The events of this week have given us Americans plenty to reflect on, no matter whom we voted for. For me, it’s been a chance to think about what it means to be a citizen of this country and of the world.
I love my country, and I am proud to be an American. I’ve always lived in the United States. I was born and raised in Oklahoma, went to school in Indiana and Virginia, and spent most of my adult life in Arizona. I currently live in both New York City and San Francisco. I’ve been to all 50 states, and regularly visit 10 to 15 states a year. I’m fortunate enough that I could live anywhere in the world, and I choose to live here.
At the same time, I am a global citizen. In fact, we all are, whether we define ourselves that way or not. All humans share this planet. We depend on each other for our security and happiness. I believe that most people, no matter where they live, are good at heart and trying their best, and that no one country has a monopoly on wisdom. We can all learn from each other.
At AFAR, we are driven to do what we do by a set of values: open-mindedness, curiosity, an appreciation of diversity, and optimism about our power to make things better. We believe it is important to see the world in all its beautiful colors. We think that many people around the world share these values. And those values do not change with the results of an election. We will never stop living this way and hope you won’t either.
We look forward to continuing to help inspire, guide, and enable you to get out of your comfort zones and explore the unfamiliar, both close to home and far away, with humility, curiosity, and concern. We believe in building bridges between places, people, and cultures. We believe that this approach enhances our lives and that the more people who live and travel this way, the better for all of us. And if you’re one of those people feeling anxious or uncertain after the election, remember one of travel’s greatest lessons: There are always ups and downs. And frequently good things come from the downs.
Our mission is as relevant and important today as ever. We are committed to serving our community of global citizens in pursuit of deeper, richer, and more fulfilling travel experiences, and we thank you for your trust in us.
Good travels,
Greg Sullivan
Cofounder and CEO
