Kendra – “The Bookworm”
I don’t do well with small spaces. I grew up on twenty open acres of rolling alfalfa, catching butterflies and riding horses. My parents then “downsized” to ten acres when I was around eight and I became fast friends with the girl across the street. We liked to consider ourselves adventurers, which meant roaming the 200 acres around our houses. We fell through ice, found mini waterfalls, avoided grounder bees and had way too many run-ins with nettles. (Oatmeal baths actually do work by the way, settled those stings right down).
As I got older my adventures took me farther and farther away from home. I found myself flying by myself at eighteen hoping that YWAM (Youth With A Mission) was real and I wasn’t about to be catfished on a world level. Turns out, it’s real.
We spent months in Ukraine on the base there (YWAM is a large organization with many bases around the world), learning about cultures, religions and how our worldview can change so vastly by exploring the places, people and traditions that live here. As I assimilated to Ukrainian culture, which was by no means an easy feat, I fell more in love. Ukraine is where I learned to open up to other cultures, but it didn’t stop there. We traveled on outreach missions to Serbia and Albania, going from Serbian Orthodox to Islamic in one train ride. I can’t express how much I loved learning about other cultures through living with the people there. We did a few touristy things, but eating, working, and experiencing life with these families enhanced my view of their world and changed my views on mine. I will never be the same.
I got married in 2015 to the funniest, cutest man you’ll ever meet. He’s down-to-earth and has all the charm and charisma of a Disney prince. He’s my best friend. In 2017 we embarked on a huge journey called parenthood and have been attempting to navigate raising our daughter ever since. It’s been interesting to say the least, but she’s my favorite person on the planet.
I call myself a bookworm, because it’s just the plain truth. Books have helped me through every stage of my life. They are consistent companions that have been by my side since I could read. I bring them on trips, have shelves upon shelves at home and would say, at this point, it’s more of a lifestyle than a hobby. I travel to see authors and have an Instagram just for books and bookish things. I love magic and fantasies and anything where authors have let their imaginations run wild. If I’ve learned anything in my short twenty-six years on this planet it’s read, travel and experience life in any way you can.
I am so excited to be a part of The Restless Viking! So, grab your passports, a good book, hop on a train and let’s go!
I write for the Restless Viking as a seeker of knowledge. I like to experience culture by getting to know people and traditions. As someone who is always looking for the next best story, I want to get out there and make some more of my own.