As a child, my favorite books were those with a map of a fantasy-land tucked just inside the cover: tales of journeys across seas inhabited with supernatural creatures, and magical obstacles met with wonder and courage. A few years later, as gained exposure to the wider, real world, nothing thrilled me more than the prospect of walking toward strange horizons and immersing myself in foreign sights and sounds and smells.

Two decades on, my dreams have come true: I’ve lived and worked in two foreign countries and had the great luck to travel to and meet people from many more. I sometimes think I feel more at “home” in communities of similarly unmoored wanderers than I do in any one place. Although moving around so much has been exciting and fascinating, it also means that I’m always a little bit homesick no matter where I am. It’s a fair price to pay, and I wouldn’t trade my meandering experience for a straighter path.

I recognize how incredibly privileged I am to have been able to wander voluntarily and safely.

It’s my belief that responsible, respectful, open-minded travel bridges lives and can enrich the perspective of both guest and host. I also think that someone can be a wanderer even if they take very infrequent or short trips. Wandering is more of an attitude than a quota to be filled, and a more accessible pastime than it might seem.

“Transient Local” is a kind of identity and travel philosophy. I try to be unassuming and adaptable while traveling: it’s the best way to absorb a place and feel a little like a local everywhere. Working as a foreigner essentially feels (and often is) temporary, transient. By starting this blog*, I wanted to connect with other travelers, of both the active and armchair variety, and to enjoy a casual creative outlet. Check out my Instagram for my latest views, and feel free to get in touch and share thoughts and tips!

By the way, I don’t usually go back to update these posts, so obviously information in them will become increasingly out-of-date…

*L’il Disclaimer:

The information contained in this website is for entertainment only. I do my best to ensure the information is correct, but I make no guarantees about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability of it for any purpose. I may link to other websites that I do not own or control, and assume no responsibility for the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the content found on those websites. Some ads may appear near my content, placed by WordPress as part of their free website hosting service– I do not endorse any of these products.