Blog 23: A New Chapter

Siena, Italy

Blog 23: A New Chapter

Manarola, Cinque Terre

            It has dawned on me that my six months abroad are coming to a close. These last few days I’ve been especially reflective and nostalgic. At random moments I’m reminded of someone I’ve met or someplace I’ve seen during my travels. I find at these times a ghost of a smile flickers across my face as I’m whisked back to those memories. Watching the sunset in Italy’s Cinque Terre reminds me of the brilliant Sahara with its endless golden dunes at daybreak. A group of girl’s uncontrollable laughter reminds me of friendships made in Spain. A lone backpacker staring out the window on a bus reminds me of all the people I met in Ireland and its raw, unspoiled beauty. Then I feel a rush of both happiness and sadness in the pit of my stomach. Part of me is feeling disappointed that the “great adventure” is over. Part of me is not ready to leave. There is a long list of “but I didn’t get to.” The Alps, Greece’s beaches, Croatia’s waterfalls, the Scotland highlands, Istanbul…the list goes on. There’s nothing more exciting than traveling to a place you’ve never been. The not knowing, the constant “what’s around the corner” is a sensation that isn’t replicable. But it’s not over…. it’s a new chapter. I feel incredibly blessed for having this experience and like I expressed before, studying abroad has taught me lessons about life and myself that can’t be taken away from me. I’m leaving Europe with a wealth of memories that I’ll never forget. And the greatest gift traveling has given me is the ability to finally accept myself for who I am. I’ve accepted that I’ll never be the “life of the party” girl that attracts people like fireflies to a lantern. I love meeting people and occasionally partying, but I also love curling up in bed with a good book. And I’ve stopped thinking that this means that I’m a boring and uninteresting person. If I tried to be this “life of the party” girl I used to idolize, then I wouldn’t be me. I’ve probably been told this a billion times, and rolled my eyes, but all you need to do is “be yourself.” It’s such a simple message, but easier said than done I know. Traveling finally made me realize this. The world is filled with 7 billion unique people with different personalities, cultures, languages, and ways of thinking. And we all have something special to offer.

Cinque Terre

            If there’s one thing I want to tell all of you it’s to get out there and explore. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Stumble over words when learning a new language, travel by yourself, and do something daring that would normally scare you. If you have an open mind and give it your all, I guarantee you won’t regret it. Make your travel experience a meaningful one.  So for me, this is not the ending of an adventure but rather the beginning of a new one. I’m not done seeing the world, but first I need to reconnect with family and friends, work hard, and save money. Being away from Hawai’i made me realize how much I love my home. Ocean, sand, surf, my ohana, and my friends…. yes it’s time to go back home.

Blog 22: Positano... La Dolce Vita

  Blog 22: Positano... La Dolce Vita

“Find your passion and go for it. Get out of your comfort and try new things because you are in a beautiful and magical place.”- Kayla and Crystal’s letter (from my message in a bottle)

            The stubborn glass finally shattered. Among the scattered shards, I carefully picked up the rolled up letter and began reading. No matter how old you get there will always be something childishly thrilling about finding a message in a bottle. I had found the wine bottle while kayaking with my family along the Amalfi Coast. When I fished it out of the water, I hadn’t realized that nestled deep inside the bottle was a letter. It wasn’t until we returned to shore that I finally discovered my “treasure.” I felt like I was five years old again. I violently shook the bottle and wedged my fingers inside trying in vain to fish the letter out. (We ended up having to break the bottle) Ironically, it was written by two University of Idaho students who had been studying architecture in Rome. They wrote a beautiful letter about their experience abroad telling the reader to follow their dreams. It has become my favorite souvenir from Positano.

            The village of Positano is peppered with romance. The location is idyllic with its resting place between the misty mountains and pebbled beaches of the Amalfi Coast. Sun drenched houses stack along the cliffs like a large, overextended family. Drying laundry lazily flaps in the wind from balconies. Among the crowded houses lies the cathedral with its dome of brilliant gold, green, and indigo. Below the village, the Mediterranean provides safe sailing for a small fleet of boats. And the faint fragrance of lemon is ever present (lemon trees flourish in this region).  Legend has it that the Greek Sea God Poseidon created Positano for a nymph who he desired. (The less romantic origin is that ancient Greeks settled here after fleeing from an outspread of malaria in nearby Paestum) In the past, Turkish pirates used to threaten to sack the village making it seem like a setting from a adventure storybook. Whether you’re a helpless romantic or the world’s biggest pessimist, it’s hard to not be seduced by Positano.

            Unfortunately Positano is flooded with honeymooners and wealthy tourists. The charm is somewhat diminished by the crowds. I tend to be a picky traveler and I hate feeling like I’m in the “Waikiki” of Italy. Yet I would still return to Positano in a heartbeat. If you’re willing to work a little harder and dig a little deeper, you can still experience the true Positano. Interacting with locals was one of my favorite parts of my stay. Firstly, I love listening to Italian. Italian has a sing-song sound and is delivered with an extra spark of expression. It always sounds like Italians are having the most fun, intriguing conversations. I also found most southern Italians to be exceptionally warm and friendly. They didn’t scoff when I butchered Italian words and the grandma running our hotel would pat me on the head like I was her own granddaughter. Family ties are strong in Southern Italy, which I found heartwarming and refreshing. While buying groceries at a family run store, we were worried that we didn’t have enough money to pay for all our food. We had started taking items out of the basket when the family running the place stopped us. “No problem! You pay later,” they told us. I didn’t know this kind of trusting nature still existed.

            But my best advice is to slow down the clock. Get lost roaming the narrow streets of the hill neighborhoods, sunbathe on the beaches, stare for more than a few minutes at the breathtaking scenery, and nurture a gelato in the sunlight. Embrace the Italian saying “la dolce vita” (the sweet life).

           

My message!

Blog 21: How to be a “Bad Ass” Solo Female Traveler

Taken from Pinterest

                          

Blog 21: How to be a “Bad Ass” Solo Female Traveler

“Traveling:  All you need is a destination, a backpack, enough clothes to not be mistaken as a hobo, an acceptance that you will most likely be broke after, and of course have an appetite for adventure!”- me

Inishmore

Had the Blackfort (Dún Duchathair) all to myself!

            There’s something that has been on my mind, and that’s traveling alone. When I compulsively bought my RyanAir ticket to Ireland, I had absolutely no plan and no friends joining. Rash…maybe. Adventurous…absolutely. I ignored the skeptics who had their reservations on women who traveled alone. Ladies, let’s just admit it. Not all but most of us have the tendency to need constant companionship (hell sometimes we even insist on traveling as a pack to the bathroom! ). From reading this blog you might get the idea that I’m fiercely independent. But I’ll be honest, I still feel insecure being in situations like eating in a noisy restaurant by myself. I still feel insecure when I see a couple cuddling along the cliffs of the Aran Islands. And it doesn’t help that I’m an introvert and making fast friends was never easy for me. So why did I decide to travel alone? Simple answer: I love challenging myself and I wanted to be more confident. Two weeks gallivanting around Ireland with no friends to latch onto seemed like the perfect prescription.

Taken from Pinterest

            There were certainly times when traveling alone where all I wanted was to pack my bag and call it quits. But more often there were those breathtaking moments where I felt life couldn’t get much better.  My all time favorite moment was going to a bar on Inishmore and talking with a young local guy and his two uncles for nearly two hours. I told them I was from Maui and we immediately began talking about island life. I love being among them, listening to them easily switch to Gaelic when it suited them. After they have me a ride home to my hostel. If I had been with a friend, this moment might have not happened. So here’s the punch line. More women need to feel confident enough to travel alone. Leave the boyfriend at home (just kidding!) and plan your next adventure. (It also doesn’t hurt that fellow travelers and people back at home will think you are pretty badass) To help you out here are my top five tip for first time solo travelers. Warning of caution, I’m not an expert on traveling alone but here’s some things I learned.

1) Choose an easy destination

Maybe ever since reading Eat, Pray, Love, you’ve been dreaming of exotic, balmy India. But remember to be realistic about you abilities as a first time traveler. Traveling alone is an art. Like any other skill, you're going to make mistakes your first time. I would recommend choosing a place a little less intimidating. Ireland was the perfect place for me. The people were so friendly and there was no language barrier.

2) Plan but don’t “Over Plan.” Be flexible!

            For me it was nice to have all my hostels booked before I arrived. I had an itinerary so I was never worried I’d be spending the night on a bird poop park bench (um no thank you!). But I also hadn’t expected Ireland to have a bus strike either. Luckily they postponed the strike but for a while I felt a little panicked I’d be stuck somewhere. I learned traveling doesn’t always run smoothly so you have to run with the tides. And don’t “over plan.” I hadn’t booked any tours or have a set schedule of activities when I arrived. This meant I was flexible if I met people who asked me if I wanted to join them on some activity. Which leads me to….

3) Hostels vs Hotels

I’m a poor college student, so there was no option but hostel. Personally I love hostels (bed bugs and all! Just kidding please do your research on websites like hostelworld) Hostels are always teeming with young backpackers and so it’s an easy place for solo travelers to make friends. So be outgoing and put yourself out there!

4) Better Safe than Sorry

            There are a few horror stories about traveling alone as a women. This should not make you afraid to leave your room at night and prevent you from having fun. However, do use common sense at all times. Most importantly, don’t overdrink! You will not be making smart choice after one too many pints of Guinness… and nobody will be looking out for you.

5) Embrace being alone

            Fact: You will get lonely traveling alone. But think about it this way, back home you have friends and family waiting for you. Relish the silence because it’s a rare gift nowadays. It gives you time to think and learn about yourself. In between the silence however, make new friends and memories! I had some of the best moments of my life while traveling alone. I learned that you are never really alone. Company is out there, you just have to go out and seek it. 

Words of inspiration