Let’s get right to it:
1. The first day is ALWAYS the hardest. After traveling halfway across the world you will be extremely jet-lagged. Combine this with the additional challenge of navigating to your first hostel alone, you will most likely feel lonely and overwhelmed. If this is your first time traveling solo, you will have no idea what to expect and will miss having a companion to share everything with. Understanding and acknowledging the challenges of this day will (hopefully) give you some peace of mind.
2. You will deal with some weird crossbreed of jet lag and massive sleep deprivation. This will be attributed to needing a day of sleep after partying your way though a city (Budapest, anyone?!) or sleeping terribly due to a crescendo of snorers or people talking/ turning on lights/ having sex/ packing at ungodly hours. Which brings me to…
3. Snorers will come and go like a bad migraine or that persistent cold you can’t seem to shake. Sharing a room with anywhere from six to 30 people is a breeding ground for a variety of sleeping situations. You will have nights of wondrous, blissful quiet and nights of thunderous, roaring snorers (male and female). If you’re lucky, you’re a heavy sleeper. Other options include getting so drunk you pass out quickly, or equally as common, plugging into your headphones. Bringing me to…
Photo Courtesy of Kelsea Barto
4. You will become obsessed with your headphones. They will be the constant companion as you navigate through new cities, try to drown out excessive snorers, and spend countless hours commuting to the next location. After the end of the trip, when you are back in the sweet serenade of a dark and quiet room, you might find yourself putting on some music just to fall asleep.
5. You will get used to a certain degree of filth. You will relish in the feeling of freshly washed clothes and a long hot shower. If you’re smart you pack light and will either get sick of your revolving wardrobe, wear everything to pieces, or appreciate the simplicity of only two pairs of pants and one going out shirt. Which brings me to…
6. You’ll stop caring about how dirty that shirt is or how you haven’t put makeup on in days. You are a traveler. You are an adventurer. You are doing something not many people ever do. You will start to relish in the filth, in the fact that you’ve worn the same socks for multiple days and your hair is a mess from wearing a beanie every day (turns out winter in Europe is cold!).
7. You will meet people constantly. Whether it is hostels, trains, buses, planes, coffee shops, bars, restaurants, tourist attractions, tinder, or alleyways, you will meet a lot of diverse and interesting people. People will come and go suddenly, leaving a lasting impression. You’ll connect with people from all over the world and appreciate the fleeting moments.
Photo Courtesy of Kelsea Barto
8. You will be changed by your experiences and cannot go back as the same person you were before. You will always see the world differently. Your life will never be the same and you will appreciate every moment of adventure you had. You’ll realize that all of life is one big adventure, and it is up to each of us to manifest the destiny we want. Which finally brings me to…
9. You WILL experience post-backpacking blues. You will be changed by your adventure, and once the wandering stops you’ll be stuck constantly thinking about all the incredible experiences you just had. Going back to your friends and family will be wonderful; they will be dying to hear some incredible stories and will be happy to see you return. However, once the novelty of being home wears off, you will be stuck with the lingering feeling that life was so much more exciting with only your backpack and your feet to guide you. Trust in the process, and trust in knowing that it will get better. Humans have a tenacious ability to adapt to different circumstances. Just as you adapted to backpacking solo, you will adapt to being home. You will realize that being home isn’t so bad. It allows you to regroup until you can wander solo again.
