My family took up trekking as our activity of choice since we moved to Asia in 2004, where traveling options were more available to us as a family, and I can't be more grateful. The places we have seen and the people we have met inspire me, and have given me life lessons to boot. These insights drive my design, especially my empathy-guided Needfinding process. The glimpses here are in no particular order, and span a number of the places we've been to. It's a snapshot of a world I can't wait to discover more of.

We started small

(Berlin, Germany )

My siblings and I live on three different continents-- our excursions started in our backyard, in a cloth tent.

I learned to take a moment.

(El Calafate, Chile)

We are the mercy of greater forces, and it's important to be reminded of that periodically.

photo credit to Don Koblitz

I've come to appreciate help

(Ushuaia, Chile)

So... I get lost. A lot. Especially in these parts, I appreciated all the help I could get.

Small encounters to lift tired spirits

(3 days outside Lhasa, Tibet)
children from a neighboring nomad camp came along for half a day. My sis and I started singing Beatles, and the kids were humming the melody by the 2nd verse.

everything's different in the real world...

(Yangshuo, China)

Taking a moment to reflect

(Lhasa, Tibet)

Find connections over universal things in life

(about 3 days outside Lhasa, Tibet)

These nomads were definite lifesavers on the road. Only one of them knew how to speak English, but we all got along. 10 hrs of walking with full packs will do that.