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People not places — Eli Qian

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In high school, I discovered Nathaniel Drew’s YouTube channel and became obsessed with the idea of solo travel and living as a nomad. My very rough post-college plan was to spend a few years living in different cities for 6-12 months at a time. My mental model for life was that it is a collection of experiences, and I should optimize for having more novel and interesting experiences. While my perspective has shifted since then, there is still truth to this way of thinking. The things we experience really are all we have. The sensations, emotions, and feelings we go through are everything that makes up life. It would certainly be a shame to never spend time living abroad. In a foreign country, everything is new—the people, the food, even simple things like crossing the street or buying groceries are novel and push the limits of our comfort zone. One of my all-time favorite quotes is Bill Bryson on being in new places: I still value these experiences, but my view has changed since high s

People not places — Eli Qian Eli Qian Nov 30 2022 People not places In high school, I discovered Nathaniel Drew’s YouTube channel and became obsessed with the idea of solo travel and living as a nomad. My very rough post-college plan was to spend a few years living in different cities for 6-12 months at a time. My mental model for life was that it is a collection of experiences, and I should optimize for having more novel and interesting experiences. While my perspective has shifted since then, there is still truth to this way of thinking. The things we experience really are all we have. The s

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