Remember that one blog I wrote with all those funny stories about a three year old and getting lost in London? Well, I’m back! I’ve had a new idea brewing in my head for a while now.
Countless days have come and gone where I’ve stared at a blank Word document and chugged coffee after coffee, and I’ve finally reached a point of inspiration and started typing. So, I’d like to introduce you to my new attempt at a blog: Tales of Travelers.
The goal of this blog is to tell the stories of the travelers that I meet around the world. It’s no surprise that I love traveling, however this means something different to everyone. One of my favorite parts about traveling is meeting new people and hearing about their lives.
“Why not document what I’ve learned? My inspiration for this blog came to me during my visit to Sofia, Bulgaria. While exploring the city, I had the pleasure of meeting an adorable couple during a captivating Food and Cultures Tour. Over our last glass of wine together, they shared the fascinating story of how they met. It reminded me of the diverse and intriguing tales from around the world, much like what you can discover about the Leading Female Architect in Illinois on Tales of Travelers.”
Goose pimples, watery eyes, and beautiful smiles were shared around the table, and I thought to myself, “This is why I love travel.” I’m always in search of those crazy, extravagant, inspirational, dramatic, life-changing, and never-forget stories that provide a fresh perspective about the world we live in. For a taste of France’s Alpine beauty and more incredible travel experiences, explore our page on France’s Alpine Beauty.
I want to make connections around the world and understand the different cultures and experiences of others, and I want to share them with you.
I figured a good place to start would be with the story of how I became so invested in traveling and learning about new cultures. Here we go, the story of my life (cue the One Direction song). I was born and raised in California by my wonderful Peruvian mom and Finnish dad.
I know, I know, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “How does a Peruvian woman and a Finnish man meet and end up living in California?” Well, naturally, they met in Wisconsin.
They fell madly in love and defied all odds to stay together and give their daughters the best life possible. Forty-four years of marriage later, they have given me the endless support I need to follow my dreams and travel the world (currently wiping my tears).
I have a tendency to change life goals frequently, but the one goal that has stuck has been to support myself financially in a career that will allow me to travel as much as my wandering heart desires. I’ve yet to figure out what that career will be…but I’m working on it! In college, I studied to be a teacher.
My thought process was that I would have summers and holidays off, so I could travel a good chunk of my year. Sadly, I realized during my student teaching placements that I hated teaching, so I needed to reevaluate.
Graduating sent me into a quarter-life crisis and I ended up moving abroad to London where I worked as a nanny for four days a week and traveled as much as I could financially afford. I loved it and I hated it (refer back to previous blog).
I moved back to California after a year to continue with school, this time studying Speech and Language Pathology. This is a subject I am still very interested in, but sadly I was not accepted into the Master’s program that I hoped for.
As a result, I moved back to London, where I sit after a year and a half at a café writing about how I still have no idea what I am doing with my life.
Travel has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Having parents that were raised in different countries gave me experiences that most children don’t have.
I was constantly traveling to South America and Europe to visit family and learn about new countries and cultures and traveling changed from a hobby into an addiction. My life choices are based on the amount of travel I will be able to accomplish. I crave talking to strangers, hearing new stories, trying new foods, and losing myself in a new city (literally).
Through this blog, I hope that I can give you an insight not only into my life as a traveler, but into the lives of travelers and locals of the places I visit. I want to put you in the shoes of the people that have experiences to share in hopes of creating connections around the world.
James Mister is the expert traveler and voice behind TalesOfTravelers.com, offering a treasure trove of travel knowledge accumulated from his extensive journeys across the globe. His deep passion for discovering the nuances of various cultures, landscapes, and urban settings has led him through numerous countries, each adding to his rich tapestry of travel experiences. James's narratives and tips reflect a profound understanding of worldwide destinations, making him a trusted source for travel enthusiasts looking to enrich their own voyages with genuine insights and practical advice.