Tracking my Family Roots with a DNA Test

Thanks to meeting some interesting and inspiring people over the last few years, a number of events has led me to ordering a DNA test - sounds a little strange, doesn't it?

At Virtuoso Week a few years ago, I was introduced to Jalsa Urubshurow, Founder of Nomadic Expeditions and the Three Camel Lodge in Mongolia, and a true pioneer in environmental conservation. Passionate and engaging, Jalsa captivated me with his stories and sparked a desire to visit Mongolia, a place I knew barley anything about.

Some time later, my best friend Jen and I were talking over a couple glasses of wine, and out of the blue she says, "you look like you could be from Mongolia!". I thought what the heck is she talking about, she's must be crazy. As we chatted about what-could-be scenarios, the fact that my maternal grandfather's family came from Germany and Austria, and that many many years ago Mongols fled to Russia and parts of Europe. Could it be? I was intrigued. My grandfather, my mother, other family members and myself all have some qualities of what could be Mongoloid - darker complexion, protruding cheekbones and round faces...

Earlier this year an opportunity came up to visit Mongolia in October for the annual Eagle Festival. Excited and eager I tried to make it work, but a number of things were against me and it just wasn't meant to be.

This past August, Absolute Travel hosted a small group industry of peeps for dinner during Virtuoso Week, where I was introduced to Melony van der Merwe from Nomad Representation (coincidence in name? hmmm....) - we hit it off, sharing stories of spiritual beliefs, travel dreams, and her experience with DNA testing. A native from South Africa, I was awe struck by her story on how a DNA test taught her so much about her earliest family roots from hundreds of years ago.

Last month, in Morocco for PURE Life Experiences, I had the chance to speak more with Jalsa and was once again inspired to learn more about Mongolia, the people, the history, landscapes, and challenges facing the country today.

So many signs, I want to know what all this means! Finally, after returning home, I ordered my DNA kit - GENO 2.0 from National Geographic - it just arrived! So, here it goes, a couple swabs, send the kit back and wait a few weeks for the report.

I am so excited to learn more - where my ancestors traveled from, whether we come from Neandrthal or Denisovan decent, and whether any of this traces back to a strange comment from my best friend, that I 'look like I could be from' Mongolia.

If not, I think its a cool story all the same, a strange set of events that led me to this, have met some awesome people in the making, and added a new destination to my bucket list.