About Travis-James

A little bit about me…

Hey there! I'm Travis, a '93-born enthusiast with a diverse range of passions. I've always been captivated by the world's natural beauty and wonders, which I love to explore through photography. My penchant for technology has helped me dive deeper into my passion, experimenting with various photography tools and techniques (mostly at an amateur level). This love for nature is further nurtured by my fondness for camping and outdoor adventures, a perfect blend with my other hobbies!

Now, let's get down to the real story. At the beginning of 2020, I thought I had everything figured out. I had just completed my Master's in Applied Linguistics from Brock and was taking a breather from the daily grind. I found myself working part-time at Ten Thousand Villages in Niagara-On-The-Lake, soaking up their marketing know-how and applying it to my volunteer work at the Port Colborne store, where I'd been volunteering and working as a summer assistant manager for nearly a decade.

During this time, I was also scouting for career opportunities in my field and managed to land an interview at Brock's IELP. But before I could hear back, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and my fiancée (now wife) and I found ourselves in a two-and-a-half-month limbo. As the world tried to make sense of the situation, I decided to dust off my DSLR and rekindle an old hobby.

When summer rolled around, we longed for our annual camping trip. However, provincial parks were closed for reservations. We had grown accustomed to camping at Rock Point each year, always choosing our favourite site. That's when a piece of my childhood, long neglected for about 15 years, sprang to mind – a place filled with fond memories, but one I hadn't visited since my father's health declined. At 27 and eager to explore, I persuaded my fiancée to join me on this nostalgic adventure, which reignited old memories and the desire to rediscover forgotten traditions. This experience deepened our love for the outdoors and fuelled our quest for a work-life balance that accommodates such escapades.

This brings me to my career dilemma. Do I continue searching for a permanent position in my field near home? Move away from loved ones for alternative opportunities? Venture into a related field or try something completely different? So many choices and possibilities! While I ponder these questions, I thought, why not indulge my love for writing and share my interests with you all? I've always enjoyed writing, but never really put it to practical use. And oh, did I mention the time I accidentally got published in a local paper? But that's a tale for another day.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I could go on and on (but that's what the rest of the blog is for!). Happy reading!