Needing a Base as a Nomad
Nomad Profile
I met Larisa through an online women’s group while we were in Yerevan. Before we had even met, she asked me if I wanted to go on a road trip around Armenia. I was like, let’s try lunch. And then after lunch, I said, Yes! Let’s go on a road trip! 😀
We have been fast friends ever since and have been on several road trips together, including Saudi Arabia and Eritrea. And a few more adventures together are in the works.
Here are a few pieces about our travels:
Armenia: 10 Tips For An Epic Road Trip
Saudi Arabia: What *Not* to Wear: Arabian Edition
Eritrea: Camel Market—Oh My!
9 Fun Facts
First Name: Larisa
Age Range: 40s
Nationality: Russian American
Nomadic Stance: Full-time
Last Corporate Job: Salesforce
Current Job: Part-time localization manager
Favorite Country: Eritrea
Next Stop: Bulgaria
What do you like best about the nomadic life? Freedom
2 Questions
1) You left an established career at a large tech company to become a nomad. Why?
I felt too restricted working a regular job—not enough freedom, not enough time to move and explore the world. Vacation time always felt too short, and the days in the office were flying by at lightning speed.
At the same time, I realized I need to do something different from tech. Instead, I would like to be more connected to people in real life and do something along the lines of bodywork. I began considering other fields while transitioning to part-time consulting tech positions.
2) You recently chose to set up a base in Dahab. Why led you to this decision, and why Egypt?
The hardest part of my nomadic life is always leaving the places I’ve settled in. On average, I would spend around 3 months at each place, and by the end of that time, I would finally start feeling connected to the area, finding a community, figuring out prices, food options, and so on. And then it was time to leave. :)
After almost 2 years of this cycle, it became too painful to say goodbye, and I decided I needed a base. Dahab came up at this exact time, and I found a community and connections extremely fast, even for an introvert like myself. For me, it was the perfect ratio where I could explore and push myself out of my comfort zone, while staying in a supportive environment.
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Christened “Wander Woman” by National Geographic, Erin Michelson has traveled to 135 countries & all 7 continents. She is a professional speaker and author of the Nomad Life™ series of curated trips and travel guides, including the #1-ranked Explore the World with Nomads.
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