Current Rock of Residence:
Saipan
Island Girl Since:
October 2017
Originally Hails From:
Houston, Texas
A lot of stars aligned for Kristin and her husband to move to this tiny 12 mile long by 6 mile wide island, Saipan, which also happens to be the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean.
She and her husband had/have a lot of friends living and working on the island in the same industry: skydiving. They tossed the idea around, lightly, for a couple of years, but never committed. Once their really close friends moved to Saipan, they thought they’d give it ago. Her husband applied for the job and they thought maybe there’d be a spot open in a couple of months. Literally a week later, he was hired and they started the process of flipping their lives upside down and moving to a tiny island they knew nothing about.
It’s been the best decision for them. They enjoy the slow island life, hunting for coconuts, and being beach bums. They are also so close to Asia that they’re able to travel a lot – they just got back from Japan! Kristin doesn’t work, so she’s been spending her time learning how to use her Nikon and she just started her own little travel/living in Saipan blog, The Traveling Berrys. She hopes to start vlogging too, as they plan to spend the next 3-5 years on this rock. You can also find her on Instagram @kristin_nicholephotography.
Explore posts by this writer:
Experiencing Culture Shock When Traveling Off Your Island
There is a certain excitement one gets when going on a road trip that you don't get when flying. Yes, you dread sitting in the car all day, but you can listen to music all day and eat snacks that you don’t normally eat and your journey often has several destinations....
Sunkissed Christmas
This year I’ll be celebrating my 11th Christmas on this beautiful island and my main goal for this holiday season is to make the perfect sand-snowman. I can assure you that this is a task far more difficult than Pinterest or Instagram would have you believe. Last...
Christmas on Saba
It’s quiet out. And dark. The colourful street lights are up in each of the four villages of Saba, Chris Rea’s Driving Home for Christmas is playing, the tree is up, half hiding the presents underneath and the house smells of home-made cooking. It’s Christmas time...
My Love Letter to The Sea – How we are harming it and how we can protect it
I like the sea. That might be an under-statement: I really really love the sea. I love to see the different shades of blue, azure, turquoise and green. I love to take a stroll along the shoreline, barefoot, feeling the waves lapping over my toes, with various grades...
In Praise of Real Food
Island food culture is a wonderful riot, to be savoured and enjoyed. When we first came on island I was surprised by the food fusion between American, British and Caribbean fare. You would easily find an overblown pot of peanut butter alongside a similar-sized jar of...
How To Be An Annoying Tourist
The cruise ship horns are blasting. The streets are bustling with wide-eyed people donned in Hawaiian print. The smell of aerosol sunscreen spray fills the hot tropical air and stings your eyes. This can only mean one thing...peak tourist season is upon us. The...
