Stephanie Ambarsumyan

Community Contributor

Hello there! I eat, breathe, and sleep travel. I'm an aspiring travel writer who enjoys writing creatively and going beyond shallow numbered lists in my travel writing. I dive deep. I love the cultural and historical aspects of travel! I love learning about the history of a society and how this has shaped its culture. I love meeting with locals and learning about little known customs. I enjoy researching the dreams, needs, and practices of a culture so that I am being respectful and knowledgeable about the places I visit. This might stem from my day job as a NYC public school English & humanities teacher. At my high school, I've created and implemented an entire travel based humanities curriculum. Students have access to literature and lessons from under represented nations such as Nigeria, Iran, and Nicaragua. Rather than "brand" myself as a "travel expert" I like to think of myself in a perpetual state of learning from other places. This mindset keeps me humble and receptive to really understanding and learning from new cultures. I believe "travel influencers" should try their best to be genuine, maintain authenticity, and help travelers visit countries in a way that positively impacts those who live there.