This week we sat down with our friends Steve and Julia who featured on our episode about Japan. They've recently returned from traveling on and off for the last year and a half, and learned a lot along the way! Starting with a trip to Europe where they were quickly moving from one city to the next and struggling to find a balance between their remote work and traveling, they decided to return home sooner than expected for Julia's health. Once they discovered that the cold exacerbated her condition, they took off to New Zealand to escape the New York winter and leased an apartment in Auckland for two months. There they found a great balance where they loved the community and their new slow travel style! They are currently back in their hometown of Atlanta, and Steve has launched his podcast "Patterson in Pursuit," where he discusses interesting concepts and ideas with university professors. On this episode we talk about some of the reasons why Steve and Julia decided to travel long-term, how they decided it was the right time for them to come home, and the factors that led them to decide to travel New Zealand. We also talk about how travel led them to become more globally minded citizens and break down stereotypes they may have had about certain places, leading them to think about places in a more people-centric way as opposed to solely what's portrayed in the media. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, join the community on Facebook, Instagram + sign up for the monthly newsletter. You can also check out our new travel community on Facebook where you can ask questions, get travel recommendations, and find community members in your area! Music Credits: www.bensound.com