For most people, a love of travel begins with a single special trip. For Arbor Acres resident Angela Pittman, it began with a six‑week summer adventure that would change the course of her life—and eventually carry her across all seven continents and more than 100 countries.
Angela’s first journey abroad was equal parts ambition and determination. A young educator with a big dream, she borrowed $200 from her uncle and spent a year eating Campbell’s chicken noodle soup to save money for the adventure she envisioned. The reward? A whirlwind camping trip through 15 European countries, a formative experience that ignited a lifelong passion for discovering the world.
The very next year, Angela ventured even farther—this time spending two months traveling through South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, living with families and immersing herself in daily life. What she found was not just adventure, but connection. That theme would follow her everywhere she went.
Over the next five decades, Angela’s passport filled with stamps from every corner of the globe. From bustling city markets to remote villages, from icy Antarctica to the warmth of South American deserts, she embraced each destination with open arms and an open heart.
Her courage, too, is remarkable. At age 50, Angela was kidnapped in Bangkok, Thailand—a terrifying experience that would send many travelers home for good. But not Angela. Instead, she adapted: “I just make sure to travel with a group,” she says with characteristic optimism. “But nothing was going to stop me from seeing the world.”
And see the world she did.
Just four years ago, she took an icy polar plunge in Antarctic waters, proving once again that adventure has no age limit. Wherever she travels, Angela gravitates to local markets, places she calls “the heart of a community.” She moves easily from stall to stall, talking with artisans, cooks, farmers, and families. “I’ve never met a stranger,” she says—and anyone who knows her believes it.
Angela’s favorite souvenirs aren’t objects—they’re faces. She photographs the people she meets, capturing the expressions, stories, and emotions that make each place unique. Recently, she shared these portraits with her Arbor Acres neighbors in a presentation titled “Around the World in 80 Faces.” Many of the photographs now hang in a temporary exhibit space on campus, where residents pause, study them, and marvel at how each image tells a story beyond the surface.
Viewers often remark that Angela’s photography reveals something deeper—something human and universal. For Angela, that’s the entire point.
“We’re all more alike than different,” she reflects. “No matter where you live or who you are, everyone wants to be loved and happy.”
After fifty years of travel, that is the lesson that remains with her. And perhaps the most important wisdom she shares is this: The key to life is to choose joy.
Today, Angela lives at Arbor Acres with her mother, Kathryn. Their home is filled with memories, photographs, and stories—reminders of a life lived boldly, curiously, and joyfully. And for those lucky enough to hear her stories or visit her exhibits, Angela continues to inspire new adventures, big and small.
