Between my biosketch and my subject choice I have shared who I am and what I am passionate about. Now for a rundown of my travel roots:
When I was very young, my parents moved my family from Ohio to Connecticut. I remember being told we were moving. It was difficult to understand that there was somewhere other than “here”. This must mean there was more than just here and there too. Driving around with my mom, once we moved, was confusing too. Why didn’t she know where everything was anymore? This must be new for her too, then.
As I got older we took family trips to Ohio, Florida, and North Carolina to visit family. We took family trips to Canada, California, and New Hampshire. Once my sister graduated college she moved to the Bahamas for work. I participated in mission trips in Kentucky and Mississippi. Travel seemed to building up in my life. It was becoming more and more common.
My other sister studied in Ireland for a semester. When she returned, I don’t remember her talking much about it, or maybe I just didn’t care to listen at the time. But she marched in to my room one night and stapled a piece of paper to my bulletin board and left. It was two words: “Study Abroad.” At that moment, it was no longer a question. When I got to college, I too would study abroad. In my junior year I took a semester in London. Having never even been to Europe before I decided I would see as much as possible in the four months I had there.
In my four months I traveled to Germany, Wales, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Ireland. Now, I was officially hooked. I not only caught the travel bug, but I was infected and allowing it to spread like a disease. When I returned to school I joined the International Students Club where all were welcome and we shared stories and experiences of being in foreign lands.
After college, when I became a travel agent in Boston, I had the opportunity in those two years to travel to France, Costa Rica, Seattle, and DC. I also arranged trips within my sales territory, which included New Hampshire and Maryland. Eventually, as I was training new sales representatives, I assisted them with conferences in Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Nowadays, travel is for fun. There are few conferences or training opportunities that get me on the road. School has my funds limited, as well. But my friends keep me going. Life is short and traveling makes me happy. So, I make it happen. Earlier this summer I went to Canada and in a few months I’ll be making my way to Las Vegas.
As I’ve said before, if there are obstacles keeping me from literally traveling, I can still read about, write about, and dream about it.
I very much enjoyed reading your blog. Being a vast traveler you’ve experienced what many will never have the opportunity to do. I would have loved to read more about what you did in the various countries you visited (maybe you’re saving this for future blogs). If you gave me just a bit more to “hook” me I would have liked it. For example paint me a picture of what your favorite part of Spain was or describe what the food was like in Czech Republic. Other than that good job!
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