I spent the summer of 2019 laying the groundwork to be away for years: I got rid of most of my belongings, packed up the rest, transferred my phone number, set up a PO Box, drafted my trust and will; you know, the usual “I’m not living in this country anymore” stuff. My goal was to be gone for years, with pit stops in the States between continents.

Every “see you later” made me feel more loved and appreciated than I had ever felt. The last ones with friends in NOLA really hit hard as I left the country.

My salt streams were replaced with jet streams as I made my way to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. I made local friends and we went for little adventures all around the island.

I frolicked in Germany at Oktoberfest with American friends.

I drank wine in Lanzarote, where the vines grow in pits on the ground.

I ran a half marathon in Havana… and then another one in Vegas.

And when I came back to Long Beach for a bit, my friends graciously put a roof over my head and welcomed me, even for Thanksgiving.

In December, I headed out for the next leg of my adventure: SE Asia.

A smiling man stands on a sandy beach with the ocean and sunbathers in the background.Red dresses hang from a line across a street lined with cars and colorful buildings.A view between buildings shows a palm-lined road stretching toward the sea.Beer hall setting with a man in Lederhosen holding a pretzel and people in the background.A volcanic landscape with rows of semicircular stone walls on dark soil, with grape vines peeking up in the pits.A man takes a selfie near the starting line of a race in front of a historic building.Smiling runner stands with arms full of refreshments in a lively night setting.Flight map showing route from Los Angeles to Qingdao crossing the Pacific Ocean.A KFC with Chinese branding shows people walking in and a drink ad near the door.