While she had no idea at the time my mom’s stories about our family in Denmark, where she was born, planted the seeds that grew into my desire to see the world today. Because of this I have always looked outward to the unknown with a kind of catlike curiosity. These forces have recently reached a point of culmination in my life. I went to University and now I experience the banality of a 9 to 5 which has created a black hole feeling in my gut. The uncertainties of where my life was headed began to eat at me more as each day passed. I knew I needed to take action. How though? My siblings, a nurse and a sports writer, knew exactly what careers they desired and which path to take to get there. Beginning a life of travel is more similar to taking a leap of faith than starting down a designated path and I’m searching for my spot to jump.

My why is the flat-out refusal to live a dull life and my goal is to have an exciting life without routine. Changing locations frequently does have its difficulties, like whether to continue the PB&J regimen or go for that delectable 15 Euro pasta dish! Fortunately, I have done years of how-to research and gained insight from the likes of Nomadic Matt and Hey Nadine on how to pack and budget, but I’m not ignorant to the fact that there’s no actual script for a life of travel. Something that can never be duplicated is what makes travel such a valuable experience, but most importantly travel shows us that everything is connected, something that most people never get to learn or experience firsthand. I want to learn how to slurp hot noodles properly from a Chinese person and plunge into frozen water in Finland and then run back into a sauna. I heard there is still a reward for finding Carmen Sandiego!

Many travelers are too absorbed in trying to figure out their next Instagram post by posing in the most obvious tourist spots. I would like to do the exact opposite and cultivate authentic relationships with students who desire to learn English. I have experience teaching foreign students through the Cultural Ambassador Conversant Program at Oregon State University. I’ve had a total of five partners, but none better than my friend Jose from Colombia. In the beginning his English was choppy like everyone else’s but he was determined and did what it took to succeed. His perseverance and success added fuel to my dream of becoming a man of the world.

Along the way I believe it’s important to reciprocate to the world by learning and teaching. This back and forth flow of energy will be evident in me and the cultures I come in contact with, taking a piece of them and leaving a piece of myself. It’s time to make the dream a reality.