About
Hi, I’m Ingrid. In 2016, I took early retirement from software engineering at age 43 to pursue my passions for language learning, travel, and photography. This site is called Second-Half Travels because at my age I optimistically estimate I have half my life left. My goal is to spend as much of it as possible doing the things I love. Read More
Mayan mud mask in the Yucatan. Early retirement has given me the luxury of doing slow travel with a focus on language learning.
In 2016, I took early retirement from software engineering at age 43. Software development is a great way to make a living, but working full time never left sufficient time and energy to pursue my many interests and hobbies. Read More
As an introvert, I have my own style of travel. I love quietly observing other cultures and connecting with fascinating new people, but crowds and too much small talk wear me out. I crave regular doses of peace and solitude to balance out the sensory and social overload of travel. Read More
Listening to strangers is a fun and effective form of Spanish listening practice. Guest poster Eduard Messett inducts us into the subtle art of eavesdropping in public. Read More
Listening to everyday conversational Spanish is a great way to develop your ear for the language. Here are the best Spanish YouTube channels I’ve found for learning real Spanish — a mix of entertaining Spanish YouTubers and documentary-style TV shows. Read More
Watching popular Russian TV shows is an excellent way to learn about the culture while practicing vocabulary and listening skills. Luckily for us language learners, Netflix and Amazon Prime recently started adding Russian TV series to their streaming lineups. If you are an advanced learner, I recommend turning on Russian subtitles when available as studies show it enhances language learning. Read More