Notting Hill, London, UK (March 2023)

Welcome / Bienvenue / 歡迎 !

A few days ago, I finally bit the bullet and purchased my own blog domain:

rebeccagoesrendezvous.com

While it’s not a self-host website, it’s still my own blog and by paying a little more, I get to have more creative freedom in customizing themes, promoting throughout all of my social media accounts, and even having the option to monetize through WordAds. I also went ahead to update my website with a new banner and logo (thanks to my partner), so go check it out! After being in the blogging world for nearly seven years, it was about time to get serious about my blog…

Any case, I thought I’d also take this opportunity to re-introduce myself:

I’m Rebecca, an American from Los Angeles who has an insatiable passion for travel. I’ve been traveling since I was a child, often spending my school breaks on family vacations, both domestically and abroad. It wasn’t until I studied abroad in France during college, then moving to France afterwards to teach English, that travel really took off for me. Besides visiting much of Europe, I also got to go to Central and South America, as well as bits of Africa and Asia.

Although I don’t travel as much now, since moving back to the US and working a 9-to-5 job (plus with COVID delaying two years of travel), I find ways to incorporate trips into my everyday life, whether it’s a quick, weekend jaunt somewhere in California or a massive, international trip once to twice a year. I also find the little things to enjoy in my day-to-day living, such as trying new food spots and venues in my hometown.

I find having this new blog domain a symbol for the next chapter of my blogging career: I started Rebecca Goes Rendezvous in my early twenties when I was having fun in Europe with a lot of freedom and not a lot of responsibilities. Now, I’m in my thirties, living and working in the US with less travel and more responsibilities. This isn’t to say that I have less freedom or don’t enjoy traveling anymore– rather, it’s about changing priorities in life as I try to navigate growing up and getting older, while still traveling whenever I can. My goal is to continue documenting my past and present travels to share with all of you, and I hope you’ll join me along for the ride. Let the new era begin!

Comment “I love penguins” to let me know you’ve read this far! ❤

— Rebecca

88 thoughts on “Welcome to my (New) Blog!

  1. I sure do love penguins! Congratulations on the new blog! It’s a great feeling. The WP plans will suffice for us busy girlies, especially non techie ones like myself. I don’t have the energy to venture into self-hosted. 😢

    I fully relate to what you said about us having to adjust our priorities as we get older. Just as I reached the financial freedom to start taking 1 international trip a year, I decided to take a leap of faith and purchase a house instead. Not something I planned to do but it felt right at the time and still does. Cheers to travelling as much as we can nonetheless. Each moment will feel even more special ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for the support, Elle! It’s true that life gets busier and more complicated as we get older, but there’s also a lot of joy and growth in the process. Congrats on your new home, and I hope you’re working to make it your own!

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  2. I love penguins Rebecca! This is such a wonderful milestone, purchasing your blog domain and giving your blog a bit of a makeover. I love it. I remember when I started my blog, I purchased my domain at the get go and do not have any regrets about it. I enjoy customising my own blog themes though when I decide to so every now and then, I always take ages to figure out what I really like and then there’s figuring out how to make it look right!

    It sounds like you have a very sensible outlook on your situation with changing priorities and life being different compared to some years ago. It is nice to ‘meet’ you again here. I really wish I discovered your blog earlier in your journey but definitely glad to be here and have connected with you 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Mabel! It’s been a long time coming, but I’m glad I finally went ahead to establish my own blog domain. While it’s not self-hosting, it nevertheless gives me more creative freedom to design how my blog is to go…whether you knew me since the inception or just yesterday, I’m always happy to have followers like you support this blog and its journey! Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Congrats on the new look and domain name Rebecca! Going .com is always a wise move for someone who’s in blogging for the long haul. I should also taken this moment to say “I love penguins”, but only because it’s true 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Absolutely! It’s been several years on this blog, so I’d been wondering how it’d taken so long to get my own domain. It was about time! Thanks for your support over the years, Leighton!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Blogging has a learning curve, but it’s important to have ideas and remain consistent in writing. There’s so much inspiration in the blogging world, and we’re here to support you! Thanks for reading, and best of luck in your blogging endeavors!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Congratulations on taking the step to your new blog domain, Rebecca! Your journey in blogging is inspiring, and I appreciate how you’ve evolved over the years. It’s refreshing to see your commitment to sharing your travel experiences despite life’s changes. Keep up the fantastic work, and I’m excited to read about your adventures in this new chapter. Also, “I love penguins” – your little touch of interaction is lovely! 🐧❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much! It’s been a journey with this blog, and I plan to continue the journey through many more adventures to come! Thanks so much for your support!

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