I’m Rob, Polish by heritage, born in South Africa, and a traveller for as long as I can remember. My first flights were back in the late ’80s, and at just nine years old I made my first solo intercontinental journey, flying from South Africa to Europe to visit my dad, who was working there at the time. Looking back, perhaps the travel bug started earlier than I realised.
Since 2007, I’ve considered myself more of a citizen of the world than of any one particular place. My career in project management and project controls within the construction industry has taken me around the globe, and along the way I’ve had the opportunity to call 11 different countries home. Rather than simply passing through, I’ve often spent months or years living and working in these places, experiencing everyday life and getting to know the people, food and culture beyond the usual tourist trail.
For many years, work also gave me an unusual lifestyle. Rotational assignments meant I’d often have two or three weeks off at a time, giving me the perfect excuse to grab a backpack, book a flight and disappear somewhere new. Sometimes there was a plan. Quite often there wasn’t. Either way, travel became much more than an occasional holiday. It became part of who I am.
Apparently, there may even be some science behind the urge to keep moving. The DRD4-7R genetic variant has sometimes been nicknamed the “wanderlust gene” because research has explored associations between variants of the dopamine-related DRD4 gene and traits such as novelty-seeking and exploratory behaviour. Whether genetics really has anything to do with it, I can’t say. I just know I’ve never been particularly good at staying in one place for too long.
My Nomad Life is where I share those journeys, from far-flung adventures and life on the road to the places I’ve actually called home. You’ll find stories, practical advice, road trips, vanlife, overlanding and the occasional lesson learned the hard way.
The goal is simple: travel further, spend smarter, and experience places less like a tourist and more like a local.
Welcome to My Nomad Life.