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DeKALB – For Tom Boerman, walking around the world is not a goal, it’s a lifestyle.
Boerman, 35, began his walk around the world on May 8, 2021. He has already crossed Europe, starting in his native Netherlands and ending in Istanbul, Turkey.
On April 16, 2022, Boerman began walking across North America, beginning on the east coast in Delaware. He plans to end on the west coast in Vancouver, Canada. On average, Boerman walks 25 to 35 miles a day.
He has already walked across Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana and walked across Illinois from May 20 through May 25. In Illinois, he spent the night in Bourbonnais in Kankakee County, Diamond in Grundy County, Newark in Kendall County, DeKalb in DeKalb County and Rockford in Winnebago County. After Illinois, he plans to walk north through Wisconsin and Minnesota, crossing into w people. … I wake up in the morning and have no idea where I’m going to go, what I’m going to see, where I’m going to sleep. It’s a fascinating way of living. If you travel, you have a different view on the world and about humanity.”
Boerman ‘still believes in humanity’
Boerman walks across the world with a small buggy that he pulls behind him using a waist harness. He often listens to audiobooks as he walks.
“Everything I own and bring with me is functional,” Boerman said. “I have a tent, a sleeping bag, a water purifier and a pot to cook. I have some clothes and a spare pair of shoes. I am self-sufficient and go wherever I want.”
Boerman carries with him food essentials, including water, peanut butter, bananas, bread and noodles. He sometimes stops into supermarkets to buy food.
“I live from what other people are giving me most of the time,” Boerman said. “People offer me things. It sounds weird, but it works. People are willing to help. They take me in, offer me food and dinner and a shower. It’s wonderful. I don’t need much, just a few square feet to pitch my tent and some water.”
Boerman said that peoples’ hospitality changed his worldview.
“I still believe in humanity, and they’re showing it still exists,” he said. “Most people are good. They’re kind and want to help.”
In Morris, Boerman was treated to lunch at Dairy Queen and invited to watch a Little League baseball tournament. He said he watched his first-ever baseball game while eating a hot dog and drinking Coca-Cola.
While walking, Boerman often gets asked if he needs help as he walks along the side of the road.
“The main reason I travel is because I’m interested in all of the cultures,” Boerman said. “I’ve really gotten to know the cultures. In Iran, they were the most hospitable. Last year, I spent time around Christmas in Jordan, in the desert with Bedouins. We were able to communicate using Google Translate. I know some Arabic but just the basics.”
Boerman said the most difficult part of his journey is finding sleeping accommodations, whether in a house or space for his tent in a backyard. To repay families that share their hospitality, Boerman tells them stories of his worldly travels.
“It’s difficult to find accommodations, and every country has its pros and its cons,” Boerman said. “Here people are cheering me on, pulling over, asking me how I’m doing and giving me money for charity, food and water. This journey has taught me that there’s always an adventure around the corner. You never know what’s going to happen. It’s an interesting way of living, and I embrace it.”
For information about Boerman’s adventures, visit iwalkaroundtheworld.com or his journey’s Facebook page. While on the website, visitors can follow Boerman’s GPS, which tracks his movements in real time with a 10-minute delay. They can also donate to help finance Boerman’s trip or fundraise to rebuild the four schools in Nepal.