Mimi ni Nashipai!

Neuroplasticity... refers to the changes that occur in the organization of the brain as a result of experience.

Growing up in Florida, the winter holidays meant bright lights wrapped around palm trees and spray-on snow. Florida's natural pines were never the nice conical plastics we purchased from stores. The Christmas trees I saw on TV and movies were all fake, perfected versions of the irregular tropical pines that grew naturally; I was certain of it. That is, until we moved back to Chicago in 1997 (where I was originally born). All along the roads were snow-covered, perfectly conical trees! They grew "just like that"! They existed!

That's when I realized my sense of reality had been altered forever. Chicago transformed everything I had known to be true in my short life: the weather can fluctuate between extremes... there's cultural, linguistic, and culinary diversity... I can feel safe in this preppy school... there's almost 3 million people around me...

I had never imagined anything like it. And I loved it!

What else did I not know I didn't know? I had to know!

I've been addicted to travel ever since. Wanderlust has taken me to about half the states in the US, parts of Canada, and 7 other countries. I'm thirsting for more.

Upon return from my first trip to Kenya last year, I did my best to put my thoughts into words:

"I cannot express what this experience has meant to me. Some people say it changed their lives, but to me it seems to have added a whole nother dimension. My frame of reference for understanding what life is about and the spectrum of people, cultures, environments, attitudes, etc., including where I fit in it, has been expanded indefinitely. I can already see that this blossomed global perspective will help me in my personal and professional life. And relying on the ripple effect, hopefully I can spread my enthusiasm to others so that eventually we will have increased tolerance, empathy, and altruism in this world."

Maasai villagers called me Nashipai, which in the Maa language means "Happiness". This blog title translates to "I am (called) Happiness!" Indeed, I was constantly happy to be in their presence and welcomed so thoroughly into their lives. With this attitude, I invite you now to follow me in my adventures around the world in the hopes that the travel bug will bite you as well, so you can get up and go change your mind.