Expand your horizons.... travel.....

Last month I headed out on an adventure - I challenged myself to do something I had never done before - I traveled alone to a foreign country, where I barely speak any of the language, for 10 days.  And it was..... MAGICAL!!!

 "Don't be afraid to travel the journey alone - You might find yourself."

Since I've returned home, I've had several conversations with people, particularly young women, about my trip and how they wished they could travel more but they don't know anyone who would travel with them.  I challenge them to consider what it would be like to travel alone - to be completely free to experience and form their own adventure and experience.

I routinely travel around the United States alone, but this was the first time I had gone out of the country by myself.  The experience was one of the most enriching experiences of my life...






1 - Traveling alone expands your horizons even more.  Rather than limiting your view of any culture or experience, you open your mind and your spirit to see and feel what other places, people, cultures and experiences are like.  Because I was completely on my own, I was free to take my time to wander through the city, talk to people when I had the opportunity, observe daily life, and to just soak up the experience.  My views and experience of the city were only filtered through my own lens, no one else.  I had the opportunity to take my time and absorb the aspects that spoke most directly to me.

2 - We grow from a little discomfort.  Because I didn't speak the language fluently and had to learn to communicate with people, I was forced to find ways to communicate and to practice my own Spanish skills but also just my communication skills.  However, it also meant that I learned to navigate a new city and explore new experiences.  I got out of my comfort zone with a minimal safety net.  Before I left I knew there were places I wanted to go, in particular some significant tango locations (El Beso - more on this in a later blog), but was very anxious to go alone.  And yet I did go - not just once but many times over the course of my trip.  And wonder of wonders, I not only became more comfortable but I began to meet people and make new friends!  I learned to let myself be seen again and to begin to connect with new people in new ways!

3 - Traveling alone forces us to build our understanding and connection to ourselves!  Because I was completely on my own, I had the opportunity to really explore what it was I wanted - each day I was the only one responsible for what I wanted to explore.  I was able to spend time just sitting and writing and re-discovering what was important to me and valuable to me.  Because there was no one else to balance time with or consider while I was exploring, the experience allowed me to truly connect to myself, examine what was important to me and where I want the future to go.  During this trip, I learned parts of the city that I really loved exploring (and can't wait to revisit) were the areas where old history co-existed with current life - the neighborhoods where two hundred year old buildings existed side by side with new building and signs for current movies; the neighborhoods were sidewalks were wide and may have had five different types of surfaces along the block; the blocks where there were fruit and vegetable stands side by side with bookstores, ice cream shops and food to go shops.  :)  I didn't enjoy as much the parts of the city where the buildings were all new and similar in style.  I learned that I am not only comfortable but enjoy wandering the city at night.  I learned that I can feel embraced by a city (this was big for a country girl).  And I learned there is little more enjoyable than a quiet cup of cafe con leche while reading a favorite book and writing in my journal.  Food tastes better when you aren't anxious about someone elses reaction to your restaurant of choice. 

4 - You find yourself exploring more and quite possibly even making new friends in unexpected places.  I came away from this trip with more new friends than I ever anticipated.  Without a travel partner, I reached out more and was more receptive when approached by others while I was out exploring.  There is something enriching and encouraging about making new connections and exploring new friendships with people from different cultures - we share stories and experiences, areas where we both are similar as well as different.  In addition, we share our interest in each others' languages and some of the friends I've made I continue to talk with and to learn to improve my Spanish for my next visit.  I don't know if I would have made as many new connections on my own if I had been traveling with someone else.  But also, because I was traveling alone, I didn't feel the need to be social when I wanted to just be quiet and absorb.  The ability to flow between social and quiet solitude was freeing and uplifting. 

5 - Traveling alone strengthens you - it reminds of you of all that you are capable of and can do on your own.  It increases your confidence in your own abilities and interests.  You don't have to worry about someone elses reactions and it forces you to accomplish things (finding directions, communicating with people, making new connections) that you may feel intimidated about.  There was a moment where I had trouble locating the shop to change money during my trip.  While I had gotten the address and good directions from a friend of mine, I was still on my own to actually find the location and exchange my dollars for pesos.  When I had accomplished the task, I felt much more confident and stronger - from something that simple and what felt extremely easy by the time I left to head home. 






6 - You see things you may miss otherwise.  Because I didn't have someone else with me - I was able to fully take every bit of time I may want in certain areas.  I found myself very drawn to a cemetery in a particular area of town and to the street art throughout the city.  I was free to wander and explore each of these as much as I wanted.  I didn't worry about a friend or travel partner criticizing my desire to walk barefoot in the cemetery (in the winter even); or complaining that a one mile section of walking was taking me 30 minutes because I kept stopping to take pictures of the artwork.  I ended each day feeling enriched by all I had seen and at peace with the time I had taken to wander and explore it.

Since my return home, I continue to encourage everyone (men and women) I know to travel - travel with friends and loved ones but also, take a trip on your own - learn about yourself and sink into a new culture.... If you could go anywhere - where would you go?  what holds you back?  what excites you about the travel?