Tunisia - 2015

In a way, this Tunisia trip started it all. I spent May 2015 traveling throughout the country while studying the Jasmine Revolution and Arab Spring with a political science class. It was my first time out of the country, and of course I chose to go full speed ahead right away. A mere two months before we left, the Bardo National Museum terrorist attack took the lives of 21 people - mostly tourists. After weeks of back and forth with the university, we were finally given the green light. That “go ahead” and the leap of faith I took shortly after changed my life forever.

Not only did this trip teach me that lost luggage isn’t the end of the world, but it also taught me to check my expectations and United States bias at the door before stepping into a new country. I learned so much about humanity, democracy, courage, and beauty from Tunisia, and I’ve been a fierce advocate for getting off of the beaten path ever since.