In this episode of Stories of Ordinary Lives, we find ourselves on a two-day boat journey down the Mekong River. Our guest, Iman, reflects on her transition from finance in Paris to a life with no schedule. We talk about her parents’ fears, the difference between vacationing and traveling, and the realization that being open to new experiences shouldn't just happen when we’re away from home.

Welcome to season two of Stories of Ordinary Lives. In this short episode, I’m saying hello from Laos and sharing a quick update from the road. I talk about arriving in Nong Khiaw, the journey that brought me here, and what the past weeks between Chiang Mai and Laos have looked like.

It’s a brief check-in, a few impressions from travel, and a glimpse of what’s coming next. Season two starts here!

Substack: https://justlucia.substack.com/

This episode is different. No guest, just a raw, honest monologue that closes season one. I walk you through the shock of returning to London after months in Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean, the uneasy sight of luxury towers gazing down on sprawling slums, and the cognitive dissonance that made me question how we live.

I share the small, personal ruptures that pushed me toward a sabbatical and a leap into the unknown. It’s a story of burnout, curiosity, and the stubborn belief that changing your place can change your life.

In a couple of days I fly east with a rough plan, a hope to find new faces, and a promise to bring you shorter updates and deeper interviews from the road. Tune in for a gentle, reflective send-off and the start of the next chapter.

Link to my Substack: https://justlucia.substack.com/