In 2002 I studied abroad in Queensland, Australia with an amazing program (the School for International Training) and absolutely loved it. It was not the first time I had traveled, but it was my longest time away from home and I have never looked back since. This experience helped to start to change a lot of my ideas about life and the world and got me a bit addicted to seeing new places and meeting new people. Upon returning to the US, I decided I needed to finish school and get out on the road as soon as possible. So I did it. I am an environmental biologist by education and environmental issues are something which will always be very important to me. I tried to figure out the best way to incorporate this with a nomadic spirit.

After university ended for me, I felt a need to try something a bit different than most Americans. After a great short conservation job in the Sierras in California and a backpacking trip around Europe, I made the leap and decided to join the Peace Corps in 2004. I lived in the Philippines for over two years as a volunteer and this country found a way into my soul. It made me realize even more that I loved traveling and learning about different cultures. It also confirmed my idea that I did not want to live my life like a lot of other people and needed to break out of the common mould. Currently I am still on the road traveling and doing short stints of volunteer work in Southeast Asia. I am still trying to figure out exactly how to live the best way possible, but I think I have a bit of a grasp on it: simply, sustainably and with a nice dose of new places and people thrown in there for good measure. I am sometimes conflicted as to if I am having the best impact possible and living as sustainably as I can, while at the same time traveling around the world, but I think I am doing OK.

I am currently volunteer teaching in Myanmar and am enjoying taking in the people and situation of this forgotten land. After this I head to Cambodia for some more volunteer work. If you want to find out more about recent travels and work in SE Asia, check out blog of girlfriend and I at www.seatravels.blogspot.com
For our experiences in Myanmar check out www.burmadiary.blogspot.com