From a small town in India (Anantapur) to the list of Top Travel Bloggers in Los Angeles
Hi, I’m Nazneen Shaik, and I’m here to share my personal journey of building a family travel blog and Instagram page, EAZYNAZY, which encourages families—especially those from the Indian diaspora—to explore the world with their kids. I’m proud to say that I’ve been a pioneer in this niche, and this blog is a testament to how a passion for family travel led me to break barriers, overcome challenges, and build a platform that inspires people to create memories with their loved ones.
My Early Years: From Anantapur to Nashville
I was born in Anantapur, a small town in Andhra Pradesh, India, and grew up speaking Telugu and Hindi. Though I attended English medium schools and colleges in India, English wasn’t my primary language, and I wasn’t confident in communicating in it. I completed my bachelor’s in Electronics and Communication Engineering in 2013, and shortly after, at 22, I got married and moved to the United States in 2014.
Moving to Nashville, Tennessee, was a cultural shock for me. It was my first time on a flight, and I was navigating a completely new world. I couldn’t understand most of what people were saying, and even the simplest tasks like swiping a card at a checkout or talking to a cashier were intimidating.
After two months, we moved to Los Angeles, the city of dreams. But things didn’t get much easier. I didn’t have any friends, family, or even the confidence to communicate. My husband was my only connection, and I felt isolated. When I got pregnant, we chose a gynecologist who spoke Hindi, so I could better communicate my concerns. It was a tough time, and our world consisted of just my husband, my son, and me.
Finding My Voice: The Early Struggles
Throughout my pregnancy and the first few months of motherhood, I started writing down my feelings in a diary. It helped me process the overwhelming emotions I was going through. I documented everything about my pregnancy, and that turned out to be a turning point.
Once my son started crawling, we moved to an apartment with a play area, and I slowly began interacting with other parents. It was here that I realized something important: people don’t judge you for your language skills. With each casual conversation, I started gaining confidence. I learned how to speak to cashiers, communicate better, and even swipe my card with ease.
The Turning Point: My First Big Travel Experience
The real turning point in my journey came with a trip to New York City. My husband asked me to plan a four-day trip to NYC, and I had never planned a trip before in my life. It took me months to research, plan, and organize the itinerary, which I wrote down in a notebook. We covered over 30 spots in NYC in those four days, and the trip was a huge success.
When we returned, a friend asked for my itinerary, and when she used it for her own trip, she loved how organized and helpful it was. That was when I had the idea: Why not share my itineraries with more people?
The Birth of EAZYNAZY
That was the moment when EAZYNAZY was born. The name EAZYNAZY was inspired by my vision of making vacations easy (EAZY) and my nickname (Nazy). I launched my website not with the intention of making it a career, but just to keep myself busy and share my travel itineraries with others.
Soon after, I received an unexpected email from a Chinese brand asking me to write a recipe blog using their products. At first, I thought it was a spam email, but after doing some research, I learned about the influencer marketing world. This was my introduction to the world of influencers, and it set me on a new path I never expected.
My First Collaboration: The $50 Coffee Shop Deal
In 2016, I landed my first paid collaboration with a coffee shop in LA. They invited me over for free coffee and food and paid me $50 for posting a single picture on Instagram. At the time, I had only around 1,000 followers. This was a breakthrough moment, and it led to many other collaborations. But there was still one thing holding me back: my confidence in speaking English. I could write emails and blogs, but speaking was still a struggle.
Gaining Confidence: Volunteering at a Museum
One day, a museum owner near my apartment asked if I’d be interested in volunteering. My husband encouraged me, thinking it would be a good way to improve my speaking skills. I volunteered for over a year, and that experience changed my life. I met so many people and had countless conversations in broken English. Slowly, I became fluent and confident in speaking. It helped me improve not just my communication but also the quality of my content.
Recognition: A Top 10 LA Travel Blogger
In 2021, I was recognized as one of the Top 10 LA Travel Bloggers by Los Angeles Entrepreneur Magazine. This recognition was a testament to my dedication to family travel and the hard work I had put into creating helpful and inspiring content. I was no longer just a blogger—I had become a trusted voice in the family travel community.
Claiming My Place: The First Indian Born US Influencer in Family Travel
As I reflect on my journey, I realize something truly remarkable: I guess I was the first Indian-born influencer in the U.S. who focused specifically on family travel and made a career out of it and is still successfully collaborating with global brands since 2016. It wasn’t something I planned or set out to achieve, but it’s been an incredibly fulfilling journey. My focus on family travel, particularly aimed at families living abroad, allowed me to carve out a unique niche in the travel blogging world. I’m proud to say that my platform, EAZYNAZY, has helped not only families from the Indian diaspora but also many families around the world—especially in the U.S., where 95% of my audience resides & feel confident in traveling with their children..
Key Achievements and Breakthroughs
Looking back, there are several milestones that shaped my journey:
- Launching EAZYNAZY: A place to share my travel itineraries with families, especially those from the Indian diaspora, encouraging them to travel with their kids.
- Collaborations with brands: Including the first paid collaboration with a coffee shop in LA.
- Building my community: Engaging with parents, brands, and fellow content creators.
- Recognition as a top influencer: Awarded as one of the top 10 LA travel bloggers in 2021.
Encouraging Families to Travel Together
Through my journey, my mission has always been clear: to encourage families, especially those from the Indian diaspora, to travel and explore the world with their kids. I know how overwhelming it can be, especially when you are living in a foreign country and trying to navigate both a new culture and language. But I believe that traveling with kids is one of the most enriching experiences a family can have. And I want to be the one who helps families make those memories.
Conclusion
From a shy, isolated immigrant to a successful travel blogger and influencer, my journey has been one of self-discovery, perseverance, and growth. The world of family travel blogging wasn’t something I set out to conquer, but looking back, it feels like I was destined to share my experiences and help others create their own. I hope my story inspires you to follow your passion, no matter the hurdles, and always remember: family travel is an adventure worth taking.
I hope this gave you a glimpse into my journey and my passion for encouraging families to travel and explore the world together. EAZYNAZY will continue to grow, and I’m excited to bring you along on this adventure!