Meet Carrie Austin by David G. Carrera

Carrie Austin is a Tempe Sister Cities parent serving on the Student Selection Committee. Her son, Kielan, went to Regensburg, Germany in 2024. I served with Carrie on the California Trip Committee and, during a bus ride, learned about her incredible adventure before marriage, children, and Tempe Sister Cities. Carrie agreed to share her story.

In 1999, Kevin Austin, Carrie’s future husband, moved to California as a marketing manager for a roof tile company. Carrie, a pharmaceutical sales representative in Arizona, joined him in 2000, finding a similar job. One day, while sailing, they discussed their burnout and desire for more in life. In July 2001, they sold everything to travel the world for a year on $27,000. Using Kevin’s frequent flyer miles, they lived out of backpacks with a loose itinerary, spending as little as $7 a day in some places.

One thrilling adventure was in Africa, living in a tent. They went river rafting on the Zambezi River, between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The river was rough, and people fell out, getting sucked underwater. Their guide claimed there were no crocodiles, but Carrie spotted them sunbathing while carrying the raft past dangerous rapids.

Romantically, while traveling in India, Kevin secretly bought an engagement ring and asked a local for the best proposal spot. He was told Angkor Wat, Cambodia. There, they met friends from Vietnam, whom Kevin enlisted to photograph his proposal. Atop a spire, Kevin proposed on one knee, and Carrie said “yes.” She noted the trip wasn’t romantic overall but proved they could be together constantly and thrive.

Carrie, not a risk-taker, said the trip reshaped her perspective on the world, people, and cultures, offering a profound learning experience through many countries’ histories.

Reflecting on her adventure and Tempe Sister Cities experience, Carrie advises parents to trust the exchange program process despite nerves, as it fosters unique growth for high school students. She encourages students to leave their comfort zones, emphasizing that the program offers more than a three-week trip abroad. It’s a dual experience: traveling to another country and, upon returning to Arizona, meeting students worldwide. These
connections are lifelong, making Tempe Sister Cities a deeply impactful program.

I’ve visited five continents, but my travels pale compared to Carrie’s. She learned about Tempe Sister Cities from Kevin’s brother, Brian, a 1986 Regensburg delegate.