Blog

During my trip I had a one day layover in Istanbul between Israel and Italy. I slept in the airport the night of my arrival. In the morning I found a café in the airport and got some tea. I exchanged some money and headed down to the subway. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to buy a token but I finally got one, passed through the gate, and hopped on the first train I saw. I went up to a man and told him I had only a day in Istanbul and asked where I should go. He told me to head down to the city center with The Blue Mosque and The Grand Bazaar. I thanked him and got off on my stop. I had trouble returning my ticket into the machine and friendly bystanders volunteered to help. Then I began my exploring. It was early and things were barely open. People were just beginning their days.

Everybody that saw me gave me a friendly smile.

I walked into one of the few open stores. There were tea assortments, spices, Turkish delight, and other candy. An eye appealing and mouth watering store. I walked around the store taking pictures in awe of the sights and smells. I smiled on my way out and the elderly man of the store handed me a piece of candy shaped like a heart. It truly made my heart melt.

I ended up wandering down to the harbor where I found a cart of croissants and sat on a bench. I ate my breakfast observing the men fishing and the ferries departing.

I continued my wandering and stumbled upon The Grand Bazaar. It was a never ending market of stores with a variety of things being sold from lamps to jewelry to spices and tea.

As I was exploring I ran into the man from the train and his girlfriend. What a coincidence with how giant this market was. We ended up going through the rest of the Bazaar together.

As we made our way to the end of the bazaar the couple headed off to lunch. On my way back to the train I saw this woman sitting with the birds, feeding them. She sat in solitude and smiled for me.

After walking around for hours I was exhausted and was ready to head back to the airport until my flight. Although I was only in Istanbul for a day it was one of my favorite places. The people always helped me without me even asking, they always had a smile on their face, and there was so much to explore.

As a traveler, the backpacker and hostel community is everything. Being around people who are doing the same thing as you, sharing stories, songs, and culture. When I first started my trip I knew about hostels but didn’t realize the community that existed. My favorite story of my trip is the introduction I got into the community.

I was coming from Israel (the only place I was part of a tour group), and spent a day in Rome. Luckily I met a local who spent the whole day showing me around. That night I was to catch a train to Assisi, Italy to volunteer at an English summer camp.

When I got on the train it was dark out. As we went through stops I noticed the announcer wasn’t saying the names of the stops. All I knew was I needed to get off at Assisi. Once a long period of time went by I started to get nervous thinking I might’ve missed my stop. I started to ask people on the train if my stop was close or if we already passed it, but no one spoke English.

The train line ended and we were in Florence. I was planning to go there-only not yet in my trip. As I got off the train I saw a group of three backpackers, so I asked them if they knew of a hostel nearby. This was the last train so I would need to find somewhere to stay. They responded saying no, they were planning to sleep at the train station. That shocked me at the time…only later in my trip did I realize this was normal and I did myself many times. 

My next step was to tell the person picking me up that I wouldn’t make it until the morning so I borrowed someone’s phone. I planned to get the first train out in the morning. Since I didn’t know of a hostel I decided to try to sleep inside the train station on one of the many benches. The other backpackers had disappeared.

After sleeping on the train station for about an hour (among many other people) the police came in to kick everyone out. With the station re-opening in just a few hours, people were frustrated. We all moved to outside the station. 

I walked out not knowing what to do. This was only my second real night backpacking. I felt defeated and plopped on the ground with a puppy dog face. Then I looked up and there were the three backpackers I saw before. They were setting up camp. Moments after I noticed them one of them walked over to me and offered for me to use one of their mats (I had none). I immediately got a huge smile on my face and said yes. I walked over and they gave up a mat and squished themselves to make me comfortable. We locked all of our bags together for safety. 

They were three young Turkish guys backpacking for a few months just like me. We ended up spending the whole night talking about philosophy, politics, and culture in our home countries. They showed me what the backpacking community was like and what it meant to be part of it. They did this by showing me kindness.

As travelers we have great responsibility. We are representing our countries, our cultures, and our values. Some people may have never left their home place before so you should assume you’re the only source of interaction/information they will have. This means we need to take precautions with our actions and be mindful of where we’re visiting. Here are some major points we should take.

•DO YOUR RESEARCH
Whenever going to a new place, you should always do your research. Not only look into the currency conversion and where to stay, but research on the cultural and political state of the country. These things will greatly affect you experience there. This will also give you a greater chance to connect with the people there by being able to have a conversation about their country and asking them more about it.

I once made the mistake on not researching before visiting Cambodia. I was just going there for a border run from Thailand so I didn’t think it was a big deal (I was being arrogant). But once I was there, I was overwhelmed by the history of the country and the political and economic state of the people. The genocide that happened 40 years ago still affects the Cambodian people in a very real way.

• BE OPEN
Every culture has a different way of doing things. When you’re traveling you’re entering into another way of life. To get the most out of it, you need to open up your mind. Let go of what you think is “normal” or “how things should be”. You will learn so much when you do this and allow your experiences to feed your intellectual and spiritual growth. To be a respectful visitor, not only do we need to be open but we need to have judgeless hearts. The way we interact with people should show them that we want to learn about them and their culture.

• TRY NEW THINGS
To me the whole point of travel is to experience new and different ways of doing things. Variety to reality if you will. This means when you travel you should try EVERYTHING! Try all the foods, the local buses or motorbikes, different jobs that are authentic to that area. Immerse yourself in the culture.

• MODERATE YOUR WARDROBE
Depending on where you’re traveling to, you may have to moderate your clothing. Be very mindful of the culture you’re going into. Not only as respect but also for safety. For example in Morocco you should NOT be wearing short or revealing clothing or you will absolutely be harassed. This is a Muslim country and women dress very conservatively.

If you have any other points regarding cultural sensitivity, please comment below.

When people see you traveling as a life-style they automatically assume you’re rich and living fancy-or just lucky. That assumption is completely false but that’s for another post. As a traveler, we experience the crazy, beautiful, unforgettable things-but we also experience trials, tests, and fear. I’ve made lists of the pros and cons of being a traveler. If you are one yourself, you will understand these things all too well, if not, then you will gain some insight of what the travel life is really like.

Pros:

• FREEDOM
The freedom of being on the road is unlike anything else. Having no commitments, and totally letting go. There’s no worries about work or any other every-day stressor. You live completely in the moment, so you experience things in a greater capacity.

• ADVENTURE
Along with this freedom comes adventure. Since you’re not worried about anything, you embrace spontaneity, possibility, and fluidity. Basically anything could happen, and it’s exciting.

• THE PEOPLE
The most inspiring part of travel to me is the people you meet. There is only adventure and possibility because of the people around you. Because everyone around you is new and different, your mind is constantly expanding. There is no sense of normal, you become more open and humble. Every person you meet will teach you something. Whether they question your own thoughts or simply speak into your life. The first month of my trip was learning from people that I was wrong about basically everything. I loved that because that meant that there was so much more to learn!

• INVALUABLE EXPERIENCES
These outrageous experiences you’ll have while traveling are nothing money can buy. No college degree can teach you how to be a backpacker. It comes with the days of living it. Not even these trending “voluntourism” trips would be the same. Those trips are commercialized and unauthentic. Backpacking teaches you things and expands your mind in ways that will stay with you for the rest of your life, unlike a textbook equation.

• UNDERSTANDING LIFE AND THE WORLD
All of these people you meet and experiences show you what the world really is. You peel back the layers of this earth with every country you visit. This gives you a global and personal perspective towards life and the world. Now you can choose a life that you truly love instead of choosing the only one that’s in front of you.

Cons:

• NO FAMILY
Let’s be real. Whether you’re traveling alone or with a friend, you will get lonely. Not always being able to hug a loved one or even hear their voice is difficult and frustrating. Not seeing your family on your birthday or holidays can be depressing now matter how many new friends you’ve made.

• SHORT-TERM FRIENDSHIPS
As a backpacker, you’re constantly on the move. Even if you form a strong bond with someone you meet on the road there will always be a goodbye. Friendships last a maximum of a month or maybe two depending on the situation. Although it’s great to meet new people, sometimes you just want to talk to someone who knows and understands you.

• NO REAL HOME
No matter how much you splurge on a nice hotel room, you will never feel at home. You don’t have a base to return to or start from. Sure you have your home back in your country but it’s not realistic to go home and visit every few weeks.

• NO CULTURAL COMFORTS
Homesickness not only includes your family but also culture. You’ll get insatiable cravings, want to watch certain movies, or hear a song. We have the internet so some of these things are reachable, but it’s just not the same as enjoying these things with people who love them too. I spent Christmas in Thailand and it was one of the most depressing days of my trip.

• UNKNOWN
We can plan our trips, but nothing ever really goes according to plan. That’s just life. And when you’re on the road everything is so unknown you probably can’t answer what country you’re going to next. This can be exciting-but also scary sometimes. You never know if you’ll be able to find a job or a cheap enough flight. You just have to trust that things will work out.

Overall travel is a magnificent thrill. It will turn you upside down and inside out. But that’s the beauty of it. I hope this post gave you some insight or a feeling of connection. If you have any questions comment below.

When traveling, we see a lot of bad. What matters is what we do with these experiences. My new moto is: “I can’t go back from what I’ve seen.” Once you’ve seen certain things you have a sense of responsibility to make a difference.

For example, when I was in Nepal I saw children living in shacks along a river fully contaminated by trash flowing onto the shoreline. In America we take 30 minute hot showers with no care in the world, there they only have electricity for a few hours a day and you only get a warm shower if the sun is out.

In Morocco there were children as young as 3 or 4 out begging to make a living for their family instead of going to school.

In Bangkok, Thailand there are families with children living in shacks underneath highways. Some people spend their whole lives working as maids. I was working as an Au Pair in Bangkok. I’ll never ever forget when we were visiting a friend of theirs who was well off. We had just finished dinner and I went into the kitchen. I peaked around the corner and there were a few girls as young as 10 all huddled around a little tv on the floor next to all of the shoes. I thought to myself, that could be my sister.

Unfortunately people in more developed countries have no idea how well-off they truly are. According to World Food Day, 30-40% of food in the US is wasted. Moderating the amount of food you buy and planning out your meals can prevent some of this waste.

When I see these contrasts in living standards I ask myself, “How can I make an impact?”

Travel:
I believe that through travel education, we can become aware of what’s going on in the world. Not by watching the news, but by experiencing it in person. There’s nothing like hearing people’s stories and being one to help change it.

Education:
Following certain career paths can give you the necessary skills to bring change. Becoming a doctor to serve the sick, becoming an economist to help a broken government rebuild, becoming a politician to heal corruption. You may be able to make a bigger impact with an education.

Volunteer:
Whether you have a degree or not, you can still help. Even speaking English is a valuable skill. Teaching English to children widens their future opportunities. You can use websites like WWOOF or Helpx to find volunteer opportunities. Serving people not only gives you a feeling of satisfaction but builds upon your skills and experience.

Are you living your life only for your own happiness? Are you doing something to impact the lives of people? What are you contributing to the world?

If you’ve ever woken up in the morning and dreaded going to work, this post is for you.

In America, a large number of the population is dealing with anxiety and depression. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 18% of people are dealing with one or both of these illnesses.

As someone who has dealt with both of these conditions since I was a child, I believe many people develop them due to living an unfulfilling life. Allow me to explain:

For me, I developed most of my anxiety due to hating my every day life, and not wanting to attend it. I hated my job, my financial situation, my school situation, and many other things. I dreaded getting up so strongly I would always end up being late even after waking up on time. I needed to reset my life.

For me that was by traveling. But now I’ll tell you how to let go of your old life and live one that fulfills you deep in your soul.

1) Let Go Of Expectations
Many people struggle with the pressure from society, family, and self. This pressure can impact every decision we make whether it’s a career path, buying a house, or even getting married. Now ask yourself if you would still be living the same life if you hadn’t incorporated these expectations into your decisions. When you let go of this kind of pressure you feel completely free to make decisions true to your heart. Are you living a life that you dreamt for yourself? Or did others build it for you?

2) Research
If you’re unsatisfied with the life that you’re living, find a different one. There are so many different ways to live life which I discovered through travel. When you visit all different countries and cultures you get a well-rounded perspective of life itself which helps you understand how you dream of living your own. If you’re not looking for a drastic change-maybe just a career-then research different opportunities. You could even just bring up job search websites and look through the first options in the list and choose one. Trying new things and exploring will lead to new discoveries and possibilities.

3) Passion
Now that you’ve let go of heavy expectations, looked at your options and explored, find your passion. Think about things you loved doing as a child or things you’ve never tried before. Once you find things you’re passionate about, let go of your fear and go for it! If you’ve already been living an unfulfilling life, than taking a risk couldn’t hurt your situation. Going after your passion will always lead to possibility as long as you put the effort into it and do your research.

I hope these 3 steps brought some insight and even hope. I remember not being passionate about the life I was living and I never want to go back. I have faith that everyone has the chance to build a life they love. Let go, find your passion, and take a risk.

Comment below about a time you’ve taken a risk or wanted to make a change in your life.

If I had to choose one word to sum up my travel experience, it would be freedom. Freedom because of not having any commitments, being solo, and indulging in my desire to explore. I had the option to go anywhere. After experiencing this kind of freedom, I was dreading coming home; but by the end of my trip, my body was run down and I needed a break. I was excited to see my family. I expected certain things when coming back to the US, but there were also things that surprised me.

Coming home, I knew I would get frustrated with the American mindset, and I did. I was offended by ignorance, selfishness, and a lack of awareness. But through these things is where I found something beautiful. I was able to share my new experiences and knowledge in a way that diminished these cultural barriers and reconnected people to compassion. I was able to see people’s surprised expression when I shared. I was afraid of getting sucked back into the mindset after being home for too long. I have become hyper-aware of the “comfortable living” lifestyle. I notice when I am tempted by it, when it’s okay to be comfortable, and how to live “comfortably” through a minimalist lifestyle.

After being home for six months now, I understand my travels better. I have the full picture. I still have a free spirit, a drive for adventure and exploration, and a heart for those less fortunate. But I have also begun to understand the concept of a support system, I don’t have to do everything on my own. I have also started to grasp the need to build yourself up. For example I am looking into different entrepreneurial directions and possible online degrees/careers to better support my travels.

What has traveling taught you? Where has it taken you in life?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The five lessons below have dramatically evolved my life. I now have more direction in life, a decrease in anxiety and stress, more insightful conversations, and deeper relationships. Living these lessons has impacted my travels by giving richer experiences and learning the most I can out of small interactions.

Fruit of the spirit-
Imagine yourself as a tree that produces fruit, let’s say an apple tree. Imagine every person you meet eats one of these apples. What do they receive? What kind of fruit are you feeding the people around you? The kinds of things that affect this outcome include: choice of words, what you find important, your mood, and your intention. All of these things affect the people around you in small and/or big ways. Choose to speak kind words, focus on things that are beneficial, spread positivity, and most importantly: speak, think, and act with intention.

Living with intention-
Do you know what you want out of life? Not what you want to do, or how much money you want to make, or where you want to go. But what you want from life itself. Knowing what kinds of things you want to attract in your life will naturally lead you to them. For example if you hang out with people who party, those are the kind of people you’ll have in your life. Embodying this mindset will give you direction and the things that you truly desire. Also connected to the fruit of the spirit, doing all things with intention will improve what you are giving to others.

Flexibility-
Not everything goes as planned in life, from the small to big things. We can’t control everything and we especially can’t control people. Becoming flexible to the world around you will relieve anxiety, stress, and disappointment. Setting expectations or trying to control something/someone will exhaust you. “Be like water,” and you will move with the natural flow of things. Let go of what you think should happen, or what you want to happen, and accept things for the way they are and appreciate them.

Listen, then speak-
Do you ever find yourself rushing to speak during a conversation? When you realize that you are talking at people and not with them you have the ability to change this. When you do, you will gain better relationships, deeper and more insightful conversations, and you will be humbled by realizing others have valuable things to share with you too. When having a conversation try to actively practice listening and speaking with others, not at them.

Learn from everyone you meet-
Everyone in the world has had a different life experience. We all have information and experiences worth sharing. I believe you can learn something from every person you meet. When keeping this in mind you will naturally follow the above point without trying. When you realize you can learn from anyone, you are much more keen to listen to what they have to say.

My last seven months of traveling have been liberating. I have gone where I wish, when I wish, and how I wish. I have had the freedom to be myself. But it was not until the last few days that I truly began to understand and be grateful for my freedom. I have realized that I am not just free to wander, but I am free from the inside out.

First, my American friend joined me to travel. I haven’t met many Americans during my travels so it was strange to be around someone from the same place as me. I realized that when people ask me where I come from, I tell them America; but I have lost this sense of identity as being “American”. So am I just “Athena”? I feel as though even this name is dissipating with each day of this nomadic lifestyle. To name something is to give it a definition, a limit, a confinement. But I have become like water- fluid, never ending.

A few days ago we met a girl named Justine from Argentina. She had shaved eyebrows, a septum piercing, tattoos covering her body (even on her forehead), and a quirky hairstyle. I was absolutely stunned by her freedom of expression and began to understand my own freedom. I have realized that since leaving the US, I now see how everyone is put into a box there. As a child we are taught what is “right” and what is “wrong”, which could vary from sharing to never getting tattoos because people have given them a negative connotation due to their own sense of discomfort within themselves. Yes, I just went that far… When I lived in America every time I got a tattoo that was so precious to me, I felt this twist in my stomach from outer pressure and opinions. I felt as though with every tattoo I got I became further from acceptance, from support, and from possibility in the current system. We are taught what is beautiful, that we need to be perfect, we need to have a certain title, and a certain amount of money. We are taught that we don’t look acceptable to walk out of the house with no make-up on, why? Why has the organic human body become such a disgrace in America? Why has it become absurd to live your life for yourself and no one else in a way that makes you happy?

I choose not to identify with a title, money, or a degree. I choose to be free, to live in a way that makes me happy, to simply be.

Before I started traveling, I was working, trying to go to college, and hanging out with friends. In my free time I did photography or music or writing- but there was always something missing. I felt as if I was living with no purpose, working so hard but getting nowhere. I used to sit in the back of a taxi on my way to the metro for work almost every day, completely miserable- doing the same thing over and over. Yesterday I was sitting in the back of a taxi. I was passing by a park with a fountain shimmering under the sunlight in Bangkok, Thailand. Sitting in the exact same seat, yet in a whole other world. I thought about it, how my life used to be, and how it is now. Not only where I am (a place I always dreamed of going), but who I am. I feel as though I am no longer just doing things to survive, I have a purpose of life. I am not just living in the world, but I am a moving part of it.

When I was on a bus on my way to Siem Reap, Cambodia, passing through the country, I watched the farmers, the animals, the children, and the beauty of a simple authentic human life. I was looking at the world with truly open eyes, and I felt it looking back at me. I felt my place in the world being recognized and I realized that we are all a part of it-not just in it. We can do anything.

When I lived back home I always had this dream of traveling. I would watch documentaries, read articles, and research volunteer opportunities- but it all seemed so far away and even impossible for someone like me. Not only because of money, but I felt so stuck where I was. I felt as if living my dream wasn’t possible.

When we watch the news in America, or from anywhere in the world, and see another place on the screen, it seems like it has nothing to do with us. It’s hard to connect with a tv, and to truly understand what is happening in these places. That’s because the media, politicians, and corporations control what they want you to know or see. You will never genuinely understand these places until you go. Go. Go see them for yourself. Meet these people, experience their circumstances, their history, their culture, and their beauty. Traveling changes you in ways that nothing else can. Until you see the world, you won’t understand it or what it truly means to be human. To see people struggling through poverty, or a suppressive government, or even the opposite, struggling to stay human through a capitalist society with too much stuff.

Traveling has emptied out what I thought I knew about myself and the world, and filled me back up with connection, insight, passion, and curiosity. It has shown me that we all have a place in this world. When I used to think about traveling I would always say I wish or I hope or one day. Now when I hear about an interesting place or something I’d like to do, I say oh great, I’ll add that to my list.

Coming to Bangkok, I didn’t know what to expect. Of course I did research on the place I was about to spend six months in, but nothing online can ever prepare you for what you’re really going to experience. Some people warned me about the dangers of this city and some only had good things to say. When I actually got here I was elated. I’d wanted to come to Thailand for a very long time. It is better than anything I’ve read or seen online. It’s taken me two weeks to write this because there is just so much to experience here I wanted to see more first. Bangkok is full of palm trees, warm weather (okay very hot…), lots to see, great food, and a beautiful culture.

The Food in Bangkok:
The food here is amazing. The street food, festival food, market food, restaurant food, and even 7-11 food, is all fantastic. Almost everything is spicy, in a good way. One of the major differences I heard nothing about is the Japanese cultural influence here. Especially food wise. In 7-11 and all around at different stands you find Japanese cuisine. It has blended in with the Thai culture seamlessly, and I love it.

Entertainment:
Bangkok is truly a city that never sleeps. There are some markets that are 24 hours, markets that only open at night and don’t close until 5 in the morning, weekend markets, and morning markets. There are cultural (art, food, music, fashion, vintage) festivals all the time. There is always something to do. Even when you’re not looking, you will find something great. One time I took a taxi a bit far out to get to one market that ended up being closed. I had passed by something on my way there so I went back to see what it was. At first it looks like a small regular night market. When I walked further in, I found a full blown fair. I’m talking ferris wheel, animals, games, and everything. This was just on a Wednesday night. I ended up getting pad thai and fresh coconut water for 20 Baht at a stand there. That’s under a dollar.

Transportation:
There are so many different forms of transportation here. There are metered taxis which start at 35 Baht ($1 USD) and then go up two baht every minute (from what I’ve observed). Going down in price the next option is a red taxi which is a group taxi which makes certain stops (kind of like a bus, but not). These only cost 7 Baht. Then there are tuk tuks. They don’t have a meter so you need to agree on a price prior to your departure. They may seem intimidating at first, but they’re really fun. One very common way of getting around is motorbike-your own or a taxi motorbike (someone else drives and you hop on the back). The reason these work is because traffic is horrible. They are able to swerve through it “safely”. I’ve personally been too scared to try this.

The People:
Like I mentioned some people had warned me that Bangkok is a dangerous city. From my experience, after going out plenty of times at night alone, this is not true. Of course any city around the world can be dangerous at night. But the people here have been nothing but kind to me. My Au Pair family has been absolutely incredible. The people I’ve met out in the city have also been. Any time I needed help or directions people helped me like it was their duty and without any questions asked. I was in Morocco not too long ago. Coming from that environment to this, is a nice feeling. In Morocco everyone is always trying to get money off of you especially if they help you with something. It’s not their fault, almost no one can find a job or has money, but it was still a tiring experience.

Going to a Thai Temple:
I was lucky enough that my Au Pair family took me to a Buddhist Thai Temple. I actually used to attend one regularly with my mom when I was a kid, but I don’t remember much. Only the ridiculous memory of me hugging a monk (I was excited to see him I thought we were friends), and getting my mom in huge trouble (that was a huge no-no). I also briefly remember offering food to the monks and helping in the kitchen. But there was a huge gap of what the temple itself was like. When I arrived with my Au Pair family I immediately felt a shift in the atmosphere. We took our shoes off and everyone became quiet as we prepared a tray of offerings for the monk before us. Then we approached him on our knees with our hands together (as if we were praying). The monk dipped some kind of branch (or maybe it was incense wrapped together?) into water and blessed us with it as he chanted a prayer. It was a beautiful moment I may never forget. After that we went over to the river and fed the fish. I was very impressed with all the different ways they figured out to make money for the temple. Selling bread to feed the fish, clothes, jewelry, coffee, ice cream. I was happy to see they had some sort of general income aside from them going out to the city every day to receive offerings. Also a huge problem in Bangkok is homeless animals. No one can afford to have a pet here. So if they have a dog or cat they can no longer support, they will just leave them at the temples for the monks to take care of. It’s a sad situation but at least the monks are able to take care of them.

Cultural Appropriation:
There is a huge problem with cultural appropriation here in Thailand. When I went through border control at the airport, they handed out a pamphlet on it for tourists. So if/when you come here keep in mind to do some research on this or ask someone if you’re unsure about something. They will appreciate the thoughtfulness.

Best Spots?-
I would like to recommend the best/my favorite places to go here, but every day I find a new place I call my favorite. There are also many places I have in mind to visit in the future. I will definitely do a blog on this in the future.

Materialism– a huge issue modern society is facing. The media and capitalists are shoving it down our throats every day. I personally grew up without many material things. As a girly girl I wasn’t always able to get that dress I fell in love with at the store, or that one thing I loved in Sephora. This affected me in a big way once I got older. Once I had money I felt like I had to make up for all the times I never got to buy the things I liked. When I got a high paying job, I spent the majority of my money on clothes. I felt like I was fulfilling some part of me from when I was younger that never got to have “things.” I became very invested in how I wanted to perceive myself, to myself and others. I began indulging my ego.

*An ego is an image one has of him or her self*

How Backpacking Teaches You Minimalization:
When backpacking you literally only have your backpack. Minimalizing the “things” you have changes your mindset. You have to carry your life (for however long you’re traveling) in a very small space. My pack is only 44 liters. This forces you to focus on priorities. I still brought a makeup bag with me, but only a small portion of what I have. Having just what I need keeps me from always wanting more; this goes for my clothes, shoes, and toiletries- this is a major point. Again, having just what I need keeps me from always wanting more.

How The Media and Capitalists Influence Consumers (Us):
No matter where you are or what you surround yourself with there is always a sense of consumerism. By this I mean, going onto YouTube to listen to a song-there are ads, going onto Instagram for photography inspiration-there are ads, walking down the street in most cities while traveling-there are all major stores. I didn’t realize so many people went on vacation just to shop. It kind of blows my mind. You’re traveling to another country full of culture and beauty, and all you want to do is shop? Don’t get me wrong sometimes it’s nice to treat yourself once in a while, but modern society is obsessed with getting new stuff and having it constantly thrown in our face makes it worse.

A Traveler’s Mindset:
While traveling you will change and grow into a better you. I like to think this is a purer form of you. This means letting go of the past, letting go of parts of yourself that are no longer beneficiary (including your ego), and becoming free. Once I began this process I realized why I always felt as if I needed to replenish something by buying things such as clothes.

This post doesn’t just apply to you if you grew up without much money. I think everyone can really take a step back. Whenever I want to buy something I ask myself, why? How will it benefit me? What will its purpose be? Is it necessary? Just think…that money could go towards traveling…

How Materialism Feeds Into The Ego:
Like I mentioned earlier, when I was always wanting to buy new clothes or anything that had to do with my appearance, I was feeding my ego. We are not only a material obsessed society, but also an ego obsessed society. There is some kind of constant competition, some feeling that you need to have certain things or look a certain way in order to be perceived a certain way. Why is that necessary? After losing my ego I realized that I can still be myself without trying to look a certain way. In fact, I find it easier now to be myself and don’t feel the need to look a certain way. This is a piece of the new freedom I’ve gained while traveling, because I let go of the past and that unfulfilled feeling. You should feel fulfilled within yourself, you won’t find something to fill you up.

How Who You Spend Time With Can Develop A Materialistic Mindset/An Egoistic Mindset:
In my previous blog post I talked about how who you spend time with affects who you become. No matter how much we think outside influences don’t affect us, they do, there’s no escaping it. It’s just the way the human mind works. When you’re around people who party constantly it will be pretty hard not to. Being around people who need their ego fed will make you feel like you should be doing the same, even if it doesn’t feel right. For example, someone who always asks if they look pretty or needs lots of attention from people. They are trying to feed a part of themselves that’s starving to be filled. And like I mentioned before…you have to be fulfilled within yourself, nothing and no one will fill you.

P.s.: I want to say that I have nothing against fashion/beauty lovers. I only think that it should be a healthy outlet of creative fulfillment not egoistic fulfillment!

First ask yourself, what is happiness for you? What makes you love life? Are you living a life you love, every day?

While traveling I’ve met a lot of people who say, “ah I don’t want to go back to my ‘real life.’” Just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you’re in some sixth dimension guys. This is still real life. No matter where in the world you are, this is still “real life.” The things we learn while traveling are meant to be incorporated when we return home, wherever we end up next, the next day even.

This is part of the first thing I learned about happiness- live in the moment. As cliché as it may sound, it is a cliché for a reason, it’s true. Every moment that you’re alive is worth something. You can’t always be waiting for what’s to come in the future or dreading the past. Breathe in this moment, find the breeze, and I promise you will find something beautiful, if not something you can learn from.

Accept yourself for who you are. Let go of parts you’ve held onto but no longer benefit you, and grow. Allow yourself to become the purest form of YOU. You are so beautiful, but I think everyone in some degree may not feel like they can be themselves or express themselves fully.

Allow yourself to feel free. After letting go of things that may have been suffocating you emotionally, it will feel like a breath of fresh air. Coming into this state of self makes you feel more comfortable and less anxious. Freedom is one of the most important factors of happiness.

Do you feel like you’re suffocating? Most of the time we might feel this way due to outside forces such as pressure from your parents, school, work, etc… Now think back to the question from earlier, “Are you living a life you love, every day?” If not you need to free yourself from the things holding you back from happiness. A lot of people might answer this with what if I can’t? In this situation they may be referring to a job they need in order to support themselves. Holding onto the idea that you need that job (even though you might hate it) is part of the feeling of suffocation. I promise you whatever obstacle it is that you feel is holding you back, it is movable. You just have to make the choice to let go of it and choose what really makes you happy, even if it isn’t easy.

Surround yourself with people who have a positive influence on your life. I used to hang out with people who did absolutely nothing for me intellectually or spiritually. Now, I can’t believe I used to hang out with them. If you want to grow as a person, you need to surround yourself with people who support that. It makes a huge difference.

Go out of your comfort zone! Do it! Just do it! Staying nice and cozy in a corner out of fear will take you nowhere in life. If you have a goal, sprint towards it. If you want to go somewhere new, don’t read every bad article online about that place just to justify not going. If you want to try new food even, do it! I’m so proud of you! Trying new things and meeting new people is growth! How can you grow if you’re constantly trying to remain the same?

Life is a relationship. All of the above things are incorporated with your relationship with life; experiencing each moment, becoming your true self, embracing freedom, and surrounding yourself with people who love you. What you feed into your life is what will come back to you. Being positive and TRUSTING that things will work out is an important part of this relationship. So let go, surround yourself with loving people, and follow your dreams. Be happy.

Research: In order to plan a trip you should be spending hours researching: how to save money, best places to stay, cheapest way to get around, the currency conversion for each country, how long you’ll approximately need in each place, where to go once you’re there, and the weather in each place.

Planning: After you get this information you should be sending tons of emails (to possible hosts), plotting out where your money is going to go and making sure you have enough for each thing on your list, creating an approximate itinerary, and buying things you’ll need (backpack, walking/hiking shoes, etc).

Preparing: Once you’ve got everything planned and ready for your trip, the next thing is to prepare your mind. You can never really prepare yourself for a first time backpacking trip, but watching documentaries, reading articles/blogs, and reading books will definitely get you thinking the right way. Not only will this get your head in the right place but you’ll get very useful tips and information.

Now these 3 steps are very important, but things won’t always go as planned. This is okay. You should prepare for your trip to make sure you can survive and to get information, but I strongly believe in going with the flow. Try to leave a few extra days between each place. You may end up making really good friends in one place and want to stay there longer or hear about a place not too far off your path. You can plan out the major cities you want to hit, but don’t try to make a daily itinerary. One of the best things about backpacking is having the freedom to go wherever you want whenever you feel like it, and stay there for as long or as short as you feel like, and you won’t know this until that moment.

There are different styles of backpacking, so this is just my personal take on it. I have friends who only planned out their destination spot and their journey was hitch hiking all the way there. This is definitely a much more fluid style, it just depends on your personality.

Self Growth:
Traveling will expand your heart and spirit, and push your body’s limits. You will see things you’ve never seen before and do things you’ve never done before. Realizing that there are countries all over the world where people live very different than you, and actually experiencing it, will open your eyes. To realize that there really are only so many places to see in the world will also change you. These changes within you will cause you to grow in ways you didn’t even realize you needed to. Your friends back home who you’ve known for years, know that you that they’ve known for years. I believe it is almost impossible to travel with someone for this reason. You will change every day while traveling whether it be your way of thinking or acting. Being around someone for a long period of time is hard. Now can you imagine traveling with someone for a long period of time who is changing every day? What if their new ideologies don’t co-align with yours? This is okay, but it might take time to adjust when you know someone to be a certain way. You will definitely expand at your highest level of potential on your own. You won’t have to worry about what the other person’s thinking or if they’re having the same kind of experience as you are, because it’s your experience.

Stress & Anxiety:
I’m the kind of person who freaks out when I have too many options, when I’m in big crowds, and when I’m around loud noise (unless I’m at a concert). While traveling I’ve been in tons of these situations. For example: in London I went to the Borough Market. It was loud, big crowds you had to push through, and tons and tons of choices. When you’re trying to save money it’s even harder to make a choice. I started to get stressed out while there and almost left without getting anything because I was too overwhelmed. But I realized, there’s no rush, I can literally take as much time as I need. There was no one rushing me, no one saying “come on, hurry up, come on, make a choice already,” and that was a moment of peaceful realization for me. I also felt better about my choice because I was able to take my time to think about it instead of being rushed and later thinking, man why did I get that?

Freedom:
I could take as much time as I needed because I was on my own. Every day of my trip I’ve done what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it, and for as long or as short as I wanted to. This leads to a sort of sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. You can do everything you want to without having to negotiate or compromise anything that makes you happy. (I don’t mean going out and spending all of your money). Having this sense of freedom also leads to curiosity. Because there is no limit, you start to wonder about what ELSE you could do. This is when you begin to truly have an adventure. When you follow your curiosities you’re following a part of yourself. Each and every time, you find bits of yourself. Whether you’d lost them a long time ago, or never realized you had it. For example: I wandered into this one street in London that had lots of bookshops and art supply stores. I came here right after an art museum and was feeling really inspired. I ended up buying a sketch book. I hadn’t even realized that I really missed drawing, and creative outlets in general. I told myself I could use it for writing or drawing. Giving myself these two options left it undetermined and open ended. This way there was no pressure of having to do anything in specific.

Meeting People: One of my favorite parts about traveling is meeting people. I’ve met people from countries I’d never even heard of. When you’re traveling alone you’re much more inclined to talk to people. If you’re traveling with one or more people than you already have people to hang out with and talk to. But solo travelers have a different mentality and openness- they will always be the first one to talk to you. If you’re thinking, “I’m always too scared to start a conversation”, trust me, you either won’t be by some point in your trip, or you won’t have to try hard. I’ve had people offer me dinner without even knowing my name. These are the sort of wonderful people you will meet. You will make life long friends.

Budgeting:
Backpacking as a college student/young adult is hard. Obviously we aren’t making top of the notch salaries and we might even be paying for school on our own along with other responsibilities. BUT it is 100% possible, I promise you. Budgeting is one of the most important things in order to make a trip possible. Before you can even worry about budgeting for the duration of your trip, you have to save for it! This is really hard especially depending on your responsibilities/age. But I believe traveling is a choice. You have to choose whether you’re getting an Uber home or taking the bus/metro/walking, do you really need that Starbucks?, do you want those heels or do you want to go hiking in Europe? These may seem like small costs, but they really do add up. Once you’ve saved up enough you should make a list including the cost of:

• Initial travel cost (to get to your starting point)
• Food per day
• Average cost of where you’re staying (usually hostels)
• Transportation (Will you get a Eurail pass? Taking Megabus? Individual train tickets? Or a mixture?)
• Cushion Money-This is so important!!!! Things are going to go wrong. Things will not go perfectly. But you are going to survive.

This will be your budgeting list. It’s always better to overestimate than to underestimate. Keep this in mind for all things on your list.

Where I Stay:
There are so many different options of cheap and even FREE accommodations. Let’s start with the free ones since those are probably the ones we all want to hear about.

• Couchsurfing.com is an online database of travelers, and people who are willing to accommodate them for free. This could be sleeping on their couch, on a mattress on the floor, or if you’re lucky maybe even your own room. Sometimes the hosts will even show you around town and share their culture with you. The database consists of people all over the world, even in places you wouldn’t even think of. (I have talked with a lot of people on here but never ended up staying with someone just for one reason or another.)
• WWOOF.net & Helpx.net are also online databases. These are a bit different. You pay a small initial fee for access to the website, and can then contact hosts all over the world. These set ups are also free, but in exchange for services. Usually you work on an organic farm, do yard work, tend to animals, or work around the house. The hosts usually have WiFi, and food is included! Make sure you read the profiles thoroughly as some hosts have very specific requests. I personally prefer Helpx.net because you get a longer membership for a smaller fee and the same service. I just used Helpx and volunteered at an English summer arts camp in Assisi, Italy. I had the amazing opportunity to teach my own poetry workshop using a proposal I created. I was there for two weeks including food, my own room, and a great experience all for free.
• MindMyHouse.com is again an online database. Here you can find people who are looking for house sitters. I haven’t used this one before but it seems that every post varies (including accommodations). It still looks like a very interesting option I will consider for future trips.
• Hostels.com & HostelWorld.com are essentially the same. It doesn’t hurt to look at both just to see if one has a listing the other didn’t. I usually always book with Hostels.com though. Hostels are cheap, shared rooms/dormitories with other travelers. The price varies depending on the size of the room and whether you’re willing to stay in a room with mixed genders. The room can vary from 4 beds to 18 or so. The average price in USD for a hostel is between $15-$25 a night. Some hostels will give you an under the table job in exchange for your stay. (I was offered a job as a bartender at my hostel in London but ended up not being able to.) The first thing I always look at is the list of facilities, location, price, and reviews. These are all important factors, each one can determine whether I’ll stay there or not. For facilities usually the most important things I look for on the list are: laundry services, WiFi, breakfast, kitchen (helps you save money), & last but not least if linens are included. The last one might seem a bit odd but not all hostels will provide sheets for the bed. I always choose ones that do so that I save space in my bag.

If you follow these steps regarding budgeting & accommodations you should have these parts of your next trip covered! I will go into planning in a separate post. It’s possible I may have forgotten some sites as there are many, if so I will add them later. If you have any additional resources or comments please feel free to add below.