Hi! Welcome to Pancakes & Postcards. I’m Courtney, a 25-year-old, redheaded, half-Turkish California girl with a passion for adventure. I love food and the preparation and the enjoyment of it. I love all sorts of outdoor and fitness activities, especially running, dancing (any type), rock climbing, hiking, water and snow sports, and anything that gets me outside or that gets my adrenaline pumping! I also have a deep love for music, for writing and for reading—anything that makes me laugh or makes me think (preferably both). I like to run even though I am not very good at it, who cares?
I studied International Development and Political Science/International Relations at UCLA (Go Bruins!), which not only instilled a deep fascination with the world around me, but also gave me the desire to spend my life making that world a better place in any way that I can. I’ve been bitten by the travel bug—and bitten hard. I decided to join the Peace Corps and served as a health volunteer in Mozambique, Africa from September 2008-November 2010. Being in the Peace Corps was crazy–though much different than I expected. If you´re interested in how I came to be a Volunteer, check out the Peace Corps/Moz tab on the top of the blog.
My time in Mozambique reaffirmed my love for travel and my desire to see more of the world and work overseas throughout my life. At this point in my life I have visited 21 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia and hope to visit 100 more before I die!
Before moving to Africa, I had never really thought twice about food or nutrition. I lived in the residence halls for all four years (I was an RA), ate healthy sometimes, unhealthy a lot of the time, but I always felt like I took care of myself and that I was in good shape. It wasn’t until moving to a place where I had very little access to nutritious food and had to work hard to stay in shape, after transitioning to a mostly desk-based job and a mostly carb-based diet, that I became really interested in food and and healthy (and balanced!) eating.
I hope to combine my loves of travel, eating, and healthy and happy living free of obsession and deprivation, into a life spent traveling the world, exploring new countries, cultures, and gastronomy, and writing about it to share with whoever might want to hear!
Life update: I’m now living in San Francisco and loving the city, especially the running, the active pursuits, and the food… oh, the food. I’ve fallen in love with this city and hope to share as much as I can of this amazing place here on P&P!
About the Blog
After spending a few months reading different healthy living blogs, mostly to get inspiration for healthy food creations with my limited variety of ingredients, I created Pancakes & Postcards in Spring 2010. I wanted to blog to have a creative outlet, to combine my loves for writing, travel, and healthy living, and also to provide a way to communicate with the world around me from my bamboo hut in Africa. Technical difficulties and lack of access to good internet made blogging a bit difficult, but I did what I could with what I had. The blog will grow with me and change as my situation and my location do–I’m now in a bustling metropolise instead of a hut on the Indian ocean--but my primary goals for P&P are to provide insight into the places, cultures and gastronomy that I have the opportunity to experience, and to chronicle my ongoing pursuit of a healthy and happy life.
This is NOT a traditional food blog. I am NOT a great cook, a master baker, or an exceptional chef. I am NOT a talented photographer who can make bean curd look more appetizing than a decadent chocolate cake. I do NOT post everything I eat–I am of the firm belief that no one would actually want to see that!
What I AM is a person who loves food, especially DIFFERENT food from other cultures and culinary traditions, who likes to LEARN about food and SHARE it with others. I like EASY and HEALTHY recipes, FUN restaurants, DARING street food. I’ll try anything once. I think the worst word that can be used to describe food is BLAND. For an explanation of why I chose to do a food blog and my food philosophy, check out this post.
I’m also an aspiring runner. One marathon down and I still use the word “aspiring”… running and I have a complicated relationship we’re currently trying to work out… as you’ll read about here!
Pancakes and Postcards is devoted to my adventures, both culinary and global! This blog is my adventures embodied… I hope you enjoy the ride with me : )
Courtney
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Love, love, love your blog! I found yours from reading Eat, Live Run. I can’t wait to read all your posts and look at your georgous photos!
Thank you so much!!! That really means a lot, glad to see that someone is reading my blog.
Hope you enjoy it!
Reading your blog makes me laugh so hard….I’m in a similar situation…in China for a year and trying to stay healthy, motivated, inspired, etc. I’m so jealous that you have an “oven”, Chinese people don’t use ovens it’s crazy!! Will definitely be reading more.
Hey Courtney! I found your blog through Healthy Tipping Point. I will soon be joining you as a traveling foodie! I’m getting ready to move to Central Asia and I’m slightly nervous about having to change up my eating patterns. I’m looking forward to reading more of you blog and getting some insiders from someone who can relate!
Courtney- I just came across your blog and find it fascinating and refreshing. Such a nice twist from the typical food blogs out there!
Stopped by your blog yesterday but wanted to come back to read the “about” page. Glad I did! You are one cool gal!! You are clearly and adventurer!!!
Thanks for taking the time to stop by my blog and read the HEAB interview.
Adore your blog – such a cool life you have!!
Hey Courtney — I’m so glad you commented on my blog because I’m super excited about yours! It’s beautiful — and so cool! I can’t wait to live vicariously through you.
Hi Courtney! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am glad I came across yours. I was taken aback at how similar the challenges post college in our lives have been. Granted, I never left the country. But somedays it feels like it as I look in my Oakland classroom knowing of my house, family, and friends in New York. I am right there with you in figuring out that next step in life and navigating the different pulls that exist as to what one wants to do. LA native?
Thanks for visiting my blog! Food and travel are shared passions it seems! If you do come to DC you’ll have to let me know and I’ll give you lots of tips
Wow – I am enamored with your site!!!! This is so cool and the name of the blog itself is just GREAT. I cannot wait to keep reading! I’ve read one entry and already think you are such an inspiration!
Courtney,
I just e-mailed you, but I want to comment here, too. I LOVE your blog! I love your writing style and that your blog is so easy to navigate!
My boyfriend actually lived in Turkey for a while when he was a teenager.
Looking forward to reading more!
Thanks for commenting on my blog – I love discovering fun new blogs! I especially like that your has such a unique twist. I love your travel pictures above – how amazing! I look forward to reading!
You’ve lived the life I always wish I would have lived!!! Peace Corp! AMAZING!!! You should be so proud of yourself. You are incredible! So glad you stopped by, girl! xo
Just found my way to your blog, and I love the concept! Looking forward to following along!
Hi, Courtney! I’m so glad we could find each other. I find your blog topics fascinating, and I love your approach to food. It’s so nice to meet you, and I’m looking forward to reading more:-).
You sound so darn interesting! Come get a beer with me some time! No, too far? Okay… I’ll follow you on Twitter instead.
Glad I found your blog.
Hey! I just stumbled upon your blog and it looks like we have a lot in common! I intern in SF and go to school at Cal but am SO interested in joining the PC in a year from now. Well, glad I found your blog!!
Hi! Just stumbled across your blog and am excited to read it
I live near SF and LOVE the city & the food. I always love discovering good food finds in the city 
yay! thanks for coming by
Just came across your blog! Excited to follow along!
Wow this is so cool! I love your blog from what I’ve read so far. I was an International Studies/Spanish major in undergrad and am current an International Studies grad student. We’ve got a lot of Peace Corps people in the program- you all are so interesting and inspiring! Can’t wait to read more!
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hey, welcome! thanks for stopping by
where are you studying? I was supposed to be in grad school next year for the same thing!
what great reasons to have a blog! im excited to read your posts!!
This is seriously the best about me I have ever read. You are so real. I feel the same way about my blog, I am NOT the best cook, baker, photographer, whatever – And I never am going to be!
I love SF too. Im hoping to get into med school there! That would be like living a dreammm
Love your blog!! we should connect for a fitness class or a lululemon run club sometime. id love to share a sf fitness adventure with you!
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