3 Things I Learned During My First Solo Trip

My long weekend in Paris this summer was the first time I ever traveled solo, and I learned a lot within that short span of time. I had a lot of questions before I left, which I can assume are the same nervous jitters most people get when they travel by themselves for the first time, especially to a foreign city. Starting in Paris was a good "intro" to solo travel, so if I ever travel by myself again, I have a good impression of it.

3 Things I Learned During My First Solo Trip

1. Do your research

I read travel blogs, looked up places I was going on TripAdvisor and Yelp, and skimmed a couple guide books. Since I didn't do any formal tours of the city, I looked up a quick history of the main attractions I'd be walking past to have a little background knowledge. Most importantly, I found quite a few tips and tricks over TripAdvisor and Yelp about where I was going - like cutting my time in line at The Louvre in half by going in the underground entrance! Research also helped me be aware of the tourist scams so I could avoid them.

2. Walking is the best way to see the city

I lucked out in Paris with beautiful sunny weather every day, which made walking everywhere enjoyable. One morning I got up early to make an hour-long trek from my hotel to Notre Dame. I loved seeing the city slowly wake up and the peacefulness of walking along the Seine. I took a couple wrong turns (but quickly found my way!) and stumbled across cool things I never would've found, had I taken a cab or public transportation.

3. People are friendly

The hotel staff was very friendly, because, well, they're a hotel staff. They were so nice and gave me tips and showed me scenic routes to walk on a map. But even out in the city, people were friendly too. If I had to ask a Parisian something, of course I would try to attempt my best to say it in French first, or at least ask them in French if they spoke English. I never experienced any of the stereotypical "Parisian snottiness," everyone was friendly. I met a number of other people traveling as well who were from all over the world. Smiling is the universal language.

Paris in the summer was a great intro to solo travel for a number of reasons: it's already a pretty safe city, and since it's high season, there are plenty of people/tourists out and about; it happened to be warm and sunny, which was great for walking (and saving money on not using public transport); and there is so much to do in the city that you're bound to avoid boredom and loneliness. I would definitely suggest Paris as an intro to solo travel.

"If We Were Meant To Stay In Place, We Would Have Roots Instead Of Feet."

During my senior year of college, I started the post-college job search early. I took my resume and cover letter to the career center on campus to make them perfect. I got in touch with mentors in big cities all over the country to network and get tips on my job search. I applied to a ton of jobs and did interviews. I even made business cards...

Though when I went to a practice speed interview session during the spring of my senior year, one of the interviewers asked me what I wanted to do with my public relations/marketing degree. I said some horrible rambling answer like, "I'm interested in traditional PR, but I really like the creative side of marketing, and also social media, I could do events too, or advertising, or magazines. I'm also looking for jobs in Southern California, Arizona, Texas, or North Carolina. Maybe New York, but I don't know since it gets cold there. Ha!" The interviewer's feedback was to focus in on one thing and to know exactly what I wanted. Because, according to my answer, I had no idea what I wanted exactly. But what did I want?As graduation got closer, I started getting stressed about finding a job and the perfect place to live after graduation. I was open to moving to pretty much any big city in the US, but that would require money to move, and a job to get the money to move. I was afraid of the unknowns and being tied down to a single city.

One day I was going through my study abroad photos and the travel bug within me started acting up. That was it. I wanted to travel. I wanted to go back to Europe. What time is better than right after graduation? I didn't want to be tied down to anything - not right away, at least. This Rachel Wolchin quote really resonates with that moment:

"If we were meant to stay in place, we would have roots instead of feet"

There's nothing wrong with finding a place to start your life after college, but I knew that there was so much more to see and to learn from the world and I wanted to take advantage of the timing to travel before settling down.

My parents were definitely not on board, since I didn't have much money saved up to take a big trip, nor would they fund something like that. They told me that, well, if I found a job in Europe where I could travel and make money, then that would be a better plan.

And that is exactly what I did.

I ended up getting a job in Europe where I lived in Italy and traveled to different countries almost every weekend. I was doing marketing and tour guiding, learned a ton from the experience, and was able to improve my skills in an international setting. I found a job that I loved, and while it took a lot of time and dedication to make it happen, I didn't settle for less. I finally knew what I wanted - to travel and inspire others to travel too. (And I still got to put my degree "to use.")There are so many ways to travel after graduation, and if it's something you truly want, then figure out a way to make it happen. Whether you're just traveling for fun, working, or volunteering abroad, there are a number of ways to do it. If you can find something that aligns with your career path - awesome. If traveling makes you reconsider your original chosen career path - even more awesome. Your 20s are the time to figure out who you are and what you want, and for those of you with travel dreams, that can't happen when you settle for something you're truly not interested in.

This was originally written as a guest post by Ally Archer on Alter Apathy.

Photos: We Heart It

Pursuing The Stomach Drops

It’s easy to float through life. Whether it be not challenging yourself at school or work, not trying something new, not branching out and meeting new people, not traveling, or any other excuse or rationalization that you might have for not doing the things that would ultimately make you happier, it’s easier to not do new, exciting things than it is to take a leap of faith.

This is human nature. As humans living in the chaotic and crazy modern world, constantly being bombarded by information and news (often bad news) from seemingly infinite sources, we are starved for comfort. Because of this lack of comfort, most of us try to find order and peace by keeping our heads down and doing what’s expected of us. High school, college, good grades, a good job, a 401k, a promotion, a retirement plan. Each instruction leads to another, and as we complete each step, we become more and more entrenched in the process and the routine, making it more and more difficult to step away, and harder and harder to remember, or decide, what exactly it is that we actually want out of this wild ride that is life.

But is this comfort really what we need and want, or is it just a by-product of a streamlined life where our constant listening to others’ plans for us leaves us scared and alone when finally forced to make decisions for ourselves about our life? At a certain point everyone has to realize that they are the only one in charge of their life. Parents, teachers, bosses, the media, and society as a whole will always have opinions about what you should do, but only you can decide what it is you really want to do, what will really make you feel happy and fulfilled, and take the steps necessary to pursue this path.

There are bountiful examples of this unfulfilled attitude throughout our modern society. Countless bestsellers have been written by lawyers, doctors, accountants, journalists, and every other type of profession imaginable, who, after years of this unfulfilling “comfort” in their lives, threw caution to the wind and finally did what they truly wanted to do. This is undoubtedly difficult, because it essentially means undoing all of the years of conditioning telling us to follow a set, acceptable, and streamlined path. But it seems to go without saying that the risks are far outweighed by the reward: a happy life doing what you’re passionate about.

So here’s the big question: if we realize now that there’s a large chance that we’ll get a point where we understand that we want to stop living how others want us to and finally do what we’re passionate about, why not skip the in-between?

Life is short. There’s no time to waste living other peoples’ version of your life. So throw caution to the wind! Relentlessly pursue your dreams, and don’t be disheartened by other people that don’t get it. Travel, go skydiving, meet new people, drive a little bit too fast. Pursue the things that make your stomach drop. That give you a rush. Because that rush, that anxious anticipation and air of possibility when you begin your next adventure, that smile you get after having a great conversation with a complete stranger, these are the things that make life worth living. Life’s too precious to float through with no self-initiated path or purpose. So take that leap of faith, and dive headfirst into your life.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

This post was written by Derek Ball. You can find him over at his blog, Alter Apathy.

Using "SMART" Goals To Take Action Toward Your Travel Dreams

When I was working at a leadership conference recently, I was introduced to the SMART goal system. Basically, using SMART goals turns a vague goal into something more specific. A detailed outline of your goal will help you reach it faster by putting a reasonable plan into action. Last year when I was still in college, my travel goal was: "Go back to Europe."

"Going back to Europe" is extremely vague. When would I go back? How would I do it? For how long? What would I do to make sure I made this happen? How would I evaluate whether I had achieved this goal or not?

This is where creating a SMART goal really helps you define what you want and how you will achieve it.

"SMART" stands for:

SPECIFIC: A goal needs to really focus in on the specifics. Think of the who, what, when, where, and why.

MEASURABLE: Establish criteria for which you will measure your progress on your goal. Often the measurable part includes numbers - think, How much? It also answers, How will I evaluate if this goal has been met?

ACTION-ORIENTED: How are you going to reach your goal? This is where you put your action or steps toward reaching the goal in place.

REALISTIC: This is where you need to be true to yourself on the work you're motivated to and willing to put in. You're much more likely to achieve your goal if it's realistic.

TIMELY: Set an attainable time frame to meet your goal. When are you going to start acting toward your goal? What specific date do you want to reach your goal by?

Now let's tweak my vague example of "Go back to Europe." Here's how I could've turned that into a SMART goal:

"Go back to Europe for at least one month starting in August 2013, by applying to 2+ jobs per week based in Florence, Italy from May-July 2013 and networking with individuals involved with international travel through email or LinkedIn. Follow up with employers directly after any interviews and again every two weeks until I found out whether I have an offer."

Budget is also a huge part of travel goals, especially with flights. Here's a SMART goal I could've made for saving up for that long-haul flight from Seattle to Florence:

"Save x amount of money per week from my summer job to pay for round trip flights to/from Italy on the dates I will fly in/out on. Track savings using my banking app and check balance weekly to ensure I'm saving enough."

Setting SMART goals are especially great for taking action on your travel goals, though SMART goals can be applied to any aspect of life. I encourage you to come up with some SMART goals, and if you have some you'd like to share, please post yours in the comments below.

9 Reasons For 20-Somethings To Travel Now Instead Of Later

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Traveling internationally is such an eye-opening, growing experience that I believe everyone should do it at least once in their lifetimes, and in their 20s if possible. If you're considering traveling in your 20s but still haven't booked your flight, here are nine reasons that will hopefully give you that final push.

1. You have time

You're young. You want to go. Go now. Maybe you're still in college. Maybe you have a job. But there will be breaks or time off eventually - use those breaks and plan your travel accordingly.

2. If there's a will, there's a way

The top two excuses for not traveling are 1) time and 2) money. They say you have either have the time to travel but no money to do so, or have the money to travel but no time. Trust me when I say that if there's a will, there's a way. If you want it bad enough, you will make it happen. Yes, you may have to make sacrifices, or set up a tighter budget, but if you truly prioritize travel, you will make it happen. Period.

3. You have a number of options if you're still in college

Studying abroad is one of the most unique ways to travel. You get to live in a foreign country, take classes, have a routine, travel on the weekends, and have a home base to come back to. You'll meet new people, make new friends, and have a much different experience than if you went there on vacation with family or with a group of friends.

If you don't study abroad, take advantage of all the time you have off: spring break, summer break, and winter break are all great times to travel abroad. And those three-day weekends? Well that's enough time to explore your city, do a quick road trip, or spend a weekend somewhere new.

4. You have even more options after college

After college graduation is the only time you're not tied down. This is the perfect time to travel and/or work abroad prior to settling down to an apartment, bills, job, etc.

Krka waterfalls swimming

5. Because you can change the world

Well you can change the world at any age,  but what better time than now? Look into Peace Corps, Jesuit Volunteer Corp, or other ways to give back abroad. Who knows, maybe it'll change you for the better, and I haven't met anyone who has regretted something that changed them for the better.

6. Because your job will still be there when you get back

If you have free vacation days, use them! That's what they're there for.

7. Traveling will give you life experience that will make you wiser beyond your years

By exposing yourself to new cultures, you learn a lot about the world and how the world works. You become more open-minded and tolerant of other people. These are all qualities that we hopefully all possess as we get older with time, but by traveling to foreign places, you'll realize these qualities sooner.

8. You'll learn a lot about yourself

...And in your 20s, which are arguably our most identity-making years, it's a good thing to know who you are and who you want to become.

9. Because you want to

That travel bug will keep bugging you until you take action and just go.

You Only Get Ten Years To Be In Your 20s

Lemon Groves in Positano

I believe everyone should travel to a foreign country at least once in their life, no matter their age. But I don't think you need to (or should) wait until you retire to do so. Society often tries to push the idea that you must "earn your right" to do anything fun by working all day, every day, for years before you deserve to do anything for yourself. When you're in your twenties, you generally have less responsibility and more time for yourself. It's okay to be a little selfish and book that trip you've been dreaming of, even if it's just during your weekend off work. There are ways to travel and still hold a full-time job, but once you get older and have more responsibilities (a spouse, kids, etc.) your priorities will shift. That's okay, however, your priority until you have those responsibilities should be you.

Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

Your twenties are a very interesting decade, often filled with college graduation, truly being out on your own in the "real world," and figuring out who you are.

If there are things you want to do, then do then. Turn your dreams to reality (especially travel dreams!). If there's a will, there's a way. Sometimes you have to think outside the box and get creative. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices. Ask yourself if it's worth it - and in most cases, it will be.

When I was about to graduate, my main goal was to travel after college. My travel bug was acting up like crazy and I tried thinking of ways to go to Europe for a couple weeks with a friend. However, my budget didn't allow me to travel for even a short trip. And, my friend ended up having other commitments and could no longer go. So I got creative - I looked into travel jobs where I could live in Europe and also get paid.

vespas in italy - go seek explore

With hard work, a lot of determination, countless emails, and an interview later, I got a travel job and was able to turn my dream of going back to Europe for a couple of weeks into living in Europe for five months. I had the opportunity to see so much more than I originally planned, got to live in Italy when I wasn't traveling for work, and met a ton of people that I wouldn't have met otherwise.

Instead of being a dreamer, be a do-er. And once you accomplished what you've wanted to do, dream up new dreams and do them too. By pushing yourself out of your comfort zone you will learn and grow so much. By continuing to do this throughout your twenties, you'll gain more life experience than you ever would have had you not at least tried to make those dreams happen.

Krka Waterfalls

Now that I've returned from my job overseas, I'm about to leave in a few days for another quick trip to Europe. I'll be working short-term for a couple weeks at a different company and I am beyond excited. I'll have a weekend of solo travel before I begin work (my first solo trip ever, and man am I nervous). I wouldn't have had this opportunity had I just sat there waiting for my dreams to happen. I had to make it happen! And it all started with a simple job application...

Whatever it is - taking that trip you've always wanted to go on, moving to a new city, or switching career paths to get your dream job - take action! And take action now. You only get ten years to be in your twenties. Don't waste a single second.

8 Majestic Time Lapse Videos: Beauty in Nature

Over the past couple of weeks, I've posted 8 Majestic Time Lapse Videos of the USA and another one of World Cities. To complete this series, I've compiled eight videos of nature in time lapses. The world is a beautiful place, and if we stop to take a look around, we'll see that some of the most breathtaking places are in nature.

El Teide, Spain

This was filmed over seven days on Spain's tallest mountain. Noted as one of the best places in the world to photograph stars, the photographer captured some breathtaking footage while in the Canary Islands.

Yellowstone National Park, USA

The footage of the world's oldest national park is stunning. Scenic views of the park and wildlife are shown through time lapse and make you wish there was more to see than the five minutes presented.

Northern Lights, seen from Norway

Seeing the Northern Lights (or "aurora borealis") is definitely something on my bucket list. It's almost unreal to think that natural, colored lights like that actually exist.

The Nile/Egypt

While most of the video isn't time lapse (there's gorgeous starry night sky time lapse footage though), this video shows the inspiring journey of a man who kayaks up the Nile to the pyramids, as well as exploring some lesser-known, remote parts of Egypt.

Patagonia

"The end of world," Patagonia looms on the edge of South America. If you have dreams to backpack Patagonia, this video is sure to feed your wanderlust.

China and Pakistan

Part city and part nature, with snow-capped mountains, rice terraces, and more.

The Grand Canyon, Arizona

One of the seven natural wonders of the world looks absolutely stunning at sunset.

And lastly, Planet Earth

Earth, viewed from the International Space Station. It's crazy to think how much beauty there is within the world, but our little planet is just a small piece of the puzzle.