Since travel is a great passion for many people (myself included), I thought it would be neat to share some travel related names for all you travel-loving folks! Maybe this list will help you out if you're still searching for that perfect name.

Meaning behind the name is very important to me, and if it is for you too, I explain the meaning and origin of the name! They are separated into two categories for a total of 40 names. Each list comes with it's own Pin image so you can pin for later reference!

25 Names Inspired by Places (Cities, Countries, State, etc)

Alaska - from the Aleut language, this female name means "that which breaks against the shore" or "great land", take your pick! Made popular by John Green's book "Looking for Alaska". It just sounds like a cool nature girl with beautiful, natural flowing hair.

London - this can go for either boy or girl, and you can even alter the spelling: Londyn. I find the name both elegant and serious, but is fun to say outloud! Named, of course, after England's historic capital that is almost synonymous with William Shakespeare, tea with scones, and Big Ben.

India - want an exotic-sounding name for your baby girl? Why not go with the name of a very well-known exotic country! India has been associated with this romantic ideal of the beautiful and foreign.

Odessa - while this beautiful name means "wrathful", it is known as the artistic center of the Ukraine. A mini Paris in it's own rights, this city also has a history of being strong against historic upturns. Just like the Black Sea waves that crash upon its shores....

Paris - Though originally a greek name, Paris is known world-wide as the shining city of lights in France. As one of my most favourite cities, and it's tie to the handsome prince in mythology, you can't go wrong with this classical name.

Arizona - where the name comes from is debatable. Some say it comes from the Spanish, others claim it is native-american. Either way, it's a very cool and beautiful name for a girl.

Austin - believe it or not, this name originally comes from the name Augustine.

Boston - another popular American city, this name originally comes from an English Saint, though the Old English spelling and pronunciation is not very similar.

Bristol - another Old English derived name, where the original name is spelled entirely different. This pretty female name mean "place at a bridge". Maybe she will have very good connections.

Carson - honestly, I think of Downton Abbey before I think of Carson city, and who could oppose to naming their child after one of the most beloved characters of the series? Carson's meaning depends on the language root you look at. It can mean "marsh", "fort" or "rock.

Kent - Another name with a very old root, in this case Welsh. It basically means edge or border. Short but strong, could be a classier replacement for Kyle.

Dakota - This name is no stranger, but it's hugely popular. This beautiful name means "friend" in the Dakota language, which can complement either boy or girl.



Santiago - I bet you never knew this name is from the Anglicized "James". Neither did I! If you like a bit of an exotic flare, this could be a perfect name for a dark-haired boy!

Verona - Speaking of exotic and warm names, this is a beautiful girl name. Shakespeare chose this particular Italian city as the backdrop to possibly his most famous play "Romeo and Juliet". Romance and beauty abound!

Rio - This latin name is short, sweet and simple. It means "river", which is quite refreshing and pleasant!

Indiana - hopefully the famous Jones doesn't put you off from choosing this name. After all, it does sounds adventurous!

Tara - This short Irish name has a pretty neat meaning, which is "where the kings met". You can still visit the Hill of Tara to this day!

France - Probably my favourite country in the world, France is famous for so much! Incredible food, amazing art, and revolutions! You may, however, prefer the more subtle name Francis.

China - While the Great Wall might be one of the first things to come to mind, it is also synonymous with beautiful artisan china that is known for its delicate beauty.

Israel - Talk about an old name with a lot of history! Anyone who is fond of Jewish history and Hebrew roots might name their son after this strong cultural name.

Brooklyn - Well-known neighborhood of New York, this lovely girl's name is a compound English name that simply refers to "one who lives near a brook.

Sydney - Everyone knows the Sydney Opera House from it's stunning silhouette. This name comes from Normandy that means "wide island" or from the French name "Saint Denis".

Diego -  This cool-sounding name is yet another Spanish name that is from the anglicized "James", which means supplanter.

Athens - Famous since ancient times. While Athens can be used as a boy name, this Greek capital was named after the goddess Athena after she won the vote of the people. Athena means "sharp" and "praise".

Memphis - Ending off on an even more ancient city, going back to Ancient Egypt. This boy name was originally in Egyptian, meaning "enduring and beautiful" before the Greeks changed the spelling and pronunciation.

15 Baby Names Inspired by Natural Places

1. Carolina - after the hills of the Carolinas, of course! Beautiful name for a beautiful place.


2. Ocean - don't most people love the ocean? It's so powerful, yet soft and calm. Then again, it can be frightfully strong and powerful. It cannot be tamed.


3. Aria - This name is a breath of fresh air! Literally, it is the Italian word for 'air', and also the same word for a beautiful soloist song.


4. Terra - a lovely name that simply means "earth". The place we live, but also the substance in which all livings things come from!


5. Coral - Anyone who has snorkeled or scuba-dived has ogled at beautiful coral reefs that we are so fascinated by!


6. Sky - this is such a lovely name! It is so inspirational, afterall, don't we say "the sky's the limit"? Who knows where your little one will go in life!


7. Beaumont - this fancy French name is after a mountain in (you guessed it) France! You literally have a beautiful and strong name, since it translates to "beautiful/handsome mountain".


8. Brier - this always reminds me of Sleeping Beauty! 'Brier Rose' does have a nice ring to it.


9. Glenn - 'shady glenn', a quick line from the melodious song "Loch Lomond", it's definitely a retro name these days.


10. Montana - a popular name, having both a state and a faux pop singer with the same name, this is a classic for those who love open fields, riding on horse-back, fishing, and rodeos!


11. West - As long as your last name isn't Jet, this is a really neat name that will automatically make your boy sound like the cool kid. 


12. Dale - synonymous with valley. If you have ever walked along the bottom of a valley, you know how neat and beautiful it is, usually with a stream running along with low trees perching over and large rocks that lead up to the mountains.


13. Sierra - named after the lovely Sierra range, what is there not to love? This name is both feminine and solid.


14. Hudson - Canadians know the huge role the Hudson Bay played in our history. It sounds like a sporty guy who loves hunting.


15. Logan - no, we're not talking about the Wolverine (although he's pretty cool too), but about Mt. Logan. Canada's tallest mountain! Logan sounds like someone you can depend on to get the job done. Also sounds like he owns a truck.

I hope you enjoyed this collection of travel inspired baby names! Are there any that really appeal to you? Have you used one of these names for your kid? Do you have other travel-related baby names that were not on this post? Share them below in the comments!

Like you, I have read many articles with the over-confident titles: "10 Ways You can Travel for FREE!", because who doesn't want to travel around at no cost? But each time I read them I think, sure, I could get a job working in the Arctic saving polar bears, or do manual labor on an organic farm, and buy ALL the air miles-collecting credit cards...but do I actually want to?

The short answer: no. I have a different lifestyle in mind. Now, I don't mind travelling cheaply! That I'm all over. To me, it's a lot more doable, and there are plenty of options.

Now, I will preface by saying that my suggestions might not fit your lifestyle choices or fit to your specific situation. If you're like me, you want to  travel often enough, and you don't mind being budget-conscious.



Whether it’s joining your high school choir on its annual music trip, or taking a job overseas teaching English, I have found ways to travel within my own country and abroad. This post is mostly for Canadians, since that was my jumping point to everywhere else, but there are points in here for everyone else too! Now, I will walk you through the three main phases of my travel life starting with when I was a teen in high school, to when I was a University student, to now in my adult life.

Hopefully, there is something in here that will give you an idea, some inspiration, motivation or a push in the right direction to get you closer to your travel desires!

When I was a Teen

Explore Program:

The first solo trip I did out of my own was when I was 15 years old. I discovered something called the Explore program, which is a Canadian-wide program that offers intensive, immersion language schooling over the summer. If you want to learn French, they place you in a French community. If you want to learn English, same deal.
Now, in this case my parents paid for everything (thank you again!), but there are ways to apply for financial help, and between the time you apply, get accepted and actually go, you can save up money with a part-time job and by collecting money through Christmas and birthdays (it’s going to an educational cause!) and not only do you get to explore another part of Canada, you learn another language and part of the rich, diverse Canadian culture! Wins all around! (Interested? Click here!)

School Trips:

When I was 17, I really, really wanted to go on the Chicago trip with my high school choir and band. To help raise money, I had to sell cheese. Weird, I know. It was kind of hard, too! I walked around in the winter time during the Christmas season doing the old-fashioned door-to-door sales. I had some really nice neighbors who clearly did it just to support me. It was a great experience and I fell in love with the city very quickly! Still meaning have to go back one day…Many public schools offer students a chance to go on a trip, some will be more expensive than others, but don't let that discourage from taking at least one trip! There are always fundraising events you can do, and if you're creative enough, you can raise a lot of the funds!

Family Road Trips:

Because of our central location in the prairies, my family did road trips to Minneapolis, South Dakota, and we even drove all the way down to Florida to visit family a couple times. Never underestimate the joys and fun times of family road trips! Best part? It’s part of the family budget. Yay!

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS TO TRAVEL:

• Volunteer: Maybe you’re young, or you really don’t want to commit to a job long-term abroad. Volunteering will bring great experience, look great on a resume, and you can choose how long you want to go. You will likely have to finance your way there and back, but usually the organisation takes care of the rest once you arrive.

When I was a University Student

Teacher Assistant in France:

I was getting restless during my first year of University, when I came across an ad outside the French department to teach English in France. Paid accommodation, a salary of 800 euros a month, a chance to travel Europe: I was in! The catch: You had to be 21 years old and have at least 2 years complete of University, as well as proof of enough French proficiency. (These are the requirements for Canadian citizens, and it varies from country to country).

I put my plan into action and throughout the next year, did everything I could to make sure I would get accepted. I found a job with the Festival du Voyageur (best job ever!), I got my French professor to vouch for my proficiency, and then I got my first long-term job in the summer working custodial services at an outdoor theater. Probably the worst job I ever had, but I was able to save 3,000 dollars working part-time.

This is a program run by the French government, and it’s goal is to place native language speakers in schools to interact and teach French students in that language, in my case, I taught English. It was, by far, one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. Not only did I catch the travel bug, I made life-long friends, some who were my bridesmaids later on, and I grew incredibly as a person.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO TRAVEL

Au Pair: If you like kids, are single, and want to travel, this combines all three. Getting hired as an au pair means you are basically a nanny, you help with taking care of young children, it may include helping them with school work, but basically you are a glorified babysitter and chances are you get to stay in the home of the family who hires you or they take care of your rent elsewhere. I've heard a couple bad experiences, but overwhelming amount of GREAT experiences. Many families will take their au pair on family holidays, bring over to social gatherings, so you get a very authentic local experience with some savings and time off to go venture on your own once in a while!

Volunteer: There is no age limit to being a volunteer, and it's incredibly rewarding with many, many opportunities world-wide! One example is Canada World Youth, which has been running for over 40 years in over 60 countries around the world. (Click here for more info)

Farm Work: Organizations such as WOOF and the like. I have a good friend in Australia currently working on a farm so she can get a second year extension on her visa, because she loves it so much there!

Missions: Whether you do YWAM, or through another organization, if you are a person of faith, missions is a great way to grow in so many ways at so many levels. This is not going to be your typical chic Euro trip, but it is always life-changing and eye-opening.

University Exchange: Check to see if your University has a program that involves an exchange, or a partnership with another University abroad. For myself, I could have taken an Education practicum abroad, but I had to plan my wedding...

Internships: You can find these through your University too, particularly if you're doing Business, Engineering, or maybe something in the realm of Political studies. But there are many, many, many other areas to intern in! Try to find one with some perks, like paid lodging. But don't expect too much! Afterall, you are doing it more for the experience than the money.

As an Adult

One of the easiest and most sustainable ways to travel as an adult is to find a job abroad. One of the most accessible jobs is teaching.

Teaching Abroad

After my experience in France, I was determined to come back to Canada, finish my BA, and go back out into the world of teaching English abroad. I had my eyes on Russia. But, love happened. So I stayed until I got my Teaching degree, then we got married, and moved to Egypt!
Three years after returning from Europe my desire to travel abroad probably only grew stronger as time went on, so I was so happy when Wayne, my now husband, agreed to change his home-boy ways to travel with me. Since we’ve been hitched (and wrote this post), we’ve been to 9 countries (8 of which are new to me!) and he’s got the travel bug too!

Other Top Travel Jobs for Adults

• Flight attendant - the travel might be short, but you'll get little snippets of one or two days nearly right away!


• Cruise crew worker - that can be cleaning crew, maintenance, health and fitness, kitchen staff, the options are endless!


• Tourism and Hospice work - this can mean being a tour guide or working in a hotel or hostel


• International Business - may take some years of schooling and finding the right company, but chances are trips will be fully covered!


• Translator/Transcriptor - put those language degrees to good use!


• Online work - maybe an online business, an editor or journalist, a YouTuber or consultant. Making money on the internet has become a growing reality.

There are plenty other job positions that can help you with your travel goals, these are simply the most common and popular careers. Do some research, join some travel groups, see what other occupations make travel possible! In fact, here are 50 JOBS that involve travel!

Extra Tips for Finding Opportunities to Take You Abroad:

• Learn another language: If you’re in high school and you’re not taking a foreign language class, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Opportunities will not only open up but not seem so scary if you can speak the language of said foreign place.


• SAVE Money: this one is obvious, and many people seem to think they will never save enough. I have talked with several friends, some who genuinely really want to back-back Europe, but never took the leap because someone else didn’t come through, or they decided to buy a car instead, or they’re going to 5 concerts a year and buying gym memberships. I can’t help but shake my head, because so many of these people could have seen 5 countries with the money they have spent on things like car parts and festivals. Money won’t magically add up by talking about, any more than you can lose weight by talking about working out. It has a to be a priority and it will require sacrifices. You think I wanted a custodial night job? No. But I had a goal and I worked for it, and it changed my whole life.


• Live with Your Parents: This is still on the ‘save money’ trend, but if you’re young, still going through school or a recent high school graduate, don’t rush into finding a place of your own. Unless your parents hate you or you weren’t the nicest kid, chances are they would be very willing to let you stay home if you pull up your pants and assume some more responsibility to live rent-free. Offer to do their lawn services, clean their windows, help with dinner once in a while, take care of the dishes, or vacuum once a week. Your parents will appreciate the help and you may possibly help them save some money in the process. It’s a win for everyone!


• Live life MINIMALLY: It is SO easy in our North American culture to get obsessed with accumulating so much stuff and having the biggest and newest. Go without the latest iPhone. You can survive. Trust me.


• PLAN FOR IT! It won't just happen. It took me a year and a half of planning before I went to France. It has to be something you work toward if you want it enough.

Well, if you've made it this far, you are probably fairly serious about satisfying your travel bug!

I'm not going to pretend like travelling is easy to afford, I know how hard it can be for many people. But there are ways to make it cheaper and a possibility! It comes down to your choices and your priorities. I hope you are encouraged to start planning, making goals, keeping an eye out and ear open for opportunities, and taking advantage of anything that comes your way!



Are you an avid traveller? How do you save up or make money while on the road? What tips or advice would you give to those who have the passport, have the luggage, but still need those last few steps to make their travel dream a reality? Did any of these tips seem helpful to achieving your travel goal? Let me know in the comments below! I am totally up to answer any questions to help out!

Have you ever been so excited about stuff that you couldn't wait to share it with others? Not just friends and family but everyone? I've been feeling that a lot lately. I enjoy taking care of my skin and health overall, and when I find something that makes life easier, healthier and happier, than I can't resist sharing it.

Clicking on the product pictures or links will take  you to where you can purchase and order them yourselves! Some of these links are affiliate links, which help run this website with the newest and best features to keep bringing  you the best content I can! I only recommend things I use myself and love!

Alright! Let's start with beauty and make up products!

I got lasers shot into my eyeballs! And I'm going to tell you all about it.

I had lasik surgery on April 30th. It was something I had been thinking about for at least 5 years, and seriously considering it for the last 2 or 3 years. It's a bit crazy how I ended up finally saying 'yes, I'll do it' and taking the plunge!

Basically, I just went to an eye clinic (here in Egypt) because I thought there was something wrong with my right eye. One doctor checked, said everything was normal with my vision (or as normal as it could be with near-sightedness) but I wasn't convinced so they took me a specialist.

Here are the ways I, personally, feel I have become a better version of myself through travelling, and why I recommend it to anyone willing to try it.

Whether it is the person you meet at the hostel, your Couchsurfing host, the other person on the walking tour who is travelling alone, or the couple you meet on a tour bus, travelling brings people together from all walks of life in such a way, that a simple 'so, where are you from' or a 'can you take a picture?' is enough to strike a connection, and then conversation begins, next thing you know, you're eating and drinking together, smiling and sharing with those who were complete strangers only hours before. You may even end up staying in the same place for some time, perhaps on a language summer course, or on the Camino. We cultivate these friendships, knowing full well that we just may never see them again.

Best hostel group ever! Budapest, 2012.

Today, I would like to dedicate this blog-post to those people I call: the travelling passer-by friends.

So, who are these people? Well, first of all, they are travellers just like us. Chances are, they have travelled before. They come in all forms, and your relationship with them can be of varying degrees, depending on how long your paths run parallel. But they all brighten up our day, they all enrich our journey, and they all touch our lives one way or another. And more often than not, they give us a very good story to tell...


Some of you we will add on a form of social media, others, we may have never have caught your full name, and therefore can't find you on Facebook or Twitter, but we wish we could. Regardless of how well we are able to keep in touch, if at all, we will never forget about you, especially if you made us smile.

The sweetest German couple, I only remember her name being Pia Appel-something, and they were either from Hamburg or Hanover. If you guys see this, please give a shoutout!

These friends are part of the reason we love to travel. It is not just about experiencing it all ourselves, but sharing some of those moments with others. This is best experienced when travelling alone, because it forces you to open yourself more and go beyond your social comfort circle, but even if you  are travelling with others, that should never stop you from making these passer-by friends.

Her name is Stephanie, a Brazilian studying in Germany. We had no common language, but still spent a walking tour and lunch together in Budapest! If anyone knows who she is, please lead her to this post!

Travelling brings you in contact with all kinds of people, and it opens your heart and mind to what makes us human, and how we are all connected and share so much more in common than we could ever imagine people from opposite sides of the world ever could!


So here's to you and all future passer-by friends to come. Thank you. Thank you for sharing a meal with us at the bus tour pit stop, thank you for striking up a conversation during the free walking tour. Thank you for taking pictures when we were tired of selfies, and thank you for sharing your story - a piece of yourself - over a local beer. Maybe you took us in, fed us, and gave us invaluable insider tips, and were more generous than we could ever imagine.

Thank you for being part of the good in this world, and for making wandering this Earth that much more exciting, enriching and rewarding.


Stay awesome.

Living in Egypt so far has its pros and cons. Fortunately, one of those pros is our apartment. While the furnishing is relatively basic, it is very spacious and comfortable for a newly wed couple. In 6th of October, there are many spacious apartments and villas, as it is a much newer area that is trying to attract the wealthier civilians.

Here is a tour of our Egyptian apartment! When you first walk in, there is the dinning and living room, a nice open concept area with many windows, two of which lead to balconies.




Off to the side, is the kitchen, which is in its own room, unfortunately. This room is probably the lead furnished, with only one counter, which makes the big kitchen feel really sparse. We managed to find a small coffee table that was being thrown out, and re purposed it for our kitchen.

We took this picture before we bought garbage cans.

Next to the kitchen, is a half bath that faces the dining room, which is great for when we have visitors. It has two lights, one being right above the mirror, so it is very good lighting to put make up on!


 In the living room corner across one of the main balconies, is where I decided to set up my desk, since Wayne likes to use the dinning room table for his work. It felt too lonely being in the small spare bedroom, all the way on the other side of the apartment.


 If you go around to the other side of the living room. there is the entrance to the main hallway that leads to the rest of the apartment, which is the bedrooms and bathroom.

Moving to Egypt has presented to me a great conundrum: how to pack up all my make up supplies, jewels, scarves, and hair products with limited luggage space and weight restrictions? This was a big deal for me! I learned how to sacrifice, and also learned to fully embrace my favourite sort of beauty, which is elegant simplicity.

Going on holidays for a couple of weeks, or backpacking for several months, is not the same thing as packing up your life and moving away, even if it is only on a semi-permanent basis.

In three days, my husband and I will be moving far away from all our friends and family to an unfamiliar land of Egypt. This move is particularly hard on my husband, who has stayed close to home most of his life. I have moved a handful of times to different countries, and while I even have moved away from my nuclear family to fly solo in France for several months, this next move is difficult, even for me.




There is so much to look forward to, and we know this adventure will really help us grow as a couple and enhance our marriage, as well as enrich our lives with so may unique experiences that are coming our way. But we are both very family orientated people, and our hearts will feel something is missing as weeks go by without a family dinner, or family movie night.

I know what to expect, and I know when home-sickness will hit the hardest. I also know that the reverse will happen once the two years fly by and we are on our way home. People are what really make a place feel like home, and chances are there will be new friends that will make it hard for us to come back!



Yet, knowing the adventures that will be had, the emotions that will come and knowing what the final parting at the airport will be like, doesn't lessen the experience for me. At the one week mark is when I finally began to crack {read as: crying randomly} and I could not be in denial any more of the reality that was ever fast approaching.

Because time is fleeting, I've decided to take some time and acknowledge the things my husband and I will miss the most while away, but not to become more sorrowful, but rather to remember these things fondly and hold on to them until we return.



1. My mother's lack of personal space as she tickles and hugs without ceasing.

2. Our niece's most beautiful and adorable toothless smile and sparkling eyes.

3. Sonny's dog kisses and cuddles.

4. Wayne's mom singing a prayer with joy in her face.

5. My dad's teasing jokes.

6. My little brother's nerdy facts that no one really cares about except him.



7. Our nephews many faces and hilarious moments.

8. The older niece's ability to talk better than most teenagers (she's not 3 yet!).

9. Seeing grandpa get lost in his world of tinkering, like fixing a car brake.

10. Listening to Wayne's dad's stories, no one tells them like him!

11. My youngest brother's hilarious sayings and adorable helpfulness.

12. Grandma's quick and witty come backs.

13. Seeing the end result of my sister-in-law's work of creativity, whether baking or décor.

14. Eating that famous ham...

15. The way Wayne's brothers get excited about their passions

16. Our sister in law's great big heart for family.

17. My youngest sister singing off-tune made-up music with steadfast confidence

18. The love our family shows us in all the big and little ways!





This list could go on, and on and on...There is simply too much that will be missed! Yet, looking back on this list, it really becomes obvious that when it comes to family, my husband and I have been blessed! And it is thanks to their love and support that we are able to pursue this dream and great adventure ahead!

Sadly, I did not have great luck finding a full sized globe, so I opted for a smaller globe! Please note: if you go for a smaller globe, it makes it very hard to do the little details of land/water borders! But it is also very cute!

You can find the first few steps over here.  Below is where I deviated and made it my own! As you can see below, I went with white for the water and used a gold marker for the land.

Hello fellow wanderers!

Travelling is beyond going on a vacation. It is a journey of the heart and mind, and sometimes even of your soul. Seeing the world, experiencing new sights and smells, meeting unique and extraordinary people among the ordinary is something I am passionate about.

Before I share about my up-coming travels, here is a bit of my backstory, where I've come from, and where I've been.

I have already experienced a great deal of travelling (though not as much as other wanderers!), and it all began when I was 5 years old. I find it very amusing when I come across parents who are very concerned about moving, thus "up-rooting" their children and 'affecting their childhood'. I think this worry transfers towards children and is added by the Hollywood movies that depict moving as a terrible and traumatic thing.

I, however, was not the average 5 year old. As my parents packed up our meagre possessions in the Sunshine state of Florida, I was bouncing with excitement, proudly proclaiming to anyone who would listen: "I'm going to Canadada!".



That was my first experience travelling. My mom and I took a train (SO exciting!) all the way to a small town near the border between the States and Canada. We stayed near a nunnery and I met Sister Justina, bless her soul. I don't remember what she looked like, or much at all really, but between her and Sister Act I developed a great fondness for nuns. I do, however, remember running around a very old building with neat intricate hallways and passages, almost Hogwarts style, and it felt like an adventure!

I was hooked.

Fast-forward only three years later, we moved once again, this time to Saltillo, Mexico! While most people think of Mexico as a vacation destination (particularly during the cold Winnipeg months), I can't help but shake my head and remember how much more Mexico means to me. The friendly people I met, the friends I made, the schools I went to, the shows I watched...So much more!

We lived there for 2 and a half years, and when I came back to Canada, I experienced a few things that changed me forever and have stuck with me most of my life:

Firstly, I felt out of place. I never knew what exactly was different, but I just knew I was on a different wave-length from any of my old friends. This feeling ebbed and waned, but never truly went away as I grew up. Secondly, Canada no longer felt like 'home'. I wish there was a way to explain it, but once I felt out of place, I was not as comfortable, and felt like I needed to go 'out there' to find my place, whatever that meant.

Maybe it was counter-culture shock, maybe I was growing as a person with very different experiences from most other kids, maybe it was because the world changed after 9-11. Or maybe it was the beginning of God's call on my life to follow a path that led me to where I am soon heading...

Fast-forward another 5 years and I have now also travelled to both the Ukraine and Peru to meet my mom's and dad's side of the family (and no, I did not get to see Machu Pichu! Which naturally means I shall have to go back!). Having a diverse cultural upbringing is very likely partly to blame for my growing wanderlust as well.

My love for languages (inspired by my mother and fellow wanderer) accompanied my growing hunger to see the world. Many years later, it would lead me to a flyer on a University news board that would land me an English Assistant job in France a year later, where I spent 8 beautiful months with nothing but one adventure after another.

And there, my friends, is when the travel fever hit an all-time high...After my return from Europe, I re-experienced similar feelings I felt after returning from Mexico, but this time I had close friends who were going through the exact same feelings, amazing friends that I had made during my months in Europe. I soon found out that I was not alone in having that ghostly ache in your chest wrapped in nostalgia that keeps you off balance when you return to 'normal' life. But why did I have it? What did travelling do to me?

One day, while on Pinterest, I came across this quote:

Photo credit: Pinterest

This, I believe, perfectly explains what is 'wrong' with travellers, why we are the way we are. The world is both big and small, but when you see enough of it, and you fall in love with the people, places and cultures, a piece of your heart becomes a part of it, and while it hurts when you are away, it is totally worth it. I find great comfort in this. If you are a fellow wanderer, I hope you find comfort in it too.


Wanderfully yours,

Elizabeth