Window or aisle seat?
Window.
What are the three things you never leave home without when you're traveling?
1) My passport.
2) My camera.
3) My credit card.
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
Bringing people back from the dead.
Would you rather spend a day scuba diving with sharks, hiking in the Himalayas or hot air ballooning in Turkey?
Ooooh... I want to do all of those things, but if I can only choose one I would go on the Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia.
What’s the hottest place you’ve been to? What about the coldest?
The hottest place I've ever been to is definitely where I live in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. It was 117 Fahrenheit one summer day. The coldest place was when I went home to Cleveland this past February and it was -16 Fahrenheit. The worst is that it felt even colder with the lake effect. My family lives right against Lake Erie and the wind chill factored in.
What accomplishment are you most proud of in your life?
Walking on to the Bowling Green State cross country and track teams at Division I collegiate level. Being able to compete throughout my entire college career with such amazing runners made me improve as an athlete and a person.
In what moment or trip did you fall in love with travel?
When my boyfriend took me to Chicago on an Amtrak train back in 2008.
What is the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? Where did you eat it?
Definitely escargot in Paris, France. They were so slimy and covered in this green "butter." I usually don't eat meat or dairy, but I promised myself I would try the snails. Honestly, it didn't taste too bad, but it was really flavorful and just... snails.
What is your dream adventure?
Traveling all around Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. Number 1 is to hold a koala! Then visit Sydney, Ayers Rock, scuba in the Great Barrier Reef, visit Coober Pedy and find the perfect Opal and see the underground living. Visit Melbourne, stay in the Q1 tower in Queensland and go to Castle Hill. Go to the Telstra Towers located on the summit of Black Mountain in Canberra where there is a revolving restaurant... and go to Tasmania. Visit the Bay of Fires and Cradle Mountain where there is also a Tasmanian Devil and wildlife Sanctuary. I'd then go to New Zealand and definitely try Zorbing and after that, end in Fiji to possibly cliff dive, watch a firewalking ceremony, and just relax and enjoy the culture. I've been thinking about this for a long time which is why there's so much I want to do :)
What is your mantra or favorite quote?
It is usually:
"All that we are is a result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become."
-Buddha.
But then I just heard Nelly's "Heart of a Champion" and that's sticking in my mind at this moment:
"If hard work pays off then easy work is worthless
My work habit ain't no habit man, I do it on purpose
I push myself to the limit so my talent'll surface."