For those of you who have been following me on Instagram for a while now, I am sure you saw plenty of posts and Instagram stories from my recent trip to Europe! Instead of going to Cabo like many other students my age, I decided to backpack Europe for a week and split my time between Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. I traveled only with my backpack and crossbody purse. I stayed in hostels, took the train, and made some of the best memories of my life. However, what makes this trip a little unusual is that I decided to go alone! Many people travel by themselves. It isn’t very unusual, and I ran into many solo travelers during my time in Europe. However, I feel as though everyone’s first thoughts when they think about traveling is “Who do I want to go with?” but the last person on that list is themselves. Because I am an only child, doing things alone has never felt weird. In fact, it’s my normal. That isn’t to say that I’m a lonely person, just that I don’t have a sibling to fall back on, and I am very comfortable doing things alone.
So why did I decide to go alone? Well, there were a number of things that contributed to this. First and foremost, traveling is important to me, and I want to see the world. I think it is just a shame to not try and experience what the world has to offer. Experiencing different cultures helps provide some context to your own life and brings you a new perspective. I don’t want to sit idly by and watch life happen. I want to jump in and experience it for myself. The second thing that prompted me to go abroad alone for my spring break is that I finally tackled some personal hurdles, and that put me in a considerably better mindset that is inspired, driven, and ready for whatever life throws at me next. I still think I could have gone abroad prior to this, but it may have been more difficult. The timing could not have been more perfect. The third reason that I left for Europe by myself is family related. My great-grandma is full of life and passion and takes advantage of every moment. She has always worked hard and played hard. She truly is one of the most inspirational people in my life, and I have learned many things from her. It is important to take advantage of life and live each day to its fullest, so I decided to start now.
After one week and three countries, what did I learn? A lot! However, my biggest take-away comes from a stark difference between American and European culture. When I was in Paris and Brussels, I noticed that people read traditional books physically printed on paper instead of using e-readers. They read real newspapers instead of scrolling through the news apps on their phones. A few times, I saw some people pulling out day planners from their bags instead of adding something to their GCal or iCal. The world operated as a slightly slower pace. People took their time at breakfast instead of hurrying to finish in time for work or eating on the metro in a rush. People certainly weren’t lazy, but they seemed more content. Even just walking around town in LA, I feel like I notice so many people have an anxious energy or are stressed near their tipping point. There’s a reason that mindfulness and meditation are so popular right now, and I think part of it might have to do with the speed in which we operate. We are constantly going 24/7 at full capacity without allowing ourselves to rest. This results in being burnt out and overworked. However, going through life at a slightly slower pace allows for more thought and more space, less haste and less anxiety. I just feel as though people think they have to choose between being happy and being successful, when that isn’t the case, but it might be the mindset we have created for ourselves.
My second big take-away from this trip is less of an observation like the last one and more of a personal discovery. Although I talked earlier about how doing things by myself isn’t that weird for me, I even surprised myself with what I was capable of. I flew internationally on my own. I went through customs on my own. I booked hostels. I booked tours. I found restaurants on my own (and ate most meals by myself). I communicated with people who didn’t speak any English. I navigated myself through unfamiliar streets. It was a whole new kind of independence and self-reliance that is different from just living on your own at college. It was a big step in my adult life. I learned how strong and resourceful I am. I learned about using good judgement. However, one of the most important things I gained was a newfound appreciation for the life that I live, the things I am capable of, and for myself. I now know that I am truly capable of doing anything that I set my mind to, for I am driven, smart, and a quick learner. I’m pretty sure I learned more about myself in one week than I have in the past year.
Now, for those of you reading this post, who have decided that they may be interested in traveling alone, I have some words of advice.
- Just do it. Traveling alone is not as intimidating as you might think. From the start, I oddly had no reservations about getting on a plane to an entirely different continent by myself. It wasn’t until I landed in Paris that I started to freak out. When I landed, I was so exhausted and hungry, and I had to wait until the afternoon to check into my hostel. Knowing that I was absolutely delirious from the poor sleep I got on the plane, I knew there wasn’t a whole lot I would be capable of doing until I took a nap. That was the only moment the entire trip where I felt a little lonely. All of that was resolved the next day after my systems had reset, and I felt like myself again. For the entirety of the trip, I was so busy going straight from museum to monument to restaurant, etc. that I hardly had time to stop and notice that I was all on my own. It truly was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
- If you get lonely, make friends! There are lots of people traveling too, and you can find company if you need it. While I was in Paris, I befriended another student who was in town from Germany. We met in line at Versailles and wound up spending most of the day together. It was nice to have a social outlet for the day and have a conversation with someone. We even exchanged phone numbers and emails, and I will be sure to visit him whenever I get around to visiting Germany! I also made friends while I was in Amsterdam. Two English girls were spending a few days in Amsterdam, and we all went to drinks later that night and had breakfast together in the morning. Talking to other travelers was probably one of my favorite things to do during this trip. It gives you an opportunity to not only learn about the country you’re visiting, but also people from other countries.
- Upgrade your cellular plan so that you can use your data and texts abroad. Being able to use Google Maps was an absolute lifesaver. I also listened to music and podcasts while I was walking through the city on my way to museums and other sights. It helped give my brain something to focus on when I ran out of things to think about. As a safety precaution, always use only one earbud so that no one can sneak up on you.
- One unexpected perk is that you can move at your own pace. You don’t need to coordinate with a group that has to agree on everything. You can see everything you want without compromising. You don’t need to worry about slowing down the group or pushing your friends too far. The only person you risk upsetting is yourself, and you’re the one calling the shots anyways.
Although this post includes a broad overview of my trip, I plan to detail what I did in each city in later posts. I look forward to sharing more about my spring break adventure with you all, and I hope some of you become inspired to try a solo trip of your own someday!
xx
Emily
