Articles By Katie Collom
Katie's Bio Katie was born in the U.S. but moved to Mexico as a baby, where she spent her childhood in a town whose biggest claim to fame is the local capture of one of the most notorious drug lords in the world. As a teenager, Katie made her first big move abroad, to Cuba, where she lived for nearly four years while training at the National Ballet School. Following her stint in Cuba, Katie decided to return to the U.S. and pursue her love of languages. She obtained a dual B.A. from UT Austin in Chinese and Asian Cultures and Languages, while working as a dance instructor and performer. She went on to live in Taiwan for a year, where she studied Chinese and worked as an ESL teacher. Katie loves learning languages and is constantly looking for opportunities to add new ones to her roster. Along with Mandarin, she speaks French and Spanish, and is hoping to learn Russian next. These experiences as a language learner make her well-suited for sharing tips and tricks with other hopeful learners through her writing. Katie also enjoys exploring the nuances of expat life and sharing her experiences with readers. A firm believer in maintaining a connection with one’s roots, even as an expat, Katie stays involved with U.S. elections and politics, and visits the U.S. every year (just to check that it’s still there). One of her main goals in her travel writing is to make these types of transitions easier for others—whether newbie expats, first-time language learners, or seasoned travellers. Knowledge is power and travel is addictive, and she wants to combine the two for you! Currently, Katie resides in the U.K. where she works several part-time jobs and spends her time agonizing over her unfinished novel. In her free time, Katie can be found drinking Guinness at the local pub, browsing bookstores, reading, and hiking.
