Wonder and Wander: Discovering culture through food and travel

Being trapped at home for almost two years because of the pandemic has restricted many of us from doing one thing we look forward to: Traveling.

We all miss the excitement of booking a flight, getting lost in new places, and the thrill of exploring new cultures.  Thibaut de Vauriex, Head for Mobility at Integrated Micro-electronics, Inc. (IMI), an engineering solutions company engaged in various industries, is an adventure seeker, and has thus found love for travel and culture.

Thibaut has been working from his home office for the past 10 years.  If he is not at home, he is traveling and exploring the world.  His family understands and accepts it, if he follows the deal: not to be away for more than 13 days, or more than one weekend.

“When you are working from home all days and weeks, and only connect with people through conference calls or phone calls, you lose the professional and personal relationships with your colleagues.  Thus, traveling for me is a way to compensate this absence of people connection and try to grasp some of it during my stays in the different IMI locations or [with] customers,” Thibaut shares.

But more importantly, traveling also allows you to learn about different cultures, new ways of working and living, and exposure to diverse mindsets and people.  Thibaut shares a tip: “Create unique connections with people that you meet, maybe once or twice in your life, as they will become a part of how you perceive the world and its complexity. This [will] help build and enrich your life.”

He immerses himself in every experience, including doing a Temazcal (traditional steam bath) in Mexico, running scenic trails, visiting the Buddha in Cheng Du, lounging on L.A. beaches, and exploring local dishes every step of the way.

“Food is also an essential part of acquiring and discovering a country and a culture, testing new flavors, is amazing.  Learning what you like, dislike, fighting against the first impression.  It also helps you discover who you are,” Thibaut says.

Thibaut believes that one’s character is continuously developed through exposure of different cultures. Thus, he is a living proof that there are many adventures waiting out there. One just needs to wonder and wander to discover something new every day.

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