About

I’m Briana, and this is my old blog turned new - a space to share our story. My husband (at the time) and I met, married, and moved to Chile in 2009 to create a new life for ourselves. We built something out of nothing on the coast of the Pacific and it changed the way I thought about everything - life, love, friendship, family. Things I thought were black and white ended up being gray all along.

I took pictures and shared the difficulties of living abroad and our hard-won successes on my old blog, which I’ve shared here. Five years after moving back to the U.S. I started writing a book, When We Went South. It’s now been published and you can purchase it here (and hopefully the odd indie book store, soon). I hope you enjoy it.

(for Lucia.)

 

Every Sunday, she leaves. Since she was one, or maybe two. The years blend together now. When she was a baby, she’d wail and reach out to me as he took her from my arms. It wasn’t his fault. I’d make it to the end of the driveway, s
Summer came, hot and dry in Laguna. The house had taken the shape of a home, albeit a tiny one. A painted red metal roof sat atop the A-frame structure and walls, which were the color of natural wood because paint was expensive. Inside, the floors we
Going into July, Laguna hadn’t yet had rain, but we knew we were on borrowed time - we needed to get the roof up to protect the newly-set floors and the frame from swelling and warping. But due to a two-week lag time between paychecks, we didn&
We chose a flat, cleared piece of the land to set up camp for the night. Don instructed me how to help him set up the tent, since it was my first time camping and I’d have to learn. I watched intently as he chose wood from the piles we had crea
“Alright, so, you want us to clear all of these trees and branches from here until there”? I asked, sweeping my hand across an imaginary line in the air. I didn’t know how I would summon the energy to do physical labor. I looked up
I’ve decided to start sharing more of the book here because, a.) why not and b.) I’m newly unemployed and would prefer to focus on writing than worrying. Xo I scanned the crowded subway car while Paul Simon strummed in my ear - everyone
Grateful for the gift of time - writing is coming quick and easier these days. Part 3 of the book is done - check an excerpt out here: www.whenwewentsouth.com (link in bio) ✈️
Lucia has dance class via video this morning. I left her room crying because it’s all been too much lately - the fear of getting sick, a job lost, kids needing attention. I’m trying my best to be quiet and slow down, which never comes eas
Staying home means more time to read and write - short excerpt from Part 2 of When We Went South now up on the site! Happy to send the full draft via email if anyone has exhausted their reading options at home. Thanks for reading friends, stay health
🧳 New blog post up on When We Went South - check it out at: https://whenwewentsouth.com/writing/my-old-red-suitcase