Lainie Liberti and her son, Miro, began their eight-year adventure in 2009, starting in Central and South America and slowly traveling around the globe. The pair is most interested in exploring cultures and contributing by serving and connecting with humanity as “global citizens.” They share their adventures – discussing issues of humanity, “unschooling,” family travel, volunteering, travel inspiration and living in the moment – on Lainie’s blog, Raising Miro on the Road of Life.
Cheapflights: How did you decide to leave it all behind and travel full time?
Lainie Liberti: I am a former California business owner who had worked in the advertising, marketing and branding industry for 20 years in total. In 2000, I started my own agency focusing on brand strategy, graphic design and messaging exclusively for green-eco companies, nonprofits and conscious businesses. One of the reasons I started my own agency was to remove myself from the destructive consumerist advertising world and do work for ‘good.’
In 2008, the economy sank in California, so instead of choosing to struggle, I decided to opt for a change for both me and my son. I closed my agency, gave away (or sold in some cases) all of our possessions and we set out to travel the world. That was the opportunity we needed to live the life we were dreaming about, talking about and advocating for others – the real opportunity to make personal change. Today, three years in, we continue to choose traveling with no plans, no agenda and inspiration as our only guide.
CF: What do you mean by the term “global citizen?”
LL: I truly believe borders and boundaries are a thing of the past. There is only one citizenship that holds value, and that is “global citizenship”.
I come from a background of activism, which I no longer subscribe to. In the past, I strived to change the world; to make a dent is issues that mattered to me, usually surrounding civil rights, peace and the earth’s health. This activism was a huge part of my education in compassion.
However, activism strives to change the world from the outside. Through traveling with my son, I have discovered that all change happens from the inside out. In other words ‘being’ the compassion can affect the world just by virtue of being in the world. By being compassionate and interacting with the adults and children we encounter, we cannot help but to affect our collective future.
Whether someone chooses to extend that further and volunteer, that’s fine. But it’s definitely not necessary. For us, we both have a lot of passion for animals and my passion for nurturing children has rubbed off on Miro through our latest volunteering experience, where we actually spent two months reading to children, getting them excited about stories and their imaginations. We learned that Miro is a very good teacher. All of our experiences have been in one form or another of serving as we try to immerse ourselves within the communities we settle in.
We live like visiting locals but no matter how hard we try we will never be mistaken as a local. So we embrace our differences and live each day with respect and gratitude for the communities we live in.
Another way we immerse ourselves is through learning as much as we can about the history and culture and local rituals, sometimes in the form of cooking, or learning about the local crafts and other times through volunteering. Most of the time, though, the best strategy for immersion has been to participate within a given community by being present and connecting through smiles.
CF: What are some of the memorable items you’ve eaten (or chosen not to eat)?
LL: I love all the different tastes and flavors, but I especially love the exotic fruits and vegetables available at the local markets. One of my guilty pleasures during our trip has been sampling all the fruits as fresh blended juices, or liquados. I would have to say my favorite fruit to date is nispero, which tastes like a cross between a pear and a date and, when blended with milk to make a smoothie, tastes like liquid heaven.
Here in Cusco Peru, it’s a cultural treat to eat cuy. What is ‘cuy’ you ask? It’s guinea pig. So far we’ve opted not to eat it, and neither of us has a desire to try it. But as always, we remain open.
CF: How do you stay in touch with people back home, as well as those you’ve met on your travels?
LL: The great thing about sharing our experiences though our blog is that our friends and family seem to be up to date with our lives. We even have extended our community of like-minded folks throughout the world as a result of our blog. Through our blog, Facebook, Twitter, email and Skype, we have the means to stay in touch, daily if we choose.
CF: Any tips on researching a new destination before taking off?
LL: Ask. Ask your friends. Ask your family. Ask locals. Ask other travelers. Search web forums. And keep the travel guides on the shelf.
After you get a sense of real-life experiences, instead of the canned tourist guide info, then you can more broadly extend your search. But you can find communities online who focus on the things you are interested in. If you’re interested in surfing, go to surfing forums. If you are interested in archeology, then search interest groups focused on that topic. But don’t just limit your research to online. Ask. Ask everyone you know.
CF: How do you recommend anxious travelers stretch their comfort zone?
LL: The most important tip I have to offer to anyone who is considering stepping out of their comfort zone is to develop a healthy relationship with fear. What is fear? It’s the unknown, mostly, that some call “uncharted waters.” And sometimes it’s perceived as being scary.
In most cases, it’s fear surrounding some horrific potential outcome; it’s fear of not knowing what will happen. And that fear is irrational and unjust. Seriously, we can’t predict what will happen from day to day, and wonder why as a culture we’re obsessed with controlling, planning and manipulating what will be. Remember, ‘uncharted waters’ are the place where magic happens.
CF: What countries or regions do you believe offer the best bang for your buck?
LL: We have only traveled through Central and South America for the last three years, and have gotten to know each of the countries pretty well.
Obviously some countries, like Nicaragua and Peru, are cheaper than others. But all in all, you will find every country is affordable if you do not travel like a privileged tourist and make it your goal to submerge yourself into the culture as a ‘visiting local.’ Live like a local (rent a room in an apartment instead of staying in a hotel), eat like a local and play like a local. Applying these strategies is the best bang for your buck in any country.
CF: How do you get around a new country if you don’t speak the language?
LL: Smiles go a long way. A smile can break down the cultural barriers and illicit help. Of course use common sense, but the idea of visiting a country is to interact with the culture. If you feel really isolated and need help, you can, of course, pick up a phrase book. But that never works for me, since my pronunciation is always off regardless of the language. I met a smart traveler who approached this situation with a pocket-size picture book. When they wanted something, they would turn to the page and point. It had pictures ranging from foods to hospitality options to health. Just point! But I have to add, if you choose this method, don’t forget to add that all important smile!
Cheapflights is proud to have guest voices express their opinions. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheapflights Media (USA) Inc.
(Image: TheFutureIsUnwritten)
