Introduction

After a hard 2016, 2017 is a year of adventure and love. After saving up for a few years I was lucky enough to be able to quit my job to travel for 3.5 months. I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity!!

As you can see from my smiling face

This trip was inspired by a couple of things: 

1) My dear friend Sharon, who I interned with in India in 2011, is getting married in Fiji in June. Her family is Fijian Indian and she has many relatives there. I am honored to be a part of the ceremony; this is where my trip will end. 

2) My uncle Jeff found out that our family may be able to get Italian dual-citizenship, as my great-grandfather Luigi Banchero was born in Italy. My mission is to find his birth certificate, which is the last piece of documentation we need. I'll be studying Italian and then going to his birth place of Valbrevenna (small town north of Genoa), keeping my fingers crossed the whole way. 

Along the way, I'll be going to New York to visit my pal Brad, Lithuania to explore the roots of my mother's side of the family, Paris to visit my good friend Noémie and her wonderful family, Thailand, and New Zealand. 

Here is my full itinerary:

Portland -> NY 3/10

NY -> Lithuania 3/12

Lithuania -> Paris 3/22

Paris -> Milan 3/27

Milan -> Bangkok 5/23

Bangkok -> Auckland 6/4

Auckland -> Fiji 6/17

Fiji -> SFO (pine grove) 6/25

Cheers to my parents and wonderful friends for their support!! I LOVE YOU