Author Bio

Raised in Germany, the U.S., and Taiwan, I was shaped by a multicultural upbringing that fostered a deep curiosity about diverse cultural perspectives and shared human connections. My international survey research in Uganda and Tibet-in-Exile further honed an analytical approach to this passion. As a lifelong puzzle game enthusiast, I now channel my love for The New York Times Wordle and Highlights BrainPLAY into curating guided travel adventures that blend leisurely play with meaningful global storytelling.

Some Random Facts About Moi

🪪 Taxonomy

💼 A LinkedIn-esque montage

🎶 Do I have a life?

Outside of Vegout Voyage, I’m a hobby vocalist, performing with my partner’s band, the Peninsula Women’s Chorus, and occasionally popping up in community theater productions.

My partner and I enjoy movies and tolerate hiking.

Armchair Travel

—STORYTIME ✈️ How My Upbringing Shaped My Virtual Travels

From Germany to Taiwan

I was born in Germany and raised in California before my family emigrated to Taiwan. Stark cultural differences made me a rather lonely kid, yet the striking commonalities among people from diverse backgrounds gifted me empathy.

My Voyage into International Survey Research

In college, curious about a world that never felt like home, I dove into international survey research, volunteering in Uganda and interning at Tibet-in-Exile within India.

Can Introverts REALLY Travel the World?

Despite my younger self's fervent denial, I have always been an introvert. I struggled with the people-facing career prospects of lobbying, campaigning, and outreach. Harboring guilt, I abandoned my wanderlust and found refuge in Corporate America, analyzing data.

A Barcelona Epiphany

It wasn't until decades later in Barcelona that an epiphany struck. I was nagging my partner about why he couldn't engage more with my travel buddies when, clearly, he was capable of cornering that unlucky tour guide for 20 minutes about European politics. My partner countered that, Sure a Russian can seem standoffish in small talk because they don't see the point of it, but it’s not uncommon for them to vibe over deep, all-nighter conversations (with vodka, if you must ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) until sunrise. This turned out to be what I needed to realize that physically putting myself out there isn’t the only way to explore life.

Embracing Different Styles of Human Connection

Different methods of "travel" illuminate different facets of our world. Though I've never set foot in Russia, I’m optimistic that I understand aspects of its people, from their self-deprecating humor to their excessive potato and sour cream diet. Over the years, I have been learning to accept who I am. Admitting that I am an anti-social world explorer is part of my growth. 

Join Me on This New Adventure

Now, I want to share with you the wonders of this immense world as I traverse it—the way I see it—or, as the YouTube gurus call it: I'm starting my own niche, baybeh!

The Making of the Vegout Voyage Logo

—a Guaranteed Not Fact-Checked Behind-the-Scenes Origin Story

Inspired by our cat, God Emperor Leto Catreides II, the Voyagers' Charm is Vegout Voyage’s light green logo, depicting a cat lying on its back with a leaf for a tail.

Born during the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic, Leto embodies the contrast between a strong inclination to veg out at home and a deep longing for human connection. After many soul-searching journeys among backyard critters, Leto found solace in the warmth of laptops and the vast digital world they opened up.

Today, Leto hopes to make the Voyagers' Charm a symbol of armchair travel adventures, uniting a community of all beings who embrace the art of vegging out.