Meet Raina

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I am a UCLA Philosophy BA with a heart for adventure! January 2016 I began my first long-term experience abroad through UC’s student exchange program. I packed up my life and headed to Barbados with far too much luggage in tow. I learned a few lessons in travel-planning necessities along the way, and am now setting out on my next big adventure: 63 days in Europe and Morocco, immediately followed by another month in Barbados.

I won’t feed you the standard “dropped my 9-5 and never looked back” story. Instead, I am a recent college graduate who took contract work in two disparate fields to get my first taste of a “big girl job” without committing to a career (UCLA Philosophy Lecturer by day, iFly Brand Representative by night). Both contracts expired December 31st, and were capped off by emails stating that contract renewals were not available. So, with a few months of pay and no immediate job prospects, I decided to turn lemons into let’s-get-the-hell-outta-here-ade. In early January I began to plan my escape. After significantly longer than I’d expected spent between Expedia and TripAdvisor, among other travel blogs and social media posts, I had flights, train rides, a few tours and all of the accommodations booked!

I’ll be traveling with my Mom, a south-side Chicagoan transplant to the practically-Wisconsin suburbs. She’s a polo-playing, post-corporate-life antique store owner, who (in my opinion), is in need of a shakeup. She loves antiques and art, I love flying (out of an airplane, not in one) and unique edible experiences. We both love wine.

We’re in for an adventure, and I can’t wait to share the ups and (hopefully infrequent) downs along the way with you!

Please utilize the comments section on this post for any travel tips or experience you would like to share!

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