Tried and Traveled

4 years ago, I moved to Kaohsiung, a coastal port city in the south of Taiwan. During those 4 years in Taiwan, I met some of my best friends, I uncovered truths about my mental health, I improved my Chinese, got my teaching license, adopted a dog… I lived a life that I don’t regret. Kaohsiung and the community I found there will always hold a special place in my heart, and will always be a home to me. But change is a necessary component for growth, and I still have some growing to do, so I decided it was time to leave Taiwan. I took a massive leap, and accepted a job teaching at an international school in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. While I know very little about the Middle East, I’m excited for the opportunity to try new foods, learn a new language, and explore a world far beyond my Taiwanese comfort zone. I’m excited for you to join me on my journey.

Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.

Anthony Bourdain 1956-2018