Through the recommendation of just about anyone that I talked to, I am keeping a private journal of my experience - it is the primary and undoubtedly most important souvenir of my trip. Taking the time to write each day has allowed me to remember, reminisce, and reflect on the backpacking experience on a level unlike anything else. From this, I have realized that journaling is very different writing practice from blogging publicly, and that the information you share outwardly, though of course it is a reflection of your internal experiences, really cannot do the soul justice.
That is why being a travel blogger would be so difficult. When you travel, you experience so many incredible things - sights, foods, and friendships - but it is nearly impossible to communicate exactly what those mean to you. I actually met a professional travel blogger in Rome and it was interesting to hear about both the struggles and benefits of his work. The real kicker came the night that he had to turn down a token Roman toga party in favor of working on his writing. That, my friends, takes a lot of discipline.
But when you get down to it, traveling is all about discipline. When people think of a "backpacker", they think of a completely free spirit with no direction in the world - someone who is just bouncing around from place to place with no real purpose or boundary. And- OK- I have come across a few of those... but I have actually found that many backpackers I have met along this journey are actually great examples of discipline and self-control.
How so?
Well, we can start with money because that somehow affects just about everything else. Backpackers are frugal people! We may be spending thousands of dollars on our trip, but we want the most bang for our buck... plus most of us are fighting a disadvantageous exchange rate. The more frugal and disciplined you are with your money, the more you can stretch the experiences of your trip. personally, I have practiced frugality with money by booking cheaper rooms in hostels (8 bed dorm rooms, anyone?), buying fresh groceries from local markets and preparing meals or picnicking instead of eating out, and by doing my laundry by hand in the bathroom sink. While actions like these allowed me to ultimately save money on my trip, it was the unexpected fringe benefits of these actions that have truly left an impact. Staying in hostels and sharing communal space has led to friendships; preparing dinner with those new friends has led to a more authentic experience of the land we are visiting; and doing laundry by hand, well in today's world of privilege and technology, that's humility.
But being disciplined is not just about what you can't (or choose not to) do. Being disciplined also shines through in reflecting upon one's own values and expectations for oneself. When you travel and engage in the backpacking community, you are going to meet, talk to, and learn from people who come from all walks of life and from all corners of the world. This experience is invaluable, and when coupled with strength in one's own values and disciplines, the experience of meeting all kinds of new people can be one of the most rewarding parts of travelling.
The best friendships are the ones that you can learn from, the ones that challenge you. These are the friendships that I am building on this adventure.
So I know I have written a bit now, and it probably just sounds like random ramblings.... But you can't say I didn't warn you. It is completely impossible for me to sum up the backpacking experience in any sort of eloquent or organized way. What this period in my life is teaching me... To put it into words would be an injustice.
As much as I would like to continue to tell you about what I am learning from my adventure, I would rather spend my energy encouraging you to go after your own adventure! Seriously, if you have ever thought about travelling, whether it is across a couple of states or across the world, you HAVE to do it! I will help you plan :) you will gain everything that you expected plus much, much more.
