Flying Solo: The Beginning.

Well, I am back and sadder than ever. Just kidding. After my month-long escapade to Europe, I have maxed out my phone storage with thousands and thousands of pictures, developed an even worse case of wanderlust, and have enough reminiscences to sustain me until my next adventure.

June brought an abundance of beautiful experiences, and I am still in disbelief that I just lived in a reality where I roamed so many gorgeous corners of the world, had (or at least pretended to have) zero responsibilities, and played the part of the mysterious solo traveler. Emphasis on the traveling alone point because that was the most rewarding aspect of the past month and the title inspiration for the newest travel blog series: Flying Solo

The series will recount my travels in Paris, Bordeaux, Aix-en-Provence, and Nice, featuring too many photos, lots of opinions, my itinerary for each location, and accommodation reviews.

Here's a quick glance into my travels and what to expect from this series!

However, before I lose myself in the bliss of reliving each location I traveled to, I wanted to focus on the solo aspect since it influenced how I experienced and perceived each place. It was also my first-ever solo trip, so it was sort of a big deal for me.

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First: Why? ... Why not?

This trip has been in the works since the end of November. At that point in my life, I had no idea what was happening after graduation, and the stress of not knowing where I would be working, what I would be doing, or even what city I would live in was overwhelming. To combat that uncertainty and feel some semblance of control over the trajectory of my life, I decided I would spend some time in Europe in the weeks following graduation. Admittedly, this may not be the best way to solve problems, but c'est la vie, I have zero regrets.

However, that wasn’t the sole reason for my trip. At that point, I was not even considering grad school, let alone moving to Paris so soon after undergrad. As desperate as I was to find a job, my general philosophy (and yes, this undoubtedly comes from a place of privilege) was that the money would come and go, but there would be very few periods in life where I would have this precious abundance of time. I’m not convinced that once I start working, I will ever stop, and I am at an age where I am physically able and don’t have people who are really dependent on me. Of course, life is full of possibilities and opportunities, but this felt like my one sure chance to travel, be adventurous, and live for myself for longer than just a vacation week.

As for the decision to travel solo: it wasn’t so much of a decision as it was the only option I ever considered. Most people I know don’t have the luxury of taking a month-long trip, and selfishly I didn’t want my plans to be influenced by someone else’s schedule. Logistically, traveling alone also made it easier for me to immediately begin planning, which satisfied that urgent need to know what my future would have in store.

Second: The Ups

As impulsive as the decision to run away to France for a few weeks might have been, it was one of the most incredible and fulfilling experiences. Traveling alone was exceptionally freeing: there was no pressure to please, I could follow every whim I had (and I had a lot of those), and I could linger and wander and get lost as often as I liked. I loved the autonomy and felt so at peace just moving through the world alone and observing the beauty and the chaos around me. Since I spent most of those three weeks wandering and listening to music, my life felt every bit like a movie…, and of course, I was the main character ;)

The soundtrack to my trip was Mama I’m a Big Girl Now. Specifically this part:

Once I used to fidget 'cause I just sat home

But now I'm just like Gidget and I gotta get to Rome

So say, arrivederci, toodle-loo and ciao

'Cause Mama, I'm a big girl now

Regardless of how many days had passed since first landing in France, I was continuously in awe that I was alone in a foreign country and had somehow reached a point where I was old enough and capable enough to do so. The exact thought was: “Oh my gosh. How am I allowed to do this ?!?”

This brings me to my second point. Solo travel was unexpectedly but undeniably empowering. I had no choice but to confront every challenge and moment of discomfort alone, and there was never enough time to hesitate or dwell on the situation. I let go of the anxiety that usually accompanies every mishap and misstep, and I simply accepted that things would happen regardless of my meticulous planning. Adopting that more carefree mentality allowed me to be more adventurous and enjoy every minute of my trip.

I have never experienced such a profound change in myself in such a short period. However, each day brought its triumphs and challenges, and with that, I became more confident in my abilities and judgment. By the end of the three weeks, I faced every new obstacle with a shrug and just trusted that I could manage the situation.

Third: The Downs

Traveling to Europe during tourist season can be a logistical nightmare. Given the length of my stay and the number of trains, planes, Airbnbs, etc. involved, there were a lot of opportunities for something to go drastically wrong. So, I am grateful that almost everything went according to plan. As for the mishaps…, let’s call those character builders.

I have been asked a lot about whether it was weird traveling alone or if I was scared at all. The straightforward answer is no. I loved almost every second of it. The long-winded answer is this:

Traveling alone felt like one big test in adulting. From the planning to the finance and all of the components that make for a successfully executed itinerary…, it was a lot. Even though I spent a significant amount of time alone during my semester abroad, there were always friends nearby. Also, if anything went seriously wrong, there was a school full of capable French-speaking adults who would help me. Traveling alone stripped me of those comforts. When things went wrong, I had to be a bit more resourceful and a lot more level-headed so I could make quick decisions – otherwise, I might still be stranded at that one train station I had no intention of ever being at.

As for the emotional challenge of solo travel, I have never been afraid of being alone and generally enjoy solitude more often than I feel lonely or troubled by it. That said, I did spend a small portion of my time in France with a friend I had met during my semester abroad. I enjoyed the company more than anticipated, which made the hours following our goodbye exceptionally lonely. As much as I cherish my alone time, I appreciated having someone I could be expressive and converse with. So when my friend left, I felt the intensity of the situation for the first time, and it made me want to leave that Airbnb – which suddenly felt too big and empty – and that particular city as soon as possible.

That was the only time I felt lonely, but there were other times, particularly when I was looking at a gorgeous scene, that I wanted someone to share that moment with. Of course, I could text people pictures, but with the time difference, I rarely received an immediate response, and a picture will never be the same as seeing something in person.

Lastly: Safety

I don’t know why, but I never had any trepidation about traveling solo or being in a foreign country alone. Given the circumstances (i.e., not being fluent in French), I probably should have had at least some reservations. That said, being a young female foreigner, I did take a few precautions to ensure that I was being safe beyond just being diligent and paying attention to my surroundings at all times.

ONE: When deciding where to go in France, I researched which cities were the safest for solo travelers and which cities to avoid.

TWO: When choosing hotels/ Airbnbs, I made a point to stay in the city center. Given the time of year, I knew these areas would have the highest concentrations of tourists and French people who spoke English. Based on my previous experience in Paris, I also felt more comfortable being in areas where there would be a lot of people around if something were to happen.

THREE: My mom and I downloaded Life360, which is a location-tracking app. Aside from the usual tracking software, you can save addresses on the app, and the people within your circle will receive a notification when you arrive and leave the specified location. I saved the addresses of every hotel and Airbnb I would be staying at throughout my trip, as well as airports and train stations. Even better, I received notifications when my mother completed her 5-mile drives – so I knew she was safe too.

FOUR: I kept a card with emergency contact information in my wallet at all times

FIVE: I didn't share that I was traveling alone on social media. I also didn’t post live updates about where I was. While I was very active on Instagram during this time, I always waited a few hours after I had left a specific location before sharing pictures online.

SIX: Not that I’m much of a night owl anyways, but I made a point to be back at my Airbnb/hotel before dark.

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Well, that concludes the first installment of the Flying Solo series. I am forever grateful for this trip and for the many life lessons. I’m sure this will not be my last solo adventure. However, until then, I am beyond excited to take everyone on a virtual European vacation in the coming weeks so we can all ooh and ahh over these magical places!