I want to travel and see the world
…or get out of my country for a bit
Getting out of the white middle class suburban American dystopian bubble was one of the best things I ever could’ve done.
First, I moved to New Orleans for school, then work.
Then, I lived in Mexico, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Thailand, Germany, Brazil, Peru and traveled to many more.
Ever since I remember, traveling was
something I knew I needed in my life.
My grandparents escaped war camps and immigrated to the US from Europe. They traveled all over the world, spoke many languages, and instilled in me appreciation for differentiation of culture, people, and ways of living.
Stepping out of my bubble cracked the spell. The American dream is bullshit. Going to college, working for 40 years, retiring, then being too tired and old to see the world is a privileged delusion.
I wanted to live my life sooner, rather than “one day.” Because life is not guaranteed. So I left my engineering job and have been traveling slowly and working remotely for the last five years.
Note: I acknowledge that digital nomads can be problematic to communities. That’s why I call myself an economic migrant, to honor the truth that I make my income in US currency and spend my money in other countries. I travel as ethically as I can: I typically stay in one place for a few months. I rarely use Airbnb. I prioritize local restaurants. Shop at local markets. Tip extra. Talk to locals. Volunteer with local orgs. Learn and speak as much of the language as I can.
Another not-so-side note: I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like to be forced out of my home. With the current fascist policies and regime in the united states, and the increasing violence against both immigrants and citizens, I know how privileged it is to hold a US passport. F*ck ICE. Learn more + donate to the Immigrant Defense Project here.
“Other species migrate to survive.
Only humans criminalize it.”
After full time traveling for five years, I reflect on and know that travel has allowed me to:
feel the magic and power of living communally outside the nuclear family – having post work walks at sunset, cooking dinner together, planning weekend trips, brainstorming on work problems, having someone to give you an egg when you need another and can’t go to the store.
feel the ways capitalist patriarchy supremacist ideology shows up in my nervous system.
be a minority and listen to the stories of real people from all over the world – how they live and relate to one another.
want to take care of the earth even more and it nurtured my belief and hope for a better world for us all
heal my nervous system, scarcity thought patterns and become a person who does hard things. Travel taught me that I am home within myself. No matter where I am.
experience so many beautiful moments and living in awe in amazing places.
And… travel isn’t always rainbows and butterflies. I’ve really struggled with:
Ethical Travel & Migration Support
From the mental and emotional aspects, and all the logistical pieces… It’s easy to let all that stop you from going after a deeper calling.
But life’s too short to want something without going after it.
I’m here to give you the support to live out whatever travel or migration journey you’re on. Whether it’s a short trip, longer sabbatical, living/working remotely, or a permanent move abroad.
anxiety about whether I’m making the right decision leaving a job or place or lifestyle or people
the grief of selling all my stuff, packing up, and leaving my home
so many logistics: where to go, finding a place to stay, transportation, time zones, visas, taxes,
establishing and maintaining healthy habits and routines on the road
making space for work and sightseeing without getting fomo
inevitable snafus - scooter crashes, missed flights, places with moldy pillows
feeling really disoriented and alone in a place halfway around the world
finding community in a new place
All in all, for me, it’s all still been worth it.
