Solo Discoveries
Every solo traveler has a story behind their love for travel. Personally, I caught the “travel bug” when I was 20 years old and spent a summer studying in France. Throughout those two months, I gained a deep appreciation for experiencing new cultures and forming connections across the globe. Since then, I knew I wanted to explore the world far and wide. This fall, I embarked on my mission to turn that dream into a reality.
I began my solo travels in September with a return trip to France, only this time I stayed mostly in the countryside. I had the chance to live with a family and tutor their daughter in English. It was just what I needed to start off my adventure right. I got to disconnect from everyday life back home in America (which was much needed after working four jobs for a year to save up and gain post-grad experience), while simultaneously forming new connections with a lovely family. I was also lucky enough to visit my old host family from my previous abroad experience and celebrate a birthday with them. This was by far one of my favorite parts of my trip and reinforced my love for creating lasting connections in different countries! Feeling like I have a family thousands of miles from home is something I will forever be grateful for.
From there, I took a 19 hour bus to Zagreb, Croatia. While not the most comfortable night of my life, the view of the mountains as the sun came up that morning filled me with happiness. In Croatia, I saw beautiful beaches and landscapes unlike any I could find at home. Again, I also formed friendships for which I will be grateful for years to come. After Croatia was Iceland, where I crossed off my bucket list item of seeing the northern lights. This was one of the most surreal moments of my travels as I had imagined it in my mind for years.
Fast forward to today–I am living in Poland and not only exploring new cities and trying new cuisine, but I am meeting new people every single day while volunteering. Gaining useful work experience while also exploring the world outside of my usual bubble is like living the best of both worlds. Aside from the acknowledgment of how lucky I am to have these experiences, I have been filled with immense pride throughout the last two months. For many years, I dreamt of living the life I am experiencing right now. It would have been easy to stay home where things were stable and comfortable rather than venturing out into the unknown, but I took the leap, and for that I am not only grateful, but proud. The best thing you can do for yourself is push yourself to live a life you will look back on with joy and pride, no matter how scary. Don’t get me wrong, not everyday has been smooth sailing. Things don’t always go to plan, and I find myself having to adapt frequently, but if anything, this has just allowed the confidence I have in myself to grow. After all, if you’re able to travel to a new country alone and learn to thrive there, is there anything you can’t do?
