My Journey Solo Traveling

My Journey to Solo Traveling

Before you’ve done it solo traveling sounds like an anxiety inducing experience that is dangerous and impossible. But once you do it, you realize it’s possibly the best journey you can put yourself in, usually resulting in self growth, a massive increase in confidence, and gaining a variety of global friendships.

I think before my freshman year of college, I had barely taken an airplane alone. I had so much self doubt, I would sometimes even be too scared to visit another town in my state by myself solely due to self doubt. I’m not sure what I was doubting, but I felt a huge need to lean on others.

Each year as I got older, I gained more confidence and my travel bug got stronger and stronger.

My first abroad experience was going to Salamanca, Spain for a summer in high school. I’m not sure what prompted this decision and am actually pretty surprised I followed through with it. The experience was incredible and eye opening. While it was a program with a lot of hand holding, I was only 17, got to make multiple friendships, and improve my Spanish immensely.

After that trip, I knew I wanted to pursue Spanish and travel for the rest of my life. College passed with few opportunities to travel, and finally my junior year approached, and I received the amazing privilege to choose where I wanted to study abroad.

While more than 70 students from my school went to Madrid, and I loved Spain, I craved a more solo experience. So, I chose to go to Chile where no one from my school would be. Before the Chilean semester started, I had three months off of school, so I decided to book my first solo trip (well kind of solo).

All my friends were studying in Europe, and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to visit. I was able to visit multiple countries in a two week period, and get free accommodation staying with my friends in their study abroad apartments. I tasted the opportunity to go solo, but still had my friends to hold my hand. From Amsterdam to Berlin to Budapest to Milan to Madrid to Barcelona to Copenhagen, I had the best time visiting friends and learning the thrill of living out of a backpack.

After this trip, fear crept into my system as I packed for my 6 months in Chile. On arrival, before I met friends from school, was extremely isolating. My spanish was mediocre at best, my roommate had barely there English, and I had a week to fill before classes started. My school had a group chat where people would plan activities.

One day, I decided to meet up with a random guy from my school and climb Cerro Cristobal. At the time, this was an extremely anxiety inducing situation. Meeting up with someone for an activity, where english wasn’t their first language, in a city I didn’t know?

The small hike together was effortless, and this guy ended up being one of my closest friends through out the semester. The following day, we went to Valparaiso, where he invited another guy and this was the start of the formation of our friend group for the semester.

Chile taught me so much on what I was capable of and how putting yourself out there results in maximum friendships. And also it’s not that scary to meet up with people, and go to events you never would. Although, I absolutely loved Chile, study abroad definitely cushioned the experience with easy activities to meet people.

Following abroad, a friend I made there and I decided to go to Colombia for 6 weeks. The experience was incredible, we coexisted super well, and we had the best time. After that trip, I met numerous solo travelers, some even going 8 months at a time, which I thought was absolutely insane, but also decided I would want to do it.

The following year, I decided it was my year to solo travel. I had sharpened up my Spanish, I felt confident in my abilities to navigate a new city, and I was so excited and scared. I bought a one way ticket to Quito and just decided no plan was the best plan.

My three and a half months in South America flew by. Traveling alone was empowering. By the end, I could befriend anyone, feel comfortable in any situation, and felt inspired by the entire situation. l gained so many beautiful friendships from that trip, and still keep in touch with so many of the people. Since the minute I left, I’ve been craving my next travel. I hope in a few years, after saving to do a world solo travel for a year.