About

I moved around a fair amount growing up, having to readjust and start over each time. I learned to look at the experiences as positive ones rather than negative. I could reinvent myself, make new friends, and learn about the values of a new town and new set of people. I could have a new life every time and that power became something I treasured.

I ended up getting a bachelor’s in journalism but couldn’t find a job that paid well and didn’t leave me miserable by the end of each day. I tried a few communications-related positions and then resolved to go to graduate school for journalism in order to make myself more marketable. Well grad school has come and gone and I’m not completely sure it was worth it but what I did gain was a renewed sense of self and a desire to blaze my own path and do things on my terms. I knew I wanted to write, I knew the things I wanted to write about and I knew my destiny didn’t involve sitting in an office 40 hours a week.

In every phase of my life I would figure out how to travel. I would be too broke for most things but somehow would make it to Texas to visit family, celebrate someone’s birthday in Florida or reconnect with friends in Bermuda. I got good at hustling a travel-centric lifestyle and decided I wanted to create a mobile life for myself so I would never feel bored and never feel stifled.

I joined Remote Year ,a travel program for people of all ages who want to travel while still maintaining their jobs. It is the cultural emersion and flexibility I’ve been dreaming off. The program practically takes you around the world in 12 months and offers a lifestyle that few will find easy to give up. Being surrounded by like-minded people has fueled me to do what I have to do to maintain this life and make no apologizes to people who don’t understand. So I’ve lived in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Dallas, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles and small towns in between. And now I can add Mexico City and Bogota to the list.

Whenever someone calls me they ask me where I am because I’ve just become that elusive. But no matter how far away I am from family, friends and familiarities of neighborhoods lived, I’m always at home where there is adventure. I’m always at home where there is love.

XX, Joi