the midwest | (mĭd-wĕst′) | NOUN untapped; the middle west portion of the United States; Dorothy’s hometown in the Wizard of Oz; “it’s beautiful, though you probably have to be a child of the Midwest to see it”; “there is this sense of vast, open sky and loneliness and cold”; ORIGIN late 18th cent.: Italian, from Latin, ‘wheat.’

Yo! Bonjour! Hola! Aloha! My name is Kara, and I’m thatchickfromohio, or Carmen Sandiego, for my love of travel. That wanderlust, combined with an understanding that travel enables new experiences, perspectives, and connections, blossomed into thatchickfromohio (TCFO). Through dynamic written narrative and visual content, this travel blog aims to amplify the places, cultures and people I encounter— and advocate for doing so in a way that is gentle on the planet.

As an Ohio native, the mission goes a step further. When I decided to study abroad in southern France, some questioned my desire to “go so far away, for so long.” I later learned that Pew Research and Census data cited that nearly half of Midwesterner adult residents remain in their hometowns. As a result, I seek to encourage Midwesterners and individuals with broad dreams of venturing outside their immediate environment or circumstances to pursue adventure, live on their terms, and be part of a more connected global community.