Thursday, she spoke to a crowd in the Chalberg Theatre at Central Lakes College, as part of the college's Cultural Thursday series, about her experiences. She visited 41 countries in three years, traveling from southeast Asia through Dubai to Eastern Europe, South Africa and South America.

One of Allene's guiding principles on her trip was the idea that a good attitude, surrounded by gratitude, can help you get along with anyone in the world. Throughout her journey, she said, she was welcomed with open arms and generosity by those she met.

"This is one big, beautiful world," Allene said. "And despite what you hear in the news and the media these days, it's safer than you know."

Allene's first foray into world travel came at the age of 17, when she joined her parents on a cruise through the Greek Islands, drove the coast of what was then Yugoslavia and then flew out of Rome. As of today, she's visited 67 countries and can't wait to visit more. Some of the destinations she's looking forward to include Russia, Poland, Sweden, Norway and more of the African continent.

"I would go tomorrow," Allene said.

Allene's mother died in 2012, and on March 2, 2013, Allene started her journey with a flight to Japan. Through the Worldwide Organization of Organic Farming, she stayed with a Japanese woman for two weeks in exchange for helping her with her farm. Allene's host was expecting a more seasoned farmhand, so Allene had to work hard to prove she could do the work.

"She and I became very good friends," Allene said.

Allene spent about a month in each country and didn't commit to a travel schedule. She stayed in hostels, hotel rooms and tents, as well as with anyone she might know who lived abroad.

"I also used every lead that I ever got," Allene said. "If somebody had any lead for me, I just went with it."

Allene was involved in the Community Colleges for International Development program when it still existed at CLC. On her travels, she was able to meet up with six students who had studied at CLC. She met former students in Ireland, South Africa and New Delhi, India, where she had them take her to the slums.

"These children and these people, they just blew my mind," Allene said. "They were so giving, so wonderful, so beautiful."

Allene met a travel photographer friend in New Delhi and accompanied him on a five-week-long photoshoot in northern India, Tibet and Nepal. The photographer's mission was to document the large monasteries in the region, which included extensive driving on treacherous mountain roads. By chance, they got to see the Dalai Lama speak in northern India on this excursion.

Some of Allene's magical travel moments included flying over Mount Everest, going through a packed tollbooth in India, seeing a tribe of long-necked people in Burma and going on a safari in Africa. A friend took her to Thaipusam, a Hindu festival in Malaysia she later learned 1.5 million people had attended.

Only twice in three years did Allene get scared, she said. Once was in Laos while riding a bicycle when a man on a motorbike rode up alongside her and tried to steal her purse. The other time was in Beijing when she met two friendly, English-speaking women who tried to stick her with a bill at a teahouse.

The food on Allene's journey was unusual, she said, and confirmed people around the world eat bugs. She ate beetles, heavily seasoned with spices, in Thailand, and drank coffee in Indonesia made from beans excreted by an animal. She loved going to food markets because she truly didn't know what she was going to see. Toilets throughout the world ranged from Japanese thrones with numerous buttons to outhouses made from nothing more than a hole in the ground, Allene said. On her travels, Allene relied on hand signals and smiles to communicate, she said. Some of the best interactions she had were with people who didn't speak English.

People often ask Allene which country she visited on her trip was her favorite, she said. Her response is she loved every place and embraced them all. If pushed, though, she said her favorite place was Vietnam, because she grew up during the Vietnam War and wasn't sure how she would be received there.

"They were so grateful that I was in their country and they welcomed me with open arms," Allene said.

Allene ended up with reverse culture shock upon her return to the Brainerd lakes area. She was shocked by the numerous product options in stores and lamented how easily things are disposed of in America.

"I felt like I had been in a coma for three years," Allene said. "So much had changed and nothing had changed."

To take advantage of her love of travel, Allene started her own world travel consultant company, World Enterprises LLC, known as Claudia Around the World Tours. According to the company's website, she focuses on small group travel to exotic destinations.

"What I would like to encourage you to do is to go as far away as you can, for as long as you can," Allene said. "And embrace this different culture."

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CLC: Around the world and back again - Brainerd Dispatch