Instagram story viewer> @samfaber01> Posts

Sam Faber

@samfaber01

409

followers

355

following

What’s the best that could happen?

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

1,000 miles on a bike 🚲

Every summer my family gets together in Ohio, and this year I decided to bike there!

Back in Japan two years ago, I met @mamej.un (Jun). He was cycling through every prefecture of his country, just on a bike. That really stuck with me, and I've wanted to do something similar ever since.

Thank you for inspiring me Jun 😊
@mamej.un に本当にインスパイアされた、ありがとう!！青島で出会えてよかったね！

Thank you so much Cunninghams and Fossmeyers for hosting me, it's always such a pleasure seeing you all! And thank you Peter and Judy, for inviting a complete stranger into your home 🙏 (and of course, thank you to all my family in Ohio for such an amazing time there too!)

Even after 5 broken spokes, a flat tire, and hundreds of ticks, this was such an awesome adventure. What a way to explore a country, and to experience nature without even trying.

I'd totally do this again. by @samfaber01

117

22

a month ago

1.5 months in India 🇮🇳

My last country before going home. What a way to end 18 months of travel 👨

India is *the* most diverse country I've ever been to. Each state has its own language, cuisine, religion, dress, and identity. Crossing state borders felt like going to a different country. However, one thing was constant. Indians were so friendly everywhere I went 😊

To all the friends and family I met: thank you for welcoming me into your country. I am grateful beyond words for the kindness and generosity each of you showed me ❤️

Very special thanks to Aarya, for inviting me to join you and your family in Mumbai. Without your invitation, I might not have even considered coming to India.

Huge thanks to Anchit as well. Meeting you in 2024 in NYC was such serendipity. Without you, I might not have gone to Chennai, or south India at all.

Thank you India, for a very memorable end to my travels 🙏

(for now 🙃) by @samfaber01

110

12

8 months ago

6 months in Australia 🇦🇺

Out of all the adventures I’ve had so far, Australia has changed me the most.

My eyes have been opened to how beautiful the natural world is, and how exciting it is to explore the richness of a country’s culture *and* the staggering diversity of its flora/fauna (especially birds!!)

Australia has also shown me that it doesn’t really matter what I look like. Despite not cutting my head or facial hair for 6 whole months, I was treated with only the upmost kindness and respect, regardless of how scraggly and unkempt I looked. (It was so fun growing out a beard for the first time too haha!)

Lastly, to all the families and friends who hosted me during my time here, thank you for welcoming me into your homes and lives so open-heartedly. You are truly special people for sharing your homes with a stranger. I will never forget your kindness and generosity.

Thank you Australia, for everything ❤️ by @samfaber01

83

19

a year ago

2 months in Taiwan 🇹🇼

I came here with two goals: to celebrate the Lunar New Year with a Taiwanese family, and to dive deep into Buddhism. I’m so happy to say I achieved both those goals and so much more!

The culture, traditions, religions, and history here are all so rich and completely different from what I grew up with. There is so much amazing knowledge and wisdom here, and I truly enjoyed getting to immerse myself in it.

I grew in many unexpected ways here as well. Taiwan is the first country I’ve done workaways in, and while work exchanges are such a beautiful way to travel and actually experience a country’s culture, my first workaway was honestly a really tough experience. While my host was so kind at first to let me celebrate the new year with him and his family, he ended up being very unpleasant to be around for many reasons. However, I grew so much through the stressful daily conflicts I had with him.

My time here ended on such a high note though, volunteering at a Buddhist academy surrounded by such caring and dedicated people 🙏

Thank you Taiwan, for the ups and many downs I had ☯️ taken in Taiwan by @samfaber01

100

10

a year ago

2 months in the Philippines 🇵🇭

Coming here alone, my dream was to somehow find a Filipino family to celebrate the holidays with and learn about their culture, and I’m so happy to say my dream came true, even more than I could’ve expected 🥹

I got to experience Simbang Gabi (church at 4am for 9 days 😵‍💫), Christmas, new years, and Sinulog (celebrating toddler baby Jesus) all with close friends and families!!

I’ve never felt so welcomed in a completely new country, thank you so much to all of you for being so kind to me and sharing your beautiful country and culture with me ❤️

Daghang salamat :) taken in Carcar, Cebu by @samfaber01

111

10

2 years ago

3 months in Japan 🇯🇵

Flying to a new country far away, not knowing a single person and not speaking the language well, was the toughest thing I’ve done in my life so far. But it also ended up being the best 3 months of my life so far too 🥹

I could not have predicted just how amazing of a time I’d have here in Miyazaki, and I’ve grown so much through this experience

I’m so grateful for how deeply I got to experience Japanese language, culture, history, and cuisine - thank you so so much to all the kind Japanese people for opening up your lives to me and showing me your country 😊

One big takeaway for me from this journey is that, while serendipity can’t be artificially created, there are many things I can do to increase my chances for it to happen :)

Once again, thank you Miyazaki, and to all the friends I’ve made, these truly are memories I’ll treasure for a lifetime

日本、さようならじゃない、
また来るよ！😼🚴‍♂️ taken in Miyazaki, Japan by @samfaber01

139

36

2 years ago

2.5 months in Germany 🇩🇪

What an amazing adventure - I’ve made so many good friends, experienced so much German culture/history/food/music, and got to visit so many different places around (southern) Germany (and Europe too!)

Living in another country for an extended period of time pushed me out of my comfort zone in so many ways, and I’ve learned so much through it

Thank you to all the kind Germans who showed me what life is like here for you :)

Check the last slide to see everywhere I went this summer! (Deutschland ticket came in clutch fr) taken in Karlsruhe, Deutschland by @samfaber01

99

15

2 years ago

Spent the last 5 weeks living in a van 🚐

Van life really challenged my ideas of what I actually need in life, and pushed the boundaries of my comfort zone

The freedom of it was insane too - I got to meet up with so many friends, and some days I’d drive to a completely new city just cuz I felt like it

Here’s a list of all the cities I stayed at for at least a night in order (check the last slide to see these on a map):
1. Newburgh, Indiana
2. Lafayette, Indiana
3. Decatur, Illinois
4. Burlington, Iowa
5. Quincy, Illinois
6. Springfield, Illinois
7. Crawfordsville, Indiana
8. West Lafayette, Indiana
9. Michigan City, Indiana
10. Evanston, Illinois
11. Glenview, Illinois
12. Chicago, Illinois
13. Carol Stream, Illinois
14. Indianapolis, Indiana
15. Florence, Kentucky

Hope to do this again someday and go out west :) by @samfaber01

82

21

2 years ago

Sailing club has been sooo fun fr

I've learned so much and met so many amazing people, gonna miss it for sure 😢

This better be just the beginning of my sailing journey though, not the end 🙏 by @samfaber01

69

11

2 years ago

Went to Seaside recently 🏖️

Bucket hats secured 🪣🎩

It was soo much fun traveling in a big group with two awesome families, thanks for the invite Austin :D taken in Seaside, Florida by @samfaber01

70

10

2 years ago

Hawaii yo

Spent like 8 days on Molokai, gotta be my favorite island cuz it’s so chill and not super touristy

Thank you so much to @cooperlecomp and your fam for letting me hang with yall! 🙏

Slide 8 is the moon setting by the way! Crazy to see 🌕 by @samfaber01

56

13

3 years ago

Seattle moment 🌲🏔️

Thanks @cooperlecomp for letting me hang with you 🤩

Northwest nature is unreal though fr

How can there be mountains on either side of Seattle, that blew my mind by @samfaber01

62

13

3 years ago