“How do you have the time?”
“Isn’t it really expensive?”
“Aren’t you broke?”
“Aren’t you scared?”
Misty Isak, world traveler, has heard it all before. She confessed to me that she tends not to bring up her travels unless she’s asked about them because of questions like these. People tend to think that Misty must be made of money or that she’s found some loophole in her vacation days. The reality is, though, that for Misty, travel is a priority.
It all started after college. Not knowing what her next step was, Misty, joined by her sister, decided to travel around Europe for three months. They stayed in hostels and relied on public transportation and did everything they could to have a fulfilling experience all while on a seemingly non-existent post-college budget. Somehow, though, they made it work. Misty and her sister caught the travel bug and were determined to find ways to keep travel in their lives, no matter how small their budget. As a newly-grad, Misty and her sister stuck to more affordable destinations and travel modes. They learned how to travel light and save by shopping at grocery stores and sparingly eating out; they tried to avoid tourist traps and stay in small towns; they practiced living like a local wherever they were. Misty and her sister came to realize that, even when the nightmare of paying off student loans is looming over your head, meaningful travel is possible when it’s a priority.
Misty’s office is clean and free of knick-knacks. It’s a minimalist’s dream, really. What she does have is a globe, maps, and a calendar of the national parks, among her work-related items. For Misty, travel isn’t about accumulating objects to collect dust on a bookshelf; it’s the experiences and the collections of memories and photos that are worth so much more than any article of clothing or decorative vase.
“[Travel is] just kind of something that I have made happen, because it’s a priority for me. Some people spend their money on clothes, going out to dinner, or going to concerts...I always just chose to save up for my next trip, because there's always a next trip!”
Misty almost always travels with her sister, who lives in California. They understand that not all travel destinations are going to be cheap; but that, the majority of the time, it is, in fact, possible to make travel more than affordable when you put your time into planning and researching. One of the cheaper options for hospitality is always staying in a hostel; but after experiencing her fair share of coin-operated showers and little-to-no privacy, Misty and her sister have “graduated” to staying in hotels -- and it’s important to point out here that the quality of the hotel isn’t what matters most. Misty admits that she often goes days, maybe weeks without a real shower because travel isn’t about luxury; it’s about living and experiencing the cultures you’re in.
So now you might be saying to yourself: there is absolutely NO way I’m going to go without a shower. How do you just “go-with-the-flow”?
Admittedly, Misty has always been easy-going and able to roll with the punches. But, she explains, travel has made her more adaptable. The more you do it, the more you learn how to do it in a way that’s gratifying and fulfilling for you. You just have to get your toes wet!
And now, a list of just some of the places Misty has visited:
Mt. Everest................Nepal
Grand Canyon...........Arizona
Taj Mahal....................India
Great Wall..................China
Great Barrier Reef....Australia
Pyramids....................Egypt
Chichén Itzá...............Mexico
She’s visited each of the seven continents and all 50 states; and is hoping to visit Machu Picchu soon. Misty and her sister are currently trying to visit locations that are in danger environmentally or politically (meaning that, due to varying circumstances, they may not get to see them in a few years). They recently went to Russia, since their political atmosphere is increasingly concerning. She explained that while they were a little nervous (particularly due to the aftermath of the presidential election), it ended up being an incredible trip.
Some might call her crazy, though, for going to a country that isn’t particularly fond of Americans. In response, she says:
“I’m at just as much of a risk here as I am walking around another country or anywhere else...so I think the risk is there, no matter where you are; it’s just a matter of being aware and sensitive and conscious of your environment.”
Misty knows that safety is always a factor in planning her trips, but that the key is really to just be informed and knowledgeable about the location and culture you’re in. After years of travel, she says, “you get a sense and you learn to listen to your gut.”
In asking Misty how she decides where to travel, she responded with an almost unreal answer:
“Sometimes I just spin the globe and pick.”
Once in her (sometimes randomly selected) destination, Misty and her sister make sure that they have an authentic and eco-friendly experience. They will try everything (except haggis) because when else will you get to eat some sort of yak product for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
When they’re not traveling by themselves, Misty and her sister will travel with a group like G Adventures, which arranges eco-tourism trips. These groups will take you to small towns or the countryside, encouraging tourists to contribute to the local economy rather than government-run areas (like major cities). In this, their travels aren’t disrupting a culture; they’re stimulating and helping to build it - all without negatively impacting the environment.
All 50 states and 7 continents later, Misty is not done with traveling.
“I think we should always be pushing ourselves to do something different, and to constantly grow, to change, to adapt and be open to whatever.”
For her and for so many people, traveling has a made a huge impact on her life. She says that traveling has taught her to be patient and to appreciate what you have. When you travel like she has, you see what tourist destinations don’t show you: real people living real lives. In many cases, these people are living under conditions unimaginable to us - and they continue to live their lives and fill them with love and happiness. Seeing things like that, Misty says, puts everything into perspective. Traveling helps her to grow and learn; it feeds that little bug in her head that says I want to see more.
So, how does Misty have the time and money to travel all over the world?
“No one has the money or the time to do any of this; but you make the time; if it’s important and something you want to do, you make the time.”
Misty Isak is the Associate Vice President of Development. Aside from her work at TESU and travels, Misty likes to delve into the world of DIY and home improvement. She is ambitious, confident, and extremely humble. If you have questions about travel, life or home decor, Misty has the answers. She can be reached at misak@tesu.edu
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