In 2019, Jessica Conway became one of the first women to have visited every country in the world. She is originally from Dublin, but she has spent most of the last fifteen years travelling. She has crossed deserts, climbed mountains, and sailed across three oceans. She has met people from cultures she had never heard of before, and she says her whole perspective on life has changed.
Jessica started travelling in her mid-twenties, after she left her job at a marketing company. She sold her flat, packed a bag, and bought a one-way ticket to Nepal. Since then, she has never stayed in one place for longer than three months.
"I have learned more from travelling than I ever did in school," she says. "Every destination has taught me something new. I have been scared, lost, and ill along the way. But I have also had experiences that I will never forget."
The biggest challenge of her journey has been crossing borders in remote areas. She has arrived at some border crossings with no transport, no phone signal, and no clear route. "I have asked strangers for help many times," she explains. "In my experience, people are generous almost everywhere."
Jessica has also written about her travels. She has published a book, given talks at universities in five countries, and recently started a podcast. Her passport has become so full of stamps that she has had to apply for a second one.
Many people ask her which country has been her favourite. "I have never been able to choose just one," she laughs. "The places that have surprised me the most have usually been the smallest and the least-visited."
She has no plans to stop. "I have seen a great deal," she says. "But the world is still very large."