The circumpolar constellation Cassiopeia, eponym of yours truly, can be seen year-round in the northern hemisphere. According to myth, the vain Queen Cassiopeia provoked the wrath of Poseidon by boasting that she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than the sea-nymph Nereids. To placate the vengeful god, Cassiopeia and her husband, King Cepheus, chained Andromeda to a rock, in sacrifice to the sea monster Cetus. Fortunately, legendary hero Perseus slayed the terrible beast and fell in love with Andromeda. As punishment, Cassiopeia was chained to her throne and banished to the sky, where she remains seated and uncomfortably upturned.

This is, of course, the ultimate “you can sit down now” story. My name is Cassiopeia Neely, and I am passionate about storytelling in all forms. Mythology, modern literature, and even the shows we binge-watch on Netflix are all part of our shared cultural experience. There are more than seven billion people living on this planet—each one of us has a unique perspective and a story worth telling.

I have traveled, all my life, through the pages of books. Now that I’ve reached a point in my life where I can venture out and see the world for myself, I’ve decided to share my experiences in this blog. Through anecdotes, photography, and a weekly segment called Cultural Parallels, Circumpolar Fox strives to undermine the notion that travel is impossible. This blog is my travel story—I hope it inspires you to create your own.

Cassiopeia Neely graduated from Rutgers University in 2011. She has traveled through 10 countries.