Dominic Carrillo - San Diego, California, USA

As I traveled through Sofia, Bulgaria, I met one of Dominic's students who referred me. Dominic and I haven't personally met, but we have had some interesting conversations about travel and his new book, Americano Abroad. Dominic started blogging as he traveled around the world. He ended up teaching in his home state of California. As of October 2015, Dominic resides in Sofia, Bulgaria as he promotes his new book. He still keeps up with his travel blog for personal use. To check out his work, click here. ~ Dan Hellinger

What improvements do you want to see the US make in the next 5 years? 
"I want to see the United States move away from looking like a decaying empire to becoming a truly progressive nation that leads by example and cooperation with other nations. I think US foreign policy is embarrassing because it comes across like an insecure bully in a middle school playground. Its military budget should be cut by two thirds and those funds should go toward health care and education. Of course, racism and gun violence continue to tarnish ‘Merica’s oft repeated freedom claims.  But traveling a lot also reminds me that there are so many good things about the United States—basic quality of life, aspects of the legal system, good Mexican food—relative to many other developing nations."

What aspirations do you want to achieve in life? 
"Well, I am a teacher and I want to continue to be a good teacher for a few more years—because it’s pointless to be a mediocre teacher. There’s already too many of those. I want to have an honest, positive impact on students or not do it at all. I also write and want to continue writing stories and novels. Whether I make any money off it, or not, doesn’t really matter. (Though hefty royalties would be nice!).  I write because I enjoy it and it balances me out. I need the reflection time. I’ve come to value the whole process. And if there is a good message or some inspiration that readers of my stuff can get, then that’s great. If they’re paying for it too, even better."

Is money important or is the power of knowledge more crucial to you?

"Money is important to survive. Knowledge—wisdom, really—is more crucial to living a fulfilled, happy, rewarding life. I think the ancient Greeks had a lot figured out thousands of years ago. Seeking truth, awareness, beauty, and happiness—that’s most of what life should be about. Money or currency has always been part of civilization, but it’s too often worshiped now. The church of ATM. When money is viewed as more of an ultimate destination than simply a tool to make the journey possible, then I think our souls are screwed."

"Money is important to survive. Knowledge—wisdom, really—is more crucial to living a fulfilled, happy, rewarding life."

Dominic's Travel Story

"There was the time a Spanish midget hit on me in a speakeasy in Barcelona. That was odd. The time I sold a Walkman cassette player (yes, a Walkman) to a coconut salesmen on the beach in Mexico in order to buy a bus ticket to the nearest town with a Western Union. There were a few fortuitous rock star moments while playing drums in a band in Italy. And when I found myself in a church in rural Nigeria giving an unprepared speech on infant mortality to an entire village—that was surreal. Actually, the travel stories seem endless—and having them, sharing them, feels so much better to me than photos. Maybe that’s why I wrote a memoir called Americano Abroad: a year of travel in stories."
​~ Dominic Carrillo