Traveling Alone is a Must

I was so nervous that I didn't want to initially do this trip. Staying 4 days anywhere by yourself is already daunting enough, let alone being in a foreign continent surrounded by strangers. There was a brief moment where I began laughing on the plane because I could not believe what I was embarking on and the classic "what is my life" moment ensued. Looking back I am THANKFUL that I put myself in uncomfortable situations. Not only was I able to learn about different cultures, I ended up learning more about myself more. Here are 3 things that I learned on my trip:

1. Confidence is KEY. You may not know where to go or how to correctly speak the language, but speaking confidently can take you further in unexpected ways. I needed to take a taxi from the Eiffel Tower to a specific area in Paris, but I didn't know the address. I spoke to the first taxi with timidness and a quiet voice. I would ask him a question and patiently wait for him to respond while he was on the phone with someone else. After waiting for 2 minutes, he told me to take another taxi and drove off. It hit me in the face that I needed to be more direct with my questions and speak louder so they could hear me loud and clear. The second taxi approached and I wasn't going to let another taxi drive off on me again. I asked him questions that were direct and spoke like I belonged in the city. He told me to hop in and we drove off.

2. Enjoy the city YOUR OWN WAY. When I would tell people that I didn't try any coffee shops in Paris, their face would automatically shift towards confusion or disappointment. It's as if I didn't enjoy the city in its full capacity in their own eyes. The way that I enjoyed the city was walking through its narrow alleyways and experiencing all of the hidden gems buried beneath the tourist attractions. I ended up stumbling upon a pen store right before it was closing and that store was a better experience than seeing the Eiffel Tower. Set out what YOU want to do in a city and accomplish that.

3. Be AWARE. No one you know is there to watch over your stuff or help you along the way. Although this freedom may seem enticing, this means more responsibility you have to carry. I would always keep my passport on me in my chest pocket. I always kept a phone charger in my bag just in case my phone died. I would keep spare money in my jacket just in case I ran out of money in my wallet. You want to take precessions before traveling because you never know what situation you will be put in. I ended up forgetting to eat all day and there was no food available on the train because it was so late. I then remembered the extra croissant I placed in my bag for situations like this. Enjoy the cities, but take care of yourself first.

I loved traveling alone. Do it at least once in your lifetime. Step out of your comfort zone and do things that YOU want to do. Eating alone and walking through the streets with my headphones on ended up being the most peaceful times I had. I love it when people ask me how my trip went. It makes me relive my happiest moments a second time.