My mother and father once suggested that I study abroad while I was in college. My immediate response was, "Why would anyone want to do that? I would never want to live in another country!"

Two years later I did just that. Since then my whole out look on the world has changed as it has opened up to me. Now living abroad, as well as traveling, has become my way of life.

After living in Japan for two years teaching English, I volunteered for a Japanese NGO and completed my first around the world journey with the Peace Boat this past summer. I sailed around the world going through the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal. We stopped in various ports of call along the way such as Vietnam, Eritrea, Egypt, Greece on the opening day of the Olympics, New York, Guatemala, the list goes on and on!

Now I will be heading out on my own to travel my way through South East Asia, Australia, New Zeland, before heading back home to California. I plan on traveling for six months, well, at least that is what I am telling everyone at home! We'll see where the road takes me this time!