Last updated on January 22, 2023
Five years ago today, I sat at Los Angeles International Airport watching the ground crew load the plane outside the window with baggage and fuel. Conflicting emotions warred inside of me. In two short hours, I would board a one-way flight to Australia to start my year-long round the world trip. This moment was the culmination of five months of meticulous planning and the realization of my dream to see other places—to find a purpose for myself while traveling through the cultures and countries I had read about in National Geographic all my life. My brief but powerful panic attack earlier in the day gave way to acceptance as I sat at my gate. I was nervous and still unsure about what awaited a slender, solo 24-year-old woman from the states who possessed little travel experience but great curiosity. But, I had faith that even if everything went wrong and I hated this decision, that I would come out OK on the other side.
I didn’t know it then, but that solo trip in 2008 evolved into more than a decade of slowly traveling and working my way around the world. I have spent long periods of time exploring just a few regions of the world. And beyond that, I have used these years to gain a better perspective on myself. A few travel lessons were hard-won and humbling. Others came from unlikely tutors and at unlikely times.
Are you left wondering: But what do you really learn from travelling? So much. There are more lessons learned from travel than any person could fully articulate, but it’s worth a shot to try. These are 20 things I’ve learned from travel since that day I sat at the LA airport debating the wisdom of my decision to travel solo around the world.
1. The world is inherently kind.
New acquaintances hearing my story are often alarmed by the breadth of my travels. Or, more pointedly, by a few of the countries I have visited. It’s hard to have an open perspective on the world if you only hear negative stories and stereotypes perpetuated by the mainstream media. Traveling unravels those prejudices with a more complex story of the world. Even more, traveling illuminates the light of inherent kindness pulsing from the world. Though traveling has some dangers—I have discussed them before—there is a deeper well of gracious kindness that coats every corner of the world. In every place, and within every culture I have found new friends and new stories about these places. People have have welcomed me into their homes. Many others helped me when I was sick. All of them shared a nuance about their culture and country that has forever lit that place in a new light for me.
2. Language barriers are surmountable.
New travelers, and those with the dream to travel, write me to share their travel fears. Many express fear about the language barriers in new places. It’s also a frequent question asked middle schoolers when I speak at their schools (right up there with “what’s the grossest thing you’ve ever eaten?). The world has hundreds of languages and dialects. On a travel day in some places you can pass through half-a-dozen languages before you fall back to sleep that night. It’s all too easy to get bogged down in the perceived obstacle. That’s a lot of languages to learn! But the truth is, English is the language of tourism. While there are few places where English-language guidance is rare, major tourist sites generally default to English as the second language of communication. This undercurrent of tourism suffuses so many pockets of the world. But where it’s scarce, even then it’s not a travesty. I’ve always found that a bit of preparation (like a phrasebook or smartphone app) works when coupled with patience, a game of charades, and a big smile.
3. Solo does not mean lonely.
It can mean lonely at times, I have never been lonelier than when I was sick on the road. Those moments, however, are the exception, not the rule. Traveling solo these past five years opened up conversations, moments of clarity, and deep friendships that would have been harder if I had traveled with others. Because I’m alone on the road, I seek friendships that other travelers may not need nor notice. And as a single woman, I am accepted into places males are not allowed. Women befriend me on buses and invite me to tea. In many cultures, men and women alike take me under their wing the moment they find out I am alone. Across dozens of cultures and countries, people have offered me help, friendship, and safety. Even more, traveling solo affords the solitude and space to work through thoughts and issues. It gives more time process each travel moment and assimilate the lessons and ideas. Solo travel teaches more about yourself than any self-help book ever could. Solo never has to mean lonely. Male and females both should travel alone at least once in their life.
4. Travel is affordable.
Traveling the world for five years on end is out of the norm for most people. Traveling away from home for long stretches in unimaginable for many people who have a strong homebase and routine. That’s OK, I’m not suggesting that long-term travel is the only way. But even shorter trips should be a priority for those who express a love of travel. Travel does not have to be a high-end luxury cruise around Europe. It can be that, but for those who dream of travel, it’s more affordable than many assume. My 11-months on that first year cost me about $18,000 for everything from lodging to airfare to food. Developing regions are not only more affordable, but they offer some of the most fascinating opportunities to learn more about the world. It’s also where your impact will go further if you spread your money responsibly by supporting social enterprises. Over the years, I have met travelers from every income bracket and socio-economic level. If you prioritize travel, you can find the ways to make it happen.
5. Travel, like life, is personal.
What one traveler loves, another might find dreadful. I eschew big cities and I am content to travel through towns with sub-500 people. That sounds like hell to some travelers. By traveling all these years, I learned that museums are not my thing, but I can wax poetic on my hike or the linguistic nuances of a new language I’m learning. We all geek-out on different things, and it’s totally fine to geek-out on whatever makes you happy. By personalizing a trip to exactly the activities you enjoy, it provides a fresh lens on the world and a deeper way to understand the local culture.
6. Gratitude is the greatest lesson in cultivating a happy life.
Traveling with my niece underscored for me the importance of instilling the character traits of empathy and gratitude into the next generation. With Ana, we talked about the wealth disparities we witnessed in each new place. A mother in Laos shared how hard she had to work to send her child to the most basic schooling. And in turn, Ana learned a tangible appreciation for her educational opportunities. My niece saw the long, arduous hours farmers put in to grow the rice and coffee that fill our tables in the West. We watched workers spend hours to earn a living wage that barely supports their most basic needs. Practicing gratitude is not exclusive to travel, but long-term travel cultivates lessons in thankfulness and instills the practice deep into your life.
7. Eating the street food makes a trip memorable.
Some prominent travel guidebooks caution against sampling the local street eats in a new place. For shame. While there are definitely street-food safety precautions, the flavors, freshness, conversations, and friendships formed on tiny plastic stools sitting at rickety tables behind steamy hot street food stalls are many of my greatest memories. It’s worth it.
8. You should always carry travel medicine.
It can save your life, especially if you eat the street food. ;-)
9. Travel lessons come from unlikely places and unlikely people.
I have spent hundreds of hours in deep conversations with strangers on buses, trains, and planes all over the world. Each new person offered a fascinating story, a nugget of wisdom, or a nuance of the local culture. Through these conversations I learned a great respect for how different our lives can be, but even more the shared commonalities. Travel made me face my arrogant notions of “book smarts” and instead look at each conversation and experience as a chance to learn.
10. The developing world is more modern than you think.
Though I have seen great poverty and wealth disparities on my travels, it is the modernity of foreign places that surprised me. Bangkok, Thailand has some of the most spectacular glass malls in the world — a dozen floors of haute couture, trendy restaurants, and enormous cinemas. Tokyo, Japan is completely developed and yet nothing like the West. Sub-Saharan Africa has more developed cellular phone infrastructure than most Western countries. And they innovate through that network in ways no other places ever has. There are no stereotypes that prove true about any one thing, and that includes developing economies.
11. Make new friends, but keep the old ones.
I had a music box in childhood that tinkled the notes from a song into the air when it opened. The lyrics play as a refrain in my head as I travel the world and meet new people, “make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.”
These past five years have taught me important lessons about nurturing and maintaining my old friendships even in the face of new ones. Travel has limited my ability to keep and build those deep, old friendships. There is joy and value in the new friends and new lessons, but also a limit to the depth of the human experience I can encounter when I constantly move. Through this website, I have formed connections within the travel community. I have also become formed deep friendships with several people I met through travel. I value these people and the role they play in my life, but equally important are the friends I know who know my history.
It hasn’t always been easy to balance traveling long-term with supporting those friends. Traveling all these year taught me to be increasingly grateful for the deep and lasting friendships—it has taken very specific focus to ensure I maintain the friendships that pre-date my travel days.
12. Accept kindness.
Somebody wise probably once said that cynicism is the great killer of joy. If not, they should have. Accept kindnesses from strangers and be open to invitations and new experiences. Accept the chai tea offered by the friendly shop owner and learn his story. Jump at the offer to go to a large Indian wedding in the next town, you’ll have a blast. Be gracious, bring a gift, and be open to the new experience.
13. Call your parents.
My dad has never made me feel guilty for staying on the road all these years. As a thanks for his support, I assuage his fears in whatever way I can. Although I am not a parent, I know my the weeks I drop off the grid without any contact are hard on him. So, whenever Internet allows I send frequent emails and we Skype a couple of times a month. I respect that this person invested 18 years of his life making sure I lived to adulthood, the least I can do is keep him in the loop.
14. It’s okay to buy souvenirs.
I buy myself paintings from all over the world and ship them home. This flies in the face of the traveling minimalists who huff at the notion of souvenirs and “stuff.” I think it’s a question of acquiring the right stuff. My paintings are all in storage right now, and I don’t know when or where I may eventually settle, but they are treasured possessions. I also ship home thoughtful gifts to the people in my life who matter. My dad receives coffee from all over the world, we bond over this and it has made him feel a part of it (see number 13). One friend loves collecting jewelry from new places, another is a fan of scarves. My mother loves nothing more than those super touristy t-shirts, you know, the ones with an embroidered Eiffel Tower and the name “Paris” in cursive just below it; I send these to her from new places. They’re little tokens, and some people don’t get it, but to me, these things matter.
15. Take your mom’s advice: Count to 10 when you’re frustrated.
Traveling in developing regions of the world could try the patience of a saint. There’s the constant bargaining. The swarm of people who surround you when you leave a train stations. The touts and tuk-tuks vying for your attention. It’s overwhelming if it’s you’re not accustomed to the chaos. There are moments when I desperately need space and I feel like everyone’s ripping me off. This is when it’s time to count to 10 and take a deep breath. Learning how to control yourself in the most stressful of situations. Step away from the situation and gain a little head space to take stock of the situation. Find a bench, find a bathroom, find some way to back off from the overwhelm and find some perspective. You are in a new, foreign culture and that takes adjustment. It’s not your place to yell and create a scene, it’s your place to find the way to progress forward in a way that respects the local culture while keeping yourself safe.
16. Spend money when it’s warranted.
While there are times to be frugal and keep to a budget, a once-in-a-lifetime trip should be memorable. Always convert local currencies back into the US dollar before you nix a new experience. It’s easy to freak out over that 120,000 kip day-trip in Laos, but it’s really only $15 USD and that’s not quite so alarming a figure, is it? This is also true when it means splurging on a central guesthouse, or taking the taxi home if it’s safer or if it’ll make your life a bit easier. As with everything, keep perspective. It’s also more polite and respectful of the local culture to maintain perspective that haggling vendors down to their last nickel discount makes little difference in your travel budget, but is a huge difference in local salaries. Travel is only humbling and perspective-shifting when you make a conscious effort to make informed choices and learn from each new experience.
17. Never leave your luggage unattended.
Airports make the luggage announcement every 15 minutes. Never leave your luggage unattended. It’s wise advice when you’re about to face TSA, and it’s also sage travel advice. In many places, take your hand off your purse and it may be the last time you see that purse. Be conscious of your belongings when you’re in public, and spread your valuables among your bags. To whip out another cliche, don’t keep all your eggs in one basket. Maintain a consciousness of your possessions at all times, this is one of those “hard-learned” lessons every traveler learns at some point.
18. Pack light, you really can it buy it there.
When I sat in that airport terminal five years ago, I had completely over-packed. I ditched heaps of the things that I thought I would need. And I also lugged a year’s-worth of some items that were easily replaceable. You really can find: tampons, shampoo, new clothes, safety pins, and all the other myriad things you think you might not exist outside the US. The one thing you can’t find? Solid deodorant. I don’t like roll-on deodorant, and it’s difficult to find solid deodorant in many places. Now, I pack my Diva Cup, I replace shampoo in each new place, and I pack an extra stick of solid deodorant. For all things non-deodorant related, however, you can likely find it there.
19. Great things lie on the other side of fear.
The idea of traveling solo terrified me when I first left. Over the years though, it’s at the very moment that I am most afraid to move forward with an idea—when fears paralyze me—that I know I need to push through. I don’t mean fears like a physical danger, but rather the fears that box us in and prevent us from reaching our goals. Travel taught me that when you feel resistance, it’s that very thing that you will like find most rewarding on the other side. Understand yourself first and foremost so that you can make know how to make the big choices that best reflect your life goals and aspirations.
20. Smile often. :-)
Smiling is a gift that transcends cultures. It is the universal communicator. You should learn the basic “thank yous” and “hellos” in the local language too. But smiling replaces either of these gestures, and it should always accompany them. Not only can you express gratitude with a smile, but a simple smile has been the start of many amazing conversations over the years. Only take caution in parts of the world where a smile from a woman is seen as forward or promiscuous. In the bulk of the world, however, one small gesture of curiosity and kindness from me opened the door to reciprocal offers of kindness. Smiling makes you approachable to foreigners and locals alike. Really, you can’t go wrong if you approach your travels with smiles, patience, and gratitude.
It’s been a wild ride these past five years. I had no idea I would find a way to continue working from the road and traveling this great big planet. I have the deepest thanks and gratitude for the support of my readers. Throughout this journey, connecting with A Little Adrift readers has long been one of the best parts. If I can ever help you shoot me an email. If you’re keen to meetup, sign up for event notifications on the Facebook page, and safe travels wherever you next find yourself!
~Shannon
All these tips can be very beneficiary!!!
Will try to refer them for sure!!! Thanks for sharing.
So much wisdom in this post! Thank you for sharing :)
So glad it resonated!
Dear Shannon, your story and travel tips are inspirational! I am taking a gap year between high school and college to travel around the United States and Europe by myself and it makes me smile to read such a wonderful blog and be reminded that there are still people who travel the world with an open heart and an open mind. Right now I find myself in Oregon and I plan to hitchhike out east into Montana and Wyoming in the weeks to come- I was wondering if you have any personal tips on hitchhiking? Thanks for sharing your travel experiences with everybody! You are amazing! :)
Hi Hayden! I am so glad that you have found inspiration here. And congrats on the upcoming gap year — that will be such an incredible adventure. As for hitch-hiking, it’s not something that I have done in the U.S. I did a small bit in Scotland, but I wish I had better advice. The biggest safety tip I have about most travel that puts you at the will of others in that manner is to trust your gut. If you’re ever in a situation where you are feel pressured to act a certain way, or to do something that feels off, don’t fall back on being polite. It took me a long time to believe that it was OK to be “rude” by saying no thank you if the situation felt off. People who wish you harm will often use against you social norms and an inherent need to be polite. Just stay aware and trust yourself. You will have a lot of kindnesses offered along the way, and it will take experience to learn how to trust your gut. Accepting offered kindnesses have created some of my favorite travel memories, but I also have given very firm “nos” in situations where I just wasn’t fully sure or comfortable. I hope that helps! Happy travels. :)
Hi Shannon, my family is travelling the world for 1 1/2 years. Even though I am with my family, I still miss my friends. I know it isn’t very long, but sometimes I can’t focus on learning about the fascinating cultures. I also have to stay on top of my schoolwork, as I am only thirteen. I think your posts are wonderful and inspire me to get more out of the places I am in. They teach me and help me see the marvelous places you have gone, and I will soon go.
Hi Natalie! I am so glad that you wrote. What an adventure you have in front of you. But it’s also a huge and a very long time. It’s completely OK that you will miss your friends, of course you will! I don’t know how much you are allowed to be on social media, but when my niece and I traveled it was a good way for her to feel connected to her friends. There will be times in that you just want to curl up with a pizza and not see anything cultural or cool, you’ll just want to chat and be at home. I have had so many moments like that when I am traveling for a long time. You should never feel guilty, just do reconnect with friends, take a break and then it always passes. It doesn’t go away, but it passes. It’s only in taking a break that you will enjoy all of the cultures and places you are going to see. Stay curious Natalie, that will take you so far on these adventures. And keep me posted! I’d love to know how it goes as you’re traveling. :)
Five years of experience in travelling, Your lessons are more effective I follow those lessons. Always i want to go for a travel for whole world but there is no companion for me. I think i will get my travel pleasure as soon as possible.
Thank you, so glad it resonated. I hope you are able to hit the road soon.
I am planning a trip around the world but I would like to get 1 or more people on this trip. If you have an interest in travelling around the world let me know. Thanks email me at ovidiu84_usa@yahoo.com or facebook me at ovidiu ciortan
hi shannon , i just doing my research on travel tips and things you should know while travelling solo its a part of my school project . I have to collect all the info and pictures to complete my book , i am a current student of graphic design in Christchurch New zealand , belong to north india , i need your permission and help if you have time . i am still confused between you and “benny lewis 29 lesions learned” as i found your writing very neat and clean and its very straight forward…
Hi Saurav, I am happy to help however I can with your project. Do you need just photos, or questions as well? My email is on the contact page. :)
well now i am almost done .. i will send a pdf today to you and some pics of the book . you can suggest me that what can be improved my deadline is on thursday.
I love this, I’ve been reading through your blogs past and present, (I stumbled upon them doing my research for my own trip) and haven’t laughed and felt so inspired in ages. I love your energy and passion towards life and travel, you’ve opened up my eyes to some options and made me feel it’s possible to do, so thank you!
Your comment made my day Bekki, I am so happy you found both inspiration and help on the site, please keep me posted if there is anything I can help you do to plan your travels! :)
Wow, well where would I start?! I’m still narrowing down countries to visit and trying to think of experiences I don’t want to miss, you’re volunteering and vipasanna in Nepal, confirmed to me that’s where I’d love to go. I’ll definitely keep in touch and if you’re doing any talks in England at all I’d love to come along and pick you brains about the whole working to maintain travel saga!
Nepal is beautiful and has a wonderful vibe, so I love that it’s made it onto your list. I have no England plans at this point, but I would love to speak in that area and will keep you posted if I do! :)
I love it, we all geek out on different things and its okay if it makes us happy, too goo and such great life lessons especially great things lie on the other side of fear. Just as they say “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”
Glad the piece resonated Jaryd, sometimes even now I find myself resting in the complacency of safe, and I have to remember that having left to travel is but one step, it’s a continual facing of my fears and comfort zones to live a full life. Safe travels and thanks for reading! :)
This is Awesome, Shannon. I guess things seem so scary and foreign when you are sitting on your couch at home. It is good to get the message out that travel doesn’t need to be dangerous or expensive or lonely. I like the smile part, I always say, “Be humble and smile. People will want to help you.”
Glad the piece resonated with you — I think the humble part is a good piece of the phrase. In addition to smiling, if you approach travel with the right mindset, people will help you. :)
This is inspiring stuff. I have dreams of doing this and using my skills to serve as a physical therapist. Did you pre plan destinations or wing it. I would love to chat with you about this. You are inspiring. I have the will to do this yet need to work on the feasibility.
Thanks so much, glad the piece resonated. I planned the first year out with a rough route but. One of the particulars. Would be happy to help you however I can!
Hello Shannon, are you able to do a Skype chat or phone call this month? Thanks much!
Right now I am in Africa, so this isn’t ideal for connecting on the phone, but if you have time we can either chat this summer when I am stateside, or you can shoot me a quick email with your top question. :)
I just found your blog by chance and have read a couple of your posts. First being the one on Thailand (because I am considering ESL teaching abroad opportunities) and then your Mexico cost post (because I can’t help but feel terrified by the financial side of things). I think it’s amazing what you have accomplished and I feel very much like I need to mirror some of your international experiences. I am 22 and almost finished with my undergrad. I can’t decide between graduate school (likely MFA in creative writing) or trying my shot at abroad for a while. I guess I am writing for your opinion, based on the fact you are one of the few “qualified” to advise in these realms. Did you finish an undergrad and grad school before making these abroad choices? Or how would you do it again if you were your pre-abroad self at 22 trying to make these huge decisions. Thank you for your time and consideration.
I hope all is well,
-Brenden (from St.pete, Florida)
Hi Brenden! Always great to hear from others from the Tampa Bay area, and boy do I know what it’s like to juggle the drive for education with work and then the beyond. For myself, I finished undergrad and then moved to LA for two years before hitting the road. I have never regretted those choices because they led me here. For grad school versus traveling — only you know if that is a good fit, but know that there are other options too.
A friend of mine lived and worked as a teacher in Thailand for two years while completing an online masters in Education. She just had to return stateside a couple times a year for testing, but other than that juggled the two. I say this not because you should do it too, but to say that there is middleground and you can blend things into the life that feels right for you. That being said — make travel happen sooner rather than later as it helps shape your career and give perspective to later decisions.
And lastly, if anyone tells you just to push through or you’ll never get back to you degree — tune it out. If you want it, you’ll come back for it. I am right now looking over grad schools as an option for once I return and settle somewhere stateside. :)
Good luck!
Well thought out. I think the pack light got me. I didnt pack light for my year around the world but I definitely do it from now on. Smile though is the most important. Gets you past so many problems.
Glad it resonated with you; that first year I also totally over packed too! :)
PPS. ,,,I WAS BORN IN ST. PETE ,,,LIVED ALL OVER AND NOW BASE IN BRADENTON , FL!!!!!!! Heidi
Hi there !!
Thank u sooooo much for your positive and courageous attitude!!
And of course all the info ,,what a lucky woman you are ,,it’s fabulous!
I’m a traveller too and will be celebrating my “”””BIG 60″””” ,,,solo,,,,,in UBUD,and all around Bali ,, leave early march ,,it’s amazing when you open up to the universe who pours into your life !!!
I haven’t even left my area yet ,,but a BALANISE ,,whose working here,,,
,a woman whose building in UBUD , another whose been living there for ten years ,,,and so on ,,, like 5 more people,,,,
have popped into my life and have made my newest ,,,trip,,,, already a ,,,trip,,,!!!! Hahahahah!!!!!
SOOO, you never know what the life of travel has in store for your own going ,,,and growing!!!!
I’m working on an Internet program that’s about travel ,,,and doing something that matters too,,,
You just never know ,,,where you’ll be led ,,,and I just love that!!
Happy travels!!!!!!
Light , Heidi lane ,,photographer
Ps ,,I live in Florida too!!!!!!!
Thank you for the wonderful comment Heidi — it sounds like your big birthday is going to be amazing and that you are on the right path if all these happy people are coming into your life right now! Travel is amazing and I wish you the safest of travels! Bradenton is just down the road a bit, so we’re nearly neighbors in this big world. :)
I love this post! I’m heading out for a big two month trip in March completely solo and I’ve had a lot of mixed reactions from people about being a woman heading out on her own to travel around Asia. I totally fear being lonely, and I also fear that even though this something I’ve dreamt about my whole life, I may not like it in the end. These tips (and the rest of your blog for that matter) really have put my mind at ease, given me lots to look forward to and made me start to consider the possibility that I may want to stay on the road longer….maybe indefinitely!
Congrats on heading out soon! You know, no matter if you love the solo aspect or not, it’s an epic adventure you are about to take. I have met some travelers who thought they wanted to travel a year and then decided three months felt better, then some time home, then out again. Do what feels comfortable to you, and have an amazing trip!! :)
I really loved your article. Unfortunately, I don’t think that I could ever have the courage to simply pack my bag and go on a “solo” trip.
Thank you Julie! And perhaps not solo, but the trick is to go to the edge of your dreams and comfort zone — that may be traveling long-term, but with a friend or family in tow! :)
#15 is spot on, especially in India. It’s easy to let the swarm of touts rattle you if you don’t prepare mentally for the onslaught that awaits when stepping off a train or bus.
Glad that one resonated with you! There were a few times, especially in the early days of traveling, when I just didn’t see it coming and boy did it rattle me to be swarmed like that! :)
So glad I found your page. I am a fellow Floridian and left St Pete in August to see the world! My only regret thus far…that I didn’t pack light!! Now we are trying to figure out how to get all of this stuff we don’t need back to our parents ;-) Love this post – great lessons learned!
Another St Pete native out there traveling — that is RARE. I love it. Perhaps if we’re back home visiting at the same time then we can meet up for coffee! Glad to hear you’re lightening the load — I think most travelers start out a bit heavier in the stuff department, so shipping back the expensive items and ditching the rest is the best bet for sure. Safe travels! :)
Love the paint festival photo! We can’t wait to follow your foot steps and get travelling!
Thanks and best of luck planning your travels! Let me know if I can ever help :)
Thanks! :-)
One of my favorite posts of all time, and definitely of late. LOVE
Oooh thanks lady! It was one of my favs to write and look back on the past few years. :)
Aww lovely post! And agree with every one of them. It’s really reminds me of how good people really are in the midst of hearing all of the terrible things on the news when you go to a new country and are greeted with nothing but a huge warm welcome.
So glad you have also had positive experiences on your travels! I love thinking of the smiles and welcome coming anytime I have an upcoming trip! :)
Great article Shannon!
Frank (bbqboy)
Hi Shannon, Number 1 is spot on. I travelled for 4 years and I can count on 1 hand the people that have’nt welcomed us into their country
So glad you found the same kindnesses — so many people fear this aspect of travel, but the welcome is what I too remember so much about travel. :)
Number 19 kind of made me emotional. Fear has kept me away from doing so many things that I still want to do, especially travel. I’m still trying to cope with it. Anymore advice on it?
Thanks, I pray you many more journeys to come!
Hmm, think of what you want and set goals that get you closer to it, slowly stretching your comfort zone. If traveling across the ocean solo makes you nervous, perhaps try a solo trip in your country. Get the hang of it and increase your confidence. So much good luck! :)
Its really inspirational article. Glad to read your experiences… :)
Thanks for reading! Appreciate you stopping in, happy travels :)
Great blog Shannon. Thanks. Maybe you can get rid of your solid deodorants…I find that a chunk of fresh lemon works even better!
Thanks! I do try to use rock salt deodorant in the cooler months but I unfortunately am in the poor habit of using regular deodorant in the tropics when I travel. Thanks for the reminder though, and safe travels. :)
I so agree with all of this! We’ve been travelling for awhile now too and we’ve learned a lot of these tips along the way. The best part is meeting so many different people around the world who continuously surprise you! Travel certainly isn’t lonely. Great post, thanks for sharing :-)
It’s funny how loneliness is one of the big fears people have before travel, but the reality is that new friendships are waiting in so many people and places. Safe travels and thanks for reading! :)
11, 13 and 15 are so true!! No matter if a person travels solo or in a couple :)
Many happy and inspiring moments in 2014, Shannon!
Three of my favorites as well. I hope you have a wonderful New Year ahead as well, safe and happy travels! :)
Congratulations on 5 years of travel! I agree with all of these but #5 and #16 stood out to me. No travel style is the right way, and how you travel is SO personal. With spending money I always advise spending according to your priorities and in the way that aligns with your personal travel style. Heres to 5 more years!
Thank you so much Laura! And I agree, I never try to tell people how to travel, but instead to look at the things they value — be in food, adventure activities, etc — and be willing to spend some money for the parts that make a trip memorable for you. Safe and happy travels to you! :)
I tried to pick one lesson I have learned more than the others, but that are all so true. However the day I learned that all people are good, it changed my travels forever.
Well done Shannon and keep the post coming!
Thanks so much for the support Stephen. I could have never whittled it down to one lesson, but I too find the one I most often mention is that people are good and kind. Safe travels! :)
#4 could not be more true. My friends have no idea how I can afford it. I also like to eat as much as possible :).
I think most people assume that long-term travel is the price of a vacation times the number of days on the road, but the flight is the biggest expense in many cases, so it’s actually way more affordable! Let’s keep spreading that message and get more of our friends out there with us :)
Its such a great list. The five year experience is so impressive. Thanks for sharing the experiences and its a great post
Nice list, it reminds me that travel rules are not set in stone and things are personal. Others tell you how to do it, but it’s ok to do it your way, I mean come on it’s your trip and it’s personal. By small souviniers, they look cool on the fridge at home or on the wall :)
Always lovely to see a little reminder souvenir at home later! Thank for reading and weighing in– any favorite souvenirs you’ve bought on the road?
What you accomplished in your 5 year travel experience is quite impressive. Actually another blog post headed me to your blog, and I’m glad to see the rest of your adventures and lessons you share here.
Thank you Rachel, so glad they pointed you this way. Do you have any upcoming travel plans? :)
Nope, I’m staying with family for the holiday. I’m planning to visit Turkey though some time in March.. to visit a friend and to celebrate my birthday. :)
Turkey seems to be getting a lot of buzz these days, I really want to go there too. A friend and a birthday are a good reason to visit! :)
Great tips. On packing light – it felt so free to only carry one duffel bag on our last trip (an Africa safari). Unfortunately we’ll probably fall back on our old routine of dragging heavy suitcases. And great photos. Especially the pink colorful faces :-).
Like you, I love it when I’m super mobile with light stuff, but I always manage to come home stuffed to the gills and carrying extra stuff! The pink faces was in India for their Holi festival — it was so fun! :)
I absolutely adore this post, Shannon. It’s been a pleasure traveling with you through this blog not for five years but probably pretty close to that. I’ve always admired your genuine travel style. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for your continued support JoAnna, it’s been a while since we’ve crossed paths, but I hope we do again soon for some in person chats. :)
An awesome bunch of lessons all of us can use in our lives. One of the reasons I travel is to remind myself of the beauty and kindness of others, especially when I am faced with small town prejudice. Congratulations on 5 years, I hope to be travelling long term from 2015.
Thank you Naomi! Travel is a great reminder of kindness, sometimes as you said, even more than be found in our own hometowns sometimes. Safe and happy travels and thank you for sharing your thoughts here :)
Great list! I am only two years in and know there are many lessons to come. My favorite one is that you should “trust your cape”, that is, things will work out.
Two years is no small feat! Congrats on your time on the road. I think in the coming years it’ll be more perspective on those experiences as you see more and look back on the early days — at least, that’s how it was for me! :)
I love how you blend practical advice with spiritual wisdom. My favorite is #3 – it’s so true that being alone doesn’t have to mean lonely. Congrats on 5 years!
Thank you Rashad! Number #3 is one of my favorites too because I was so scared before I left that I would be overwhelmingly lonely.
And it comes and goes, right? I try to tell myself that if I’m feeling lonely today, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll feel lonely tomorrow. One day at a time.
Absolutely one day at a time. I think more than anything travel has also reminded me that so many emotions are fleeting if we can get through hem for the day. :)
Dear Shannon, Lovely!! Thanks for sharing your experiences. These insights that you discuss through your experiences prove that travel makes you grow and these wise pearls cannot be taught in any university or schools. You deserve a PhD for this! Only if I was a chancellor of a university :)
I’d take a PhD if you were! Thank you so much for reading and sharing here, I truly do think travel is one of the few ways to really form a deep perspective of global citizenship. The idea can be planted in the classroom, but must be expanded on out there in the world. :)
I love your blog!!!!! I am new at this but would love to feature you on my blog….perhaps?
Thanks! Appreciate the sentiment, and just shoot me an email if you’d like to talk more! :)
Oh the joys of #18. Def made that same mistake in a big, big way…!! I brought a friggin sleeping back to Europe. In June.
http://blog.ohheyworld.com/rookie-backpacker-mistake/
Hah! That’s terrible! But you live and learn and you’ve done a lot of miles since then. :)
These are wonderful lessons, and I’ve learned many of the same during my two years of living in China. (Tampons are not available there, by the way.) Skyping with friends and family back home, staying connected through email and Facebook – it’s so important not to neglect the relationships that were important to you before you left. And now that I’m living in the States for a few months before moving overseas again, I’ve made spending time with them a priority. I also brought home a lot of fun souvenirs to give out so they feel like they’ve shared in my adventures :-)
I’ll have to update the post as you’re not the only one to say that about tampons. I use a menstrual cup so only saw anecdotally that they were in many places! Hope they love the souvenirs you brought, I love handing them out and seeing what my friends think. :)
I love #19…but sometimes, really dangerous things lie on the other side of fear. Like spiders. Dark alleyways in a bad neighborhood. The smell of expired milk. Those are just a few things. But in general, #19 is almost always correct :)
I laughed so hard at your comment about expired milk. So true, proceed with caution when sniffing that jug! Thanks for reading and sharing Wade :)
Yep, eating street food is a must. It might not always be the safest, but it is some of the tastiest!
Definitely the tastiest! Some of my favorite dishes I have tried to recreate I first tasted on a tiny plastic chair somewhere in the world. Thanks for stopping in and reading. :)
beautiful article! Love the The World is Inherently Kind, since I have always relied on the kindness of strangers!! stay fabulous!
Congrats Shannon, on five years of life experience that equates many more of a regular life. Your “Eat street food” and “always carry travel medication especially if you eat the street food” brings a smile to my face. The dichotomy of the two tells how we approach the broader life – be aware and prepared for the unlikely, and remain adventurous and optimistic about place, things and people.
Since returned, my every day thought of “Dear Life, Thank You For..” in the context of daily routine with some day much harder than the others. Thank you for #20 reminder and the smile.
Lovely post! Have to agree on the people are inherently nice thing. So often I hear that people from such and such country are cold, or not friendly… People just have different ideas about personal space and the like, and they abide by cultural norms. I think people are generally nice, and what is sometimes seen as “distant” or “cold” is actually an inherent respect for other people’s privacy. When you talk to people from these countries, you generally find them more than willing to help/open up.
Your 20 lessons are very real! I can relate to all of them! The language barrier is my favourite and something that can either be tiring or extremely entertaining! Great post!
Amazingly put! Do have even more fun on the road :)
That’s very nice. I really agree with one of your points: that people really are nice. Yeah, there’s jerks out there, but there’s a whole lot more nice people.
Love it Shannon! Thanks so much for sharing your hard and joy-fulling earned wisdom!
Katie
Your perspective on travel is so refreshingly down-to-earth. Love it.
Kindness and warm heart is what I have found in your post :) Thanks a lot for sharing and suggestions, Shannon. Take care and safe steps on the road for you too
It’s amazing that you left for perpetual travel at the end of 2008, at the time of tremendous economic peril. That must have taken a lot of courage–and of course it was the best decision. Very inspiring–thanks.
#12. I am still learning #12. I tell all I know about the kindness I see around the world but the cynic in me still has trouble letting it in. I am working on it though and plan to reap the rewards not only of accepting kindness but also of being more kind. Congrats on 5 years Shannon!
Beautiful observations, Shannon! Congrats on this big milestone and everything you’ve accomplished!
What a beautiful way to mark 5 years! Congratulations. Also, I agree with 99% of what you said…but… there are no tampons here on Roatan :) For real!
Shannon…thanks for this : )
My husband and I are 24 days away from the start of our 16 month adventure around the world and are riding the roller coaster of emotions…in a big, BIG way!
This is so great, Shannon. Congratulations on FIVE YEARS of travel! I’m about to hit my one-year anniversary and have definitely experienced some of these lessons.