Upon graduating from college, my mother told me I could go on a trip of my own liking as a gift. What she expected me to say was "Eurotrip!" but instead I asked if I could volunteer to teach English in Samoa. I knew nothing of the country, I just knew it was far away and very remote. I was quite lost after graduating and had zero expectations for my time there, but when I left I felt a shift in my reality. While in Samoa, I found out the year before they had just passed a law for it to be illegal to not attend school. A lot of children I was working with had never stepped foot into a classroom. When I spoke with the older students who had just begun attending, they were filled to the brim with excitement to learn. The younger students couldn't believe the opportunities they had now instead of sitting at home. This trip changed my perspective on life. I had been a double major in college, while performing in a pre-professional traveling dance company. I complained OFTEN about how tired I was and how I wanted to quit it all. My time in Samoa made me swear to never take my education for granted again. During my time in college, I had often felt that I wasn't able to contribute to the world, or I couldn't do anything on my own. But here I was, working with students who were eager to learn, and I actually had something of value to give, providing confidence not only within myself, but within them. I wasn't a rotten teenager, but after leaving that hectic month and a half on the island, I truly began to understand the privilege I was afforded simply because of the country I was born in.
If I had to name one, it would hands-down be my solo travel experience in the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, India. I was fighting plenty of challenges, personally as well as professionally. A financial setback, a deep regret, lack of emotional support, helplessness and betrayal triggered me to escape from reality. I booked a one-way ticket to find some respite in Rishikesh which then led me to an unplanned trip to a Himalayan village. Deep down, I was certain escapism is not an answer and I was clearly looking for answers. As the saying goes, “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” I chose to volunteer at a local homestay. It gave me an opportunity to give back and satiated my desire to travel and meet new people. The lofty Himalayas encouraged me to slow down to nature’s pace, the solitude helped me to face my inner problems with ease and the people I met, surprisingly had one story in common, the power of being resilient in chasing our big dreams. Ironically, the volunteer experience brought me closer to my problems like never before. The literal distance multiplied but the metaphorical distance shortened. That solo trip did not magically solve all my problems, but it did teach me to be more present, worry less, trust myself, and stay strong. It gave birth to a calmer, clearer mind, a resilient heart and gave me the courage to fight my demons. My older self is grateful to my 21 y/o self for being courageous enough to take that solo trip.
My stay at a Remote Work villa in Bali, Indonesia, was one of the most amazing travel experiences that totally turned my life around. The community and the experience were incredible, in addition to the location's breathtaking beauty. It was tremendously inspiring to live and work with like-minded people who were enthusiastic about their distant employment. In the process of pushing me to reach new professional heights, I established friends for life. It had a huge effect on my perspective. I came to understand that a good job can coexist with freedom and adventure, and that work doesn't always have to be done in one location. It offered me the self-assurance to travel the world and pursue my professional goals with success.