Get to Know Erica

Kia Ora! Welcome to the DTU Community! I am happy you have decided to come for a visit 🙂

My name is Erica and I have a pretty serious illness. Doctors have tried diagnosing it, but they just can’t seem to figure out what it is. Symptoms include: daydreaming, boredom, craving exotic foods, wearing a backpack on a daily basis, watching Travel Channel marathons, daily meditations, excessive itching, and strained eyes. After comparing my symptoms with some friends, we’ve discovered that I have the TRAVEL BUG and I can’t stop itching!

The bug reached my system in 2007 while studying abroad in South Africa for 5 months. After that trip, the bug remained inside, but I put traveling on the back burner due to the idea that I had to follow the path of the normal American young adult which included pursuing a career, meeting the man of my dreams, and starting a family. Over the course of the next 5 years, I always knew I had the urge to want to travel again, but I allowed certain fears to debilitate those dreams. After watching many of my close friends head off on their own solo journeys around the world, I realized that I needed to make a change and start pursuing my own travel dreams. Through their guidance and inspiration, I embarked on my own solo journey through New Zealand while on a working holiday visa and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The personal growth and relationships that I encountered on the trip, let alone the amazing scenery, left me wanting to explore new countries and cultures.

To get to know a bit more about me and how I overcame my fears while on my New Zealand trip, check out my  Traveler Portfolio!

I am currently doing a working holiday visa in Australia and just returned from a month in Bali, Indonesia which is one of the most magical and most challenging places I’ve ever been to. A place I highly recommend for those seeking a deeper meaning to the beauty that makes them who they are and how to apply that to a fulfilling life.

Kia Kaha, Kia Maia (Be Strong, Be Brave),

Erica