CATS ADVENTURES

What is this blog all about?

Oh, the American dream frat parties, Greek life, football games, the whole college movie experience. Sure, sometimes I wonder what my life would’ve looked like if I had chosen the “traditional” path. I mean, to this day, I’ve still never been to a college party… and honestly, that doesn’t really bother me. Almost everywhere I’ve gone, the legal drinking age is 18, so I’m not missing out on the so-called “experimental years” of college life.

Back in spring of 2024, when I was still trying to figure out my next step in education, the idea of spending four years on one campus felt daunting. I could already picture myself feeling stuck and restricted. I get that same feeling every time I come home for the summer yes, I have freedom, but it’s nowhere near the freedom I feel when I travel.

Sometimes, I do miss the consistency my friends back home have the long-term friendships, the routines, the people they get to grow with for years. Part of me feels like I might’ve missed some of those classic moments of meeting my future bridesmaids. But in exchange, I’ve met friends from dozens of countries people with stories, cultures, and perspectives that have shaped me far more than any frat party ever could.

What is this blog all about?

There are trade-offs with this lifestyle, absolutely. But when I get to close my laptop for four days to go hiking, or white-water rafting, or exploring some new corner of the world before settling into a café to catch up on schoolwork… I know I made the right choice. A million times over, I would choose this unique path where I decide how, when, and where I learn.

an shape your entire experience. As a full-time traveler, I cycle through countless personalities, energies, and intentions. I’ve met people who fill me with laughter, who make me feel like the truest version of myself. And I’ve met others who make me shrink, who pull me into a shell I’ve worked hard to break out of, who make me question my confidence.

Over time, I’ve learned to prioritize myself. I’ve realized I would rather conserve my energy and eat alone than sit at a table with people who make me uncomfortable. Traveling teaches you quickly that people around the world grow up with wildly different manners, values, and social norms. What one person finds completely acceptable might make someone else’s skin crawl.

When you’ve been on the road as long as I have, there are moments when you get desperate for social connection, especially after a dry spell of not meeting anyone for days. I’ve fallen into that trap agreeing to dinner out of loneliness, only to realize halfway through the meal that I would’ve been happier eating by myself. It’s all part of the learning curve. Part of figuring out who I am and what I need.

And at nineteen, I’m still forming so much of my worldview. I have strong morals about what I believe is right and wrong, but I’m still searching for solid opinions of my own. Most of the people I spend time with are five or six years older than me, with more life experience, sharper beliefs, and louder voices. I listen with open ears but I’m careful, intentional, making sure their opinions don’t become mine without thought, research, or personal experience of my own.

What is this blog all about?

Hi! I’m Catalina, but somewhere along the way everyone started calling me Cat and the name stuck along, cute and easy to remember.

Two years ago, I packed my life into two backpacks and a tote bag and decided to see what would happen if I stopped waiting for the “right time” to travel. Since then, I’ve wandered through more than 20 countries across 4 continents, chasing moments, mistakes, sunrises, and stories I never expected.

This blog is my way of bringing the people I love and the people who’ve found me online along for the ride. The life I live isn’t always pretty or glamorous, but it’s mine, and every high and low has shaped the way I view the world.