Where I traveled to, lived & volunteered:

2022-2025, sequential

Thailand (most notably, a rural farm in Northern Thailand): This was my first time leaving the country I was born in, on a whim, with a one way ticket. I ended up staying in Asia for a full year. In Thailand, for a portion of my trip, I was able to live on a rural, off-grid farm where I learned about sustainability, different cultures, agriculture, land-based Stewardship, local plant-based cooking, community, and more. I got to participate in cultural ceremonies and celebrations, meet and teach English to young monks, clean the temples, serve at the ceremonies and more, all while living on an off-grid farm nestled in the mountainous regions of Chiang Mai.

In addition to this experience in Thailand, I also taught English at a homestead to local children and adults, worked at other local establishments, and overall explored different parts of the land and my inner land. I primarily spent a lot of time living between different hostels, farm stays, home stays, hotels, tents, etc. I was grateful to find a service that allowed me to participate in these such experiences.

Japan: After Thailand (which will be in my heart for a lifetime) I set out to Ichinomiya, Japan (a small coastal town in close proximity to Tokyo, where I was able to take a few trips) the intention was to exchange work to live in a bnb/hotel that was also a skate park/ surf studio/ etc etc with others, and I quickly realized that this hyper social experience wasn’t for me. Realizing I wanted to prioritize more rest at this time, I retreated to a small, quiet room in Sapporo, Japan for about 3 months.

Cambodia: In Cambodia I got to experience teaching English in an independently owned school where I also lived with the host family (on campus) with other volunteers. This was a short experience but filled with plenty of magic. I don’t believe I was in the right space to experience Angkor Wat, but I believe I will enjoy this experience of/with it at the right time.

Benin, West Africa: I initially traveled here to experience an annual festival, and while I was here I was grateful to be able to teach at an independent school that prioritizes education, sustainability, and community care. I taught English lessons and sang with the students weekly. I also got to meet, spend time with and learn about the operations of one of Benin’s only trans led and operated organization whose focus is on justice and equality within the lgbtq+ community, particularly for transgender individuals.

Big Island, Hawaii: Whew, by this time, things were starting to feel very different in life. Here on the Big Island, I served/worked/volunteered/did land based work in exchange for being able to live on the land with the occupants. I deepened my understanding of caring for the land, expressing myself, living in community, living off grid, eating from the land, sustainability, creation and much more,

Sarasota, Florida: After traveling for a few years, I went back to where I was raised to participate in my first in person internship with my school through Environmental Discovery Awards Program (EDAP). The organization was called Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS). The mission behind MISS is to create a more diverse and inclusive community within the shark sciences. The organization is focused on education and outreach to help build the new generation of shark scientists and also provide tools to fundraise and apply for grants to create paid opportunities, such as the internship through EDAP.

Each experience prepared me for the next and I always believe I’m being led and guided to exactly where I need to be, even amidst tribulations and shadows. I’m grateful for my experiences and what I’ve learned so far.

On August 1, 2025, These experiences are at a pause of being detailed here.