The world is a book, and those who do not travel only read a page.
– St. Augustine
A pivotal moment in my life, and a nexus of sorts, was when I spent a year living in Brazil as an exchange. I turned 17 in Brazil – early into my experience – and I still see it as a clear transition from child to young adult. Many values, mental models, and world understandings took root while traveling, learning a new language, and making many friends.
The year provided a foundation of confidence. It was a hard and, in many ways, a very guttural year with deep emotions. But it was a beautiful year filled with wonder and learning. It formed the bedrock of my identity. Brazil sparked my core value of wanderlust — a need to explore the larger world and a curiosity to understand others.
The experience shaped the trajectory of my life in many ways. I made decisions based on that value (and related values, such as empathy and openness to ideas and experiences).
I decided to attend the University of Michigan and study Latin American Studies.
I met Renee, a fellow wanderer (studying Near Eastern Studies), and we married.
We became teachers in the inner city of Houston. Our students a beautiful mixture of the world.
We traveled. Everywhere. Egypt. South America. Europe. North America.
We adopted 3 Colombian children.
I helped launch an education company. One of its core values (indeed, its very name) is to be open. To encourage new ideas, learnings, and connections that lead to better outcomes.
This merely scratches the surface and really is a short highlight. Yet, I find this realization to be powerful. Understanding why who you are is always powerful.
Why Now?
So why post this college admission essay 🙂 ?
It’s our 30th anniversary of the most amazing trip I’ve ever taken. Back in January of 1995, I boarded a bus to explore the northeast of Brazil with 150 exchange students from around the world. For a solid month, we explored, danced, laughed, cried, and generally did all the feelings.
Earlier this year (2024), I had a blind reach out on Facebook asking “are you the Zach from Brazil 1995? If so, we have a WhatsApp group, and we’re thinking of doing a reunion trip.”
It was an easy decision.
Next week, I hop on a plane for 10 days in Florinopolis. Some of that time will be old friends who I don’t remember. Some of it will be simple solo travel. This time, I’ll have a computer with me (along with a trusty journal), and I plan to do a good bit of writing.
An Inflection Moment
The truth is, it’s a good time to do a walkabout.
I find solo trips to be enlightening. This habit started my first time in Brazil (and I’ll no doubt hash out a few memories in the next posts). Back in 2001, I backpacked through Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. By the end of that trip, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and Renee and I were engaged. Wandering is good for the soul.
I’m in my late 40s. Two of our children have moved out of the house (with the last graduating this year). Abre is beginning to really take off as a company (and its future is less hazy). Renee and I are peering into the decade of our 50s and getting…excited about what is next.
It will, of course, feature lots of travel.
