Capturing Memories: Moments You Don’t Want to Miss

Photo of Jessica Gabrielzyk's Family breakfast in Uruguay

Although Australia was my first big adventure abroad, it wasn’t my first taste of life outside Brazil. My dad was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, and we visited often during my childhood. Most of my memories are from family photos and stories — except for one unforgettable breakfast my father never lets me forget.

🇺🇾 The Legendary Breakfast Incident

At our hotel in Uruguay, none of us kids wanted to speak Spanish. Finally, my sister bravely ordered a ham and cheese toast. The waiter repeated politely: “Una tostada de jamón y queso?” And then, in her best “I’ve got this” voice, she answered:

“Without prune.”

That’s it. Without prune. Totally random. To this day, my dad still laughs about it on every phone call.

It’s funny how small, awkward moments become the stories we carry with us forever.

Read Also: 📚 WHAT’S NEW IN MY NEXT BOOK: A MORE HONEST, STORY-LED TAKE ON PARENTING ABROAD

📸 Why Capture These Moments?

  • Preserve the memories: They fade faster than we think.

  • Create stories to share: Some of the best laughs come years later.

  • Inspire your future self: Looking back might be what nudges you to take your next leap.

✈️ Your turn: What’s the funniest or most unforgettable travel story you have? Share it with me — I’d love to read it.


Other Publications

https://www.jessicagabrielzyk.com/blog/fifteen-minutes-romantic-short-story

Fifteen Minutes at a Time follows Emily and Daniel under the rain‑soaked arches of Waterloo Bridge, where routine turns into connection and glances say more than words.

This short story is free to read — a little escape into tenderness and possibility.

🌍 Parenting abroad isn’t just logistics — it’s identity, belonging, and the quiet work of building a home away from home. Parenting Unpacked is here to hold your hand through it.

✨ Coming soon — sign up to be the first to know.


Jessica Gabrielzyk

Jessica Gabrielzyk is a Brazilian author living in Switzerland, passionate about culture, identity, and the hidden truths of expat life. She is the author of Maternity Abroad, a practical and emotional guide supporting mothers through the challenges of pregnancy and birth far from home, and the upcoming Parenting Unpacked: This Is Not a Relocation Manual, which explores identity, belonging, and resilience in raising children abroad.

A member of SIETAR, Jessica brings a global lens to her writing, blending personal experience with the stories of families worldwide. And sometimes, she steps into fiction, writing love and life stories that remind us we’re never as alone as we think.

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