I have been writing for years, since I was really little, with short stories, songs, poems, journaling, and being fortunate to have won essay and speech contests with my writing.

 

Writing for me has always been a cathartic way of expressing myself. Being able to write has often been empowering, especially in challenging times, when I am able to see the words of my emotions laid out before me. At these times, they tend to lose their power and I can then see things from a new perspective. 

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Travel writing though, has formed me like no other experiences I have had. For years it was only a hobby but now it has become more of a calling. 

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Moving through the world, visiting places I only ever dreamed of, I have learned so much about who I am as a person, how I dance through this life among other cultures, religions and people. Traveling out into the world to make the journey within. 

My first “real” travel adventure on my own was to Russia many years ago. I was able to criss-cross and explore this phenomenal country for almost 2 years as part of a cultural exchange study program - learning Russian at local universities, living with Russian families - every month in a different city.

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I also went on a few years later to teach English in South Korea for almost 3 years, and since then, have been on numerous remarkable trips to various foreign destinations. 

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The lessons on travel I learned at these times still remain ingrained in me and enhance my life. 

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When I first started to travel, I had often been arrogant and egotistical in how I looked at the world, when it came to those who were different than I am, with their cultures, beliefs, day-to-day lifestyles. I admit that I held preconceived stereotypes of people and their countries. 

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Well, I’m glad to report that none of these stereotypes over the years have ever proved to be true at all. Once I began to travel and get to really know people, their cultures, their beliefs, then they stopped being different and became friends. Today, I still count many I have met as family. 

It was and still is with great appreciation and humility, that I have learned to embrace and accept how wrong I can be about so much I don’t know, especially when I am traveling, a guest in another country. This awareness has really opened up my world as well as my mind. This has certainly sparked in me the need to learn, educate myself, to know, to understand others before forming an opinion. 

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Traveling has taught me to adjust to change, and not be afraid of what is different, new or unusual. To always be curious and explore where my heart leads me which is why I enjoy being a travel photographer as well.

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Traveling has taught me to look at the world through a fresh lens with diverse perspectives and views that hold just as much value as my own. 

Traveling has reinforced in me that the world is beautiful even though some people choose to live and promote it otherwise. 

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Mostly, traveling has reminded me that the people of this world - you and me - are all so closely connected. We all want to be loved and love our family, our friends in return. We all seek freedom, we desire peace, happiness, and health. In my experiences, we are not that different. It’s our own personal choices and fear of the unknown that make us think so and keep us separated from one another. We are more alike than we realize! We all want to know that we are enough and that we matter! 

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And, so traveling and writing about my experiences and adventures has become a passion of mine and one I hope to pursue even further. To continue to discover who I am while wandering through this amazing world. To learn how I continue to evolve as the world continues to revolve. To be able to share these moments with all of you through words and pictures. 

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In these times of uncertainty, I hope my writing and photos will give you some amusement, inspiration and maybe move you to discover the passion(s) inside of you for what you also love to do. Maybe, these adventures will move you to have some of your own. Let this time be one of new beginnings for all of us! Enjoy!