Valerie believes that travel is more than an occasional vacation, but for her, it is a lifestyle. She currently lives in Mexico City with her family, and in the past, she has lived in Costa Rica, England, and all over the United States (from D.C. to Colorado and several places in between). Her young daughter was even born during her three years in China. She loves historic destinations and is always looking for the best to way go beyond the tourism and experience the genuine local culture. Her hobbies include reading, story-based video games, and getting other people to cook delicious food for her.