Travel Myths

            In the past few years, since I’ve discovered my passion for travel, I’ve heard a lot of people’s different opinions of travel. It seems that I’ve especially heard opinions about my type of travel- I travel solo, for weeks or even months at a time, sometimes in the third world, sometimes in countries that have a native language that I don’t speak, etc. As I’ve heard more and more people tell me what they think about that kind of travel, I’ve learned that there are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there. So, since a lot of those myths are rather annoying, and since I like doing these list-style blog posts, I’m going to try to bust a few travel myths. Here we go:

            Myth 1: You have to be rich to travel

            I very regularly hear people tell me that they can’t travel like me because they don’t have enough money. Let me say, the very large majority of the cost of this upcoming trip was paid for by me. And I haven’t won the lottery, nor have I just inherited a large sum of money. I paid off this trip simply by working and prioritizing travel. What I mean by that last part is simple: for example, I have a friend at work whom I swear goes to the movies at least once a week. It seems like every time I get on Facebook, I see a post that he’s at the movies. I recently said to him, “you know, if you waited until movies were out on Redbox for a dollar instead of spending twenty dollars to see them in the theater, you could end up saving a lot of money to take a vacation!” His response was that he really hadn’t thought of that before. That’s just how my mind works. I’m certainly not rich, but I prioritize travel in the decisions that I make because travel is one of my favorite things in the world.

            Myth 2: You have to be fearless to travel solo

            When I explain my travels to people, I very regularly get told that I’m fearless in response. Sometimes I’ll hear the word brave instead, which I like a lot more. Let me say loud and clear, brave and fearless are two different things. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” Trust me, I have just as many fears as the next person (don’t even get me started on the terrors that are clowns and dolls). Getting on that plane to the other side of the world, leaving home behind for months, being thousands of miles from anyone I know, can all be scary feelings. But going out and doing something that scares you is one of the most satisfying, fulfilling things that you can do. So I follow the advice of Eleanor Roosevelt: “Do one thing every day that scares you.”

            Myth 3: Traveling solo means you’ll be alone most of the time

            News flash everyone: there are people all over the world! Just because I’m not going with anyone I know on this trip doesn’t mean I’ll actually be alone. I stay in hostels, which are great places to meet people, occasionally I take group tours, and I volunteer abroad, which definitely helps me meet people- I can’t wait to be reunited with my fellow White Shark Projects volunteers! We only knew each other for a few weeks, but we became best friends in that time! I’m so happy that some of us are coming back to work together again. In fact, solo travel is a great experience for introverted, shy people, because it almost forces you to go out and talk to people. That’s one reason I like staying in hostels, because they provide the kind of environment where it’s okay to just go sit next to a stranger at breakfast and strike up a conversation.

            Myth 4: Solo travel is too risky (especially for girls)

            I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard someone say to me, “girls shouldn’t travel alone”, or something to that effect. This is the biggest travel myth that I’ve ever heard. So, time for some real talk everyone. My response to everyone that’s ever said that to me: your comments didn’t discourage me. They didn’t scare me. They didn’t make me question traveling solo. Traveling alone is one of the most empowering, eye-opening, fun things I’ve ever done in my life. Your ignorant, rude comments simply made me feel sad. Not sad for myself, not sad for you. Your comments made me feel sad for all the other girls you have and will encounter in your life. All the girls who might not be as brave, strong, or flat-out stubborn as I am. When those girls encounter your narrow-minded, misogynistic opinions, they might not see them as a challenge, as something to be proven wrong, like I do. Instead, they might see your opinions as instructions, as advice that they should actually follow. Your comments made me sad for the girls with big dreams that would let incredible, life-changing opportunities pass them by, instead of reaching out and grabbing them because you told them girls shouldn’t.

            There are certainly other travel myths out there, but these were the first few that popped into my mind, and I think this post is plenty long enough. I absolutely loved writing this blog post! See you in 24 days, South Africa! This post’s food for thought: “Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.” H Jackson Brown, Jr.  

Booking Flights, Hostels, and Tours (oh my?)

            In the few weeks since my last blog post, I’ve done a lot more planning and booking of my trip to South Africa, which is coming up in less than a month now! I’m so happy to finally have my flights booked and paid for! That was the main thing that was still hanging over my head ever since I finished paying my costs of White Shark Projects, which was back in October. A couple of weeks ago I used the assistance of a travel agent for the time in my life and got my round trip flights to Africa booked and paid off. Thankfully, I was able to use the same route with the same airline that I used in 2015. The 24 hours of travel time between here and Cape Town is always rough (especially the 16 hour flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg), but I’ve survived it twice already, so I think I can handle it again. Thankfully at this point I’ve had enough experience maneuvering airports by myself that I don’t feel nervous about missing connections, nor do I feel the need to give myself four-hour layovers. I also like flying with Delta- the super long flight is never pleasant of course, but I feel like Delta, in my experience, has done a pretty good job of making it at least bearable. South African Airways, with which I’ve booked the flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town, I’ve also never had trouble with- not to mention the porters in the Johannesburg airport are super helpful!

            I decided that on this trip, I wanted to go a few days early so I could have some more time to spend in Cape Town, my favorite city in the world. I feel like there’s a lot of that city that I didn’t get to see on my last trip. So I will be arriving in Cape Town on the night of February 23^rd, and starting at White Shark Projects on February 28^th, giving me four whole days to spend exploring Cape Town. I’m so excited to also be returning to Atlantic Point, the beautiful little hostel that I stayed at in May and June of 2015- my deposit for my stay is already in! I spent my first night in Africa at Atlantic Point, and it’s a great place to stay! Not only is it very clean and friendly, but it’s also a ten minute walk from the V&A Waterfront, which is one of the best areas of Cape Town to hang out. I remember walking around that area in 2015, and whether I was by myself or with other travelers, I never felt unsafe. I also just booked a tour of Robben Island, a very important area in terms of South Africa’s history, on February 24^th, and the ferry takes off right from the waterfront- no need to schedule a taxi!

            Now that all the big stuff is taken care of (project costs, flights, hostel, etc.), I’m basically just playing the waiting game the next few weeks. It’s 26 days until I leave (yes, I’m counting down), and I have a feeling those days are going to drag. Thankfully I’m still working up until just a few days before I leave so I can have as much extra money as possible, which also makes the time pass a little faster. Anticipation is a fun part of traveling, but it can get annoying, since I’m already so ready to check out of reality and jump on that flight to Cape Town.

            South Africa, I love you so much, I’ve missed you like crazy, and I can’t wait to be back swimming with those gorgeous great white sharks, walking around the V&A Waterfront, and drinking Castle beer. See you in a few weeks. This post’s food for thought: “She is free in her wildness, she is a wanderess, a drop of free water. She knows nothing of borders and cares nothing for rules or customs. ‘Time’ for her isn’t something to fight against. Her life flows clean, with passion, like fresh water.”- Roman Payne

2016- Still We Rise

           

       With the year coming to an end, I always find myself looking back over and remembering the past twelve months. 2016 was a challenging year for me on a personal level, for my country, and really for the world. I essentially cheated death down in South America this summer- I’ve heard from multiple people that they thought I was going to die. It took two weeks of being tied to a hospital bed, and literally months of regular doctor visits, strong medication, and “taking it easy” to recover. There are repercussions of that health mess that I actually still notice to this day- the bad case of shingles I had caused neuropathy in my feet that I still feel daily. Not to mention my left arm is still weaker than it was before those surgeries in Colombia. But this summer still gave me my first experience of living in the third world, and it was certainly eye opening. Those precious few weeks taught me to appreciate all that we have here in the states, and not take anything for granted. As I said in my last blog post, we don’t get to choose where we’re born. The people I encountered this summer didn’t ask to be from the third world- I didn’t ask to be from the first world. I just got lucky I guess, and that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Even the simplest things we have here, like clean drinking water, isn’t guaranteed in other parts of the world.

            But 2016 was a challenging year on a much bigger scale as well. The world lost a lot of great people. My country feels more divided than it ever has, at least in my lifetime. And the political tension isn’t just here in the US, but all over the world- my friends on the other side of the pond whose minds are still blown by the Brexit vote, I’m looking at you. By the way, those invitations to come stay with you for the next four years are still in force, right?

            It hasn’t all been bad, though. The past week or so has been full of nostalgia, not only for events of this year, but the past several years of my life. One of the main topics of my blog is travel- it’s what I love, it’s what makes me feel alive more than just about anything else, it’s something I never want to stop doing. Summer 2014 was life changing for me because it was my first experience traveling solo, and my first time being away from my friends and family for an extended period of time. In the time since I left home to spend that summer working in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, I’ve learned and changed a lot. I’ve done things that I never thought I’d be brave enough to do. I’ve gone to the edge of that cliff and taken the plunge off into the freezing cold Gros Ventre River. I’ve had an Andean bear pluck grapes out of my bare (no pun intended) hands. I’ve had baboons and spider monkeys climb all over me, knowing they could rip my face off if they wanted to. I’ve sat on a riverbank and watched a beautiful bull elephant cross that river, close enough that I could hear the water splashing at his feet. I’ve climbed along the precarious cliffs of Hermanus to find Devil’s Cave, and nearly got swept out of it at high tide. I’ve watched massive great white sharks swim inches from my face. I’ve put my trust, and in some cases, my life, in the hands of strangers. I’ve paid five bolivianos (less than one US dollar) for a ride along one of the world’s most dangerous roads, hoping that the driver knew which turns were the sharpest, knowing how easy it would be to lose control for an instant and plummet off the edge of the mountain, as hundreds of people do every year. The past few years have been an insane adventure, and I wouldn’t change them for the world.

            New Year’s is, of course, also a time to look ahead at what the next year will bring. In February I’ll be heading back to South Africa, my favorite place in the world, to swim with great white sharks again. I absolutely cannot wait to be back in Cape Town, hearing the strong South African accent, feeling the ocean breeze on my face, seeing the stunning natural beauty that country has. 2016, you were tough in many ways, but, as every year is, you’re a stepping-stone to what’s next. There’s a lot of uncertainty here in the world as this year comes to a close, but life will continue. Maybe not in that same way that it has been, but 2016 isn’t the end of the world- that was 2012, remember?

            This post’s food for thought: “You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies. You may trod me in the very dirt, but still, like dust, I’ll rise.”- Maya Angelou

What I Learned Living in the Third World

         Well, after my South American adventure was cut short by a parasite (check that off the bucket list!) that put me in a hospital in Bolivia for a week, then a hospital in Colombia for another week, I’m now safely back in the world of drinkable tap water, vanilla lattes, and people complaining about their iphone screwing up. I still am a firm believer in the statement that a month of traveling can teach you more than a year of sitting in a classroom- which is part of the reason why I never want to stop traveling. Because of that, I always feel like I’ve changed so much as a person whenever I come home from being out in the world exploring. That change is made even more apparent by the fact that it always seems like home hasn’t changed a bit. The same regular guests are still coming in and ordering the same drinks, people are still talking about the same shows and same crazy politicians saying the same stupid things, everyone is still going to the same places to eat, drink, and hang out, etc. I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad (or good) thing- it’s just something I notice when I come home.

             On that note, since I’ve been back home from this most recent trip, and especially since I’ve been back at work, I’ve been noticing “first world problems” so much more. I’m just about ready to propose a law that all Americans should spend at least a couple of weeks living in the third world. After living in a place that didn’t have clean drinking water, and a lot of home comforts like air conditioning were basically unheard of, it’s much easier for me to appreciate how much we have here in the states, and harder for me to complain about things like lack of wifi. All of that being said, here are a few of the things I learned living in the third world:

1.    Americans have WAY more stuff than we need

            I remember the first few days that I was home, looking around at the bookshelves full of books I hardly ever read and movies I almost never watch, closets and drawers full of clothes I rarely wear, and cabinets full of different items that don’t do much other than sit in those cabinets. It made me remember my first day in Bolivia, when I took a taxi from the La Paz airport to the home of a friend of Vicky’s (the head of the sanctuary), to wait for Vicky to pick me up. This woman seemed to live above some kind of clinic, with her husband and two teenage children. I could tell their home was very small, and was really surprised to learn that all of them lived there. When the home got too warm, they opened the windows. To pass the time, they talked to each other. The home had hardly any of the comforts that we consider common here in the states, but the family seemed to get by just fine with what they had because they were used to it. Sure, if I wound up stuck living there for a long time I’d notice the lack of things like television and air conditioning, but only because as an American I’m used to having those things. It really puts things in perspective.

2.    We did nothing to deserve all we have

            You can’t choose where you’re born. You can’t choose who your parents are, or where they are. That family that lived in La Paz didn’t ask to live in the third world- I didn’t ask to live in the first world. Simply being American is not an accomplishment in and of itself. It’s just kind of about luck. Related to that, it means the majority of Americans aren’t at all thankful to have what we have. They think it’s a basic right to have drinkable tap water, good health care, and a comfortable, spacious home. It’s not. This is why I think everyone should at least visit the third world, so that when they come back home, they can appreciate what they have. Even if you don’t have the newest iphone, or the best car, we as Americans have a hell of a lot more than a big chunk of the world, so don’t take it for granted.

3.    Being nice doesn’t cost anything

            Another thing I clearly remember about my first day in Bolivia is meeting the daughter and son of the woman that housed me for a couple of hours that morning. I met the son first, and, being the stupid American that I am, I reached out my hand to shake his. Instead, he pulled me in and greeted this complete stranger with a hug and kiss on the cheek. No, that boy wasn’t any more affectionate than the average Bolivian- that’s just how they do things there. When I met the daughter a few minutes later, I was more prepared for the greeting that seemed so alien to me but so normal to them.

            At that woman’s home (I know I’m talking a lot about my first morning in Bolivia, but it’s a story I haven’t told yet in the blog and really wanted to because I remember it so well), she immediately invited me in and offered me a cup of tea. Despite her limited English and my limited Spanish, we were able to understand each other fairly well. It was amazing to me that this woman completely opened up her home for me, a total stranger, and treated me like some kind of honored guest. I heard once that the poorer a country is, the nicer the people are, and after only a few days in Bolivia, I started to believe that. The people there may not have nearly as much as we do here in the US, but they more than made up for it in personality.

            There are plenty of other things that I could say I learned while living in the third world, but I think this blog post is long enough. I definitely think that everyone could learn something by spending some time in the third world. This summer was my first experience there, but it certainly won’t be my last. This post’s food for thought: “It’s a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks the same, feels the same, even smells the same. You realize what’s changed is you.”- Eric Roth