Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, Ethiopian Immigrant Culture, and Why Japan is So Amazing with Tammer Abiyu (Ep 211)

Hear how his first trip to Ethiopia transformed his identity and deepened his connection to family, heritage, and home. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Tammer Abiyu starts by telling his parents story of participating in the resistance against the Derg regime in 1970s Ethiopia and then coming to the U.S. as refugees, meeting in Washington DC, and settling in New Jersey.  He then talks about his experience growing up in an Ethiopian immigrant home in New Jersey, and navigating his Ethiopian-American identity.  Tammer shares how his interest in travel developed, how he fell in love with Japan, and why Tokyo is his favorite city.  Matt and Tammer also reflect on their respective trips to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and why it is so important to travel there. Tammer then opens up about his first trip to Ethiopia at age 20 and how significantly it impacted him.  Next, he talks about his path to becoming a full time digital nomad and shares his experience on his first Remote Year trip.  Matt and Tammer then reflect on their experience summiting Mount Kilimanjaro together.  They talk about the physical preparation, mental preparation, getting the right gear, and describe the final push to the summit at midnight in sub-zero conditions.  They also talk about the power of hiking it with a close knit group, and share their lessons and tips for others interested in summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!