Travel Tips from an Aspiring Expert

I will be the first to say that I am no travel expert. I have only begun to learn what it means to be a responsible and savvy traveler. That being said, I did travel around Europe for four and a half months, and I did manage to get home in one piece. And I think that there are at least a few little pieces of travel-related advice that I could throw out there for anyone who's interested.

For the sake of your sanity and mine, I'm going to attempt to categorize my advice so that it's not a total brain dump.

PACKING
--Use carry-on sized luggage. Kind of a duh one. The obvious benefits include avoiding luggage fees (I'm looking at you, RyanAir), not worrying about lost luggage (because you've got everything you need right there with you!), and portability (hauling 50 pounds of luggage on the Paris metro during rush hour is an experience that I would not wish upon my worst enemies). Plus, how much stuff do you really need? Answer: less than you think.
--Don't pack for the worst-case scenario. I was a Girl Scout all the way up through senior year of high school, and the "be prepared" mentality has really stuck with me. But there's a fine line between being reasonably prepared and carrying around the equivalent of an ambulance in your first-aid kit.
--Roll your clothes. Seriously. Saves so much luggage space. You can use compression bags for the bulkier stuff (like sweaters). I used these.
--Ziploc bags for organizing. Electronic accessories, hair ties, and travel-size toiletries (of course).
--Pick about three outfits, and stick with them. It's not worth the extra weight and space in your bag. It's only for a short time, and you'll be reunited with your full wardrobe before you know it. And for the love of Totino's Pizza Rolls, don't pack anything that needs to be ironed.

That was the only time I wore that shirt on my whole 4.5-month-long trip.

SECURITY CHECKS
--Always, always, always take off your boots at the airport. Sometimes they tell you not to worry about it. Take them off anyway, because you WILL get flagged by the metal detector or whatever it is and have to do the whole pat-down, take-off-your-shoes-and-run-them-through-the-x-ray-machine-while-everyone-in-line-behind-you-glares-because-you're-holding-up-the-line thing.
--Ten three-ounce (100ml) liquids in one quart-size (liter-size) Ziploc bag. And the bag has to zip shut, so don't even try it. Try buying products that have more than one use (3-in-1 body wash, shampoo, and conditioner) and solid toiletries (like bars of soap).

KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR STUFF/NOT GETTING PICKPOCKETED
--Zippered. Pockets. My Swiss mishaps taught me that. Although I learned the hard way that even zippered pockets aren't foolproof.
--Pack everything important in your daypack. I'm talking passport, credit cards, plane tickets, etc. Keep that stuff on you at all times.
--Consider a money belt, especially in places where pickpockets are common. You might feel like a dork wearing one, but honestly, sometimes it's just comforting to know that if your pockets do get picked, at least you won't lose your super important stuff. This is the one I used.
--Get a combination lock for your bag. (I used this one and this one.) Then you can wear your backpack on your back without worrying about someone digging around in it. The alternative is wearing your backpack on your front, which is like a blinking neon sign saying "I'm a tourist!"
--Make two copies of your travel documents. Keep one with you, in a separate place from the originals, and leave an extra copy at home. It'll be much easier to replace documents then if--God forbid--you lose them.
--Be super careful in crowds. Street performers can be entertaining, but sometimes they're simply a distraction.

If you go to the Eiffel Tower, prepare to be besieged by guys jangling mini Eiffel Towers and calling"One Euro, one Euro, one Euro!"

GOOD INVESTMENTS
--Set a budget, and at least try to stick to it. I know this isn't really an "investment," but do it anyway. I didn't, so I'm still paying for my travels now that I'm home. (So worth it, though.)
--Travel insurance. Thank the Universe I never had to use it, but it sure was nice knowing that if something really bad did actually happen, I was covered. Just make sure you read the fine print and pick a legit company. (I used World Nomads.)
--Collapsible water bottle. I bought this one, and honestly, it was so worth the $13 I paid for it. First of all, save money and the environment because it's reusable. Plus, stay hydrated! (Even if it's not hot outside.) Also, save space in your bag because it takes up next to no space when it's empty.

WASTE OF MONEY
--Sleep headphones. When I bought these right before my trip, they seemed like a great idea, considering that I was going to spend the next 4.5 months sharing rooms with a bunch of complete strangers making who-knows-how-much noise. But then I realized that I can't actually sleep with anything on my face. Besides, if I've spent my day right, I'm too tired for anything--noise, light, crappy pillows--to stop me from sleeping.
--Sleep mask. Ditto

I can sleep anywhere.

GETTING GOOD DEALS
--Use Kiwi.com for flights, and Rome2Rio to compare other travel options. 'Nuff said.
--Be flexible. You can get a way better deal by being flexible with dates and times. Also look into alternative airports/train stations/bus stations. The central one is usually the most expensive. It might be cheaper to arrive in the outskirts of town, and use public transportation from there.

ACCOMMODATIONS
--READ THE REVIEWS. Sometimes you can handle crappy Wi-Fi in the hostels, or rooms so small that you're practically sleeping on top of the stranger in the next bed. But isn't it better to know about those things ahead of time?
--Hostelworld is a ripoff. At the beginning of my trip, I used it constantly. It made it very easy to compare and book hostels. BUT, as I found out in the last month of my trip, they jack up the prices. So now I just use Hostelworld as a search engine for finding hostels (and reading those reviews!), and then get in touch with the hostel directly to book.

Hostelworld.com (They have an app, too.)

NAVIGATION
--Use HERE we go for offline navigation (walking or driving). Just download the maps you need ahead of time, so you can avoid using data (which is generally way more expensive internationally).
--Moovit is great for public transportation.
--When in doubt, follow the locals. (Of course, you can always ask one, too, if you know the language.) Where's the exit from this metro station? Just let yourself be swept along with the crowd.

MISCELLANEOUS
--Let your bank know when and where you're traveling. Otherwise you might end up unable to use your credit and debit cards. (It happened to me my first morning in London.) And make sure you have an emergency stash of cash (in the local currency), just in case.
--Make sure someone at home knows where you're planning to go each day. And check in with them regularly. If your plan changes, that's fine! Nothing wrong with being spontaneous. Just let them know. Don't make them worry about you.
--TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. I'm all for trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone, but if something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Don't stick around to find out.
--Make sure you're up-to-date on any vaccines you need for where you're going. And for the love of Old Bay, make sure you know whether it's safe to drink the water. You don't want to end up all alone in a hospital where you don't speak the language.

FUN ADVICE
--Buy souvenirs (but not too many!). I picked postcards for my own personal souvenirs because they were cheap, lightweight and easy to pack, plus I could find them anywhere I went. I did buy a few other souvenirs, of course, but I learned the hard way not to buy heavy/bulky ones.
--Take pictures! They're the best souvenirs.
--Keep a travel journal. When you get home, you won't remember the name of the beer you had that amazing restaurant, or who you played beer pong with in the hostel bar. Write all that stuff down at the end of each day so those details don't slip away.
--Step out of your comfort zone. Travel is all about broadening your horizons (as cliched as it is to say it, it's true), so try something new! Go grab food with someone you just met. Walk up and introduce yourself to people.
--Listen to your whims. Maybe you were planning to spend the whole day in the Lourve, but on the way there, you pass by a street market that catches your eye. Go check it out! The Lourve will still be there later.

I had a whim to jump in an Icelandic lake. And as soon as I was in it, I had a whim to get back in the hot springs.

I had more advice than I thought. Hopefully it's useful for at least some of you!

Did I miss anything?

The Whole 30 Begins: Life Updates and Such

A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you all some of my goals for transitioning back to life in the US of A. Since I haven't actually posted anything since then, I figured that now was probably a good time to check in and let you know how I'm doing with all that. (And I promise, I will still write about Cardiff and Ireland and all that...sometime.)

Yesterday, I started the Whole30. It's one of those things that has been on my radar for a while, mostly because I'm slightly addicted to lifestyle blogs. During the Whole30, you eat fruits, veggies, seafood, and eggs (and meat, if you're not a vegetarian), and drink a LOT of water. You don't eat (or drink) added sugars, dairy products, alcohol, legumes, and grains. Pretty strict. But there are a lot of benefits to the Whole30, like increased energy levels, clearer skin, and just all-around health. Plus--and this is my main motivation for giving this crazy endeavor a shot--you become more conscious of what you're eating, and its effects on your body.

I'm thinking of the Whole30 as a reset for my diet.

I definitely didn't eat so healthy in Europe. But that was kind of the point. I was eating foods that looked (or smelled!) good, foods the locals recommended, foods I'd never tried before. I was enjoying the heck out of it.

Sachertorte and a Mochaccino at the oldest coffeehouse in Vienna

Then when I first got home, my priority, food-wise, was Chipotle. I then followed up with the foods that I missed the most while I was in Europe: Old Bay mac and cheese, Dunkin' Donuts (coffee and double-chocolate donuts), and white-cheddar popcorn. Ben and Jerry's would have also been on that list, but that is one of the few American junk foods that you can find pretty easily in Europe. (And thank the Universe for that.)

So to cut a long story a little bit shorter, I felt that a "dietary reset" was very much in order.

Day 2 of the Whole30 is going well so far. Definitely should have done a little more preparation before starting, but my self-imposed start date snuck up on me. Oh well, I'll go grocery shopping this weekend and maybe even plan some meals.

Aside from food, I'm still struggling with establishing healthy habits and banishing unhealthy ones. Since I'm not regularly working yet, I don't have much in the way of a routine going at the moment. I'm working up to my goal of getting an exercise regimen going, though. I'm using an app called Runkeeper to track my runs. It tracks my pace, distance, elevation, and a whole bunch of other stuff, plus sends motivating messages in the morning to get me out of bed and running. (They work about half of the time.)

You can access your info online as well as through the app!

It's a little bit discouraging to see my pace and mileage at the moment, knowing what I used to be able to do. But I'm taking it a little bit at a time and looking at it as baby steps for getting back to where I was, fitness-wise.

Once I get a regular running habit going, I'll add in the yoga and the strength training. Right now, my priority is just establishing that workout routine, so that I can get back to the point where it's more unusual for me to take a day off than it is for me to work out.

In terms of my mental health, I've gotten in the habit of plugging my phone in across the room at night, so that I'm not tempted to use it. Instead, I read for about an hour before bed, like I used to before I had a smartphone. Now if I could just break the habit of checking my phone as soon as I get up...that would probably be easier if I didn't use it for my alarm in the mornings.

Cleaning out my closet and my room is an ongoing project. It's something that I'm not used to doing anymore; one of the perks of staying in a new city every few days is that your few belongings pretty much stay in your backpack, and the hostel staff does the cleaning.

Last little bit of news for today: I finished job applications for two school districts, and I'm hoping to hear back from them soon! So send some employment vibes my way, if you can spare them.

Keep your eyes peeled for those Cardiff and Ireland posts. I'm also working on a travel-tips post, so be on the lookout for that, too.

Peace out, Girl Scout.

Goals for Returning to the "Real World"

It is so good to be home. 

My four and a half months of travel have absolutely changed me--I'm sure you'll see that when I get home--and I'd like to think that those changes have been for the better. I'm hoping to hold on to these changes now that I'm home, but it won't be easy, since my life will be very different at home from what it was abroad (which was kind of the point of traveling in the first place). So before I fall back into old habits and/or get sucked into the world of job applications, car hunting, and tax-paying--fun as all of that is--I want to take the time to lay out some goals for my transition back to being home. It's kind of my own set of New Years' resolutions (since I didn't actually make any of those). 

I'm hoping that by posting these here on my blog, I'll add an element of accountability that will help me stick to these resolutions. Might want to get yourself a cup of coffee...this is going to be a bit of a long one. 

CONTINUING TRAVEL HABITS

I don't want to stop adventuring just because I'm home...there are so many things to do at home, too!

--go more places/do more things solo; don't wait for other people to join me to do things that I want to do!

--go out to eat/get coffee 1-2 times a week (trying someplace new at least every other week)
--go someplace at least twice a month (adventures!), and make at least one of those places new (new city, new park, new museum, anything!)
--blog once a week (ish; I'm not going to blog if I have nothing to blog about, but I do want to keep writing about my adventures when I have them!)
--explore alternative modes of transport: use public transportation and/or bike to get around when feasible, and walk places!

STARTING FRESH

Living out of a 40-liter backpack has taught me that I really don't need that much, so I'll be aiming to simplify by jettisoning at least half of my personal belongings when I get home. It's just clutter in the end.

--clean out closet (sell/donate clothes that I don't wear anymore)

--invest in a few new good-quality items that I'll actually wear and will last me a while
--clean out room (sell/donate books, bedding, etc. that I don't need)

SELF-CARE HABITS
There were some aspects of self-care that I got much better at over the course of this trip; for example, I was taking time for myself, putting what I wanted to do above all else, making my own desires and dreams valid by making them a reality, and just letting myself be less responsible for once. I was also much more forgiving of myself when I made mistakes. I realize that I will have to take up some responsibilities again when I get home, but I want to continue to take time for me. To that end, here are my goals for psychological self-care:

--journal once a week (at least)
--limit Netflix/TV time to 3-one hour sessions during the week, one 2-hour session on weekends (movies)
--take half an hour a day to just do nothing (listening to one entire album and doing only that counts, but NO MULTI-TASKING)
--meditate for ten minutes every morning before starting the day
--unplug at least one hour before bed (read or meditate instead!)
--set boundaries for work hours (not answering work emails or grading papers outside of my designated times, for example)

The physical aspects of self-care sort of fell by the wayside on this trip. If you've been looking at the food pictures I've been posting, you know that I have been making my decisions based less on what's good for my body and more on what tastes good. Combine that with no regular exercise regimen (aside from walking all over the continent), and it's safe to say I'm not in peak physical condition. But that's going to change when I get home.

--yoga practice at least once a week (maybe sign up for classes)
--complete the Whole 30 to cleanse and reset my eating habits (I'm planning to start February 2nd, so keep your eyes peeled for some posts about that)
--switch back to vegetarianism (stay tuned for a full post about that)
--don't eat within an hour of going to bed
--run at least three times a week
--strength training at least twice a week

RELATIONSHIPS
It's true what they say: absence makes the heart grow fonder. Being away from my family and friends for so long really made me appreciate them (you) all the more.

--make a point of actively spending more quality time with family and friends (this means not just hanging out at home watching movies, but actually DOING stuff! like traveling and hiking)
--be more communicative with family and friends 

PROJECTS
Europeans have some enviable skills; at least, I'm envious. Everyone speaks at least two languages, and everyone can drive a manual-transmission car; it's just the norm here. And I am extremely jealous of these skills, so add those to my list of goals. They won't be achieved overnight, but I'm hoping to make some serious progress on them by the end of 2017. 

--learn to drive stick-shift (for realsies this time; I've had a few false starts with this one)

--learn German (to better communicate with my German relatives)
--learn Spanish (to better communicate with my students and their families)

FINANCES

I'll be the first to say that I wasn't exactly fiscally responsible on this trip. I just didn't budget. When saving up for this grand adventure, I was very careful with my money, so I kind of cut loose and didn't stress about it once the vacation actually began. I let my heart (or in some cases, my stomach) determine when and where I spent money, rather than letting my brain take charge. But now adulthood begins. *sigh*

--create a biweekly budget and actually stick to it

--set aside money from every paycheck for future adventures! (and actually budget these adventures based on what I have saved up)

So there they are. My goals for the foreseeable future. 

Bam.