Today we’d like to introduce you to Liliana Arzate.
Liliana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up on the border between Mexico and the United States. El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Chihuahua. Growing up, I always felt very proud and fortunate to have the best of both worlds. There is something mystical about growing up between two countries. I gravitated inwards towards books about Mark Twain, Jacques Cousteau, James Cook and Amelia Earhart. Books, maps and art molded me. I would spend hours looking at maps searching for capital cities of remote places around the world. I used to imagined how people lived on the other side of the world, what language they spoke and wondering what kind of food they would eat. I always knew my heart was made for adventures. However, I did what I was supposed to do. I went to college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Political Science. Immediately after, I started graduate school and completed two master’s degrees. I secured a steady job that allowed me to achieve many goals. Even though I was incredibly grateful for my job and life changing opportunities; the enjoyment started to wear off. There was always this tremendous desire to explore unknown places. I wanted more from life. I honestly think traveling is in my DNA. Experiencing new cultures and exploring the most remote parts of the world has always been my life motto. Anthony Bourdain said it best. “Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life-and travel- leaves marks on you.”
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing worth having or experiencing comes easy. I wanted to contribute uniquely in my community; to inspire and transform the lives of future generations, especially women, while traveling the world. I wanted to create a sense of purpose. I soon realized this goal would be challenging to accomplish. I was not sure if I would ever be able to combine my desire to travel the world with my professional and personal goals. Traveling the world requires discipline, courage, time, money and determination Discipline to stay focused, courage to travel alone despite what people may say or think, and a job that would allow me to be financially independent and provide me with the necessary time to do so. I was able to find it all in the teaching profession. I would have never imagined that becoming a teacher would transformed my life the way it did. I spend my summers traveling to different countries. I have found we have a lot of misconceptions about people depending on which part of the world they are from. I truly want to change that.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
You can follow my adventures on Instagram @Liliadventures. This space was created for travelers to share their expertise, advise and personal recommendations when traveling to unknown destinations. I was inspired by Lonely Planet to create a blog and social media account for people, especially women, who are afraid of traveling solo.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I want to continue exploring different cultures and inspire women to be independent, brave and confident in their abilities. My dream is to use my privilege to uplift marginalized voices by educating myself and becoming more involved in my community. If possible, I want to travel to every country in the world. I’m currently at 121 countries!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Liliadventures
- Twitter: @LilianaArzate2
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