Hey! Sarah here, the face behind this space. I’ve been traveling since the age of 12, visited 35 countries and counting & worked for an airline for several years. I’m grateful to have checked countless destinations off my bucket list with no signs of stopping.
Through these experiences, I’ve developed a deep love of travel and picked up a TON of tips, tricks and insights that I can’t wait to share with you!
But before I get into all that, let me tell you a bit more about myself.
THE BACK STORY
I caught the travel bug at an early age when my dad took me on my first international trip to London, Paris and Nigeria to meet my extended family. That experience was eye opening and made the world, which had once seemed so big and overwhelming, feel just a little bit smaller.
After that trip, I sought out any and every opportunity to satisfy my wanderlust – a study abroad in Botswana, my first solo trip to New York City when I was 20, a law school study abroad in China and even a paid trip to Indonesia to dance at an international basketball tournament.
Through each of these experiences, my passion for travel intensified. I recognized the power it has to dispel stereotypes, open hearts and minds and forge connections between the unlikeliest of people.
TAKING THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED
After graduating law school, I took a leap of faith, left the comforts of home in Indiana and made the move to New York City. I didn’t have a plan, I was just ready for a change and a bit of adventure.
While awaiting my bar exam results, I took a part time job with Delta Airlines. It was only supposed to be for the summer then I would go get a “real job,” settle down and start adulting. But things didn’t quite work out that way.
I had accomplished some of my biggest goals – graduating law school, moving to New York and passing the bar. But I found myself at a crossroads. Down one path was a secure job and eventually a spouse, house and a family. The other path was far less certain, which excited me.
I have always thought of life as a story that we’re writing one moment at a time. And at the end of my journey, I want my story to be one worth telling, a story that I can be proud of. So, I decided to set my own terms, break with tradition (and my father’s expectations), see what more was out there and dare to live a life that makes me happy rather than one that is expected.
I recognized my desire to travel wasn’t going away anytime soon, so I figured out a way to make it central in my life. I ended up staying with Delta, working only in the summers and enjoying the incredible flying benefits year round. And because the broke nomad life isn’t my jam, I also found a way to make my law degree work for me. I’m now a discovery attorney and work on a contract basis, which means I can set my own schedule. It also allows me the time to pour my energy into building and growing this space. (You can read the story behind House of Wend here).
JOIN THE ADVENTURE
I’ve accepted that my life doesn’t fit the typical mold. I also recognize how fortunate I am to have the freedom and flexibility to follow my passion, travel the world and now through this space, share what I’ve learned along the way with readers like you.
I realize that not everyone is able to travel in the manner that I do. But I also know that you don’t have to. The point is that you find ways, big and small, to do more that satisfies your soul and makes you feel alive. For me, that’s travel.
My goal is to make the process of traveling just a little bit easier by sharing my experiences, tips, destination guides and doing all that I can to encourage you to step out and explore our big, beautiful world.
I invite you to follow along on my adventures and hope they inspire you to open your eyes to all the beauty and possibilities that surround you every day.
Thanks so much for stopping by and happy wending!