The Travel Bug

Travel is in my blood. I first discovered that there were was a place far away that I wanted to visit when my mother visited Switzerland and returned with gifts for me as a little boy. Experiences in the Bahamas, Mexico and Romania as a teen fed the desire but it was when traveling as a college student that the travel bug bit and changed my life forever. I have a goal to visit as many countries as years that I live. Having visiting my 30th country just before turning 30 last year, I am right on track.

Discovering Travel Writing

Travel awakened two central parts of me that I may have never otherwise discovered. Impending trips motivated me to learn to use a camera so that I could take pictures that I would enjoy. After my first trip to Israel I came back with pictures that family and friends raved about and I have been hooked ever since.

Several years later as a graduate student I traveled to communicate on behalf of non-profit causes in India, Sri Lanka and East Africa. The magnitude of the need I encountered sparked a newfound love for writing that I could not have anticipated. I had written for years as part of my studies but did not think that I would ever enjoy it. Travel frees my mind up from the clutter that fills it at home so that writing flows smoothly. I have travel to thank for my discovered love for photography and writing.

Travel Map

This map shows my travels to date. 30 countries apparently comprise 12% of the world so I have a long way left to go…