My Story
Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, my family was all about the road trips when I was growing up. We would drive everywhere, no matter how many hours it took. How my parents endured the many “are we there yets?” is truly beyond my comprehension.
My first time traveling to Europe was with an International Youth Symphony when I was 15 years old. Yup. Youth symphony. When I’m not traveling the world, I’m teaching 5th-graders how to play band instruments. Anyway, I auditioned for a spot in the flute section of the Blue Lake International Symphony when I was a freshman in high school and made the ensemble. Not only was this my first big trip away from my home and family, but it was also my first time hearing foreign languages, using foreign currency, staying with host families, and navigating through a world that felt very different from my own. I loved it. I loved the sense of freedom that came with the unknown. I loved muddling through my rudimentary French, piecing together menus in languages that I didn’t know, and establishing bonds with people all over the world. For as different as we all are, through travel, you realize how similar humans are across the globe. We all want to make connections, eat amazing food, listen to music, explore nature, and share experiences with those that we love.
As a parent, I want my kids to realize that although the world is large, we are all part of the same human experience. I want my children to see how other people live and be able to compare that to their existence in the United States. I want to expose them to culture – food, music, architecture, language, history, traditions – so that they can be informed citizens of the world.
If you also crave culture and adventure, then please enjoy my posts! My hope is that you gain some inspiration from our travels so that you can bring your family to these amazing locations too. So, pick a post, pack a bag, and get out into the world!
The Unknown Ahead 