My Story
A smiling woman in a pink dress holding a graduation cap, with a background of a building with columns. The bottom photo features a scenic view of a lake surrounded by green mountains and a clear blue sky.

Case of the Travel Bug

My travel journey started back in my sophomore year of high school when I became friends with a group of foreign exchange students. Growing up in a small town in Northeast Indiana, my world felt pretty small. But deep down, I always believed there was so much more out there to see, and hearing their stories opened my eyes. So at sixteen, I traveled abroad for the first time. That experience changed everything. From that moment on, I was hooked, completely open to exploring anywhere and everywhere the world would take me.

In 2021, I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and stepped straight into full-time teaching. Honestly? The traditional career path wasn’t for me. After a year, I knew I needed a pivot.

I joined different group travel tours, visiting new countries and connecting with people who shared my love for adventure. One summer, while riding a bus through the Northern Italian Alps, I realized I was at my absolute happiest when I was away, exploring, and free just to be myself.

That moment sparked a question that would change my life: How could I turn this feeling into my everyday life?

The Leap into Life Abroad

Teaching and traveling are my two biggest passions, and for a bit, I thought I had to keep them strictly separate. It took a year of dreaming and planning, but in the fall of 2023, I packed my bags and moved to Spain to work as an English Language Assistant in Andalucia, the southern region of Spain.

That year was easily one of the best decisions of my life. I explored every corner of Spain I could reach and spent every spare break traveling Europe.

Christmas in Belgium & the Netherlands

Where I accidentally left my bag on a train and had to replace my entire wardrobe (RIP to my favorite sweater).

View of a canal street in a European city, lined with bicycles parked along the sidewalks, with tall leafless trees and residential buildings on both sides. A hanging flower pot is partially visible on the left, and the overall scene is overcast and damp.

Spring Break in Ireland

A memorable road trip to celebrate my mom’s birthday.

Cliffs and rocky coast along a body of water, with overcast sky and grassy foreground.

A Weekend in Portugal

To see Taylor Swift, because why not?

A castle with a red tower, yellow and purple tiled walls, and a clock, filled with tourists walking and taking photos under a blue sky.

Eventually, with a camera full of memories and a rapidly shrinking bank account, I needed a sustainable, long-term way to keep living this life. So, as any reasonable person would do, I flew to London for an international teaching job fair.

I was aiming for Europe, but my lack of experience made that a tough sell. Still, armed with an open mind and a friendly smile, I landed a primary teaching position in Bahrain.

Me? I was ecstatic. I had just bought myself two more years of living and learning somewhere brand new. My family and friends? A little more apprehensive. An 8-hour time difference to a region I’d never visited was a huge step. But while there were plenty of pre-move nerves, I was blessed with an incredible support system that always had my back. So, I went.

In August 2024, I started teaching Grade 2 in Bahrain. The experience challenged me in ways I never anticipated, but I was surrounded by welcoming people. Life in the Middle East was vastly different from Indiana, but I grew to appreciate it deeply. Over those two years, I grew immensely, both as an educator and as a person while getting to reach parts of the world I had only dreamed of.

Collage of three travel photos: a garden with statues and pink flowers, pyramids with camels and tourists in the desert, and a modern building with a sunset reflected in water.

The Next Big Adventure

By January 2026, the itch for a new adventure returned. So, what did I do? Headed to another job fair, of course. This time in Bangkok, Thailand.

While it was strictly business (mostly!), I walked away with an incredible opportunity that felt like a pure dream sent straight to my inbox.

From Florida to Spain to Bahrain, I’ve realized I naturally gravitate toward the warmest spots on Earth. That’s where I’m happiest. Which brings me to the question everyone asks when I come home: What’s next?

My next big adventure will be in the Marshall Islands, a beautiful nation in Micronesia. I’m packing my bags for the Pacific Ocean to teach at a small school on the Kwajalein Atoll. I have a feeling I won’t have any trouble acclimating to island life!

A sandy beach with footprints in the foreground, turquoise water, and a cloudy sky with patches of sunlight breaking through. In the distance, landmasses are visible on the horizon.

The Meaning Behind Truly Tay Travels

The name "Truly Tay Travels" represents more than just places visited on a map. It’s a commitment to authentically living and exploring, born from a simple desire to see the world beyond my hometown. This blog captures my journey of truly finding and embracing who I am through travel. Every new country, classroom, and unexpected detour has been a step towards fully being myself. It’s about letting go of expectations, welcoming the unknown with an open heart, and sharing the honest, unfiltered story of creating a life lived on my own terms.

I’m so excited to share this next chapter with you and sprinkle in a few of my favorite stories from past adventures along the way!

Person with sunglasses smiling behind ornate, colorful Asian-style artwork featuring two fierce warrior figures with long black beards and traditional clothing. 
- Taylor