how My Love For Travel Started:
It was back in 2007 when I took my very first trip across the world. At the time, I had never traveled alone before, and never for more than a week at a time. I had no life experience, little common sense, and I had a major fear of ethnic food.
I had just started my first year of college as a transfer student, I was all alone in a new city, and I was in the process of getting out of a relationship that was headed nowhere. I wanted a change; I needed a change.
Like a lot of people, I had hoped that moving to a new place would solve everything. But it didn't. The first few weeks of school were lonely and a little overwhelming. It wasn't until I joined a few social clubs that I started to really embrace the college life. Within these social settings I was able to meet and connect with some really amazing people. All of whom had one thing in common - traveling. Their stories were not only inspiring and experiences life-changing, but their perception and understanding of the world was on a deeper level than anyone I had ever met. It was then that I realized that I wanted a life just like that - a life filled with travel, culture, and adventure.
A few weeks later, after extensive google searches and word of mouth conversations, I stumbled upon an opportunity to travel. Some people call it birthright - I call it an all expense paid two week vacation to Israel. Now I can't sit here and say that I'm in any way religious, nor was I seeking a religious trip of any kind, but it made sense for what I wanted at the time and more importantly it was a chance to travel. So off I went on my very first international trip at 21 years old!
I wish I could say that since then my life has been filled with non-stop travel and adventure. But, unfortunately it didn't quite work out that way. Like most Americans, I got caught up in the every day hustle and bustle of school, and then work, and then school again, and then back to work. I went from relationship to relationship but nothing ever seemed to stick. At 25 years old I was attending graduate school in NYC, struggling to pay my rent, spending beyond my means, and working at a job that I absolutely hated. Traveling was the last thing I was capable of doing at the time - but for some reason it was always at the forefront of my mind.
Traveling was always something that had sparked my interest at a young age, but it's easy to find excuses when you're so unsure about something that never seemed realistic. I wanted to travel but I just didn't know how. After all, when it comes to traveling most people either A) can't afford it, B) don't have the time, or C) can't find anyone to go with. I was determined to set myself apart from the stereotypical "Non-Traveling American" category that the rest of the world likes to place us in. I would spend every spare moment I had planning out itineraries, browsing guidebooks, and researching faraway lands. Deep down I was convinced I would never have the opportunity to visit any of them. Then, one day, a surprising opportunity came my way.
In 2014, a friend of mine told me about a job that entailed working and traveling with teens all summer. I applied, and within a few weeks I was given my assignment - 'Two Weeks in Costa Rica!' Not only was I being paid to work (in freaking Costa Rica) but all of my traveling expenses were 100% covered on the companies dime. This felt like the opportunity of a lifetime. So off I went on my second international trip to Central America!
Once I returned home to New York, I decided that I was going to make traveling my priority. It was the push I needed to understand what was truly important and valuable to me and my life. In order to make this dream happen, I knew that I had to give up a life that, although seemed costly and chaotic, made me feel independent and comfortable.
In 2015, after finishing my Master's program, I packed up my life and moved to Arizona. It just made more sense financially and it didn't hurt that my family was close by. I immediately began substitute teaching which was perfect because it allowed me the opportunity to utilize my degree while giving me the flexibility needed for traveling. Although my situation was not ideal, and I wasn't exactly where I wanted to be, I knew I was taking the steps necessary to fulfill my overall goal of traveling the world.
I didn't have a huge amount of money or savings when I decided that I wanted to travel, I just knew that it was something that I really wanted to do so I found ways to make it happen. I don't travel luxuriously by any means; in fact most of the time I stay in hostels or guesthouses, even when I'm traveling with friends. I also try to make connections with people while traveling and stay in touch through social media platforms. You never know when you might unexpectedly find yourself traveling throughout their country one day.
Traveling has absolutely transformed my life. I'm a different person than the one who stepped off the plane and into my first foreign country over 10 years ago. Unsurprisingly, I fell hard for traveling as I always expected I would. This isn't to say that it's always been enjoyable and filled with meaningful moments. It most certainly hasn't. I've encountered many disasters along the way including emotional roller-coasters, major phobias, numerous scams, theft, sketchy situations, and I've inflicted more injuries than I can count. But all of these bad moments are part of the overall experience that comes with traveling and I wouldn't change any of it.
Over the past three years I have been fortunate enough to travel to over 17 countries across 3 continents. I hope to continue traveling to new places, building friendships, creating lasting memories, and most of all growing and learning through all of the experiences, both good and bad, that life brings my way.
I had just started my first year of college as a transfer student, I was all alone in a new city, and I was in the process of getting out of a relationship that was headed nowhere. I wanted a change; I needed a change.
Like a lot of people, I had hoped that moving to a new place would solve everything. But it didn't. The first few weeks of school were lonely and a little overwhelming. It wasn't until I joined a few social clubs that I started to really embrace the college life. Within these social settings I was able to meet and connect with some really amazing people. All of whom had one thing in common - traveling. Their stories were not only inspiring and experiences life-changing, but their perception and understanding of the world was on a deeper level than anyone I had ever met. It was then that I realized that I wanted a life just like that - a life filled with travel, culture, and adventure.
A few weeks later, after extensive google searches and word of mouth conversations, I stumbled upon an opportunity to travel. Some people call it birthright - I call it an all expense paid two week vacation to Israel. Now I can't sit here and say that I'm in any way religious, nor was I seeking a religious trip of any kind, but it made sense for what I wanted at the time and more importantly it was a chance to travel. So off I went on my very first international trip at 21 years old!
I wish I could say that since then my life has been filled with non-stop travel and adventure. But, unfortunately it didn't quite work out that way. Like most Americans, I got caught up in the every day hustle and bustle of school, and then work, and then school again, and then back to work. I went from relationship to relationship but nothing ever seemed to stick. At 25 years old I was attending graduate school in NYC, struggling to pay my rent, spending beyond my means, and working at a job that I absolutely hated. Traveling was the last thing I was capable of doing at the time - but for some reason it was always at the forefront of my mind.
Traveling was always something that had sparked my interest at a young age, but it's easy to find excuses when you're so unsure about something that never seemed realistic. I wanted to travel but I just didn't know how. After all, when it comes to traveling most people either A) can't afford it, B) don't have the time, or C) can't find anyone to go with. I was determined to set myself apart from the stereotypical "Non-Traveling American" category that the rest of the world likes to place us in. I would spend every spare moment I had planning out itineraries, browsing guidebooks, and researching faraway lands. Deep down I was convinced I would never have the opportunity to visit any of them. Then, one day, a surprising opportunity came my way.
In 2014, a friend of mine told me about a job that entailed working and traveling with teens all summer. I applied, and within a few weeks I was given my assignment - 'Two Weeks in Costa Rica!' Not only was I being paid to work (in freaking Costa Rica) but all of my traveling expenses were 100% covered on the companies dime. This felt like the opportunity of a lifetime. So off I went on my second international trip to Central America!
Once I returned home to New York, I decided that I was going to make traveling my priority. It was the push I needed to understand what was truly important and valuable to me and my life. In order to make this dream happen, I knew that I had to give up a life that, although seemed costly and chaotic, made me feel independent and comfortable.
In 2015, after finishing my Master's program, I packed up my life and moved to Arizona. It just made more sense financially and it didn't hurt that my family was close by. I immediately began substitute teaching which was perfect because it allowed me the opportunity to utilize my degree while giving me the flexibility needed for traveling. Although my situation was not ideal, and I wasn't exactly where I wanted to be, I knew I was taking the steps necessary to fulfill my overall goal of traveling the world.
I didn't have a huge amount of money or savings when I decided that I wanted to travel, I just knew that it was something that I really wanted to do so I found ways to make it happen. I don't travel luxuriously by any means; in fact most of the time I stay in hostels or guesthouses, even when I'm traveling with friends. I also try to make connections with people while traveling and stay in touch through social media platforms. You never know when you might unexpectedly find yourself traveling throughout their country one day.
Traveling has absolutely transformed my life. I'm a different person than the one who stepped off the plane and into my first foreign country over 10 years ago. Unsurprisingly, I fell hard for traveling as I always expected I would. This isn't to say that it's always been enjoyable and filled with meaningful moments. It most certainly hasn't. I've encountered many disasters along the way including emotional roller-coasters, major phobias, numerous scams, theft, sketchy situations, and I've inflicted more injuries than I can count. But all of these bad moments are part of the overall experience that comes with traveling and I wouldn't change any of it.
Over the past three years I have been fortunate enough to travel to over 17 countries across 3 continents. I hope to continue traveling to new places, building friendships, creating lasting memories, and most of all growing and learning through all of the experiences, both good and bad, that life brings my way.