Krista and I were in an intensive leadership program sponsored by Rotary International called RYLA. At the program, we learned about our leadership and personality styles, and different ways to communicate. Most importantly, I learned that everyone has a story, and we are all trying to navigate this world the best way we know how.
After a week, we all parted ways. With the help of social media, I’ve been able to follow Krista on her incredible adventures. Check them out for yourself.
What city do you call home?
Los Angeles, California
What was a defining moment/situation that made you decide to travel/be adventurous?
Growing up, my family went on a few family vacations – Vermont, New Hampshire, Disney World, Dominican Republic, and plenty of local camping trips – which opened my eyes to the world around me. It was not until I was done with grad school classes that I started traveling independently. My childhood best friend and I booked a trip to Alaska and the rest was history. We did “Couchsurfing,” staying with locals and had the best experience. Since then I spent a month in Ecuador, visited China, and have been all over the United States. Traveling and being adventurous is my therapy!
Where have you been/lived?
I have visited Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Canada, Dominican Republic, China, Ecuador, and 32/50 states.
Can you share a memorable/funny travel story?
Oh gosh — all travel is memorable to me! I think my most memorable travel was when I spent a month in Ecuador with a bunch of strangers that soon became lifelong friends. I [rather spontaneously] applied for a month long program to tutor children and brush up on my Spanish in Ecuador. I was accepted and embarked on what became a life changing experience. We grew so close, traveled together on weekends, took salsa lessons in the evenings, and had a ton of fun together. My favorite memories were swinging on the swing at the Casa del Arbol, relaxing in infinity pools on what was the American 4th of July, and mountain biking down Cotopaxi volcano which subsequently erupted weeks after. AND, it was actually one of the girls I was in Ecuador with that had an impact on me getting hired at my current job. It’s funny how things work out.
Share a story when something did not work out as planned while traveling
Ha, ha, ha. Where to start? Let’s talk about how when my childhood best friend and I were in Alaska she lost her wallet not once, BUT TWICE, within a two-week period. I still don’t know how it was possible but the first time was the night before we were boarding a plane from Juneau to Anchorage. It turns out you can board a domestic flight without any sort of identification, it just takes longer! Once in Anchorage, her dad was kind enough to wire her money through Western Union. We just had to find an open Western Union. The second time we made do between the two of us, she didn’t have the heart to tell her dad she essentially made the same mistake twice!
-
- Krista
What has traveling taught you about the world or your life?
Traveling has taught me so much about the world in which we live and how it’s comprised of so many different people with such varying experiences. Traveling changed my perspective on how I live and how grateful I am for the opportunities I have experienced in life. Traveling solo made me realize how independent I can be and what a humbling experience it can be to essentially be forced to be independent in a strange place. I love to mix it up, solo traveling and traveling with friends, because both have their pros and cons.
What advice/tips do you have to encourage people who want to travel?
“Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport” …JUST GO because “in the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take.”
Where can people learn more about your adventures?
Find me on Instagram at @kristamuscarella — I’ll be sure to share the link to my upcoming blog when it’s ready to go live 🙂
