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A Pura Vida Road Trip

About Us

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Xenophily

An antonym to xenophobia,  xenophilia comes from the Greek words:

  • Xenos ➡️ stranger, unknown, foreign
  • Philia ➡️ love, attraction

It doesn't need to be an official word in classical Greek for its meaning to be clear. This organization is invested in building bridges, not walls. We aim at fostering cultural exchange, promoting an escape into unknown territory, and overall, sharing learnings from the World, its places, and inhabitants. 

Our initial focus is centered in Germany and Costa Rica, our founder's two homes.

We aim to counter xenophobic thoughts through the power of intercultural exchange. As best described by our slogan:

  • Explore: the unknown
  • Exchange: with foreign cultures
  • Expand: your worldview

Like the red-eyed tree frog, life is full of diversity and color, so why not experience its full spectrum?

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Michael Steinberg MacDonald

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Michael Steinberg MacDonald

Founder

My Journey

I was born and raised in Costa Rica, where I lived for almost 20 years. I've spent the second half of my life studying, working, and raising a family in Germany, a completely contrasting culture. I'm also passionate about traveling, visiting close to 100 countries across 5 continents. This experience has helped me understand how many of our world problems, from big ones like racism to smaller ones like risk aversion, can be addressed with the large first step of venturing into the unknown. Xenophily aims to share these learnings with the world. 

During my professional career, I have gathered experience across a range of industries, from hospitality to tech, and have also earned a Masters Degree in Technology and Business Administration from the Technical University in Munich. I’ve worn many hats in varied roles in customer success, project management, marketing, and sales. At Xenophily, I want to share the knowledge gained in this 15+ years of experience with social enterprises, travelers, and entrepreneurs across the World. 

One of my hobbies is doing lots of lists and bullet points, so at the risk of being too meta, here is one of my favorite free time activities:

  • Family time: proud father, husband, son and brother. 

  • Traveling: visited close to 100 countries in 5 continents. 

  • Climbing mountains: summited peaks like Kilimanjaro, Mt. Blanc or Ararat.

  • Writing: Published my first book "A Pura Vida Roadtrip" in 2025. 

  • Running: Passionate runner, 10km is my distance.