Rising Stars: Meet Elaina Hirsch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elaina Hirsch.

Hi Elaina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Travel has always been an important part of my life. I grew up in a very diverse town and was given a unique opportunity to learn about a lot of different cultures at home. Since I was a young girl, I wanted to experience the world and be immersed in my friends’ cultures, religions, and languages.

When the pandemic hit, my boyfriend and I both moved home to live with our parents. His family is from Massachusetts and mine is from New Jersey. Between trying to respect our family’s wishes and wanting to see each other after several months apart, we booked an Airbnb in Philadelphia for a month. It was a test to see how well we could live together and we passed.

We had talked about doing another month in a different location, but since Covid restrictions were still strict, we would not be able to truly experience the new city. Fast forward to a year later when we were at the end of our lease in Manhattan. We knew we wanted a traveling adventure since we were cooped up for so long. Originally, we thought that meant living abroad, but with the future of Covid still looking unclear, we did not want to be stuck in a foreign country.

At a dinner in December 2021, my boyfriend suggested that we Airbnb hop across the USA for a year. Whenever I had dreamed of traveling, it had always been internationally. I am so grateful for this year of experiencing my own country because every area is truly unique. One of the best parts is the drive between two areas that most travelers do not get to enjoy. There is a different feeling of arrival when it is through a car versus an airport.

The day after we decided to take this trip, I started applying for countless fully remote jobs that would make our traveling dreams a possibility. I interviewed with transparency about our ever-changing location and finally, in July 2022, I landed the perfect job for our trip. One month later, we were off. The first place we knew we wanted to experience short-term living was Denver, Colorado. We had visited the year prior and the city spoke to us. We also knew that we were not going to drive straight there.

We started our travels in Asheville, North Carolina (1 month) then made our way to Branson, Missouri (1 week), stopped in Wichita, Kansas (1 night), and then arrived in Denver. After traveling through several states that we had never been to before, seeing our friends & family that live there created a sense of familiarity that made us feel at home. While Denver may only be a stop on our year-long journey, it is one that we will continue to visit for years to come.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
For the most part, it has been a pretty smooth road. We have a specific way we have to pack the car each month to fit all of our stuff. Each month is getting easier to pack and unpack. Our biggest learnings or struggles come with each Airbnb. As someone who has always used Airbnb for vacations, we did not think twice about how to pick each spot.

There is a big difference between a vacation rental and a place where you’ll be working and living for a month. Through struggles, we have learned the importance of having chairs with backs to work on. The difference between an apartment with a long layout and versus compact. Sometimes an apartment will never be the temperature you want it to be and lastly, the impact a great kitchen will make.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an aspiring blogger. My blog has three areas of focus: fashion, lifestyle, and travel. My unique identifier is the challenges I post in each of my articles. At the bottom of each post, I like to challenge my readers to do something to enhance their lives. Sometimes it is about the post’s topic and other times it is completely unrelated. I center my blog around self-growth and positivity.

My career background is in the Retail industry. In my fashion section, you’ll find a wide array of topics. I give myself photo challenges that require makeup, outfits and posing on a theme. Also, there is fashion advice and hot takes on the newest trends. My lifestyle section is a catch-all. There are posts ranging from unique business ideas to growth challenges to debunking popular opinions.

My travel section includes reviews from when I lived in NYC to posts for readers to follow my Road Trip Across the USA. I am uniquely positioned to share my road trip experience. Most people, when they hear road trip, think that we will be living in an RV. They are surprised and inquisitive at hearing that we are staying in apartments.

I am proud that my blog prompts reflection and inspires people to take different perspectives on common topics. If just one of my articles helps someone, it will have been worth it. That being said, writing on my blog is therapeutic and has already helped me in so many ways.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and are any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Through the Covid crisis, I have learned the importance of taking walks and trying new things. Working fully remotely and remaining inside for days on end is a perfect recipe for becoming depressed. Fresh air and movement are two of the best ways to clear your mind and enjoy your surroundings.

During the Covid crisis, I was furloughed which created an opportunity for me to try new hobbies to stay busy. If I was never furloughed, I do not think I would have tried to refinish my old drawers. I may have never realized my love for DIY projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.elainapearls.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/elainapearls
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/elainapearls
• Other: www.tiktok.com/elainapearls