Travel experiences can take a lot of different forms. That’s one thing Patrick has learned over the years. Sometimes that means pitching a tent under the stars in his Michigan backyard. Sometimes it means introducing middle schoolers to their very first subway experience in New York City or Washington, D.C.
Patrick is a Tour Director with EF Explore America, and he draws on a lifetime of travel experiences to make sure each and every tour he leads is unique and memorable. Which is no sweat, thanks to a sense of adventure developed through years of camping, skateboarding, and snowboarding and a diverse background that includes working on cruise ships, managing a radio station, and running trivia nights.
As a Tour Director, Patrick’s intrepid and affable attitude puts him in the perfect frame of mind every time he meets a new group. He’s never sure exactly what they’ll be like, but he’s always ready to adjust on the fly. “No two tours are the same,” says Patrick. “Every single tour, you just feed off of that particular group, what they’re into, what’s their style, where they’re from.”
That adventurous spirit is what makes Patrick’s tours so memorable for students. Not only does he find excitement in everything from world-famous monuments to back alleys that served as filming locations for famous movies, he injects that same energy into everyone around him.
And of course, he especially loves being along for the ride as students have their very first travel experience. Why? Because travel is the ultimate adventure, of course.
“There’s just something about leaving your doorstep,” Patrick says as he reflects on travel. “Walking out of your house and going to see something that’s brand new. The unfamiliarity breeds this creativity, this absolute wonder for the world. I think you just don’t know how important it is until you get a chance to do it.”
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