by Beatriz Sylvain

Created on: June 02, 2009

My travel experiences made me a citizen of the world. I grew up in a third world country and very poor, but from the age of nine I knew I would work and study hard to overcome poverty. By the age of 18 years old I had a successful and brilliant career ahead of me, while many of my childhood friends were only starting to work. I was ahead of them already thinking when and where I should retire.

Although, my retirement plans seem very far on the horizon right now I am blessed I had and have the opportunity to travel. Instead of going to college at that time I decided I would learn more through travel and I did. By the age of 21 years old I had gone through 10 different countries. People with my background were just not known for traveling abroad, well I broke that circle. I backpacked Europe and South America by myself. I depended on strangers and new friends I met along the way. Some friends I made for a lifetime and I am still in contact with many of them. I have been so blessed by getting to know different cultures and people that my own country of Brazil was just too small for me. Who could believe that? I had to leave and I did in 2000.

I am currently living in the U.S with my husband. We live in Maine the vacationland. I love Europe, but I have learned to explore the quaint towns of New England and the entertainment provided by Las Vegas, New York City and Florida State. I have actually just come back from a mini-vacation at Longboat Key, FL. What a wonderful place! You feel like a celebrity among the rich and the famous.

As far as college education goes I received my Bachelor Degree in Business Administration last year, but the experience acquired through the degree process wasn't close to the quality of education I got from real life experience dealing with people from other cultures speaking different tongues.

My favorite countries are: Holland for I feel mostly connected to that country. I feel I am at home while in Holland; Belgium because its citizens are so kind and rich in culture, you will never mistaken a Belgium person with a Dutch person after you get to know them; England because that is source of royalty and I didn't eat a bad meal in England. I don't know where these people are eating. My favorite towns abroad are Tierra del Fuego in Argentina because it is so close to the South Pole; Quebec City in Canada, because it is like being in Paris but only four hours away from my home.

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