INTRODUCTION

Hi! Welcome to the first entry in my travel journey blog. Sharing more about my world travels has been something I’ve wanted to do for a while. I’m happy you’ve chosen to share in this journey with me!

Why am I doing this?

Travel is something that makes me feel alive like nothing else. From a young age, I wanted to learn about the world outside of my small Tennessee hometown. From the time my eyes fixated on a “flags of the world” poster in my elementary school cafeteria, I had to know everything I could about the vastness of the world and the differences of other cultures.

Fast forward to adulthood…not all of our dreams happen on the timeline on which we imagine them. I made it through university without ever having stepped out of the United States (or even on an airplane). Fast forward to 2010, I had easily become well acquainted with flying, but I still didn't have a passport. That would change.

I had started business school, one part of a purposeful reevaluation of my life to work toward the ideal of “living the life I imagined”. Upon hearing of a spring break trip to Guatemala, I decided I needed to go. My life hasn't been the same since then. I’ve now been to 13 countries and three continents- and have no plans to stop.

Can I get to 40 by 40?

Follow me to see. I will be chronicling my progress in this blog and recounting past trips. I hope I can provide helpful tips and insight for those who are considering the same destinations! I will also likely be talking about places to which I’m considering voyaging. It is my hope that this turns into a community of like-minded travelers.

A little more about me

I’m 35, work in marketing within the tech industry, have spent most of the last decade in New England after spending most of my life in the Southeastern US. I love cooking, dining out, art, music, and meeting people everywhere I go. You’ll see these interests intersect with my travels a lot :). I also like watching and playing basketball and running (albeit not always so well) and am always looking to practice my Spanish and French.

My travel style is a bit eclectic, as you’ll see, but really it’s all about making the most of every opportunity. From work trips to off-season deals to group excursions, I’ve had all types of travel experiences. A lot of my experiences are built around maximizing a modest budget and taking advantage of opportunities like work travel. As much as I can, I try to “live like a local” when I’m away.

Read on…

To learn about where I’ve been, where I’m going, and some cool things I’ve learned along the way. I’ll probably cover topics related to the countries I post about as well, and hope to have some guest posts from my amazing traveling friends! Welcome!