Readers have asked my why I chose the name “Lost Abroad” for my blog. I usually respond because all the good names were taken. But in truth, I found that “Lost Abroad” has many levels that reflect my experiences and motivation for traveling.

 

Let’s start with the first word, “Lost”. Firstly, I do have a propensity for getting lost. In my late teens, I once had to drive from my hometown in southeast New York to the city of Kingston in upstate New York - a drive that should have taken just over an hour. Four hours later, I phoned my parents for directions from Scranton, Pennsylvania. So yeah, there is that….

 

But also, I have had some of the most amazing traveling experiences by getting lost. If I feel like taking a left and seeing what’s there, I take the left. If I fancy climbing a hill to see what’s on the other side, I climb the hill. By going off the beaten path, I ate freshly caught fish in the most amazing cliffside cafe overlooking the sea in Tenerife, Spain. By throwing away the map, I ended up spending a weekend in a convent in Pisa, Italy. I find that, when traveling, it’s often the unexpected that has the most impact. And there’s no better way to find the unexpected than to get yourself lost.

 

“Lost” for me has another meaning. The same way people can get “lost” in a thought or feeling, I get lost in the experiences of traveling. I have no concept of time or place or my place in the world. I simply go with the flow and open myself up to whatever the experience has to offer. 

 

Then there’s “Abroad”. My first experience of traveling properly was during my study abroad year in the UK - so perhaps it’s in homage to my first real international adventure. Also, having lived and worked in four different countries so far, I haven’t just travelled overseas, I have really lived abroad. I’ve been a fishmonger in Boston, an events organizer in Brighton, and bartender in Zurich. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to embed myself within a society to really gain insight into the lives of others - their beliefs, cultures and, mostly, how they like to unwind and have a good time!

 

So, there ya have it: Lost Abroad. It just came to me one day and I thought it summed me up perfectly (although my father insists I should call myself “A Broad Lost” - refusing to let go of my New York/ Pennsylvania adventure of years ago).

 

I’m Lost Abroad: living and traveling abroad, and, more often than not, getting lost in one way or another!