Chad Smith
Flashback - August 2000. It was the summer after finishing up my studies at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver. I graduated with a love for creativity, an idealist’s attitude and a desire to see and do everything at least once (oh yes…and a degree in photography). I had just moved to Montreal to be an artist and live in Canada’s cultural mecca and I was just getting my bearings in that amazing city when I got a job offer to teach English in South Korea…and they wanted me to start in 2 weeks! What other answer could there be than “yes” for an adventure seeking, experience craver fresh out of art school?
That, seemingly, rash decision lead to 2 years of teaching in Seoul and then 2 more in Japan. During those 4 years I traveled all over those countries as well as Thailand, India and Cambodia. I would love to say that I loved every minute of it…but traveling is not always about pleasure …it’s about learning, gaining wisdom and putting what you thought you know into perspective (and realizing that you actually don’t know very much). Every single day was interesting. Whether it was a wonderful day of visiting some ancient temple atop of some glorious mountaintop, a typical day of teaching Japanese children or a lonely day when I resented everyone for not understanding me…it was always interesting and it always deepened and enriched my experience and understanding of the places I was visiting and in turn gave me a new lens with witch to look at where I come from. And now…I am addicted to this lifestyle. I can’t imagine a time when I will say that I have seen enough of this planet.
That same summer I was heading out to Korea my baby brother, Curtis, was starting his own little travel project called Free and Easy - Greece. I thought that it seemed like a cool idea and a good way to fund his own traveling addiction.
Fast forward to April 2003. I see my stubbly faced, backpack toting, “baby” brother walking down the road in Koh Chang. We were meeting there to start out the first summer of Free and Easy Thailand. That first summer working with Free and Easy blew my mind. I had such a great time showing people the amazing stuff we tend to show.
Fast forward to present and Curt’s love of traveling has turned into a million beautiful memories for hundreds of people – including myself. I now work full time for Free and Easy which means that I work full time in some of the most beautiful places on earth, surrounded by people in love with life. Maybe some people wouldn’t like living out of a backpack for 6 months a year but for me this job is a dream come true.
