Day 1: LAX to Rome

I love traveling so much, and I’m entering a new chapter of life: traveling with adults. I’m working with EF—the same company that organized my student trips. Their mission isn’t about making money; it’s “to increase peace and understanding in the world through education and international travel.” The experiences they offer aren’t your typical tourist attractions but rather authentic immersive experiences that locals genuinely enjoy.

In February, I’m leading a group of adults—mostly close friends—on a trip to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. It’s a fantastic group, and I’m excited for the journey ahead. As part of my preparation, EF (the travel company) offered me a free training trip to Rome. Naturally, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit Italy! I’ll be catching up with a dear friend in Genoa, exploring Cinque Terre, and discovering new places. After the training, Jim will join me for the rest of the trip, where he’s planning some great bike rides outside of Orvieto. We’ll reunite afterward to continue our Italian adventure together.

I spent the night in Los Angeles. We bought a condo with our daughter Kelly in Culver City. It came with two secure underground parking spaces, and is only 15 minutes from the airport. I made two runs to LAX yesterday to drop Kelly and Jim off for their trips.

One of the greatest values of travel is its power to ease anxiety. I’ve often told my students that overcoming anxiety requires stepping into uncomfortable situations and staying there until they become familiar. Travel brings its own share of uncertainties, pushing us out of our comfort zones. But the more you visit new places, learn to live out of a suitcase, try unfamiliar foods, hear new languages, and embrace a little bit of chaos, the more comfortable you become with the unknown. Over time, this builds resilience, making us more adaptable and at ease with life’s unpredictability.

Another complication of this trip has been the wildfire in Ventura. Our neighborhood was under an evacuation warning. I had already left, but my neighbors were gathering their belongings, preparing to flee the fire. I worried about my beautiful quilts and Jim’s incredible photographs. Now we’re out of danger, but my heart aches for friends who have lost their homes.