Keen Traveling

Change of Plans

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Nampula Sunset

“You are only one decision away from a totally different life.” – Mark Batterson

“Making a big life change is pretty scary. But, know what’s even scarier? Regret.” – Zig Ziglar

“Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision.” – Anthony Robbins

“There comes a time when you have to choose between turning the page or closing the book.” – Josh Jameson

“By knowing that you can fail and making the choice to take the risk, you will be setting yourself up for success and not failure.” – Jennifer N. Smith

“Life is about choices. Some we regret, some we are proud of. Some will haunt us forever. The message: we are what we choose to be.” – Graham Brown

“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” – Lewis Carroll

“You and only you are responsible for your life choices and decisions.” – Robert T. Kiyosaki

I did not expect to be writing this blog post. However, life is full of curveballs, change, and opportunities. The past four months with the Peace Corps in beautiful Mozambique have been great. I have learned so much about the Peace Corps, Mozambique, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and myself. I have also met so many incredible people. With that said, I have decided to resign, or in Peace Corps lingo, early-terminate (ET). This is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make and I do not take the decision lightly. While we have indeed been incredibly busy these first four months in the country, I have had a lot of time to think and reflect and I feel at this time it is the right decision for my future and me.

In the Peace Corps world, “ET-ing” often is looked at in a negative aspect. There are many reasons why volunteers decide to ET (family issues, boyfriends/girlfriends back home, medical reasons, change of heart, job opportunity, schooling opportunity, etc.) so, why is it usually seen as a negative? Is it because we take the US oath? Is it because we are volunteers in a foreign country? Is it because those who ET are thought to be in over their heads or weak? I do not have the answer to the question, but I do not view it as a negative. Are there people who ET for the wrong reasons? Maybe. Nevertheless, there are also plenty of people who ET because it is the right decision for them. In the end, we are all individuals and all have our own lives, goals, dreams, desires, families, etc. While it may not be the decision you would make, it does not mean it is the wrong decision for them.

What Now?

What are my plans now that the next two years have suddenly changed? Well, I am going to spend the next few months in Michigan spending time with my family during the holiday season. In addition, I am going to be pursuing a goal of mine that I have had for several years. What is the goal? Going to graduate school in Germany for my master’s degree. In the coming months I will be preparing my applications, applying for graduate school, and getting back into studying German (do not worry, the master’s program is in English). Some may ask why I don't wait until after Peace Corps to go to graduate school as so many volunteers do. Could I stay in Mozambique for two years and go to graduate school after? Yes. However, after much thought, consideration, and prayer, I believe that in the end, this decision right now is best for my future.

Thank You

To my family and friends in the States, thank you for always encouraging me to follow my dreams and supporting me in my decisions. I know many of my decisions have not been decisions that you would make or the decisions you would choose for me but you accept them anyway and encourage me.

To Peace Corps Mozambique, staff, host families, colleagues, host-country nationals, volunteers, and fellow cohort members, thank you for an amazing four months. It was great getting to know all of you and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for all of you. Whether it be in Mozambique, the US, or anywhere else in the world, I know you all will do great things in life. I will forever be grateful for the amazing friendships I have gained and the memories we have shared. Estamos juntos, sempre.

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Little Sleep, Big Dreams

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Peace Corps Mozambique 30It's 4 am on June 3rd and after just three short hours of sleep, it's time to head to Detroit airport to leave for the Peace Corps. My mom and sister take me to Detroit and after saying goodbye I fly to Philadelphia to meet up with 44 other trainees for staging.

Upon arriving at Philadelphia airport I meet up with a fellow trainee and head to the hotel where our staging event is being held. The staging event is around five hours and involves completing various forms, icebreakers, scenarios, self-reflection and assessmemt, logistics, etc. After the sessions come to an end we all go out to dinner to celebrate our last night in the United States.

It's now 2 am on June 4th and after just one hour of sleep (4 hours total the last two days) we leave Philadelphia on buses to New York City to fly to Mozambique. Shortly after arriving at JFK we check in, proceed through TSA, and wait for our first leg to Johannesburg, South Africa. After 14+ hours stuck in a flying tube over the Atlantic ocean, we arrive in Johannesburg. Coincidentally, while on our layover we meet Nancy, a current Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) on her way back to Mozambique from a trip home to America. We proceed to bombard her with a wide range of questions to get her insight, tips, and recommendations. After a nice lunch at the airport, it's time for our final leg to Maputo, Mozambique.Current Peace Corps Mozambique volunteers

A short one hour plane ride and we finally arrive in Mozambique! We file through immigration and gather our checked bags (nearly 100 bags!). After exiting the restricted area, we're greeted by current volunteers and Peace Corps staff anxiously awaiting our arrival and cheering. All of our luggage is loaded onto a trailer and we pile in two busses as we make our way through beautiful and bustling Maputo to our hotel for two nights.Getting on bus at Maputo airport

We arrive to a beautiful hotel where we have a quick orientation and snacks. The main tasks for the night are to get vaccinated for various things (varies by person), complete a medical interview, and get malaria medication. After completing my medical interview with the medical officers, I enjoy a delicious dinner with the other trainees as well as current volunteers who share their insights and wisdom with us.

It's been a busy couple days with very little sleep. The next day and a half will be filled with more orientation sessions and medical tasks before we move to our training village on Thursday and move in with our host families who we will be living with for the next 10-12 weeks.

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Friends Around the World

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One of the best things about traveling is the people you meet and relationships you build that turn into lifelong friendships. While the majority of the time I travel "solo", it doesn't mean I'm alone the entire time. Along the way, I meet people from all over the world whether it be at a hostel, restaurant, or just roaming the streets. To this day, some of my closest friends are those I met while traveling.

Here are some of my amazing friends and fellow travel enthusiasts. Find out their favorite places, worst travel experiences, travel tips, and more below!

Alex Germerott

Alex Germerott – Germany

Language(s) spoken: German, English, French, and a bit of Portuguese
Current location: Germany
Favorite place: Well it’s pretty hard to say which one was my favorite place. I liked the clear blue water in Rio de Janeiro but also the massive buildings in Tokyo.
Best travel experience: This is also hard to say, but one of my best experiences was the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Also, our last trip to Tokyo to meet up again.
Worst travel experience: When some pickpocketers tried to steal our bag at Ipanema Beach in Rio.
Travel tip(s): You definitely have to come to good old Germany and try German beer.
How we met: We met in Rio during the 2016 Olympics. It was a pleasure for me to work with you on the golf course.

Brent Folan

Brent Folan – United States

Language(s) spoken: English and conversational Spanish
Current location: Central America (sidenote: Brent doesn’t sit still)
Favorite place: Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, Cape Town, Mumbai, or Hong Kong
Best travel experience: The 2016 Summer Olympics or my 412 day trip around the world! Both have been so life-changing.
Worst travel experience: Actually very tough to think of one…food poisoning is never fun anywhere.
Travel tip(s):
1) Always wear a smile! Talk to the locals, they all have a story to tell.
2) Always step out of your comfort zone, it makes for the best stories.
How we met: 2016 Summer Olympics
Link(s): Instagram (@brentfolan) | Folan Finds

Donna Oosterbeek

Donna Oosterbeek – Netherlands

Language(s) spoken: Dutch and English
Current location: Netherlands
Favorite place: Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica and Rome, Italy
Best travel experience: No doubt the Traveling Spanish Classroom.
Worst travel experience: No doubt as well, Lloret de Mar, Spain. Way too many (sex) tourists and drunk people.
Travel tip(s):
1) The Traveling Spanish Classroom was an awesome experience. I recommend it to other people who want to combine traveling and learning Spanish.
2) Thailand is very nice. Pai in the north is very relaxing and chill. The Koh Pha-Ngan islands are very beautiful.
How we met: Traveling Spanish Classroom in Panama and Costa Rica
Link(s): Instagram (@donnaoosterbeek)

Helina Alvarez

Helina Alvarez – United States

Language(s) spoken: English
Current location: United States
Favorite place: I don’t know if I can pick just one. Greece and Namibia are tied!
Best travel experience: Five weeks in the Namib desert studying reptile ecology with people from Namibia, Botswana, and the US. We spent Christmas and New Years together and were able to experience such a beautiful culture.
Worst travel experience: Brazil. Although it’s a gorgeous country, being there during the 2016 Summer Olympics was insanely crowded. There was security/military standing on almost every street corner with large automatic rifles. I understand it was a safety precaution, but I didn’t feel safe there.
Travel tip(s): Be as respectful and polite as possible. Each culture, religion, and country can be very different from what you’re used to.
How we met: We were roommates for 2 days in Rio.
Link(s): Instagram (@caligirl_helina)

Karol Yela

Karol Yela – Colombia

Language(s) spoken: Spanish and English
Current location: Bogotá
Favorite place: Rincon del Mar, Sucre, Colombia
Best travel experience: The Olympic Games Rio 2016
Worst travel experience: None
Travel tip(s):
1) Ask local people for the best places to visit and the best way to do it.
2) Always visit the downtown and most popular neighborhoods to find the best food and customs.
3) Be open to the idea that everything is part of the trip, even the bad things. Don’t get mad because things didn’t go as expected. Just be patient to get out of trouble and keep going!
How we met: We were roommates in Rio de Janeiro.
Link(s): Instagram (@karolyc01)

Kaley Desher

Kaley Desher – United States

Language(s) spoken: English and Spanish
Current location: Spain
Favorite place: Barcelona
Best travel experience: Stargazing in the Sahara desert.
Worst travel experience: Getting lost in Seville.
Travel tip(s):
1) Be open to new experiences.
2) Be friendly with everyone you meet.
3) Embrace spontaneity.
How we met: We were roommates in Rio de Janeiro!
Link(s): Instagram (@kaleydesh)

Madi Brown

Madi Brown – United States

Language(s) spoken: English and Spanish
Current location: California
Favorite place: Antigua, Guatemala and Stockholm, Sweden
Best travel experience: Getting to visit people who I met earlier in my trip and being able to stay in touch with so many people from around the world.
Worst travel experience: Getting parasites in Peru.
Travel tip(s):
1) Don’t be afraid to travel solo.
2) Do your research.
3) Talk to people.
4) Do what you enjoy doing.
5) Don’t be afraid to get off the beaten path.
How we met: Traveling Spanish Classroom in Panama.
Link(s): Instagram (@madi01brown)

Max Germerott

Maximilian (Max) Germerott – Germany

Language(s) spoken: German, English, some French, and a little Portuguese
Current location: Germany (just returned from Tokyo)
Favorite place: South Africa
Best travel experience: Safari in South Africa and the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Worst travel experience: Being on the verge of a shootout in Paris.
Travel tip(s): Try to visit every place you’re interested in. Each trip is a lifetime memory.
How we met: During the Olympics in Rio. You worked with my brother.

Tamara Marzouk

Tamara Marzouk – United States

Language(s) spoken: English and intermediate Spanish
Current location: Los Angeles
Favorite place: Samara, Costa Rica
Best travel experience: I spent two months in Costa Rica and spent time with an amazing group of doulas and a midwife!
Worst travel experience: I get seasick, so I’ve had trouble on a few boat rides in different places in the world.
Travel tip(s):
1) Be careful about over-packing! You’ll regret it later. You can always buy essentials as you travel, so don’t lug too much around.
2) Take risks! Say yes to something you thought you would never say yes to, even if it scares you. Pushing your comfort zone can be a great opportunity for growth!
How we met: We met at a Spanish school in Turrialba, Costa Rica.

Tiffany Alvord

Tiffany Alvord – United States

Language(s) spoken: English, some Korean, and some German
Current location: South Korea
Favorite place: Everywhere I’ve gone but I’d have to say La Gonave, Haiti. Gorgeous views! The views from the plane literally made my jaw drop.
Best travel experience: I was in Haiti visiting family and we were in Anse-a-Galat waiting to take a boat (I use that word loosely – this “boat” was barely bigger than a rowboat and frighteningly rickety) to the small island of La Gonave. The views from the private dock were unbelievable! The views from the “boat” were incredible as well even though I held on for dear life the entire time. Still enjoyable.
Worst travel experience: I had a solo trip to Thailand and was on the last leg. I headed to Bangkok, got there later in the evening and decided to check out a night food market. I had the exact address and everything, but I ended up walking for two hours (after getting lost a few times) to find that the market was not where my GPS said it was. I was in some shady neighborhood. I booked it out of there and went back to the hostel exhausted, starving, and frustrated. I ordered a pizza and ate it on the rooftop deck…so I guess the ending wasn’t that bad!
Travel tip(s):
1) Always exchange more money than you think you will need at the airport. You never know if your cards will stop working or places will only accept cash.
2) Take trips by yourself! I’m literally scared of everything, but traveling solo has proven to me that I’m capable of so much more than I thought.
3) Try the “strange” local food. I tried a silkworm pupa where I’m living in South Korea and even though it was awful (so squishy!), it’s something I’ll never forget.
4) Be prepared for plans to go awry. Roll with the punches and just move on to plan B and sometimes plan C. It’s all part of traveling.
How we met: We worked at the same bank in Michigan
Link(s): Instagram (@tiffany.j.alvord) | Three If By Sky

Victor Virmino

Victor Firmino – Brazil

Language(s) spoken: Portuguese, English, and some Danish
Current location: Ireland
Favorite place: New York City
Best travel experience: London
Worst travel experience: Keflavik
Travel tip(s):
1) Use Skyscanner for plane tickets.
2) Always book a hostel directly with them.
3) Try to always travel with just a carry-on bag.
How we met: We were staying at the same hostel in Rio

Will McInerney

William (Will) McInerney – Australia

Language(s) spoken: English and some basic phrases in other languages
Current location: Home (Adelaide, South Australia)
Favorite place: Egypt is my favorite country! The history of the country is fascinating and how so many ancient monuments have been preserved/restored is incredible. The tombs inside Valley of the Kings are in such good condition…like they were made last week – mind-blowing!
Best travel experience: Being some of the first people of the day to explore places like Machu Picchu and Petra. Having few people around you just allows you to soak in everything and enjoy it at your own pace. Our guide to one of the best vantage points of the Treasury at Petra was a 7-year-old boy and the route to get there involves scaling rock faces. When we got up there he left us up there to find our own way down so we got to do some exploring to find our own way down which was all part of the adventure!
Worst travel experience: When trekking for Silverback Mountain Gorillas in Uganda, our tracker was attacked and mauled by a Blackback (juvenile Silverback) and surrounded by three Silverbacks all trying to grab him. One Silverback charged within a meter or two of me straight towards the tracker. It turns out we did not see that a mother and baby had joined the rest of the family and the males were trying to protect them. Apparently, it is rare for this to happen and everyone was okay, but it was pretty terrifying!
Travel tip(s):
1) Pack light and embrace everything!
2) Get up early and beat the crowds.
3) Do what you can when you can!
How we met: Volunteering at the Olympic Golf Course at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Link(s): Instagram (@wilburrrrr) | Instagram (@wherethereswilltherestravel)

Zandy Treviño

Zandra (Zandy) Treviño – Mexico

Language(s) spoken: Spanish, English, Portuguese, and German
Current location: Mexico (just returned from Asia)
Favorite place: Perito Moreno, Calafate, Argentina
Best travel experience: Guanajuato, Mexico
Worst travel experience: I can’t think of one.
Travel tip(s):
1) Travel with a student card to get discounts to museums and temples.
2) Always bring an extra lock.
3) Carry Advil with you.
4) Always bring a swimsuit and a jacket.
5) Start your trip with half of your bags empty.
6) You can bring things like tequila or local candy to give to the people you meet during your trip.
How we met: In a hostel in Montevideo, Uruguay
Link(s): Instagram (@zandytr)

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