The Explorer’s Mindset: A Philosophy of Discovery
At the heart of all I do is the Explorer’s Mindset.
It’s a fundamental belief that the world, in its vast complexity and minute detail, is a place of endless discovery.
It’s about approaching life with an insatiable curiosity, a willingness to venture into the unknown, and a commitment to understanding the interconnectedness of all things – from ecosystems to cultures, from individual potential to collective human experience.
This mindset isn’t just about grand adventures to faraway lands; it’s equally about the microexplorations we can undertake daily – observing keenly, questioning deeply, and finding the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary.
It’s a way of living that values learning, resilience, and the courage to step onto less-traveled paths.
My Journey as an Explorer:
My path has been shaped by this exploratory spirit, leading me through diverse yet ultimately interconnected fields:
Early Intellectual Forays:
I already spent a year of high school at Roncalli High School, Indianapolis, IN, in the USA instead of at the Bundesgymnasium Neusiedl/See the next village over.
University Studies:
My university studies were driven by a desire to understand complex connections.
I studied social/cultural anthropology and biology, finishing with doctorates in ecology and in cultural anthropology.
My doctoral thesis in Ecology was an early exploration into how insights from positive psychology could be synthesized with ecology and principles of sustainable living, aiming to uncover what ecology might contribute to our understanding of “the good life.”
In cultural anthropology, my work focused on worldviews and their influence and relationship to how we live in the world.
Work and Further Studies:
I worked in various fields and roles, from sales promotion to security, but mainly in education.
My work increasingly went in the direction of education, and I decided to continue studies to become an accredited teacher.
My chosen fields: English and Biology.
As a Campus Europae student, I did part of my educational degree in Latvia, attending Latvijas Universitate and teaching at Agenskalna Gimnazija, in Riga.
For three years , I taught German as a Foreign Language at Xiangtan University in Xiangtan, Hunan. Later, I also worked as German teacher in Beijing.
My years living, and increasingly researching the chile peppers and their uses, in China were a profound cultural exploration, offering firsthand insights into a rich and dynamic society, and laying the groundwork for much of my later work.
Teaching Career:
Since finishing my education degree, I have been working as a middle school teacher in Vienna.
As a middle school teacher, I see my role as guiding young individuals on their own voyages of discovery, helping them to develop their own explorer’s mindset.
Narrating Discoveries:
Through writing, particularly my book “Red Hot China” and my blogs (and YouTube channels), I aim to share the stories and insights gathered from my explorations with a wider audience.
Testing Personal Frontiers:
Furthermore, I engage in ultramarathon running. For me, this is a very personal form of exploration, pushing the boundaries of physical and mental endurance and teaching me invaluable lessons about resilience and perseverance.
The Common Thread
The Explorer’s Mindset is the thread that weaves these diverse experiences into a coherent whole.
It’s about constantly seeking, learning, and striving to understand the world and our place within it, one exploration at a time.