I inherited many things from my mother, but one of my favorite traits is definitely a wanderlust. She encouraged us to leave the nest, travel as much as possible, and be open to other cultures, customs, and experiences. She also taught me how to pack! We used to imagine that packing would be our talent in a pagent contest!

My first big adventure was a college study abroad in Israel during a time when study abroad was not nearly as commonplace as it is now. That semester trip turned into an unbelievable backpacking adventure around the Middle East and Europe ,which lasted an amazing nine months.

My passport was stolen in the first month, I hitchhiked in the Negev, I climbed the pyramids of Giza, and even lived in a cave on the island of Crete. I made lifelong friends, had great stories, and was forever changed.

Needless to say, the re-entry to college life was a bit disappointing! Luckily, however, the universe provided me with a job dancing in a circus in Mexico! That led to a life in NYC, and later to San Francisco. I look back on it all now and realize that I have always been planning the next trip!