Welcome, new friends and old! Weāre thrilled to have been mentioned in this Good Trade piece on quiet travel and excited to newly meet so many of you in your inboxes today. Since itās a short week, we have a shorter post for ya (with a preview of whatās to come down below).
But first, weāre getting somewhat close to our first 1,000 subscribers š„¹Ā āĀ thank you for being here to make this happen! Weāre brewing up a fun giveaway for when we hit that milestone, so stay tuned. š
And finally, we wanted to share a quick anecdote about our first timeāno, not that time, but our first time traveling solo. What did traveling alone for the first time bring up for you?
The First Time I Traveled Solo
The first time I traveled abroad alone, I was 18. The Colorado wildflowers were in full bloom in the fields outside Denver International Airport, and the terminal was crowded with vacationers. I waved from the other side of security to my anxious parents and then boarded a plane destined for Seoul, South Korea, to teach ESL at a summer school.
I still remember the excitement I felt when I boarded the plane and took my window seat. It was just me and another man, so the middle seat was empty. I ordered a soda, and the flight attendants brought around dinner. I unpacked a book and a blanket from my bag, then fell asleep watching a movie.
It all sounds lackluster; I know. But at eighteen years old, flying through the night above the Pacific, I felt more awake and alive than ever before. Perhaps it was the possibility that awaited. I was going somewhere newāsomewhere where I would be a stranger. Iād have to rely on my senses and also the kindness of strangers. While there would be someone at the airport to greet me, and Iād have roommates, Iād never met these people. They would teach me how to pronounce new words (annyeonghaseyo), introduce me to their favorite foods, and show me beautiful places around their city that Iād never known existed.
Anything can happen when we travel, and I find that sentiment is even more true when we travel alone. While some might find the unknown scary, it can also be exhilarating. Most of all, it can wake us from our usual 9-5 slumber. Traveling alone is a privilege, but itās also an invitation to remember how small we are in the world and how many wonderful people and places coexist with us on this planet.
Of course, it wouldnāt be fair to write about traveling solo without recognizing that, sometimes, itās hard and lonelyāand even scary, especially as a woman. I wonāt feed into the stereotype that the āworldā (meaning anywhere outside of your current city) is a dangerous place, as Iāve often felt safer in other countries than I have in Los Angeles. But there are still scenarios where exploring an unfamiliar place alone can feel unsettling.
For me, the challenges are worth it, though. Iāve experienced more personal growth and deeper relationships from traveling than anything else. My husband is proof of this (we met while traveling). One of my best friendsĀ (who I just startedĀ a podcast with!!) is someone I met while backpacking in South America. And just this summer, we got to host some of our wonderful friends from Germany, whom we met while living in London.
Travel has so much to offer, and it just requires that we show up with open hearts and minds. It sounds so clichĆ©, but it can truly be life-changing and shape the way you see yourself and the world. I canāt imagine how different my life would look if I hadnāt said yes to that first trip.
This resurfaced tweet is making the rounds and reminding us what it means to live a full life.
An interesting read that takes āliving soloā to the next level. This was an easy, quick, and engaging book that gave us lots to think about. (Found without a wait at the library!)
And for something more measured š, weāve been digging
ās piece on solo travel.Been trying to work our way through this list, but we have some thoughts on why some books werenāt included (*cough*, Homegoing).
Need insoles for walking around a city? These ones are soooooo comfy (and eco-friendly!!).
Topics weāre brewing up: Finding the best travel insurance without breaking the bank, recent trips to Morocco and Turkey, our upcoming seasonal travel, and the books weāre most excited to read this fall. What else do yāall want to see?
Cheers on (almost) making it to fall, our favorite season of all.
āKayti & Henah xx
Love all of this!! Took my first solo international trip last year, and about to go on my second solo international trip next week!!ššš Cannot wait for all that Iām going to experience and learn and see as a result of doing the scary but exciting thing! š
Solo travel is essential for me! I need to do at least one trip a year (in my country or internationally) by myself to reset.