How My Travel Obsession Started…

The word “wanderlust“ comes from the German word “wandern” (hike) and “lust” (a strong desire). My “obsession“ began when my parents gave me the option in 1985, to have a “Sweet 16 Birthday Party” amongst 200 friends, MTV videos and a dozen gold bracelets as gifts, or to go on a 10 day trip to London with my high school drama club.

I chose the latter. It seemed like a no brainer. Ten days away from my parents? Ten days with my friends in a foreign country? Ten days with my first credit card buying fashion standouts from King’s Road while listening to Duran Duran on my walkman?

And once on the plane, I realized how lucky I was. I realized I was never going to take for granted the fact that I was so young, enjoying an exciting city essentially, with my peers and a beloved teacher (who I am still close with). I promised then that I would listen to every museum lecture, take every side street in, converse with locals, try the national dish and find much more in common with foreigners than what differences we had.

Nothing excites me more than thinking of a new place; being able to “see it in person” and then, share it with my friends and family and members upon returning home. What better legacy can I leave the earth than planting the seed for someone else wanting to go someplace that I just described to them through my words and photos? It makes me feel that I made a connection. The world is really not very big. I feel like what I do, in some way, brings all people together. I don’t think my “obsession“ will end; only widen as I grow older and wiser.