I didn’t realize how much traveling I’ve done until my dad pointed it out to me the other day. Sometimes I take for granted how many awesome travel experiences I’ve had – not many people get to escape their country or even their state, but I’ve been all over the place. And by age 22!
Because I’m a nerd, here’s a nice image of my travels. Red represents places I’ve lived, green represents places I’ve physically been in but didn’t actually do anything special there (aka, drove through/changed flights there), and blue represents places I visited with a purpose.
Some random observations:
- I’ve only lived in two states. I lived in Illinois until I turned 2, and our house was about 10 minutes from where I grew up in Indiana, so I’m not sure if that even counts. And I only went to college an hour and a half away from home.
- I’ve visited five foreign countries – Mexico, the Bahamas, Greece, Italy, and Vatican City. Our plane stopped in France for a couple hours, but I’d love to go back actually do something there. Well, I’d love to go back to any part of Europe. It was awesome when I was 12, and I’m sure I’d appreciate it even more now.
- Despite living here, apparently I avoid the rest of the Midwest like the plague. Notice the green circle of states that I have driven through to actually get somewhere cool. And the only reason I’ve been to Kentucky and Ohio is because awesome Secular Student Alliance stuff has happened there in the last year.
- Going off of that, it’s sort of mind boggling to me how I haven’t visited some places. How have I never been to Canada? Or Wisconsin?! How the heck did I hit up Greece and Alaska before places I could drive to in a couple of hours?
- Almost all of my domestic traveling took place not only during college, but thanks to college. The only states I had been to prior to going to college were Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Florida. For example, here’s a map of the reasons why I traveled to each state. Blue is for a biology conference/field work, green is for grad school visits, red is for atheist related stuff (yes, I traveled within IL and IN for that), and purple is just for pleasure.
You can see that while I enjoyed my travels, the vast majority were not just for fun and were either partially or fully funded by scholarships, my lab, universities, or blog readers (yay TAM!). I’m very lucky indeed. - Speaking of being very lucky, in a month my map will have to be updated again. I’ll be living in Seattle, so Washington state will join the places that I have lived in. This weekend I’ll be visiting St. Louis, MO, so then I will have properly “visited” it. And later this month I’ll be flying to a state I’ve never visited before for something super exciting – but you’ll find out about that soon!
Are any of you big travelers? Have you visited or lived in any especially awesome places? Where are you dying to go?
Oh, and since invariably when I talk about traveling someone asks “When are you going to visit _____?!”… Convince someone to help fund my trip and I’d be happy to come talk to your local godless group. I know, positively shocking that grad students aren’t rolling in the dough. ;)
I make that 24 of the US states. I’ve done 17 of them, plus 30-odd countries including one you can’t get to (Cuba)!! Mind you, I didn’t leave the UK until I was 20 so you’ve got a pretty impressive list of places you’ve been so far.
Firstly, I’m always amazed by how rare travelling very much is in the States. Then I remember that you have to go quite a long way to get into another country from most the US, and it’s less surprising, but I still get thrown by anecdotes that indicate how unaware some Americans are of the rest of the world – including examples of not knowing that Canada is another country or that Hawaii is part of the US… I guess it’s a stereotype, and I have no idea of whether there’s any real evidence as to whether it’s justified.I’m not as travelled as I’d like. I’ve been to most parts of the UK, but I have no memory of the time I was in Northern Ireland. I’ve also apparently been to the Republic of Ireland, but I have no memory of it. Spent substantive time in France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and the US, and a passing visit to Belgium… so not doing too well, really.My fiancée has been to many more places, I might post another comment on her behalf listing them…As for visits, it’d be totally great if you came to the UK, and I’d come to whatever sort of event it was if I could, but I’m not involved in any ‘godless groups’ (although I’m sure that some religious groups would apply that description to Young Friends General Meeting), so I doubt I could help organise or fund it much!
Growing up in Hawaii and being a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, my main travel destination was British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest in general when I was young. Being a student in Asian Studies, I’ve made a trip to Japan, which I want to repeat, and I’d love to go through the rest of East Asia, particularly Bali. I’ve also visited Minneapolis to visit a then-boyfriend, drove through Wisconsin on a trip to his summer cabin, and visited my current partner in his hometown of Winnipeg. I feel bad that I’ve never been to Europe, I intend to amend this before age 25 (I’m 20)
My first trip outside my home country (Canada) was not until I was 30 but I have since been to over 30 countries (I’m 49 now) and I will be visiting 5 European countries in October. My last trip was to Egypt. Your still young, there is plenty of time.
Only been out of Europe once: India. Taught English at a Buddhist monastery. Cooh eh?In Europe I’ve been to: Greece, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Ireland and, um, Wales :p
Are you sure you want to call the Vatican a country? It’s not a member nation of the UN, and whether it is a country has significant implications for whether the pope has legal immunity as a head of state.
Well, I’m from Namibia, and I study in the states, so that’s a lot…All the countries I’ve visited: Namibia, South Africa, England, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, Mauritius. Scotland in a week. All in all, in the last 5 years I’ve averaged 20 flights a year. Just wait until I’m outta college!
The Holy See (official name of the country, IIRC) is recognised by the UN and has observer status. So it could be argued as a sort of in-between status, or as a country, but it’s hard to argue it’s not a country at all.
I’ve been 5 minutes on the other side of the Texas border once.but that’s the life of a poor broke unambitious lazy Oklahoman :D
Jen, you have perfect timing, a friend of mine and I just were having a conversation along these lines. This naturally led to the east vs west travel philosophy of the US which is similar to Sam’s first point. I have spent a significant amount of time in 7 states, 4 Provinces, and will add one more province in less than 30 days. When you include layovers/driving through it’s at least another 3 more states. Out of all of them I have only visited two states less than twice so my version of your nice little ‘why’ chart would look really confusing. I hope to add England (Oxford/Cambridge), California, and New Zealand to the list before I am 30. I know a couple of people who I met at conferences and it was their first time out of their city limits. So Jen you are doing really well, way better than most (including me) enjoy.
lived in 4 states, been in/through 22 others, visited canada, ireland, and england. i used to work on the canadian border so occasionally, i’d go across for dinner (great sandwich shop on the other side) or order from there and have them deliver.
I grew up Air Force, so I’d need a world map just to hit on the “lived in” much less the “visited” (“passed through”, I don’t think I could do accurately). I’ve been in Colorado since elementary school, though, so I’m not sure how much of that travel counts.I do remember a fair amount, thought. Oddly enough, I remember more about my life from Kindergarten to third grade than I do about high school. Maybe variety sticks in the brain better?
I can just hear the delivery guy now ‘Aww man, do I have to cross the border again?’
Or High School was so unusual that there were aspects that cause you to not remember it clearly? I was going to list possible things, and then realised that half of them would either cause offence or be in bad taste. More than half, really.
Allow me to extend an invitation to you on behalf of Canada. Please feel free to visit any part of our lovely country, especially Ontario, as we have the Royal Ontario Museum, the Ontario Science Centre, the better view of Niagara Falls, forts from the War of 1812, and greenery as far as the eye can see.
:) their shop fed a lot of the customs people from both canada and the u.s. so they didn’t usually have a problem getting across.
I’ve only lived in one state (NY), but I’ve visited quite a few others; I think I’m up to about a dozen. I’ve also been to Canada, Germany, and (for one delightful afternoon) France.I’m hoping to eventually go to Italy, and I suppose that I’m obligated to go to Poland at least once.And I look forward to the day you come present in New York. Though odds are you’ll be quite far from my branch of the woods. (Believe it or not, there’s an entire state outside of NYC! Who knew?)~R~
A definite and distinct lack of Canada, girl! You gotta come to Canada. I think even PZ mentioned what a great time he had up here… we know how to show a good time ;) Avoid Toronto, they get all the attention already :P <3
Next time you come through Atlanta, stay with a purpose!
OMG she is coming to my state!!! ^_^ You should hit up PAX while you are there! Ill be working the convention… :)
I’ve lived in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Sydney and Brisbane, though Brisbane was only for three months. I’ve been to most of the east coast with a purpose.Speaking as Michigan resident, what kind of pleasure could possibly motivate you to come here? We’re an incredibly dull state!
Coincidentally Indiana and Illinois are also the only 2 states I have lived in. I spent a lot longer living in Illinois though (18 years, I think). I’ve still never left the country though.
Make sure to visit Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia, Canada while you are in Seattle!
Really cool map! How did you make it?
I’d call Vatican a country in political sense, but not in conventional, geographical sense. It’s too small, historically young, physically embedded in Italy and doesn’t have much (probably any) native-born population.On the contrary, I’d count some parts of the US political domain as separate countries (Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico etc.) This is based mostly on my personal intuition of what “coutry” means.
Becoming a PhD student in gravitational waves in the UK was one of the best things I have ever done! Gravitational waves is such an international interest at the moment, I have travelled all over the world now for meetings (on the departments dime!). I have gone to Budapest, Germany (multiple times), California, and I am going to Krakow for a meeting at the end of September. These were all in the last year!! Also, you should visit Boulder, CO. I think you’d like it. It’s where I did my ugrad. Lots of academics. And a chance to throw apples at the evangelical churches in Colorado Springs :)
Come to Orstralia! We’ve got fundies too now, it seems.http://www.news.com.au/nationa…I first went overseas when I was seven, and since then I’ve been to… France, Ireland, England, Italy, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Turkey. Turkey was the best.
I’ve been to only a few U.S. states (Virginia, D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, NY, Pennsylvnia, Nevada, California, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia), mostly on the Eastern Seaboard. But I’ve lived in Russia, Israel, Germany, Sweden, and Ireland, and visited a handful of other European nations. I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand, Turkey, Greece, and Hungary, and Japan might be interesting if I had a proper companion who knew their way about. The college I go to in the Cumberland Gap (VA-TN-whatever the abbreviation for Kentucky is-area) might be able to fund you! We’re a Methodist school, technically, but a few of our religious Studies professors are Christian Atheists, and this year will be the first year that we have an organized Secular group on campus. We’d love to have you!*goes off to bother Activities office*
Text: “I’ve become a bit of a world traveler lately””I didn’t realize how much traveling I’ve done “”I’ve been all over the place”Picture:America. Stereotype lolz.
I traveled to Australia for three weeks after my junior year of high school. I LOVED it, and I am actually considering on actually moving there once I graduate college. I figure, why not? When I’m young and have the energy and the time to be adventurous, I should move to Australia.
Since you’re visiting St. Louis and have an adventurous spirit, I highly recommend you check out their AMAZING city museum!From their website:”Housed in the 600,000 square-foot former International Shoe Company, the museum is an eclectic mixture of children’s playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects. The brainchild of internationally acclaimed artist Bob Cassilly, a classically trained sculptor and serial entrepreneur, the museum opened for visitors in 1997 to the riotous approval of young and old alike. “http://www.citymuseum.org/home…I sound like an advert, but oh well.
What’s a Christian Atheist?
The text does mention other countries…
Once you’re living in Seattle we’ll have to have you up to Vancouver, Canada to join a skeptics in the pub or whatever.
I’ve visited all the U.S States, Canada and Mexico. (I grew up in San Diego and like a lot of high school seniors, we’d go down to party in Tijuana because of the lower drinking age. Looking back, I’m just glad I survived that little period of my life!) I’ve visited most of the western European countries and lived in Germany, Italy and Portugal.I’ve seen a lot of the South Pacific, and really fell in love with all of New Zealand and the southern half of Australia.My wife is Chinese and thanks to her, I’ve been to Thailand, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan and the Philippines. My company now has offices in Malaysia and India, so I imagine I will probably be living there at some point… I really, really like to travel, in case you haven’t noticed.
Way back in the dark ages when I was in college, I got to travel to The Scandanavian Countries, The British Isle, and all of central Europe. I’ve been to at least 35 of our states and I live in Seattle. However, we really are moving to Hawaii shortly, but you don’t have to rent our place…we’re gonna sell it. :)
I have been to 10 American States (all in the west+ Hawaii and Alaska), BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, North West Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, Ontario, England, France, Italy, Vatican, Monaco, Malta, Spain, Gibralter, Costa Rica, Nicarauga, Hondouras, Guatemala, and Mexico. Not too shabby if I do say so myself, although I am an old man and now pushing 40 so I have had the time. Travel rocks, make sure you travel while you can.Jen, Make sure you come up to BC when you are in Seattle. Vancouver and Victoria are great and there are lots of great pubs.
I lived in two states, drove through a lot more. And visited a fair share as well. I feel pretty luck to have been every where I have been, and feel pretty pleased that I can say that at not quite 26. I’m sure you will get to travel more when you reach grad school and your list will continue to expand. Of course, I can’t fund the trip, but it would be awesome for you to hit-up MN sometime, as that’s where I hang out.
People who are all “The Sermon on The Mount is where it’s at, but I’m also a logical reasoning human being. It makes it easier for me to keep my job and get along with my family if I put ‘Christian’ before the ‘Atheist’.”I’m a non-theist Quaker, by way of comparison.
Thanks for the clarification, and ‘Snap!’ by the way :) (on the non-theist Quaker thing, that is – ever spoken to a Christ-centered Friend who claimed that non-theist Quaker is a contradiction? Annoying, but it’s more their problem than mine…)
Ooo Jen, you’ve been to Nebraska! I hail from Omaha myself which, while being smack in the middle of the Midwest, is still home.What’d you think of the state? ;)
From the looks of it, I’m pretty sure she made it using the ‘Where I’ve Been’ app on Facebook.
I, sadly, have barely been outside of Indiana. =(But I’m hoping to travel a lot during college. And you’re travel stories give me hope of traveling since 1) you went to Purdue like I’m just about to go to and 2) I’m also in the science department. Hopefully I can get around to physics-type events in lots of interesting places during my tenure there.
Did I really just put you’re instead of your? I need to pay more attention to things…
I am half English/half French so I’ve lived most of my life in the UK and I’ve been to France umpteen times. I’ve also lived in Austria (awesome) and visited Germany and the Netherlands as part of my studies and work (I have a degree in French/German/Dutch). I’ve been to only one state (Florida) and I hope to road trip across the USA at least once in my life. My friend just did a 33 state epic road trip so I have something to aim for!
I live in The Bahamas, have for all my life. And as my parents have been fortunate, and started a family a little later in life, they have funded my travel – YAY! So I’ve visited Florida, West Virginia, Washington DC, Washington state, California, Michigan and Georgia. I studied in Ontario. And as I have family all across England, I’ve spent time there too. The furthest I’ve been was Paris, France; by way of the Chunnel train right after getting off a Nassau-Heathrow transatlantic flight (I *really* don’t recommend that if you are ever susceptible to motion sickness.) I can’t wait to travel past the US again…but like so many I can’t afford to anymore.Just out of curiosity, what were you in The Bahamas for? And would you ever return?