Our First Time 👀

And comfy insoles for all those *physical* travel miles!

Welcome, new friends and old! We’re 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 it’s a short week, we have a shorter post for ya (with a preview of what’s to come down below).

But first, we’re getting somewhat close to our first 1,000 subscribers 🥹 — thank you for being here to make this happen! We’re brewing up a fun giveaway for when we hit that milestone, so stay tuned. 👀

And finally, we wanted to share a quick anecdote about our first time—no, 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.

2010, going through security at Denver International Airport

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 new—somewhere where I would be a stranger. I’d have to rely on my senses and also the kindness of strangers. While there would be someone at the airport to greet me, and I’d have roommates, I’d 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 I’d never known existed.

Not the best image! But a photo snapped by a new friend in a cafe in Seoul.

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 it’s 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 wouldn’t be fair to write about traveling solo without recognizing that, sometimes, it’s hard and lonely—and even scary, especially as a woman. I won’t feed into the stereotype that the “world” (meaning anywhere outside of your current city) is a dangerous place, as I’ve 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. I’ve 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 friends (who I just started 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 cliché, but it can truly be life-changing and shape the way you see yourself and the world. I can’t imagine how different my life would look if I hadn’t 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 “living solo” 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 😉, we’ve been digging

  Dispatches From The Road
  ’s piece on solo travel.

• Been trying to work our way through this list, but we have some thoughts on why some books weren’t included (*cough*, Homegoing).

• Need insoles for walking around a city? These ones are soooooo comfy (and eco-friendly!!).

• Topics we’re brewing up: Finding the best travel insurance without breaking the bank, recent trips to Morocco and Turkey, our upcoming seasonal travel, and the books we’re most excited to read this fall. What else do y’all want to see?
  

Cheers on (almost) making it to fall, our favorite season of all.

—Kayti & Henah xx

is it fall yet? // credit