After 31 years in the classroom, I retired, packed up my life and moved to Cambodia to start a new chapter. Riel American is about travel, retirement, food, culture, and discovering how far your money and sense of adventure can take you.
After 31years in the classroom shaping minds and inspiring curiosity, I’ve learned that the best education often happens far beyond four walls. I’ve traveled to 47 countries, driven by a deep sense of adventure and a love for cultures, stories, and stepping far outside my comfort zone. Whether I’m exploring ancient ruins in my new home base of Cambodia, wandering a market, or just hiking a quiet trail near my parents home in Milford, PA, I’m always chasing new experiences and perspectives.
Teaching high school financial literacy and economics taught me patience, passion, and the power of connection. Travel taught me humility, wonder, and how to order food in many languages (with varying success). I believe in saying yes to life; especially when it challenges you. The next chapter? Yes, it’s still being written—ideally somewhere with a passport stamp, a sunrise, and maybe a good story to share.
