My Solo Trip…A journey of no expectation

NomadicMichelle

 

My most memorable journey’s thus far have been the ones that I have taken with no expectation in mind. I have a natural love for the road, my heart yearns to discover new places, tastes and people.  One thing I learnt at a very early age was that not everyone shared my passion for the road.  My parents, both avid travellers never discouraged my curiosity for the outside world and were the first people to encourage me to travel.  It all started when I was in grade 4, I returned from school one day brimming with excitement about my new hobby “land service”.   I informed my parents that it would require me doing community service every week, but once a quarter they had a camp that I would have to attend (emphasis on the Have).  At the time what had sold Land Service aka Lands Diens to me had simply been the camp aspect.  Fast forward to 6 months later, I had put in some serious hours of community service my glorious camp finally arrived.  All kitted out and ready for camp, my mother dropped me off at the bus for my first “Solo” trip.  Solo, even though my teacher would be our guardian for the duration of the camp.

My last National Camp in 1998

Arriving in Cedara I was completely alarmed when I realised that I was the only person of colour at this camp. I felt totally out of place and to add to my woes everyone spoke Afrikaans, a language I had only started studying that year. I decided that my mother needed to rescue me; I made my way to the telephone booth to call her and let her know about my predicament. Well the answer I got from her was a far cry from what I had expected. Instead of telling me how awful this was and that she was on her way to pick me up she said “You asked to attend camp, we allowed you. Now you want me to travel 4 hours to pick you up? I’m sorry, I cannot you are there now make the most of it. I love you” and then she hung up on me. Firstly I thought this woman is insane and does not love me after all actions speak louder than words, yet today I’m really thankful to my mother for having taught me the most important aspect of solo travel. “you are here now, make the most of the situation” This was a defining moment in my life as the choice to be happy and have a fulfilling time lied with me and not with anyone else.

I could not complain to anyone because if my mother would not listen to me, then who would? I instead chose to buck up and figure things out.



These are the 5 things that I continue to learn as I hit the road by myself.

1.       I do not need anyone to hold my hand.  I do not have to bring anyone along on my journey/trip/event and sometimes no one can hit the road with me.  You eventually find yourself in a position where it’s just you and a whole bunch of strangers.  At first it can be scary, where do you start? What has never failed me, is a simple hello coupled with a smile or a smartass remark about something to break the ice.



I met these amazing people on a study trip to Cape Town,
9 years later we still meet up for dinner.

2.       I don’t have to be afraid all I have to do is embrace where my heart has led me.  I have always had a thing for living, be it the outdoors, meeting new people, sharing food, getting lost in a new city. It all reminds me that I am alive and this moment is what it should be.

 

Meeting Faith resulted not just in 1 night in Itaewon
 but a weekend in Busan as well.

3.       I am never alone, life has an amazing way of making life ever so exciting.  I missed my last train in Korea I met Faith a fellow nomad who had also missed her train.  In minutes we put together an action plane for our homeless night in Seoul. I decided I needed to do Yoga again, in my solo search I found my yoga teacher who would later on gift me with a chance to become a yoga teacher.

 

4.       I do not need to speak a specific language to see the beauty of another human being.  In Cedara I learnt what a great connector language can be because even though my Afrikaans at the time was satisfactory it allowed me to break barriers and any hesitations people might have had about me.  In other countries my inability to speak their language allowed me to look beyond the words to see the person who is trying to express their kindness. I saw and felt love in the most humbling and beautiful way.
 

 

Lost in my own bubble

5.        I heard my own thoughts, ideas and voice without the muffling and often stifling intrusion of the world.  When you travel by yourself you have the time to just be, you do whatever you feel like doing without being worried if it will fit in with what other people want to do. 

 

 

Don't just think about it, Do it.