Julie Abad Smith
My name is Julie Abad Smith. I was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador. I have a nine-year-old daughter and a two-year old fur baby (Eevee, she is a sweet Maltese). My husband is in the Air Force. We’ve been married for 18 years!! We have moved 9 times during our military journey - two overseas experiences. I love to learn about different cultures. We are a bilingual family (English and Spanish). One of my favorite things is to bake with my daughter!!! Our favorites are cupcakes and brownies. I also like to hike, read, write, take pictures of nature, and also FaceTime with my parents and family in Ecuador. We are currently living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
When in Rome….
Sometimes when we travel we are unaware of how different some of our daily behaviors are seen in other countries. The natural ways in which we conduct ourselves are so embedded in our activities...
A Reunion Two Years in the Making
“A feeling normally as individual as the ache of separation from those one loves, suddenly became a feeling in which all shared alike and, together with fear, the greatest affliction of the long period...
Raising a Bilingual Child
As a foreign parent raising a bilingual child, sometimes it feels like fighting with a giant that, no matter what you do, tends to win each battle.
The influence of a culture accompanied by its...
Who Says You Are Too Old To Dance?
Have you heard the phrase “You don’t stop dancing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop dancing”?
It's funny how when you are young, it comes so naturally. Even babies sometimes jump...
The Art of Reaching Out as a New Spouse
Sometimes during life as a military spouse, one will hear statements like, “You knew what you signed up for when you marry a military service member." I used to accept this statement as true.
However,...
Missing the Little Version of You
Nine years ago, I was blessed with the birth of my beautiful daughter.
We had been waiting for her arrival for too long. It was not easy to get to the moment where I could...
My Favorite Place in the World – Where is Yours?
My 9-year-old daughter just entered a drawing contest. The theme is, “my favorite place in the world."
While she was thinking which place to draw, my mind started pondering where in this world have...