My name is Lauren Nelson, and I am a recent Boston University graduate from the small American city of Woburn, Massachusetts.
When I was in school, my parents and teachers always told me that after college came entry into the so-called “real world.” To them, that mostly meant a desk job and monthly bills – life on the grind. Unfortunately, I’ve been cursed (or, in my mind, blessed) with a phobia of cubicles, rush hour traffic, and 8am coffee lines. As you can guess, then, I’ve decided to opt out of the post-university entry-level job hunt and blaze my own path instead.
So far, here’s what I’ve chosen to do with my time:
In 2007, I trekked through the deserts of the Peruvian coast, eventually crossing the country’s dust-ridden highlands and hiking the Inca Trail to the mountaintop ruins at Machu Picchu. That same year, I swam with piranhas in the Amazon, snorkeled side by side with sea lions and sharks in the Galapagos Islands, and scaled the active and dormant volcanoes of Ecuador.
In 2008, I criss-crossed the entire country of Israel, from the mine-ridden Golan Heights in the north to Eilat in the south. I let jagged mountains pass me by as I slipped into Jordan, visiting the Nabatean archaeological site still standing at Petra. I consumed too many glasses of sangria to remember in Madrid, visited the tallest religious structure in the world in Casablanca, and watched cobras dance to snake charmers’ songs in Marrakesh.
In June 2009, I moved to Guilin, a city in the southern province of Guangxi, China. Since then, I’ve taught high school and university-level English and have been studying Mandarin in my spare time. In the summer of 2009, I backpacked through Sichuan and Yunnan provinces; since then, I have rambled along the colonial streets of Macau, consumed my fair share of Cantonese food in Guangzhou, admired Shanghai’s ever-expanding skyline, reflected upon eons past in Hangzhou, soaked in the otherworldliness of Chungking Mansion in Hong Kong, and faced the iron grip of authoritarian China in Beijing.
I have no plans to stop seeing the world at any time in the near future, and have just recently returned from a two-month, life-changing journey to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. I hope to launch a career in nonprofit work in the coming years, and eventually establish my own NGO dedicated to the education of women in the developing world. Far from the daily routine of American suburbia, I am living to educate myself and others on the positive benefits of global travel, awareness, and engagement.
Lauren – this page is beautiful. I’m so happy that you’re having such wonderful adventures! I think its hilarious that we both ended up with blogs
Lauren – You’re fabulous and inspiring
I look forward to reading more about your journey!
Thank you for dropping by my page. I find your blog fascinating as well. Cheers from one travel blogger to another!
Claire – http://firsttimetravel.wordpress.com
Wow! Your story is SO interesting! I found you through the Matador Network. I’m also a Bostonian at heart (grew up in Sudbury just West), but currently live outside DC. Can’t wait to read more about your amazing-sounding travels.
Wow, I’m really glad that a rainy day in sylvanus-wood, creeping on facebook, led me to discovering your beautiful experiences with the world. The way you live your life is inspiring. I’m glad to know you’re doing well. Hope we bump into eachother at some point in the near future- I’d love to hear more about your adventures
-Alicia
Now that’s the way to live !
Other than the fact that the area around Guilin is one of the beautiful places on earth, I’m curious as to why you chose to settle there when “the world is your oyster”.
Good luck with everything you set out to do.
All I can say is, Wow. You have an amazing story, and breathtaking photos. I work for Uptake.com and I think your site would be a great addition to our new Travel Gems program.
Feel free to drop me a line if you have time.
Michelle
Michelle,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I must say that I’m flattered you’ve managed to stumble upon my blog. I’d love to get in contact with you about some of the work that’s being done for Uptake.com’s Travel Gems program. My e-mail address is lauren.emily.nelson@gmail.com – in addition, I’ve sent a quick note to the Travel Gems e-mail address. Hope to hear from you soon!
Best,
Lauren
You forgot to mention your travel buddies, Baozi and pilly!
Lauren, thanks for the comment on my shot from Longshen. I was so awestruck by that area that I would love to go back. We had stopped at Guilin and Xingping before heading to Longshen and I know you have really found yourself a wonderful place to live! I don’t think most people believe me when I tell them how awesome China really is!
I want to work out in China. Hysterical.
Hello Lauren,
From one travel writer to another I must say how I’m impressed with your website. I came across your site through a link on everything-everywhere.com as I work for GlobeNavigation.com a popular travel site we would like to work together by linking to each other. We think your site would interest our users.
Good luck on your ventures, perhaps we cross paths one day!
Lauren, I just found your blog, and found it quite an interesting read.
I managed to sign up on your email update list. But have you considered RSS, Twitter, Facebook Fan pages?
Good luck, and I look forward to reading!
You are a brave person…
I have a 13 year old daughter… I’d freak out if she’d do something like you; but I’d be tremendously proud of her too
Absolutely good work Lauren. I hope you find success in your efforts and I know you will. I agree that a “whirlwind” tour of a region really won’t get you deeply immersed in the culture. But I think the world is big enough that it’s ok. I myself have done it in Southeast Asia, and it seems like you will do it as well.
I look forward to looking at more good blog entries from you. 加油！
Hi! I would like to swap links with your site. My blog is http://www.travelocafe.com. I’ve already added you under my “Links” section on my page. Please send me the description you favor for your site. Thank you!
I’m also looking for guest bloggers. Please let me know if you’d be interested in being featured on Travelocafe.
Regards, Laura
What an inspiring story! Will sure follow your adventures from now on. Safe trips!
was looking for some vietnam backpacking stuff til i stumbled on your blog.
this is nice
. i’m stuck in some sort of corporate shit right now.. but at the same time, it’s the one that fuels my passion for travelling.
good luck with your future travels!
I have a project that I am just now working on, and I have been looking for such information… Regards
Sounds like an amazing story. I wish I could do something similar but find myself with a phobia of what lies outside the bounds and security of a cubicle.
Having said that I did move to China, maybe this will be the start of my travels…
Wow, Your journey is really life enriching. How lucky you are to experience all these different places. Is a dream of mine as well. I love exploring. Would you call yourself an adventurer?