About Me

I lived in Phoenix, Arizona for 13 years, teaching Spanish & English as a second language.

As the story goes with so many other people, the recent economic downturn gave me the opportunity to do something different. I had always wanted to be a long-term traveler, so I decided it was time to hit the road.

I left the US in 2009. I first spent seven months in Vietnam teaching English. Then I moved to Shanghai, China, where I spent two years navigating big city life. Next was New Zealand, where I found a few months of peace & quiet after the urban rush of Shanghai.

Now it's on to Australia as I continue my trek around the globe.

Other Writings

Some of my writing published elsewhere:

A Totally Impractical Expat Interview
5 Ways to Simplify Your ESL Lesson Plans
Teaching English Abroad: English as a Global Language
10 Things to Consider When Choosing a Teaching Job
How to Be a Language Learning Role Model
5 Things to Do Before Teaching English Abroad
Making Friends in Vietnamese
The Personality of a Traveler
Dealing With Culture Shock

Women Wandering Solo

Women Wandering Solo is a series of guest posts that that inform & encourage women who don't have travel partners to take a solo trip instead. There are so many amazing places to see in the world, & experiencing them solo could wind up being the best way to do it.

Do you have a story you'd like to share?

Women Wandering Solo is open to both men & women writers. Your story should focus on women traveling solo, & have a positive vibe so that women who are considering solo travel will feel more confident about doing it. However, I also think it's important to be honest about what traveling alone is really like, so that women who are going to take their first solo trip won't go unprepared.

Your piece could be a travel narrative, or a reflection on how you feel about traveling solo, or a 10-Things list. The topic is pretty open. Just try to keep it under 1000 words. Send your submission to nancy[dot]lewis1378[at]gmail[dot]com. Feel free to include a relevant photo.

Featured Women Wandering Solo

Another Option for Traveling Solo by Linda Redman
Solo in the Arctic by Wendy Quast-Minkus
Living in Abu Dhabi by Elena Sevastiani
La Princesa Gitana by Sunny Jo Gardner
I Never Liked Solo Travel Until... by Pat Gulliford