There’s a unique kind of joy in traveling solo—navigating new cultures, making spontaneous connections, and, of course, discovering new ways to embarrass yourself on an international stage. My contribution to this tradition was falling into a freezing lake in Kazakhstan. During my senior year of college, I spent my final semester wandering through South America…
Journal
24 Countries I Visited in 2024: Year Recap (Part 2)
While the first half of my 2024 travels started in Africa, the second half was where Africa truly shone. This leg of my journey included some of the most breathtaking landscapes, immersive cultural experiences, and, of course, my unforgettable birthday trip. Traveling across Southern and West Africa, as well as making stops in North America…
24 Countries I Visited in 2024: Year Recap (Part 1)
This post is coming a little late—it’s already late January—but since this entire blog is retrospective, nothing is ever truly “too late.” 2024 was another incredible year of travel. What set it apart from previous years was that I took relatively fewer solo trips. I visited 24 countries in total, 20 of them new, and…
My Global Good Samaritan Encounters That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity (Part 3)
Welcome back to the third installment of my feel-good travel stories! If you haven’t already, check out Part 1 and Part 2. I started this series to highlight the unexpected kindness I’ve encountered while traveling, especially in places that might have mixed reputations. Often, we’re advised to be overly cautious in new destinations, but my…
How I Ended Up on National News During America Day in Moldova
No, you won’t find my face plastered across the front page of any Moldovan newspaper with a wild headline—haha! My brief moment of fame lasted all of five seconds as B-roll footage on Europa Libera‘s coverage of America Day in Chisinau, back in May 2023 (see screenshot for proof). It all started when I was in…
My Global Good Samaritan Encounters That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity (Part 2)
I started this thread of posts to share feel-good encounters I’ve experienced while traveling (If you haven’t already, check out Part 1). Often, people are overly cautious and on edge when visiting new destinations, especially places with a mixed reputation. However, I’ve been fortunate to meet several amazing strangers during my travels, and I cherish…
My Flight from Cusco to Lima That Didn’t Exist
My first extended solo trip, which was in South America during my senior year of college, began in Peru. I started by spending a week visiting Machu Picchu, exploring Cusco, and taking day trips around the Peruvian Andes. Everything had gone smoothly, and I naively believed the rest of my journey would follow suit. However,…
My Global Good Samaritan Encounters That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity (Part 1)
As a solo female traveler, I’ve learned to navigate the world with a healthy dose of caution. Yet, time and again, I’ve been humbled by the kindness and generosity of strangers. In a world often overshadowed by negativity, these encounters serve as reminders of the inherent goodness that exists among us. In this post, I…
How I Visited 100+ Countries as a College Student
Anyone who knew me well before college would tell you that I loathed being on planes. I struggled with severe cases of air sickness as a child, but that never deterred me from excitedly mentally preparing myself for the flights for my annual family vacations. These resort-focused trips (think Atlantis Bahamas, Wild Wadi Dubai, Disneyland…
How Family Mart Saved Me from Sleeping on the Streets of Kaohsiung, Taiwan
I must confess, this story is largely the result of my lack of foresight. But in my defense, my arrival in Taiwan coincided with a looming deadline for my master’s program, so cut me some slack. My journey into Kaohsiung from Korea was prompted mainly by the allure of the cheapest flight into Taiwan—duh. Plus,…
