Blog – The Girl Who Goes

Last Updated on March 28, 2026

What’s Happening with the NALCAP Program in Spain in 2026?

I used to write about this topic so frequently, but it’s been nearly six years since I completed my second year as a language assistant/auxiliar de conversación in Spain through the NALCAP program. Back then, this blog was full of articles with how-to guides on topics like getting a good school placement and opening your first Spanish bank account. 🙂

A lot has changed in my personal life since then — in the past six years, I moved back to the U.S. for three and a half years, and then moved BACK to Spain on the digital nomad visa. It had been a while since I’d thought about NALCAP (other than reminiscing on what an amazing experience I had.) But last summer, I was invited by the Spanish Ministry of Education to be one of five panelists on the first-ever “NALCAP Forever” webinar, which was designed to connect program alumni.

This was when I first found out that NALCAP was having problems. [Read more…]

Last Updated on March 19, 2026

Why You Should Visit Gyeongju, South Korea (Especially From Busan)

Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju

Hi all! Today I’m introducing my friend Hannah — a fellow digital nomad in Alicante — as a guest author for The Girl Who Goes! Just like me, Hannah was an English teacher abroad for a few years, but she taught in South Korea, so I was asking her all kinds of questions about it before we visited Seoul and Busan this past September. One place she recommended (though we did not go) was Gyeongju, which is about 30 minutes from Busan.

Despite that, I’m excited to say that Hannah has taken the time to share her love for Gyeongju and why it really is a must-visit for any traveler to South Korea, especially those who will be in the Busan area. (Sounds like we really messed up by not making it there, lol.) I hope you all enjoy, and let us know what you think! — Cathy

[Read more…]

Last Updated on March 8, 2026

How to Claim €600 Under EU 261: My Experience & Your Guide

EU 261 - European Union flag / canceled flight compensation, delayed flight compensation

Everything you need to know about claiming canceled flight compensation through EU 261.

After nearly 500 flights in my lifetime (yes, I’ve got a record of all of them since I use the Flighty app), I recently faced a brand-new experience: a flight cancelation where I was actually eligible for compensation from the airline. On our way back home to Spain from Tokyo, our flight was canceled after we sat on the plane, at the gate, for more than four hours. It was a bad time!

We weren’t able to be re-booked until the next day, so we had to stay overnight in Tokyo, fly to Paris (our connection), and then stay overnight in Paris before flying back to Madrid the day after that. It was quite the ordeal. And while I knew that the hotels and our food would be covered until we made it back, I was wondering about something else: Were we entitled to EU 261 compensation as well?

It was a LOT of work, but the answer was YES! Matt and I each received €600 in additional compensation from Air France, even though they initially rejected my claim. But I fought back. So, if you’re in the same situation, here’s what you need to know. [Read more…]

Last Updated on March 2, 2026

How To Eat Gluten-Free in Lyon, France: Lyon Gluten Free Restaurant Guide

About six months after my celiac disease diagnosis, it was time to tackle yet another country for the first time as a gluten-free traveler: France. I had read that France wouldn’t be quite as accommodating as Spain or Italy, but I felt lucky to be traveling with my friend Rebecca, who was born in Paris and speaks French fluently… so I knew she’d be able to help me out.

We were visiting Lyon for its famous Festival of Lights, which takes place every December — and despite Lyon being the third-largest city in France, it still felt like a small town in some ways. Including when it came to finding gluten-free options.

So, here’s what you need to know about being gluten-free in Lyon, France. [Read more…]

Last Updated on February 27, 2026

South Korea KoRail Review (KTX): Seoul to Busan

Since moving to Spain for the first time in 2018, I consider myself a train girlie. If I have the option between flying somewhere and taking the train, I’m choosing the train, even if it takes a little bit longer or costs a little bit more. And during our trip to South Korea, I had the chance to try out yet another high-speed rail line for the first time: KoRail (KTX) from Seoul to Busan.

South Korea actually has two different high-speed train companies, KoRail (KTX) and Super Rapid Train (SRT). I can’t say which one is “better,” but we decided to go with KTX because it was more convenient for us to depart Seoul from Seoul Station. SRT departs from Suseo Station, which was farther away. So it made our choice easier.

Anyway, here’s my KoRail review of what it was like to travel with KTX from Seoul to Busan.

[Read more…]

Last Updated on February 16, 2026

City Review: Lyon, France

This past December, I returned to the magical city of Lyon, France, for the second time — and to attend Lyon’s famous Festival of Lights for the second time!

While both trips have been fairly short visits, only about three or four days each, I feel like I’ve finally had enough time to get to know the city a bit better. And you may be wondering: Is Lyon worth a visit even if you’re not there for the Fête des Lumières?

Want to know my verdict? Keep reading for everything you need to know about visiting Lyon, France. [Read more…]

Last Updated on February 8, 2026

3 Things To Know Before Renting a Car on Jeju Island, South Korea

When we were planning our trip to South Korea, it was always a given that we would visit Seoul and Busan, Korea’s two largest cities. But there was one more place I wanted to go, after reading The Island of Sea Women a few years ago: Jeju Island. Matt had never heard of Jeju Island, but when I told him it would be an escape to nature after spending five weeks in some of Asia’s biggest cities, he was immediately convinced. 🙂

During the majority of our trip, we used public transportation to get around, but we decided that renting a car on Jeju Island would be the most time- and cost-effective option — it would allow us to explore more of the island at our own pace, without having to deal with catching buses and dragging our bags around with us. The rental car worked out really well, and it actually helped us stumble across some places we wouldn’t have been able to visit otherwise!

So while I highly recommend a rental car for your Jeju trip, here’s what you need to know before renting a car on Jeju Island. [Read more…]

Last Updated on February 3, 2026

How To Eat Gluten-Free in Naples, Italy: Naples Gluten Free Restaurant Guide

A couple of weeks after returning home from Asia, it was time for our next adventure: meeting up with my parents and my sister for a week in Naples, Italy! Not only was I excited to be visiting a new city in Italy and to see my family, but I was also interested to find out what it was like to eat gluten-free in Naples. I’d heard Italy was one of the best countries for celiacs, and it was my first visit since being diagnosed last summer! So, was it true? Is Italy really a gluten-free paradise?

Here’s what you need to know about being gluten-free in Naples, Italy. [Read more…]

Last Updated on January 28, 2026

What It’s Really Like To Visit the DMZ in South Korea

As we were planning our honeymoon to three countries in Asia, I feel like we put a lot of time and energy into booking things for Japan — just because it was the first stop of the trip. We planned a few things for Taiwan, since it was second. And since South Korea was last, we prepared the least. Which meant we didn’t really stop to think about whether we wanted to visit the DMZ, or the Demilitarized Zone between North & South Korea, until very late in the planning process.

Neither of us felt super strongly about it, but in the end we decided that if we were going to be so close to it, in Seoul, then we might as well. When in Korea, right?

Here’s what it was really like to visit the DMZ between North and South Korea. [Read more…]

Last Updated on January 20, 2026

A Review of Japan’s Shinkansen Bullet Train: Tokyo to Kyoto

Being from the U.S. — and not from the East Coast — I never really had the opportunity to take a lot of trains. But my first few trips to Europe changed that for me, and I’ve been a big fan of trains ever since. So I will actively seek them out when they’re available — whether it’s an overnight train in Thailand during a solo trip, or trying Japan’s famous Shinkansen bullet train on our honeymoon this past autumn.

The Shinkansen is famous because it was the world’s first high-speed rail line, built to reach speeds of more than 210 km/h (130 mph) back in the 1960s. These days, you can travel between 285-320 km/h (177-199 mph) depending on the line!

While bullet trains aren’t so uncommon anymore, and we regularly take Spain’s high-speed rail service, we couldn’t miss the chance to check out the Shinkansen. So… here’s my review of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen line from Tokyo to Kyoto. [Read more…]