The Trip That Started it All

14 years ago today, I woke up on the other side of the world for the first time. I hadn't planned to go to China. At that time in my life I was more interested in travel within the western world. But my serious "boyfriend-at-the-time" won an internship to work at the Canadian embassy in Beijing, and he convinced me to come visit.

This trip was eye-opening and life-changing. My mind expanded beyond its previous borders. I witnessed for the first time different ways of living. I saw masses of humanity in all of their brilliance and beauty. New smells, sounds and tastes overwhelmed my senses in the best possible way.

This trip also sparked my interest in tropical fruits. I tried dragon fruit and lychees for the first time, and feasted on mini melons skin, seeds and all.

In China I fell in love with the world and felt an overwhelming desire to experience it all. I caught a serious travel bug that I've never been able to shake. I realized that the world is our classroom and I want to be it's perpetual student.