I fell in love with travel at age twelve when my father led a university study abroad course to visit China. From bartering with local merchants at the night markets to get the best price for my mother’s pearl earrings to accidentally boarding a bus headed for prison, this trip was like stepping into a new world filled with sights, smells, and food that I couldn’t seem to take in fast enough. I was hooked.
Later that year my father led another course that would take my family to Ireland for three months, where I learned to fiddle, fully appreciate root vegetables and rain, and swear in a thick Irish accent. School breaks and holidays allowed ample opportunities to visit surrounding EU countries, and my family and I made our way across France, Portugal, Greece, and Spain.
Many family trips and a decade later, in January 2022, I set out on my first international trip alone, headed to study abroad in Florence, Italy for my final semester of university. Between classes, I spent my time walking by the tranquil Arno River, honing my gelato expertise, and immersing myself in the Italian language and wine.
That semester, I dipped my toes into solo travel, taking weekend trips to explore the whitewashed towns of Puglia, the sprawling vineyards of Tuscany, and the rolling hills of Piemonte. I culminated my final semester by skipping my graduation in the United States and spent the summer backpacking through Europe.
I left home again in the autumn of 2022 and headed to Mallorca, Spain to teach English. Getting there was a tedious and stressful process that involved taking my fingerprints myself while au-pairing in the rural Italian countryside and several long phone calls with the US Department of State when my documents were lost during a mailroom flooding incident. However, the island’s beauty quickly captured my heart after arriving in Mallorca. Here, I fell in love with late dinners, having a caña after a long hike, and exploring the numerous beaches and hidden coves.
In October 2023, I traded hemispheres for a working holiday with my mom and sisters in New Zealand. I spent my days surfing, chasing waterfalls and mountaintops, and getting quality family time. It was during this time that Passion Project Travel was born. One day while looking at old travel journals (a habit I’ve kept since that first visit to China) I decided to turn a hobby into a passion project.
This blog combines my love of travel, writing, and photography to provide tips and information to inspire your next adventure. Whether that’s solo backpacking Europe on a budget or family adventures and sisterhood in Oceania, this blog is packed with stories and recommendations. Everything I write about is something I have done or experienced, as I believe this is the best way to provide authentic travel content and information.
I’m so excited to have you here with me and I can’t wait to see where life takes me next.
Check out my other work!
- What to do in Seattle – A Travel Guide to Culture, Food, and Nature: One Planet Journey
- Travel News Writer: Islands.com