Sure enough, several months later one of my childhood best friends and I packed up our bags and were bid an emotional month-long farewell at the airport — a mixture of tears, worry and pride from our parents, and likely a feeling of complete excitement, freedom and joy from Bridget and I. We were going on an adventure — one that began to mold me into a lifelong traveler and ultimately catapulting me into a nomadic lifestyle.
That summer in 2003, I lived with a host family where my confidence in my French speaking abilities grew significantly (unfortunately most of that is gone now). I took the public bus all by myself to and from class, navigating a foreign city in a foreign language. I visited châteaus all over the Loire Valley. I made friends from not only France, but also Spain, Mexico, Columbia, Japan, Belgium, Russia and other parts of the USA (also there on a language program). We hung out by the Loire River after classes and excursions before going back to our host families for dinner — delicious, homemade 3-course French meals. We spent our last few days of the program in Paris (a city I wrote about here). I was living in a storybook.
Not only did I come away with an incredible experience that allowed me to grow in confidence and (I hope) a little bit of maturity, but the program also indirectly and directly led me to a career in international education. The non-profit organization based out of Portland that ran the program, then called “International Summerstays” and now called “ANDEO International Homestays”, employed me two years later. (Fun fact: “ANDEO,” pronounced Ahn-DAY-oh, is neither an acronym nor an existing word. It is a made up word chosen to be easily pronounced by speakers of most all languages).
I worked with ANDEO seasonally over a span of seven years — every time I was home between university semesters and travels — helping with a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but mostly recruiting and interviewing local families to host international high school students coming to Portland for the summer. ANDEO introduced me to the workings of study abroad as a profession and showed me there really is a way to incorporate my love of travel with my work. Once I figured that out, I set out on the path of working in the world of international education.
I’ve heard it before and I’m sure I’ll hear it again — every traveler has — from family, friends and complete strangers. “I’m so jealous.” “You’re so lucky.” “You’re traveling alone?! You’re so brave!” “One day you’ll settle. When you’re ready.”
Well, let me tell you I am not lucky. I am not brave. And I will not settle. I’m just me living my life the best I know how. I’ve worked hard, made sacrifices, doubted my life path more than once, but ultimately have followed my heart and intuition at every crossroad I’ve faced so far. And my (perhaps idealistic) hope is that everyone can look back on their life decisions and feel the same, or at least be able to move forward as authentically as they can from here on out. As one of my favorite musicians sings, “The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.” (#TheOriginalJT) — and I agree that it’s too short to do anything but what makes you happy and fulfilled (as long as you aren’t harming others of course!). And while everyone has a different life story, situation and set of responsibilities that for some makes this easier said than done, I still believe we all have something we are passionate about that sets our souls on fire. If you’ve found it, embrace it and don’t put that fire out.
My nomadic wanderings have led me to incredible places, amazing professional opportunities, wonderful people, impactful relationships and friendships, and has led me to further find and create who I am. My nomadic wanderings, incorporated with the field of international education, have now become my normal. And to me it’s where I have found comfort, happiness, purpose, connection and a sense of belonging (which you can read more about here and here).
So while I am not lucky (I have worked hard), I am privileged (thank you Mazza for this insightful discussion!). Privileged by the passport I hold. Privileged by the support of my family and friends around the world. Privileged by my education and the opportunities I have been afforded from where I went to high school and college. And yes, privileged because of my skin color.
While I am not brave (I'm not knowingly entering dangerous territory), I am confident. Confident to move to unfamiliar places where I don’t know anyone. Confident to take on new roles and jobs. Confident to live my life authentically (thank you Humble Lion for this concept!). Confident to follow my own path and know each decision I make is right for me at that exact point in my life. No regrets — even if some things didn’t or don’t turn out how I hoped.
I will not settle for anything but what makes me happy and where I find purpose. I will not settle for what I think others want of or for me. I will not settle for financial comfort if my other values are compromised. I will not settle for what my heart and intuition don’t want. Or maybe I already have settled? Settled into a life of multiple chapters set in various locations around the world, staying for several months or a couple years in each before wanting to the turn to the next page and keep the story going. (Note: If I do “settle” one day in the more traditional sense, then know I am doing it because it is what I want and what I feel is right at that point in my life. But also know that if I am not “settled” in X number of years, that it’s also because that is what I want and what I feel is right at that point in my life).
Travel is Rebellion in its purest form. We follow our heart. We free ourselves of labels. We lose control willingly. We trade a role for reality. We love the unfamiliar. We trust strangers. We own only what we can carry. We search for better questions, not answers. We truly graduate. We, sometimes, choose never to come back."
— The TripRebel Manifesto