“I’m a huge proponent of site-based education or just traveling. When you travel, it’s the ultimate education. You can’t help but learn and pick up things. And as a world history teacher, I want to visit all the places I teach about.

I’ve been to about 60 percent of [the places I teach about]. But when you go see something and live for yourself, it deepens your understanding in a way that you just can’t possibly imagine. It keeps my passion for history alive.

The last big trip I took was to Türkiye and I got to see the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empires. I did nothing but take notes for my teaching and how it changed my perspective on lessons that we already had.

My favorite spot was the Suleymaniye Mosque, which I consider to be the finest piece of classical Ottoman architecture. When you walk into [the] building, you’re overwhelmed by the size of it.

Everything about Islamic architecture is symbolic. When you walk around, every angle of the building changes and models something to do with the universe. It’s really interesting and you can’t get that from a photo.

I went to Australia. That was the furthest I’ve been, and I’ve been all across Europe and Asia. I’ve been to South America which was beautiful, Central America and to the Caribbean. But I don’t want to finish my list because you gotta have something to look forward to.

I’m kind of regimented. There are days when I travel [and] it’s an educational day and I want to learn, but there are also days [when] I plan my leisure. There are days when I overeat, I sleep late or [I] just go to a spot and sit quietly. I love to people-watch or I’ll go to the beach and just do nothing. Traveling is restorative. You need the rest.”