I want you to think back … way back … to a time when we could get on planes. Before we all lived life on Zoom calls in sweatpants, back when we could see a friend, or a barista or even a stranger smile with more than just their eyes. Back then, what seems like a lifetime ago … we could travel. If flight bans and closed borders are giving you a bad case of … call it continent fever, there aren’t many options. If you are like me, you might find yourself idly putting far-flung airport codes into Google Flights when you can’t sleep. Wherever it is, you know you can’t go there anymore, but it feels better to pretend. For years before the life as we knew it came to a screeching halt, I had been traveling around the globe, never suspecting the clock was counting down on a golden age of wanderlust. Then, COVID came and I found myself stuck in the one place I never thought I would be. During the long days of quarantine, I started sorting through the memories, and a broader picture emerged. Some names have been changed, but every story you will hear is true. Each episode of this podcast is a tiny fragment of the world we used to have, and hopefull y will have again someday soon. Until that day, enjoy these stories from around the globe. Welcome to Stand By for Paradise.