I am originally from Blacksburg, a town in Southwestern Virginia, and I've lived in the Washington, DC area since 1994. Despite my small-town roots, world travel has become a huge part of my life; in the past four-plus years I have traveled to nearly 40 countries for work and pleasure. Highlights of my travel since 1998 include two-month stints in Sydney and Paris, extensive time spent all over South Asia, and an amazing excursion to Cuba. I love to experience new places and cultures and vow that I will continue to do so for the rest of my life.