The past four years, I have been fortunate enough to find a way to travel with other people internationally. Whether it was with a significant other or my group of friends, I got to turn dreams into reality. However, after getting out of a relationship a few years ago I realized I lost my sense of independence.
I felt like a zombie, physically going through life, but no soul. Growing up, I already struggled with the concept of trying to figure out who I was. Then there I was at 22 going through it all over again. After my 24th birthday, I promised that 2020 would be the first year I would do MY thing.
Just like that, I booked a trip to Australia, and in February I packed my bags and left. On my first solo trip, I realized a lot of things that I would never have faced if I had not jumped on that plane.
Here are 5 Lessons I Learned:
Double check. Triple check. Quadruple check.
I have traveled overseas before, and I am comfortable when it comes to planning my trips. Well, do not ever get too comfortable thinking you do not need to check everything. The night before my flight to New Zealand, I booked a breakfast and lodge on Booking.com, assuming it was a private lodge to myself.
Reality check: One, it was last minute and late at night. Two, I did not read the place description since I assumed it would be a private place based on the fact that I was on the app. It ended up being a family’s house they were living in, and when I showed up the host rarely understood any English. I panicked because it was an uncomfortable situation.
I was alone in the middle of a residential area 20 min from the main city. So I booked a hotel, tried to let the host know that I was leaving and not coming back, jumped into my Uber, and left. This mistake alone ended up being a costly one.
Ignorance is not bliss.
Adjusting to other cultures can be a shock, but I developed the habit of wanting to learn about other cultures. Remember that I am going to a place that is someone’s comfort zone. That is all they may know; that is just who they are. Now, do not get me wrong, there are a lot of things that are still considered unacceptable in this world, no matter where I travel. However, there is nothing wrong with properly educating oneself about the basics. Do not be disrespectful or think you are better than them. Try not to ever judge without understanding. If you truly do not know something and someone corrects you, do not take it personally. I believe it is okay not to know things; it isn’t okay to be ignorant. Traveling is a learning experience.
Trust your gut.
Intuition is so important. My gut has yet to let me down. If something feels wrong, or I must convince myself to do something… I do not do it. It is 100% ok not to want to do something. There were many times when I felt uncomfortable with a situation, and I just removed myself from the situation. Especially when I was bar hopping by myself. I met many people who were great company, but some interactions just left a nagging feeling of worry. Lately, I have never questioned how I feel. I may not know why all the time, but I know it will be best if I listen.
Solitude is peaceful, but it does get lonely… momentarily
I did not have to worry about anyone else, what they wanted to do, or how they felt. I did what I wanted, and knowing I can satisfy my wants and basic needs in life is a luxury. However, I did break down one night. I was not having an ideal day and ended up having an anxiety attack that night. With no one there to reassure me and no one to call, I stayed up all night trying to calm myself down. Eventually, my exhaustion made me pull myself together. I needed to sleep and reminded myself there would be many more nights I would experience alone. But I was here, by myself, to prove that I could accomplish anything I put my mind to… which was more than enough.
Be confident… even if you’re lost.
Taken by far is one of my favorite movies. However, human trafficking is real, and so are other “scary” things that can happen. Especially as a female traveling by myself, that is just the harsh reality. With that being said, I make it a point not to be on my phone when I am walking around so I am constantly aware of my surroundings. Also, so I do not look out of place. However, I have the WORST sense of direction. No matter how many times I remember the map, I will get lost. Ironically, because I do not panic and keep going with the flow, I had people in Sydney asking me for directions because they were lost. It was a good laugh, but it made me realize that sometimes you need to fake it until you make it. Chin up, and stay on your toes.
All in all…
The funny thing about this trip was two months after I booked it, Australia went on fire… literally. Next, people asked me if I knew what was happening with the Coronavirus. Ironically, it ended up being a huge global pandemic in the following months. Talk about crazy.
Anyway, my solo trip was an adventure in itself. Though, it taught me a lot of big and small facts about myself. As well as lessons I can apply to my everyday life at home. Also, now that I have done different types of traveling, I feel a lot more confident in knowing how I travel. This is important because travel is a huge part of my life. My dreams, a way to obtain knowledge, my growth. I would love to continue traveling in the future and eventually with someone I love just as much.
Till the next adventure!
