A Kiwi in a fancy dinghy rode up to me on a dock at a remote hotel in Rio Dulce, Guatemala. What ensued was one of the most insufferable conversations I’ve ever been party to. Here’s what happened.

I’ve been in countless uncomfortable situations to better my language comprehension, from which I've learned a lot, and I’m sure I’ll be in many more. So I want to offer some advice from my experience learning languages abroad.

2021 was my first full calendar year as a nomad. I spent time in 28 cities in 11 different countries on 3 separate continents, and you can see exactly where I’ve been and when with this interactive Google map. In that time of traveling and working as a digital nomad during a global pandemic, I’ve learned a lot – both about the world and about myself. The following are six stories about the lessons I’ve learned.

Here’s what I consider when deciding where to go (and what I’d recommend anyone who wants to travel internationally take into consideration).

Being a writer that relies on technology and good connections to earn an income; I have learned a lot about how to navigate tech and travel.