16 January 2023 , 10:06
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A pair of high school sweethearts are over half way to visiting every country in the world.
Over the past seven years Hudson and Emily have travelled to more than 100 countries and each of the 50 states in their home country, the US.
The pair, who met at primary school and have now been married for ten years, decided to quit their corporate jobs in Washington DC and hit the road following a family tragedy.
Now they are determined to join the elite club of people who have made it to all 197 nations across the world - fewer than the 553 humans who have been in space, they claim.
"Eight years ago, Hudson’s dad – who was one of our biggest encouragers – died of a heart attack," Emily explained.
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The couple have visited more than 100 countries (@hudsonandemily/Instagram)"One day we were planning a ski trip, the next we got a call that he’d passed away in his sleep.
"This was a life-changing moment for us to remember that we literally aren’t even guaranteed tomorrow and we want to make the most of each day.
"We love meeting new people and experiencing different cultures around the world, and we don’t want to wait until it’s too late."
Although more and more people are dedicating their lives to adventuring and heading out on big journeys, Emily and Hudson come from a country of modest travellers, statistically speaking.
The average American visits three countries in their lifetime, while the US State Department estimates that just 37 per cent of the population has a valid passport.
So far the 32-year-olds have visited 112 countries and plan to complete the list by the summer of 2024 – accomplishing a feat that fewer than 40 women and just a handful of couples throughout history ever have.
The duo began their journey by buying a 20-year-old mobile home off Craigslist to set off on a two-year roadtrip across the U.S.
“Our motto is ‘Think of the stories you want to tell someday, then go out and live them',” said Hudson.
“This used to be just a fun reminder to not wait for the next life stage or promotion to start making the most of life.
"But losing my dad – who was actually the first person we had told about our dream of traveling to the 50 states – put into perspective how precious each day is.
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"It was a life changing moment for me to realize that we literally aren’t even guaranteed tomorrow.”
The couple chronicle their stories on Youtube and Instagram, including a recent trip to Indonesia where they relaxed in a bath of flower petals.
Before that they were marvelling at sky scrapers edged with tumbling gardens in Singapore, the sky high Petronas towers in Malaysia, and the incredibly pretty Railay Beach in Thailand.
They want to complete the country list by the summer of 2024 (@hudsonandemily/Instagram)The couple say that they pay for their travels through savings, which they amassed while working in the US.
They supplement this living by teaching English online, creating content for their social media channels, and keep costs low by staying and eating as cheaply as they can while abroad.
“We always try to enjoy the journey along the way. The long bus rides and bed-bug infested hostels aren’t always the most exciting,” said Emily.
“But we feel so grateful for what we’ve learned through travel, for the opportunity to see this beautiful world together, and for the incredible people we’ve met along the way.
"I know there will be challenges ahead as we try to visit every country, but our hope is to always try to remember to enjoy the journey – and we’ll see where that continues to lead."