I was born and raised in California to a hardworking mother and a forest fireman father who took the summers off to take us camping, hiking, fishing, etc. around the western US and Canada. I have a Bachelor’s degree in International Business with an emphasis in French from SDSU, an M.B.A. from GWU, and am a Foreign Service Officer with USAID, awaiting departure for my first assignment to Haiti.
1. NUMBER OF COUNTRIES VISITED
47
2. LANGUAGE(S) SPOKEN AND/OR WANT TO LEARN
English, French, Spanglish and a little Fon. I would love to become fluent in Spanish and maybe Portuguese because it sounds so cool.
3. AGE AND FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRIP YOU TOOK
~ age 2
4. FAVORITE AIRLINE
Etihad for international, Southwest for domestic
5. YOUR GO-TO IN-FLIGHT APPAREL
leggings, loose shirt, and comfy shoes that are easy to take off to go through security.
6. THINGS/GADGETS YOU CAN’T TRAVEL WITHOUT
passport, WHO card, unlocked phone, some sort of computer, snorkeling gear, hiking boots, and a bathing suit.
7. FAVORITE COUNTRY AND WHY
Indonesia, because it gave me the best scuba diving of my life and was off the beaten path.
8. WTF MOMENT
When I was spat at in Dubai in a fancy hotel by a drunk guy from a brothel down the street.
9. FAVORITE CITY AND WHY
Sevilla, for everything it offers: amazing food, great culture, awesome nightlife, friendly people, warm weather, the list goes on…
10. MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT
Saying “mistress” instead of “Master’s” in French–they’re very similar!
11. FAVORITE CUISINE
Anything delicious
12. HOTEL, HOSTEL, OR AIRBNB?
Hostel or Couchsurfing in my youth, Airbnb now
13. MOST MEMORABLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
Hiking the Dogon Country in Mali in the days leading up to the coup d’etat in 2012.
14. MOST CHALLENGING TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
traveling by public transport across West Africa.
15. BEST TRAVEL ACTIVITY
scuba diving or hiking
16. FAVORITE TRAVEL SOUVENIR
memories backed up with photos
17. MOST LIKED INSTAGRAM PIC
I have no idea, I barely use Instagram
18. FAVORITE TRAVEL PICTURE TAKEN
one of a dock/hut over the water off of a remote island
19. FUTURE TRAVEL PLANS
moving to Haiti! Then we’ll see from there.
20. BUCKET LIST
Hiking in Patagonia, going to Cuba, scuba diving throughout Raja Ampat, hiking the Annapurna Circuit (and maybe Everest Base Camp), visiting Burma (Myanmar), going to Antarctica, swimming with a blue whale, and the list is on-going.
21. YOUR TRAVEL INFLUENCER(S) AND WHY
my father: he has taught me that there are no borders for the determined.
22. FAVORITE TRAVEL QUOTE
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us” -Anonymous
23. BEST TRAVEL HACK/YOUR TRAVEL TIPS
dress like you’re really poor on travel days, especially if you are planning on showing up in a place and negotiating lodging.