Orlando Hosts
MEET MIKE & CATRELL COONEY - OUR HOSTS IN ORLANDO!
Mike & Catrell Cooney, along with their three teenage sons, Morgan, Zach and Harrison, returned from an around the world trek in late September 2009. The 12-month, 22 country, 61,000+ mile odyssey was an extraordinary real-world learning experience for the entire family.
Mike's exposure to world travel started in his early twenties when he worked on a ship in the merchant marine. It was not only a great adventure, but the experience peeked his appetite for wanting to learn more about different places and cultures.
In addition to working on the ship, Mike backpacked in Europe for three months in the late '70s. His career, which encompasses various aspects of project management, has also afforded him the opportunity to travel abroad.
Catrell (Overstreet) Cooney's love of travel began when she and her family hosted a German exchange student. As an only child, the experience exposed her to another culture. After visiting the exchange student one summer in Germany, Catrell was hooked on travel. In fact, after high school she became a travel agent, and wanted to help others see the world, even if she could not at the time.
In 2005, Mike and Catrell decided to sell virtually everything they owned to take their three teenage sons on an around the world trek. Their aim was for their sons to experience the world before beginning college, and in the process help make them better global citizens.
Their odyssey began on August 25, 2008 when they traveled through Central and South America for four months, almost exclusively by bus. They returned to Orlando in December of 2008 to be with family over the holidays and started the second leg of their journey in March 2009. They traveled for seven months through Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji before returning to Florida in late September 2009.
The Cooneys now live in Cape Canaveral, Florida where they are trying to adjust to a "normal life". They insist this is only temporary and will always be planning their next adventure. Mike's motto is "Travel is the ultimate education."
Like Mike, Catrell sees their semi-permanent lifestyle as strictly temporary. Once the boys are settled into college and careers, they will hit the open road again. Catrell's motto is "Once a traveler, always a traveler."
You can read about their journeys on their blog, Cooney World Adventure
If you’d like to participate in the Orlando event, you can contact Mike & Catrell at [email protected] & [email protected]
Leah on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:12 am
I really enjoyed reading your post. I am thirty-two soon and have itchy feet that are ready to try out foreign soils.
It is a fear of leaving the security of the day to day grind of paying the bills and living a safe and non-challenging way of life that has put me on hold for some time.
I hope (as it has I) your post will inspire others to go and follow their bliss – Leah 🙂
Patricia GW on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:54 am
Travel and experiencing a new culture really has put it into perspective, and filled that void with purpose (and joy).
In three weeks I’ll be moving to Paris myself for one month. I have the same feeling – the incredible surreal realization that I’m going to be living there…. it’s thrilling!!
Abby on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 2:11 pm
Oh, Jenny! Escargot isn’t palatable — it’s delicious! I love your writing style; it’s so fun and energetic. Can you believe how far we’ve come? Everyone, Jenny and I were in the exact same industry and have known each other online and via work emails for years and years. But we’ve only met once, many, many years ago. And one of those jobs she was sleeping next to her BlackBerry for was one I’d just left. And now she’s 33 and living abroad, just like I was last year. Kindred spirits. Jenny, you’re a true inspiration — I can’t wait to see how your adventure unfolds!
Debbie Beardsley on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 3:22 pm
Your life in Paris sounds ideal. It is nice to read about people who follow their dreams instead of wishing they had! Enjoy the rest of your journey.
Terriaw on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 1:40 pm
Wow, fabulous and well said! I love your new outlook on like. After experiencing career burnout and feeling a little lost and purposeless lately, you have encouraged me. I look forward to seeing Paris someday!
Jenny on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 6:50 pm
merci for all the sweet comments! @abby we are soooo kindred spirits! well except when it comes to our differing feelings on escargot…;) and congrats patricia on the move! thrilling indeed!
shawna on Thu, 9th Jun 2011 1:32 am
you’ve reawakened my travel bug. must. return. to. france. (someday.) eat a croissant for me!
Weekly Travel Blog Links — LandingStanding on Mon, 13th Jun 2011 6:16 am
[…] how badly I want to go to Paris… If only we could afford living there for an extended period of time during our travels! Any […]
G. Michael Schneider on Sun, 19th Jun 2011 3:36 pm
I am a firm believer in living and working overseas, just as you described. However, many of us actually like our jobs and our homes and are simply looking to renew and refresh our lives, not change it. However, you can have the same type of cultural experience without having to reach into your own wallet and without having to quit your day job–by taking what I call a “working vacation.” My wife and I have done this 15 separate times, from Australia to Zimbabwe, Turket to Tibet, Mauritius to Mongolia. I describe how to do it in my blog otherguysdime.wordpress.com and via Twitter at @otherguysdime. Learn how to have fun without having to have burn any of your bridges behind you.