Born an Air Force dependent, Rowan McBride traveled the world and totally missed the 80s as most Americans know it. In exchange, he’s gotten to walk in clogs, break an arm at Mt. Fuji, and say prayers at a Korean Buddhist temple. So far it seems like a fair trade. Although he graduated from high school in Hawaii, he didn’t learn to hula and make leis until going to college in Iowa. After leaving the Midwest, he moved to Washington, DC, and very nearly got himself a Juris Doctor degree. Now he’s chilling out in Texas, diabolically planning road trips that could span years.

People tell him his life is random, and that’s probably true. Rowan comforts himself with the working theory that a random life makes for good stories. When that doesn’t work, there’s Pocky. Lots and lots of Pocky.