This is part of an ongoing series featuring AdventureWomen guests.
When did you start traveling with AdventureWomen?
Switzerland in May 2018 was my first trip. I wanted to try dipping my toe in international travel but wanted the protection and safety of a seasoned, travel-guided situation.
Why did you choose AdventureWomen?
AdventureWomen allowed me to travel with the protection of a group but as a single individual. Having an all-women environment was a more appealing situation for me after having traveled with men before.
How many trips have you been on?
Four: Switzerland, Montana skiing, Tanzania safari, and Thailand & Laos.
What was your favorite trip and why?
All the trips were special for me in different ways. However, Switzerland was the overall best. The group of women you travel with becomes a big part of the experience. Every guide, destination, and participant made that particular trip a special memory.
What’s something that no one would guess about you?
No one guesses I’m a pilot, even standing in front of them in uniform, including fellow employees.
What’s the one thing you’ve had to overcome in your life?
We all suffer from any variety of insecurities in life. I’ve had to overcome the fear of traveling alone, the fear of working in an industry where I am an extreme minority and not always welcome, and the fear of providing and caring for myself. My life has zig-zagged and wound like a river to bring me to a point of confidence in most every aspect. I know now why older people don’t care what others think very much. They have lived, seen hard times, achieved, worked hard, survived, and succeeded. This latter part of my life is gratifying, and I can focus on the things I want to learn and do as well as afford to give back to others.
What’s the most important thing to you?
Not having been raised with means, it is comforting to have financial stability at this point. With this financial stability I am now able to give back to those who struggle as I have.
After my travels with AdventureWomen to Tanzania, I began contributing to empower women as they started a sewing business. Widows and their children are extremely vulnerable in that society.
These women have turned their sewing efforts to mask making as they ride out this very serious health and economic threat to a vulnerable population. They are empowered to provide for themselves during this very difficult time.
On the home front, I’ve been working with the local child and family services to feed a former foster child as he transitions to college during this unemployment phase of COVID isolation.
If you could describe AdventureWomen in ONE word, what would it be?
Exploration.
Anything else you’d like to share with the AdventureWomen community?
Life is about making good choices. AdventureWomen is one of the best choices I’ve ever made. It allows me to expand my horizons, learn in a protected environment, meet like-minded people, and live my dreams. Visiting Egypt has long been a dream of mine, and I will be living it in October 2020 with AdventureWomen.
