I am Benjamin. I like to travel. I am a little polyglot. Visitor of 28 countries.
I am, according to Myers Briggs, an ENTJ type personality. E for Extroversion, N for iNtuition, T for Thinking, and J for Judgment. We ENTJ’s don’t take “no” for an answer; instead, use our resources to find a way to meet the challenge. That is one of the best sentences describing me. I am not easily persuaded but research my own conclusion.
I was born in March, which makes me an Aries, symbolized by a ram, a strong-willed animal. I was born in 1979, which on the Asian Zodiac, is the year of the ram. What is it that made me start traveling and learning about other cultures? The answer is having exposure to pen pals while I was growing up in the southern city of Chattanooga.
I have been writing to pen pals from different countries since I was 12 years old; two that I still keep in contact with are one from Japan and one from Russia. Kano, from Japan, was 18 at the time we began writing. I became fascinated with Japan its language. These experiences have shaped my direction in life, along with my personality. Now, after numerous meetings, a wedding, and a new baby, I am continuously grateful for having them in my life. I truly have family all over the world.
After 22 years in Tennessee, one year in Tokyo, my first company moved me to the West Coast where I have grown to love the Bay Area. Living in San Francisco has opened to me not only a diverse culture, but also a wide variety of opportunities to explore the landscape, different foods, parades, fairs, people, and myself.
My chapter in San Francisco’s Bay Area came to a close in 2005, after I decided to move to Australia to complete my master’s degree in Business. Through the downturn of the economy and a struggle to find other employment, I decided the best move for me was to move and find a new adventure–the destination was decided after my first trip to Australia.
My passion for exploration and travel will keep me globetrotting for many more years to come. I hope you enjoy reading about my experiences.