For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to experience life and culture outside of my norm.

It wasn’t until my college graduation that I was able to travel specifically to Club Med Cancun. I loved every minute of it and couldn’t believe how turquoise the water was. It’s where I learned to snorkel, was taught the basics of sailing and where I first fell in love with traveling so it will always have a special place in my heart.

I didn’t travel much in my 20s due to financial restrictions but finally in my 30s, I was able to start seeing the world. I have averaged two trips each year for the past 15 years and have been on 10 cruises, 6 Club Med trips, several resort and city stays as well as a handful of vacation rentals by owners.

As I’ve been traveling and learning about other cultures, their traditions and regional cuisines, my palate has grown exponentially as has my curiosity in how to prepare the dishes in my own kitchen. I’ve experimented with combinations of recipes and most recently went to cooking school in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Cooking ethnic cuisine has given me a deeper understanding about the culture, its history and evolution.

I find that food and travel go hand in hand in the thirst for knowledge and if I can help embolden one person to try new cuisines or travel somewhere different outside of his or her comfort zone, then I feel I have done my part as a student of life and an ambassador of my country and my culture. Learning is living and living is learning.