Kaufe L. Elsewhere einen chai latte

If you came from YouTube, then please include your handle so I can thank you in a future video.

I’m Elle—a native Atlantan, retired professor, and lifelong traveler who moves through the world with equal parts curiosity and humility. My passport began filling with stamps early in life; my parents gave me the gift of travel, and by high school I was already crossing the Atlantic, discovering that the world was far bigger—and far more interesting—than any map could ever show.

That curiosity eventually became my career. For more than a decade, I taught college history and led study-abroad programs, helping students encounter the past not just through textbooks, but through the places where history actually unfolded. Today, after years in classrooms, my lessons happen in quieter spaces: long walks through unfamiliar towns, everyday rituals shared with strangers, and conversations that refuse to fit neatly into syllabi.

Travel, for me, has never been about collecting destinations. It’s about paying attention—to the ordinary details that reveal a place’s character and the stories that live quietly beneath the surface.

I’ve now traveled to nearly thirty countries, not to check names off a list, but to learn, experience, and grow with each journey. Today I travel solo, slowly, and intentionally, guided by a deep respect for people, animals, and the environment. I try to move through the world lightly, knowing that ethical living—like travel itself—is less about perfection and more about awareness and effort.

This website and my YouTube channel are simply records of that ongoing practice: observing carefully, learning constantly, and traveling with care. If these stories resonate with you—if they inspire curiosity, reflection, or a deeper appreciation for the world—then you’re already part of the journey. And for that, I’m deeply grateful.