Lena Papadopoulos: Not Your Average Greek-American Girl
I met Lena Papadopoulos through Instagram, a place to see pictures — lots and lots of pictures. And it’s a place to encounter personalities — very very BIG personalities. On occasion, it can even be a place to start friendships.
I experienced this firsthand this summer, when two travelers I’d previously only known via scrolling or comment exchange visited Seattle, and we got to chat — face to face! (Here’s looking at you @coznlinda and @planesandpolish!) What fun to finally meet in real life those you’ve only known in the virtual realm. Those who share your same love of adventure! Who enjoy plunging themselves into the unknown! And whose journeys sometimes also connect them with like-minded humans along the way.
Lena Papadopoulos: Not Your Average Greek-American Girl
The next gal on my Spotlight Traveler series is one of those fellow adventurers from the digital realm. We haven’t met in person yet, but I’m looking forward to the day our paths do cross. I have the feeling we’ll get along smashingly! Her name’s Lena Papadopoulos, and she’s not your average Greek-American girl.
View this post on Instagram
Scroll on to learn about Lena’s encounters with culture shock and passport privilege, as well as how travel has shaped her world view and how an awkward Montenegrin beach encounter ended up being most liberating.
Where did you grow up and how did you get interested in travel?
I grew up in small-town South Carolina after my parents immigrated to the US from Greece. We visited Greece nearly every summer, so my travel experiences technically began in my infancy. I even flew to Greece by myself when I was seven years old!
My interest in travel and learning about other cultures really deepened during my undergraduate studies. I lived in the “Cultural Exchange Community” at Clemson University with roommates and neighbors from all around the world. I became fascinated with understanding different perspectives and ways of life.
Abroad in New Zealand
I studied abroad in New Zealand, and my eyes were opened in so many valuable, life-changing ways. Through the experience of living in a new country and context, I began to learn so much about myself and my social conditioning. The months I spent in New Zealand reshaped so much of my identity and my belief systems. I became hooked on travel because of the ways it allowed me to more deeply explore my relationship with myself and the world around me.
Tanzania, China, Thailand & More
After graduating, I took a “gap year.” I worked for my dad for several months, and I also spent several months teaching English in Tanzania. Afterward, I moved to Colorado to get a Master’s in Cultural Anthropology. I had a difficult time finding a job, so I decided to explore possibilities abroad and moved to Hangzhou, China.
I spent 6 months teaching English before finding a position at a non-profit social enterprise based out of Beijing. We were running leadership development programs at international schools around the world. My first big project was co-creating an experiential curriculum for a school based in China. When that project was done, I transferred to our office in Bangkok. I spent a year in Thailand as the lead contact for our partnerships in Southeast Asia and Europe.
Transition to Full-Time Travel
After moving back to the US, I spent a few years running intercultural programs for domestic and international students at Florida State University.
I left my role at FSU in the summer of 2017, and my partner and I have been traveling full-time since. I’ve mostly been taking a professional sabbatical, so to speak, but I’m slowly beginning to build my own business where companies can hire me to design and deliver intentional, transformative workshops or one-to-two day retreats centered around self-discovery, personal growth, and intimate community building. I want to continue working with educational and cultural organizations, but I’d also love to partner with digital nomad/co-working communities. I’m really excited to move into this new entrepreneurial space!
What was it like growing up in between two cultures?
I’ve always struggled with feeling like I fully belong in either place — I suppose it’s because I don’t! I grew up in a Greek home, but I was also American and trying to understand what that identity meant. I wasn’t “Greek” enough in Greece, or “American” enough in the USA, and I definitely wasn’t “Southern” enough in South Carolina.
American Values, Greek Culture
For example, I embrace the American values of independence and freedom, which often conflict with the emphasis on family and community in Greek culture. I’m incredibly passionate, emotional, and sensitive, which is pretty normal for how most Greeks express themselves. In the US, however, people tend to find those qualities quite intense and intimidating, maybe even “excessive.” In both contexts I feel like I’m a little “too much” of some qualities and “not quite enough” of others.
Connecting to Roots & the Sense of Belonging
Despite the limbo I’ve experienced growing up between two cultures, I’ve always resonated more deeply with my Greek identity. Fortunately, I had a lot of opportunities to connect deeply with my Greek roots. I grew up speaking the language, going to Greece for one-to-two months each year to visit my family, listening to Greek music, and eating Greek food at home in the US. Even now, I only listen to Greek music and usually cook Greek food.
I felt most “at home” in both contexts when I went to grad school in Boulder, Colorado. I became connected to so many people from Greece, as well as other Greek-Americans, and we truly formed a family. We went out for coffee, cooked together, celebrated holidays together, and collectively danced to Greek music in the living room while singing at the top of our lungs.
In addition, I taught introductory Greek at the University of Colorado. It brought me so much joy to share my language and culture with people interested in Greece. That was a really special time in my life. It was maybe the first and only time that I felt a true sense of belonging in regard to culture.
Can you recount to us a time you’ve experienced culture shock?
The most significant example that comes to mind is my experience living in a small village in Tanzania. It was the first time I had been outside of the “West.” I was gaining such valuable understanding about a part of the world that is so misrepresented and misunderstood. I loved nearly everything about that experience, but some aspects were also unexpectedly challenging.
An Introvert Abroad
I got a lot of attention as a white woman. People always wanted to talk to me and ask me questions. I was followed down the road pretty much anytime I went outside. It was never malicious or ill-intended in any way; people were just curious to know more about me. But I’m a shy, introverted person who doesn’t like a lot of attention, so it started to feel incredibly overwhelming.
After a few months, I never wanted to leave my house. I felt this need to withdraw and avoid contact with the outside world. In the beginning, I had been happy to go out and about to run errands on my own; towards the end, I refused to go anywhere without one or two local friends with me.
Just a Face in the Crowd
Random people didn’t talk to me much when I was with locals, so my friends became a crutch for me. I became this person who never wanted to be alone, but I also only wanted to be alone. I found myself engaging less and less with the world around me because it was simply draining me. By the time I left, I was sooo ready to go back to being another unseen face in the crowd.
On Culture and Privilege
I learned so much about so many things during my time in Tanzania. For one, I gained a lot of insight into the experience of people in my own country. I felt this overwhelming anxiety about standing out and getting attention in a positive way.
But what about so many people in the US who are forced to withstand negative attention and circumstances because of systematic oppression, institutionalized racism, and other forms of structural violence? I developed a deeper empathy for the experience of many US-born POC, immigrants, and foreigners in the US. It was a very humbling experience that continues to shape and inform my worldview.
Could you share with us a few of your most incredible, unforgettable travel moments?
Wow… how and what to choose? I have so many, but here are three highlights:
Chile, 2011
My friends and I had just spent four-and-a-half days hiking the “W” trail in Patagonia. Long story short, we didn’t have enough food with us on the hike, and when we finished, we were famished.
We went to this restaurant that night and met these really interesting private pilots (who also did magic tricks)! They bought us all dinner and unlimited white Russians. It was so much fun and felt like such a reward after being so hungry for so many days, haha!
South Korea, 2013
At the Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul, I’d spent a lot of the day obsessively worrying about a personal dilemma. I was surrounded by beautiful lights and so many people, but I honestly felt completely alone. Minutes later, I heard a friend of mine call my name in the crowded street! I was reminded of how small the world really is, and of the fact that we aren’t alone in it.
Montenegro, 2017
I went to a female-only nude beach in Ulcinj, and it was amazing. A few years ago I would have been too self-conscious to go, but as I’ve gotten older, I honestly just give less fucks about that kind of thing. I decided to get a body mask while at the beach. I stood there naked while another woman rubbed sulfur mud on me and told me how beautiful my body was.
Then, I stood in front of all these women with my legs spread apart and my arms in the air while the mud dried. It sounds pretty awkward, but it was really so liberating to be surrounded by all these other naked women. It was one of the most unique and empowering experiences I’ve ever had!
Apart from travel, what are you passionate about?
I’ve always been really passionate about my work! I’ve worked in international, intercultural, and experiential education in some shape or form for the last 12 years. Now, I’m using all these years of diverse, interconnected work experiences to develop my own business!
Educational organizations, small businesses, startups — anyone who is a good fit! — can hire me to design and facilitate a transformative experience centered on self-discovery, personal growth, and intimate community building.
I am very thoughtful and intentional in the programs I create for groups of people. I want to give individuals the opportunity to deeply explore various aspects of themselves so that they can better understand who they are, who they want to be, and how to bridge that gap. Creating a safe, open environment that allows for the vulnerability and storytelling necessary to bridge the divide between people is really important to me.
Voyage to Vulnerability
This same sort of passion I feel about the work I do, and the desire I have to see people share their true selves without fear or need for apology, led me to start the Voyage to Vulnerability hashtag as well as Instagram and Facebook accounts. I want Voyage to Vulnerability (V2V) to encourage people to share their stories, experiences, and reflections with vulnerability and transparency.
We’re taught and expected to hide the darker aspects of life while only showing people the good. But the wounded parts of us most often have a bigger impact on how we show up in the world. So many of our beliefs and decisions are ruled by fear. We give away our power by trying to hide the most real parts of ourselves.
Voyage to Vulnerability provides people with an opportunity to empower themselves by sharing their real, lived experiences. It’s also through the sharing of our truths that we are able to uncover just how alike we really are. All those things you think you’re going through alone — you’re not! V2V is one small way I am working toward creating spaces where it’s OK to come wholly as you are.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
Hmmm, I think I’m actually most proud of some of my qualities rather than things I’ve done.
I’m proud that I can sit with pain without trying to fix it, run from it, or hide it. This doesn’t mean I’ve never tried to avoid the risk of being hurt, but I’ll face it when it happens. I’ll do whatever is necessary to process and learn from a painful situation rather than try to escape it.
I am constantly reflecting on why different things and encounters bring up different kind of reactions for me. How have I processed things in the past, and how can I do things differently moving forward? I try to understand where my emotions, reactions, and resistances come from, and then I address those root causes.
Growth and Empathy
I think this has also allowed me to grow more and more in my capacity for empathy, as well. The more I can understand these things in myself, the easier it is for me to imagine and understand where others are coming from, even if I don’t agree with them or the way they approach something.
My mistakes, failures, and the ways I’ve worked through them have allowed me to have more empathy and less judgment. I seek to understand what’s driving someone’s words and behaviors so that I can feel more love and less defensiveness.
These qualities come with their own downfalls, but I honestly believe it takes a special kind of strength to choose to show up in the world this way. I’m damn proud of myself for doing it.
While scrolling through your IG feed, this post caught my attention:
View this post on Instagram
What’s the journey been like so far, since writing that post back in August of 2017?
Wow, I just feel like SO much has happened! Regarding travels, I spent the first couple of months traveling throughout the Balkans. Then I made a month-long stop in Greece to visit my family, and my partner Jay joined me there. After that we spent time in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. We’re in Puerto Rico now and plan to be here for the rest of the year. We’re planning to travel through Central and South America next.
Emotionally, it has been a rollercoaster. I’ve experienced severe depression, complete fear and paralysis around my business, and crisis around multiple aspects of my identity. I honestly believe I’ve learned more about myself in this past year than I ever have before!
What would you say to those hoping to sustain themselves financially while wandering the world?
I had a lot of money saved up for this, so I haven’t felt that financial pressure yet. I’ve got something to fall back on right now, and that in itself is an enormous privilege.
Travel has always been my top priority when it comes to my finances. I rarely ever spend money on things like electronics, clothes, going out for food and drinks, etc. This helps me put more money toward travel. One of the best, most profitable ways I’ve saved for travel is by being an AirBnB host. In the three years I worked at FSU, a huge football school, I really capitalized on game day and graduation weekends. I’d rent out my apartment for the weekend, stay with my coworker’s family, and babysit his kids — that was our exchange! Hotels were charging around $500 a night for a room, so I charged half of that for my whole apartment. I could easily save between $2,500 and $3,500 in one football season!
I also use credit cards to get points toward miles. I’ve taken at least 3 flights worth nearly $2,000 for free. My favorite card for earning miles is my American Airlines card because I think they give the best value. I also have a Delta card, but their itineraries usually cost double the miles of American’s. Additionally, I’ve done things like housesitting abroad or workaways to stay in a particular location for free. I think when you really love something, like travel, you will find ways to make it happen!
Do you have any other tips for travelers?
I would say this to anyone who is thinking about traveling while working remotely…
You really do have to be aware of how much self-discipline this will require. There’s no office to go to and no colleagues to hold you accountable. There are no set work hours and no external deadlines to kick your ass in gear. Having so much flexibility can also make it really hard to find motivation. This has been a huge struggle for me!
Passport Privilege and More
Despite having traveled all my life, my privilege is constantly being revealed to me in new ways. I can easily spend one to three months in another country without a visa simply because I have an American passport. The people living in these countries could never go to the US as easily and do the same.
Full-time travelers often tout how little they have with them, embracing this current minimalism craze. But what a privilege that also is! There is so much privilege in making the choice to own so few things; for some people that is simply their reality, no choice involved. Any travel is a privilege, but to travel full-time and live all around the world?
I almost decided not to travel full-time because I was questioning whether or not to do something so selfish. But I find immeasurable value in seeing the way others live and in learning how to be a more compassionate human. I’m in a constant internal state of tug-of-war over it, to be honest.
What are your goals for the future?
I’ve never really had an answer to this question. I’ve never really made plans or set long-term goals. I try to remain open to opportunity. I think a lot of times people set a goal and then unknowingly close the door on alternate possibilities. This sometimes leads to “tunnel vision,” so I try to remain open to whatever might present itself.
We’re constantly changing and evolving as we learn and grow into ourselves. Who I was five years ago isn’t who I’ll be five years from now. I honestly don’t believe my experiences and opportunities would have happened without this openness to change and possibility.
My “goals” (or path, or decisions) are usually defined by what I value and what I want in my life. And that is always changing based on who I am and what I believe during that particular season of life.
Is there anything I didn’t ask that you’d like to share?
I used to adamantly avoid revisiting places; I felt like I HAD to see and experience a NEW place every time I traveled. Otherwise, it felt like I was wasting my time and money. That’s not true!
I’m glad I’ve made the decision to shift that mindset. While I still love (and often prioritize) seeing a new place, now I also love revisiting and rediscovering places again. Just because I’ve been somewhere doesn’t necessarily mean I’ve really experienced it or learned about it.
The Contextual Nature of Travel
Sometimes my visit to a place is honestly pretty surface level; and even if it hasn’t been, there is always something new to see and learn. Plus, travel is incredibly contextual. Any experience you have in a place is dependent upon a wide range of circumstances. Your experience isn’t defined by the place itself; it’s the result of ALL the little things that happen there, which can vary based on a number of factors.
For example, I loved India the first time I went. I left telling people it was my favorite country, and I couldn’t wait to go back. And then I did, and I honestly hated my second experience and left a month earlier than planned. Does that mean I’m not going to go back and give it a third chance? No! I think I’ll definitely go back one day. Whether the third time feels like love or hate, I know it’ll be a different experience than the previous two.
I definitely encourage people to continue to visit new places — I know I will! I just think we shouldn’t allow that desire to dictate how we travel or where we choose to go!
Thank you for joining us for this insight into the life of an introspective girl-boss and fellow-traveler. Please share your thoughts or questions in the comments section!
If you’d like to continue to follow Lena’s travels, you can do so @lenapapadopoulos. And be sure to check out Lena’s website too, while you’re at it! Thank you so much for stopping by!
