Northville adventurer ready to 'smash' world record after journey through every country

Yahoo

2 days ago

NORTHVILLE — As Michael Zervos races toward the finish line of a world record journey – carrying recent stories from North Korea, Sudan and Poland that reveal just how complicated joy can be – he's ready to come home, reflect on the moments that changed him and dive into a new project.
After 17 months, 230 flights, 80 visas, four phones, three backpacks and nights spent in everywhere from hotels and guest houses to random couches, buses and the occasional airport bench, Zervos is set to return home Friday, May 30.
"After touching down in the U.S., I will have smashed the current Guinness record by almost two months," he wrote in an email to supporters.
A Northville native and filmmaker, Zervos set out in January 2023 to break a world record by visiting every country in the world faster than any person in history. The current record is held by Taylor Demonbreun of Alabama, who in 2018 achieved the feat in 554 days.
But the trip — dubbed Project Kosmos — has always been about more than sprints through airports and stamps on a passport.
In every one of the 195 countries on the Guinness list, Zervos asked people a single question: What is the happiest moment of your life?
He heard thousands of stories. But in some places, he said, silence said more than words ever could.
The people he met in Poland surprised him.
While Zervos expected some cultural reserve in parts of Eastern Europe – maybe a little hesitation to talk on camera – he didn't expect a widespread inability to answer the happiness question at all.
'I approached dozens of people in Warsaw,' he said. 'Middle-aged, young, people who spoke English – and I kept hearing the same thing. 'I don't remember the last time I felt happy.''
At one point, he started asking strip club promoters who were working the city's nightlife district.
'They're paid to engage,' he said. 'I figured, at least they'd talk to me. I even said I'd go in if they answered the question. And still, nothing.'
One man sat with him, quietly repeating that he needed the commission, but had no honest answer to give.
'He finally said, 'Friend, you have come to the wrong place if you wanted to ask about happiness.' That moment stuck with me,' Zervos said.
Getting into North Korea was something of a surprise.
Entry to the country wasn't possible on his American passport, so Zervos, who holds dual citizenship, used his Greek passport and joined a small tour group – the first Western tourists allowed in since COVID. Two weeks later, the country slammed its borders shut again.
The process, he said, was complex - coordination from Ethiopia, transfer of money via Western Union and collection of proof for Guinness, all while staying under the radar of state surveillance.
Once inside, the contrast between propaganda and real-life experience was compelling.
'There's a state religion there, and the 'Great Leader' is basically deified,' he said. 'But the people — if you listen closely — you can hear their own voices in between the lines.'
He saw real life playing out in quiet glances and off-script answers. He took pictures carefully, following strict rules about framing and content – and watched others sneak photos they weren't supposed to take.
Still, he said, the experience left him with more curiosity than certainty.
'I want to go back," Zervos said. "I want to spend more time there to really understand it.'
It was one of many, many places he'd like to visit again.
His visit to Sudan, another holdout country, came through thanks to a lucky break with a long-established Italian tourism company.
Zervos was one of the first tourists allowed in since the outbreak of civil war.
There, he stayed on the eastern coast, in Port Sudan, far from active conflict – but close enough to see the scars.
'Everyone had a story,' he said. 'Everyone had lost someone, or left someone behind. But they welcomed me with open arms. They gave me what little they had.'
He's still in touch with many of the people he met there. Some fled civil war-torn capital, Khartoum, with nothing but their phones. Others left the country altogether.
'If those three days are representative of Sudanese culture – then the people are made of gold,' he said.
A May 30 celebration organized by sponsors is scheduled at Detroit Metro Airport. Family, friends and supporters will gather to welcome Zervos home.
Then, he'll rest. Sort of.
'I haven't had a routine in nearly two years,' he said, noting he's looking forward to getting back to a regular exercise routine and getting away from meat and alcohol – both of which he's been consuming to conform with cultural norms during his travels.
He's also writing a book — the working title is 'Happiest' — for Penguin Random House, a project that came about almost by accident. The email offer landed in his spam folder and he nearly ignored it.
'I'm not a writer,' he said. 'I write scripts for film. They're not meant to be read. But the chance to revisit these stories, and reflect on everything – that's something I couldn't pass up.'
The book, Zervos said, will be a tapestry of stories he collected – some familiar to Instagram followers, others too raw or complex to post online.
'I've got 2,000 to 3,000 stories,' he said. 'Some of the best ones haven't even been translated yet.'
The book is expected in late 2026 or early 2027.
To claim the Guinness World Record, Zervos will need to submit a mountain of documentation, which he's been meticulously gathering all along the way.
Requirements include two witness statements from each country, digitized receipts for travel and accommodations, GPS data points, journal entries, photos and video proof.
He also must create a detailed cover letter explaining how everything was organized.
Even then, approval isn't guaranteed.
'One guy submitted 9,000 pages and got rejected four times,' Zervos said. 'It could take months for them to go through it.'
Follow Michael Zervos on Instagram @theprojectkosmos or visit project-kosmos.com.
Contact reporter Laura Colvin: [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Northville globetrotter closes in on Guiness World Record