What I learned from travelling Europe alone
Earlier this year, I embarked on my first solo trip overseas, leaving home in Melbourne, Australia, to travel around Europe for five weeks.
I struggled a bit with the concept being alone on the other side of the world, and as an anxiety sufferer I spend a fair bit of time worrying about what could potentially go wrong and how disastrous that would be. The trip was stressful and lonely at times, but ultimately an incredible experience that I wouldn’t take back for anything.
So, from the words of a novice traveller/tourist/major scardey-cat, here are some things I learned about the world and about myself from travelling alone:
(I wrote these notes in my phone when I was sitting having dinner by myself in Rome, about 3 weeks into my trip. I’d almost burst into tears trying to order from the waiter who knew no English, and was feeling very overwhelmed. By the time I’d finished writing my list (and consuming my pasta and 2 glasses of wine) I felt great and ready to take on the new city).
- Most people are nice and are willing to help — even a shy Australian girl who can barely speak two words of their language
- Eye contact and a smile can go a long way
- The world is not as scary a place as I thought
- A glass of wine makes everything OK
- When nothing is familiar, nothing is scary anymore because you don’t have a pre-conceived idea of how things are supposed to be. This allows you to throw caution to the wind because you have no clue what’s around the corner — literally.
- When you are completely alone, you have no choice but to keep it together because ‘you’ have to look after ‘you’ and ‘you’ can’t do that if you’re freaking out!
- Airports are pretty much the same everywhere
- Taxi drivers are much better and more helpful in Europe than in Australia
- It’s not that easy to get lost if you remain observant of your surroundings
- Even if you are lost, walk with purpose
- It’s easier to strike up a conversation with randos whilst travelling than it is at home
- To at least some degree, it is the presence of other people and knowing that you have their support that makes you vulnerable — you express fear, stress, frustration, loneliness, because there is someone there to express it to and to bounce that feeling off of. When that is taken away and all you have is yourself, these emotions are not as evident.
- Being alone is not all it’s cracked up to be. While its nice to be able to have your own schedule and do whatever you want, by far the best times I had in Europe were those when I was with friends
- Flight delays are not the end of the world
- If you can’t find a friend, find a cat (cat lady bonus)
- An instant friendship can be forged from hearing a fellow English speaker in a foreign country
- When you spend a lot of time alone, you have a greated appreciation for the people who are there for you back home. I hope to show my gratitude more.
- Being hit on is far less creepy and intimidating when it’s in Italian
- Eating a meal in a nice restaurant by yourself feels nice and self-indulgent
- I am a useless fucking human being for only being able to speak one language
- If things don’t go according to plan, it’s never the end of the world. Get a taxi, book into a hotel, do whatever you need to do and you will be able to sort it out
- You’ve got to be your own best friend. When all the company you have is your own thoughts for weeks on end, make sure the conversation is good ☺
- Say yes to more things! Life is about being fun and spontaneous and open hearted. There is nothing to fear and no ‘consequences’ you can’t overcome.
- After days of not having a conversation I welcomed even small interactions and they were almost always positive experience. I hope to be more friendly in my every day life.
- Embrace challenges. Treat setbacks as character-building adventures and stories to tell your friends later, when traveling and in everyday life.
H O S T F U L L Y
helps you make beautiful guidebooks you can send to your guests
