JENNA DAVIS caught the travel bug after a trip to Peru in her third year of university and has since travelled around the world meeting all kinds of people and embracing hundreds of new and wild experiences. To keep up with her blogs and to find out more about what she does visit giveforgranted.com.

What do you love most about your lifestyle?

I enjoy having the flexibility to put family first. As a freelance travel writer and social media consultant, my lifestyle allows me to explore the world as I would like to without putting time limits or plans in place.

Since you started your travels and work abroad what do you see as your biggest achievement?

I truly believe that my biggest achievement thus far has been finding my ability to be in a constant state of happiness. Don’t get me wrong, I have my bad days too… but it’s so incredible to be able to feel content and comfortable where I am today. Travel has opened my eyes to a world I never could have imagined exploring.

If you could accomplish one thing in the next five years what would that be?

I would love to be able to work less and give more. It is my goal to be able to continue to build my blog up so much so that I have more opportunity to explore the globe while helping make a sustainable difference. The more attention I can bring to Give for Granted, the easier it will be to share quality information about sustainable and local travel experiences.

What’s your favourite movie?

I’ve got a few that I’ve never been able to pick between: The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption and The Blind Side.

And actor?

This answer changes on a frequent basis, I don’t often watch so many films or TV shows. This month I am a huge fan of Zooey Deschanel, for no other reason other than she makes me laugh.

And musician/band?

My all-time favourite artists would have to be Simon & Garfunkel … and I always throw in a little Savage Garden into the mix every now and again.

What’s your biggest regret?

You know, I quite often think about what I regret in my life. Though I’ve gone through my share of hardships and pain and regretted every moment made in that time, I don’t regret anything today. It is the mistakes I’ve made in my life than taught me to be who I am today.

Which country have you enjoyed the most?

Such a tough question. However, I found Nepal to be quite the eye opener. It was my first solo trip (and completely unplanned due to visa restrictions in India). I was put outside my comfort zone so much so that I managed to find happiness in solo travel. I have enjoyed many other countries along the way, but I mention Nepal as this to me is one of those rare experiences where you start to really figure out who you are and what you want to be.

Which country are you least in a hurry to get back to?

There’s no country in particular, I really enjoyed all my adventures… though there is one city. I wouldn’t particularly love to go back to New Delhi any time soon. I do mention to others that it’s certainly worth the visit, though I wouldn’t recommend women my age (young 20s) to explore the city on their own. It was not dangerous so to speak, but I never really did feel comfortable.

What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?

Must I tell? On one of my adventures, I had kindly asked the bus driver to pull over for a washroom break. Due to a tight schedule and a rain storm, I was then given my only option: hold it in for the next six hours… or pee in a bottle. Turns out I’m not as skilled as I thought I would be aiming into a small coke bottle.

What’s your best characteristic?

I love to smile. No matter where I go, I find that my positive energy and my permanent smile is usually what helps me meet wonderful people and create amazing experiences. However, since moving to Germany last year, I’m starting to reconsider. A lot of the locals around town think I’m odd and too happy. Haha.

And your most unappealing habit?

The more I travel the more I find I become sensitive to certain issues. I fell off my bike in my new hometown a few months back and found most of my pain came from my emotions and not the blood dripping from my knee. I was worried about what people thought about me and I was ashamed that no one had offered to help. Sometimes a little strength would help push me through.

If you could order any three-course meal what would that meal be?

Asparagus soup, handmade creamy mushroom tagliatelle with garlic and deep fried banana and vanilla ice cream … only because it’s almost dinner time and that’s what I’m craving tonight!

If you had to get stuck in an elevator with someone who would that person be?

I’d like to get stuck in an elevator with another traveller, someone whom I had never met before, someone inspiring and intelligent. It would be neat to pass the time diving into each others histories of how we were raised and what brought us to where we are today. No traveller in particular, just someone!

What’s your most used curse word?

Hmmm… I think since I’ve relocated to Germany, I’ve gained a unusual interest in overusing the word ‘scheisse’.

What are you most afraid of?

I’ve travelled the world, I’ve been chased by orangutangs, I’ve wound up in a hospital bed getting stitches in my head… yet my biggest fear is being stuck in a bus or plane with someone vomiting next to me. I love heights, I love challenges, I love scary movies… I absolutely positively hate bodily fluids.

When are you happiest?

I do love my travels, but lately I find that my happiest moments are spent winding down wrapped up in numerous blankets in my most comfortable onesie watching Netflix in bed on a Friday night. Sometimes knowing that everyone else is out partying and preparing their hangover the next morning, it’s great to fall asleep to movies and wake up with the whole town is silent on a Saturday morning.

What do you most enjoy about running your website?

The freedom to write whatever I want. I use my website as an outlet, whether I’ve had wonderful experiences or terrible experiences, I write about it. I never have to worry about what people with think or what I can and can’t do… it’s my place, my online home.

What’s the toughest part of running the website?

Finding that sweet spot. It’s extremely hard to find that balance between being too personal and not personal enough. Which person in the world inspired you the most? I’ve always tried to ask myself the same thing. There isn’t one blogger or traveller in particular who inspired me to do what I’m doing today. Rather, it was my earlier self which pushed me to do something that made me happy. Getting caught up in a 9-5 office job, stuck in traffic three to four hours per day and living for the weekend… this was not my definition of success. My anxiety is what led me to run in a direction where I would find happiness out of every single day.