Why I Was Scared of International Travel

Just go.

I think it's best to start this blog, first ever blog about traveling to - well anywhere - should naturally cover the reasons why I was nervous about the uncertainties of travel, specifically international travel. But after that initial, visceral response of 'no, no rather stay safe here in the US of A.' And haven seen Taken one too many time. My reservations subsided and especially after popping my cherry and traveling to Europe for the first time did my interest grow and blossom into a full on obsession. To the point it felt more natural to be on a long haul flight to some foreign region of the world, a complete fish out of water, than it was being at home.

The only way I can share my neurosis about traveling abroad and internationally is to being 100% honest and unfiltered. And who knows maybe, you the reader, can relate to the things I had to come over or even better yet this could help, you the reader, overcome some the same commonalities that might be holding you back from exploring this big, rich, drenched in history that is the world. So small disclaimer, anything on this blog or any blog about any place that I write about is just me and my own bullshit, there's no love lost, all jokes, bad jokes are inevitable doesn't mean we can't laugh particularly laugh at me or ourselves and learn a few things at the same time. With that being said, 'yeah let's do it, I'm pumped. Let the healing begin.' - Good Will Hunting.

The biggest reasons for not - flex - globe trotting earlier in life, is a simple reason of just being a pussy. Yes money, time, resources are real factors for anyone traveling whether it is the Miller High Life version you see in movies or by the cheapest, shoe string budget you can slap together. But honestly for me it was me just being a great giant pussy cause I was scared. Scared of, not knowing how to get around. Not knowing how to communicate with someone where they don't speak English. Scared of the places or presuming people are dangerous.

I'd have to say that all those things are two fold. Yes there are place around the world are dangerous and for the most part it's best not to go there. Now like any place, even your home city, it can be nice and want to visit. For instance I live in Orlando, Fl but even here there are streets that you don't want to go down. That ideology, philosophy, thought process even, can be applied to any place. And assuming every place you go to is bad and the people are nothing but criminals and pick pocketers and thieves is an absurd and quite preposterous assumption. Not to mention unhealthy and ultimately no way to live. But that's what happens when you live in your bubble and don't explore anything that isn't known to you. That would be my first piece of advance if someone is afaid to travel to far out destination is stop assuming everywhere other than your bubble is bad. I know the news has done a terrific job of showing you only the bad things that happen around the world to the point you forget or don't realize there is a lot of good as well.

And since I'm already rambling about worlds and bubbles. Everything you have going on: work, your boss is dick. Your spouse or your boyfriend, girlfriend, etc is being a pain in the ass. Your government's politics isn't doing right by the people, whatever it is. I say this, whatever problems you have, people have the same exact problems everywhere you go. Once you realize you're not special and people everywhere have the same problems as you, you get over that thought of it's not all bad in a hurry.

Once you get over that. That not every place in the world is scary and the people aren't bad. The next thing is to just fucking go. Everything else, you can figure out. Let me give you some peace of mind, most places you want to go, the indeginous people of that area know English well enough. The signage, the landmarks in order to get around are in English enough so you know where you are going. Also before I started traveling when I had all these fears and assumptions phones, internet, maps, translations weren't a thing but now they are normal. So everything else you can figure out. And believe it or not, there's a deep satisfaction of figuring it out.

If 'figuring it out' isn't for you, then I'd recommend a good travel agent. A good one, will be able to set you up with hotel, transportation, activities, and can put you at ease on where you are going. To be crystal clear I do not get ANYTHING, NOTHING, ZERO from my recommendations, I could recommend a couple of travel agents but I wont here. I will if only if you message me privately. But I'm not trying to a pimp travel agents cause there is a cost, I have no idea what that cost could be. However you can view it as a peace of mind cost. Because sometimes when you book trips and vacations you can get paralysis by analysis. With someone's help they can narrow your scope and filter in on what exactly you want.

Last but not least. I'm totally doubling down on this one because I believe in it so much. Just fucking go. Wherever you want, whatever that gets you to finally go. Even if it's by yourself. GO! Be like Anthony Bourdain.

"Be a traveler, not a tourist"

Find a place, need help find someplace near you, get out of the bubble bath and wonder. Even if it's a few miles outside of your town. Go to a town outside of a town outside of your city. And do local shit. This time I've had traveling isn't going to the destination's version of 'Disney Land' its doing local shit. What do the locals do? Where do they hang out. Drink in a local bar that serves locally made beer. Talk to a stranger. That's experiencing. Standing and leering at a painting, waiting in line for a ride isn't my jam. But if it's yours and if it'll get you to get out and explore then dope. I'm all for it for you.

Hopefully this helps you overcome any illusion, fears, or predispositions you have about traveling. If I was able to get out of my comfort zone then you certainly can as well. Good luck. Talk you next time. Done.