Adeena Gerding

Curious about the outside world, Adeena hesitantly agreed to join some friends on an adventure through Africa in 2007. What was initially intended as a three-month trip quickly transformed into an addiction—to both adrenaline and the word 'yes'. Consequently, Adeena found herself accidentally cycling across some continents, hitchhiking across others, and allowing the whims of the wind to carry her around the world more than once. (Though, admittedly, the wind also had a knack for tossing her around quite a bit).

Surviving volcanoes, sharks, pirates, dragons, a shipwreck, motorbike crashes, heartbreak, and prison, Adeena expended at least 14 of her 9 lives. After years spent studying and preparing to “Adult”, she found travel to be a far better teacher and growing up to be over-rated.

While unemployment has been a recurring theme in her life, Adeena has tackled a plethora of arbitrary jobs in various countries, crafting a resume that's more eclectic than a thrift store bargain bin.

Adeena's most notable accomplishments to date include not only surviving (a feat that deserves its own medal) but also mastering the fine art of making mistakes—often spectacularly. Now attempting to plant roots in Portugal (figuratively, of course), she’s delving into the world of Adventure Therapy and doing her part to make the world a little less boring.