Leisurely sightseeing, gourmet dining, endless relaxation in exotic settings. Typical delights of a vacation abroad—unless you’re Linda Ross. Her international treks are travel with purpose, typically involving manual labor, makeshift meals and atypical destinations, such as Siberia, Bali, Mozambique and Macedonia.

Once, sometimes twice a year, she journeys thousands of miles and dons work clothes, climbs rooftops, pounds nails or lays block— whatever the need. Her vacations provide no rest. Her reward is not souvenirs.

What drives Linda to drive nails, one vacation after another?