A 79-year-old woman achieved her goal of traveling to every country in the world and told “Good Morning America” it was a “dream come true.”
Luisa Yu Ever since she was little in the Philippines, she has “always” dreamed of traveling.
“When I went to the cinema, I saw this beautiful backdrop of landscapes, nature, rivers, mountains, and it fascinated me,” Yu recalls. “That’s why I always thought that one day I would go to these places and travel.”
Yu said she came to the United States as an exchange student when she was 23 and began traveling as soon as she could.
Luisa Yu is originally from the Philippines and first came to the United States at the age of 23 as an exchange student in St. Louis, Missouri.
Courtesy of Luisa Yu
“I started in the United States because of my status…I couldn't go out of the country,” Yu explained. “So I decided to take a Greyhound bus and visit the United States.”
“Greyhound was the best because you just get in it,” she continued. “Then the next day, you’re in another state.”
Yu said she encourages those who want to travel not to be afraid and take the plunge.
Courtesy of Luisa Yu
After working in the medical technology field, Yu began a second career as a travel agent to have more flexibility to take time off to travel.
Over the past five decades, she has traveled wherever she could, from European countries like Italy to Asian countries like Thailand, and further afield, to African countries like Libya and Middle Eastern countries like Iran.
Ultimately, she said she decided to visit all 193 member countries of the United Nations.
After reaching Serbia, her 193rd country, Yu's friends joined her to celebrate her remarkable achievement.
Courtesy of Luisa Yu
“Even though (some places were considered) dangerous, I said, 'I think I can do this. I want to see these places (with) my own eyes because there's a lot of history and culture that took place there,'” Yu. said of his motivation.
Yu achieved her goal on November 9, 2023, crossing Serbia off her travel list after her friends convinced her to wait to visit the Balkan country last.
Yu said she was “so happy” to fulfill her dream of visiting every country in the world.
Courtesy of Luisa Yu
“They said, 'You're going to have to come to Serbia because we're going to fly. We're also very close and we're going to celebrate your last country,'” she said. “I didn't know that when I arrived, they were already making all these preparations for me. (It was) a big surprise.”
Luisa Yu is now 79 years old and has fulfilled her dream of visiting every country in the world in November 2023.
Courtesy of Luisa Yu
The mania of nomads recognized Yu as one of two Filipinos to become a “UN Master,” someone who has traveled to all 193 countries.
After visiting so many countries and meeting countless people along the way, many of whom became her friends, Yu said she learned that we are all more similar than we might think.
“I saw a lot of things from different people, their lives and their culture. I learned a lot,” she said. “And I find that everyone is like us. They dream of a better job and a better opportunity, and most of them are very, very nice and very helpful.”
For anyone who dreams of traveling, Yu encourages them to take the plunge.
“I always tell them, 'Don't be afraid, go out, travel,'” Yu said. “Don't wait for anyone, because if the opportunity presents itself, it may never happen again. Just be you -even. And also, if there's a will, there's a way. Nothing will be impossible. You just have to go for it.”
