explore: to travel over (new territory) for adventure or discovery

I started exploring at age 17, when I swapped my hometown in Belgium for a little town in Argentina’s countryside. For a year, I lived in an Argentinian host family, drank mate and fernet, went to high school in Spanish, danced cumbia and became a carnivore. I fell in love with this incredible culture and couldn’t wait to start exploring others.

University brought me back to Belgium, but I wasn’t planning on staying long. I spent three semesters in vibrant cities at opposite sides of the world: Singapore, Montréal and New York City. Singapore made up the perfect introduction to Asia, as a cultural melting pot and hub to explore Southeast Asia. The scenery and people of Canada were enchanting enough to offset the winter temperatures. And waking up in the city that never sleeps for five full months was a dream come true.

When life as a student came to a close, I was determined to live and work abroad. I started my career at an international company in Belgium, relocating to Southern USA shortly after. My first months on American soil were spent in Louisiana, before moving to Texas. I was happy to call the city of Dallas home for two years: apart from being a great city to live in, it’s also the perfect base to embark on roadtrips through Texas and the American West.

I left Texas with many great memories and my partner in crime. Together we moved across the border, to live in Mexico City for close to two years. When we needed a break from the colorful but chaotic capital, we escaped for the weekend to one of the many natural wonders and pueblos magicos in Central Mexico.

Our next destination was waiting and we were cut out for it. The state of Virginia is a true nature-lovers paradise. We spent our free time camping along the East Coast, driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiking in Shenandoah, always with our teardrop trailer in tow.

After seven years in the USA and Mexico, we moved back across the Atlantic. Work landed us in the Alentejo region of Portugal, along the stunning Atlantic coast. Our beautiful new home country has us in awe with its pristine landscapes, delicious food and charming towns.