Jasmine Wanders

When my parents asked me what I wanted for Christmas last year, I answered without hesitation – the MatadorU Travel Writing Course.

At some point I had to ask myself – which is more important, my love of travel or what could possibly be the love of my life?

Maybe the idea was completely unrealistic to begin with? It’s possible I’ve watched Pay It Forward a few too many times.

Can I just be Jasmine, a girl that feels at home everywhere and nowhere at the same time? A culture vulture, a restless soul, a citizen of the world, a seeker of answers to those eternal questions that have plagued me for years?

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved the art of organization. I always got a special thrill from picking out new pencils and notebooks for the start of a new school year and arranging them just so in a shiny new pencil box.

No, this is the tedium that comes from having little to do each day except a few short hours of work. It’s the motivation killer that finds me researching average travel costs in Africa instead of writing, shopping instead of working on my blog, or taking too long to get ready for a one-block trip to the grocery store.

Ecuador can be an extremely economical country to travel through. It’s also easy to spend lots of money quickly, depending on your travel style and tastes.

Ever wondered what a travel blogger thinks about her birthplace?