​An Expat’s Reflection: A Personal Perspective on Today’s America and the Journey of Life and Travel

While I generally like to keep things focused on travel and the adventures that come with it, sometimes the world around us compels us to pause and reflect. Coming off the extended holiday season here in Italy, I’m back at work full force for my clients and my students—but I couldn’t help but share a perspective shaped by a lifetime of wandering, living abroad, and witnessing history firsthand.
I’m writing to you not just as a travel advisor, but as someone who has lived, traveled, and deeply experienced life in many places—including my birth country, the United States. Now living abroad, I look back as an expat, and sometimes that view from 5,000 kilometers away stirs up a mix of emotions: hope, frustration, fear, and most of all—wondering what’s next.

My Maternal Grandfather

🕰️ Lessons From the Past: Travel as a Teacher
My solo travels truly began over 40 years ago during a 2 ½ month backpacking journey across Europe in 1985—though it wasn’t my first time abroad, having lived in Poitiers, France, some 50 years ago. That trip was a real adventure, filled with nights spent on park benches, in youth hostels, and cheap hotels, embracing the unpredictable rhythm of the road.

The following year, 1986, marked the start of a new kind of journey—one by car. After buying my first brand-new car at age 24, I became quite the road warrior. Over the next several years, whenever I had the chance—summers, spring break, and other holidays in between—I set out on countless road trips, traveling America’s backroads and highways across all 50 states. Yes, I’ve driven in every single one. My journeys extended beyond the U.S., including numerous trips to the ten provinces of Canada, the Yukon Territory, and places in Mexico. By the time I was 26, I had that claim to fame of having been to all 50—learning firsthand about the incredible diversity of people and places, from the wilderness of Alaska and Hawaii, the heart of the Deep South, the bustling Northeast, and everywhere in between, as well as the warm welcomes of folks across Canada and parts of Mexico where I traveled.     ​

These road trips deeply enhanced my understanding of my own country and neighboring lands, letting me meet people from all walks of life and adding rich layers to my travel experience. I was also inspired by Charles Kuralt, whose On the Road series was a beacon of storytelling that captured the spirit and heart of America’s people and places—a reminder of the beauty and resilience found in every corner of this vast country.

Before these adventures, I’d traveled a great deal in America and Canada by Greyhound and Amtrak—guided in spirit by Simon and Garfunkel’s melodies, Jack Kerouac’s restless muse, and other artists who celebrated the open road as a metaphor for life’s journey. From my earliest travel memories cruising along the Erie Canal in Upstate New York as a child, to moving to Minnesota at age six, and returning to New York City after school, travel has always been central to my story.

One memorable chapter of that European backpacking trip was a Mediterranean cruise that broke down mid-voyage—three of four engines failed, leaving us stranded without water, food, or air conditioning under the August sun. This incident was just part of the unfolding adventure and challenge of the trip, with passengers—including myself—taking action to ensure our safe return.

That same year, global events like the hijacking of the Achille Lauro served as reminders of how travel is often intertwined with world history and security concerns. On arrival in Athens after the cruise, security was tight, with the airport crowded with armed military personnel—a vivid contrast to the freedom of travel in better times.

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🌍 Embracing the World Through Teaching and Travel
Throughout my life, I’ve had the privilege to meet people from all walks of life and corners of the globe. From my early days teaching elementary school in the heart of New York City to now teaching English here in Italy and working closely with students and professionals in the travel industry, these experiences have broadened my perspective in ways nothing else could.
I’ve always believed that travel is the best educator—it immerses you in cultures, stories, and viewpoints that classrooms and books can only hint at. This journey of being both a traveler and teacher has shaped my open mind and deep appreciation for diversity. It’s a reminder that no matter where we come from, we share a common human spirit, which is the foundation for connection and understanding—core values I carry into my work as a travel advisor and educator.

🇺🇸 America’s Fabric: Built on Immigrants
On a personal note, as I have possibly shared before in my blog posts, my maternal grandfather emigrated from Poland and became a dentist in the U.S.—a “real jawbreaker” in the U.S. Army during WWII. Calling him this is a reference to a character in the 1970 movie M*A*S*H, one of my favorite movies and the TV show that happened afterwards, also my absolute favorite of all time, but I digress. His journey is emblematic of the countless immigrant stories that have woven the rich tapestry that is America. Indeed, America was built on immigrants and by immigrants, people who came seeking a better life and contributed their dreams, skills, and culture to the nation’s fabric.

🗓️ Reflections at Critical Moments: 9/11 and Beyond
Fast forward to 2001—the tragic events of 9/11 hit me like a gut punch. Though I was in Minnesota at the time, far from my New York City roots where I spent many formative years, the emotional impact was profound. I couldn’t physically help those affected, but I supported local travelers and the travel community however I could. That year, major international travel events were redirected to New York, and I was there witnessing firsthand the city’s resilience and the travel industry’s vital role in healing and connection.

🇺🇸 An Outsider Looking In: America Today
Living abroad yet deeply connected to Minnesota, New York, and the heart of America, I’ve watched recent events unfold with both concern and a stubborn hope. Yes, I am quite a stubborn person, if you did not know, and that has been good and bad at times, but it has also gotten me this far into my 60s. America continues to face challenges that are significantly impacting its communities and its global reputation. From this vantage point, I see not just headlines but real people grappling with change—and I question authority, biases, and narratives in search of truth. I stand with those who seek progress through dialogue and inclusion and mourn the divisions that make such essential conversations harder to have. This is not sudden; it’s been building beneath the surface for decades and for as long as I can remember, perhaps since high school in the ‘70s.
​I’ve long been a student of history because, as the saying goes, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Reading George Orwell’s 1984 years ago opened my eyes to the importance of vigilance and critical thinking—lessons that feel especially relevant today—and I had amazing teachers who preached critical thinking and reasoning about what was happening then and remaining critical of what is happening now.

✈️ Why Travel Still Matters
Through it all, my faith in travel remains strong. Traveling isn’t just about visiting new places or ticking off destinations—it’s about empathy, understanding, and shared humanity. It reminds me—and hopefully you—that the world is vast, complicated, and beautiful. Our journeys shape us; they teach us to appreciate different perspectives, to question, to grow.
As your travel advisor, part of my mission is to help you experience the adventure and connection that travel offers. Even when the world feels uncertain, these experiences remind us of hope and possibility.

💬 Your Perspective Matters
I invite you to think about your own views and journeys—whether at home or abroad—and to remember that every story, every trip, every conversation matters. This post is as much a reflection for me as for anyone reading, from a person who feels deeply connected to the land he called home for more than 60 years and the wider world he has explored and will continue to explore as long as there is breath in his body and soul.

Thank you for allowing me to share this—I welcome your thoughts and reflections. And now, let’s get back to what travel brings us: adventure, discovery, and the chance to experience life to its fullest.

Safe travels—wherever your next journey takes you.
Jamie
Wandering Puffin LLC
“Travel is an Adventure, Experience it!”