last year...so we need to fix that. I am really excited! So on this episode...I talk about the plans I have for this year's #maryannontour and let you in on a little secret too😉 Lots of love, from me.

There are a few things I love in life, among them...overpacking. And there are troubles that come with it...e.g. having to pay for overweight luggage during travel, wanting to cry because of the weight on my shoulders...and well, general angst. But, I'm trying to travel more and pack less...really trying. But see if I tried and won, I wouldn't be having an episode today...so being the maximalist lover that I am...here's confessions of a maximalist solo traveller. Have fun listening! Love, SFA and the gang.

Hi everyone, and a very warm welcome to season 2 of Stories From Around! We made it! I'm super excited about the start of this new chapter and even more excited because last week I mentioned that with Stories From Around turning a year old, we have a new monthly segment called gutsy people and it’s exactly that…it’s conversations with people who are boldly living, wildly living and are heroes of their own lives. People going against the currents.  That said, our first episode on season two is with our first ever gutsy guest... her name is Urmi Hossain, a dynamic  Italian-Bengali currently living in Canada, she is a self published author, a blogger, a YouTuber, an advocate for women's empowerment and everything nice.  You can find Urmi's brilliant works on her blog: https://www.myways.ca/ . You can also buy her book- Discovering your identity: A rebirth from interracial struggle on Amazon https://a.co/d/hLudJIE And find her on socials @Urmi Hossain. Thanks y'all! Enjoy the listen.

Hi everyone! The day of the video episode is finally here! One year in, 49 episodes strong, some great conversations and incredibly beautiful times. We are turning a year old and with such a milestone, we're also launching season 2 of Stories From Around. Good news yea? You bet. I'm really so incredibly happy to be doing this. To be here, to chit chat about life things, to travel and chit chat about it and to meet quite lovely human beings...and chit chat with them. Consider this episode a get- to- know-me- a- bit- better kind of gig and at least see who's always throwing little vent sesh's behind the mic. Thank you for being 49 episodes loyal! Love, SFA.

I'm baaack! Like I never left. And I'm back from everything; my one week of absence, my trip back home to Kenya and...well, back to Europe where it's stone cold winter, damn. I had such a long but great trip back and I had to do a recap on it. Just so I always have the memories of it stored somewhere that's not just my lovely brain. So here goes all the gist of it and the nice people who made it all the more lovely. Thanks for being here! Love, Maryann Kariuki.

Another Wednesday another episooode. This one's about stereotypes and why we should ask questions. My travels have been filled with lots of questions from strangers about why I am where I am or better yet, how come I'm on this part of the world and I'm African? Funny, really. So I recap some of the moments I've been asked these questions, and what I think about them.

Another Wednesday another episooode. This time round we talk about Helsinki...been there 3 times every single time was memorable, because I love the city, but it's the 2nd time that makes the bulk of this story. That time I arrived a little drunk and in love and was in cloud nine. It was nice to remember this time and I hope you enjoy listening to it.

Ah, my uni days. Days I'm so glad I got to experience and love and have the most fun. On this episode I go down memory lane to some of the best years of my life and the mischief I got into all in the name of having a good time. If I could go back in time, I'd do it all again. Because I now know how it ends and I'd be more prepared. Hah!

'Welcome to Europe, Maryann' is what my friend Ale told me when I didn't get my passport stamped at the airport in Sweden when we'd travelled from Estonia. Well, to be fair, I didn't know that European flights are sort of considered 'local' flights so no need to get your passport stamped. You literally walk in and walk out (well I could've said fly in and fly out but walk in and out sounds... better ahaha). Aside from that, there have been other contrasting features that I've found quite fascinating and sometimes hilarious which I couldn't wait to talk about. So on today's episode, I chat you guys up on some of the contrasts between living in a European country and living back home in Kenya🤎.

Ever been out in nature then come out of it and back to reality and you feel slightly depressed? Well me too! And that happens when I travel as well and have to work so hard to get myself back up to speed. I just recently came back from Budapest and I've been in a moody bubble so I've been doing a few things to get me back on track. And I share some of these things on this episode. And here's an exciting part...I'd love to hear what you do as well so please leave a comment for me and let me know if you have any rituals you do days after a trip, or if you're super human and snap back out of it like a boss:) I'd love to hear your thoughts!

As promiiised! Here's part 2 of my Budapest travels. I've come to love this city a lot and I'd go back again and again. I'd even live there I dare say, if only they were fully English speaking though. Haha. I had lots of fun documenting this one...I hope you have fun listening and I also hope you get to visit Budapest at some point in your life if you haven't yet! Love and Hugs🤎

I'm in Budapeeest! 2nd time here and I can still say it's as cool as the first time I was here. This time round it's quite a chilled trip because I'm here for work, but the last time I did a solo trip and I talk about that on this episode. I take you through things you can do, places you can visit and things that I really loved about this city. Enjoy listening and thanks for being here!

At last! We paddled through the technical difficulties and we're finally here with part 2 of Long Distance Friendships! This one's for everyone who loved the first part (Episode 5) as much as I did. One of my highlights of recording part one was having people reach out to their friends after listening to the episode and saying they’d love to do better with their friendships, love better, and be more present. That made me quite fuzzy and happy inside. And, I knew for sure that we had to have a part 2 at some point. So here we are! To recap a bit, long distance friendships part 1 was about my friend Ivy and I navigating our friendship since uni days to life after uni and life in different countries thereafter. We’ve kept our friendship going and overcome the hurdles and challenges that come with any relationship. We are two very different individuals but the intentionality of our friendship fuels our days and gets us through life's moments. So part 2 is an extension of our story 7months after the first episode, what has changed, what we've improved on and new things we've learned. I hope it makes you feel cosy and I hope you enjoy listening to it...and take a thing or two out of it! :)

Ah, Kenya. The land of honey and nice things. Roadtrips, good food, good company and the sun on your skin. Which reminds me, I miss the sun, and it's only a day past summer. This episode takes you through some of the things I miss the most about taking a roadtrip back home. Recording this episode made my heart do a little dance...well, just like all the rest. So I hope you enjoy it! And...book your trip to Kenya.

As promiiised:) here's part 2 of #maryannontour. On this episode I take you through my time in Lisbon and London. Basically a party episode because that's all I did in these two cities! I did record and publish this episode but, had to re-record because the first one had an error. See my luck? But I finally managed to do it. I do mention a few nice and cosy places I enjoyed and I also promised a list, so here goes. In Lisbon: 1. Marquise- A cosy cafe in the heart of Lisbon. 2. African Arte Lisboa- For the a beautiful immersion into African art. In London: Old Queens Head- Just go here for the turn up and nice Kebab place opposite it after you've had your night's fun. Enjoy listening:)

Summer, love, cold drinks by the beach. That's how I like my days. And that's how I spent my #maryannontour this year! I spent less days than I did on the trip last year but maxed out on rest and fun times. If I could do this trip again...I would! I've split this into 2 parts because...it's a long chat session. Can't wait to publish the last one next week. Enjoy listening!

Happy new week y'all! I know, I know, we didn't have an episode last week. I was busy celebrating myself. Because...my birthday? But, it was all well worth it because I travelled to Portugal and got to spend time with one of my closest friends, Inês Nêves. And there was no better way to tour around this beautiful country than with a local. Bonus point, we got an episode out of it! We visited Porto and Lisbon and got to compare these two cities on our conversation and talked about other topics of interest revolving around travel. We had lots fun recording it, it was like an extended bonding time. And we extend the same love we shared over to you, dear listener. So thanks, for being here:)

Vienna, Austria. We got fined 50 euros the moment we touched down...what an expensive welcome to the city. But, we had each other...Olivia and I. Which made the experience way more bearable and our stay in Vienna much more beautiful. Wanna hear me talk on and on about Vienna and what a grand time we had? Then press play😉meet you on the other side.

Bratislava, Slovakia. Great food and even greater wine. It's all I remember from this trip. Oh, plus the amazing company of my friend Olivia. We spent two nights in this cute little city and that's all the time we needed here because there wasn't so much to see. So if ever you're walking this earth and you happen to be in Vienna, Austria, take a quick day trip to Bratislava and enjoy the sites and its beautiful old town. I mean, it's only an hour by bus from Vienna so why not pay it a visit... and rub Cumil's hat while at it. Wink:)

Kind sailors, kind witch, kind stranger, kind street...all round kindness! On this weeks episode, I let you in on some kind moments I've had with strangers and why they meant so much to me:)