Every country I’ve visited I’ve thoroughly enjoyed! To date, I have not had any real bad memories or experiences and have generally felt safe during my travels. A lot of people say, traveling makes you appreciate where you currently live, especially since most the people I know live in developed countries. This is true to an extent, but there are so many things I love about countries I’ve been to that just don’t exist in places like the United States. For instance, many countries rely on bikes and public transportation, which is almost non-existent in the Mid-West where I lived prior to Japan. Other countries, especially in Europe and Central/South America have a fantastic and relaxed night life. I love it when you can find a nice restaurant or bar, sit outside, and just enjoy your time slowly. I always feel rushed eating in the United States and the outside seating is never that flattering, mainly because the ridiculous alcohol laws in the States. I say this, because restaurants that serve alcohol in the States, always have a tiny outside space that is surrounded by metal gates, to me that always takes away from the atmosphere. 

I’ve always noticed, people around the world are so alike, we all have similar needs. We want a home, food, entertainment, to be close to family and friends, and set ourselves up for a successful future. I am very lucky for my up bringing, as these items have come easy to me compared to others. I’ve noticed people in developing countries work much harder to strive for the same goals, sometimes they seem less stressed and happier to. 

When planning for trips, I always like to write down some of the must see and eat places. I also like to leave a few days open to randomly explore. Usually I end up changing plans or getting recommendations from locals or people that have spent time at a destination. I like to mix both touristy attractions and off the beaten path places. I try to keep an open mind on every decision I make and sometimes this has led to my most memorable memories. Try, Do, and Experience as much as possible! 

I taught myself that if I don’t like a place to give it another day. I’ve been to a few places where I felt uncomfortable, bored, or even confused. An example is Berlin. I went with my mom. The day we arrived, it was gloomy and depressing for some reason along with just the hustle and bustle of a big city. I felt a bit overwhelmed and wasn’t sure, I mean it was night and day difference from other German cities I am used to like Munchen or Nuremberg. The next day, we took a hop on/off bus and started to get an understanding of the layout of the city. I started feeling more confident exploring the city and in the end I absolutely loved Berlin and cannot wait to go back! Another example I have was in Bermuda. I had an Airbnb that was kind of far from everything. It was located in a neighborhood, I felt kind of trapped and had no clue how I was going to explore the island. After a day of walking around, I went to the bus stop and they recommended me get a 3 day pass. I did this, and navigated the bus system with ease and learned how easy it was to get from Point A to Point B. This made a world of difference, because I was able to hop on a bus whenever I wanted to and get anywhere on the island. 

There are very few places that I would not travel to. I want to go everywhere and see everything. It seems like the more places I go to, the more eager I get to travel. Like the saying goes, “I have not been everywhere but it’s on my list!”