Excuse the brief interruption in service, my next post was supposed to jump into my series on women and transformational healing, but I think this post is needed as a precursor.
As traveling is and has been my personal healing balm.
@BROKEASSGIRLTRAVEL on IG is hiring. I need y’all to tell her to choose me. I’m tryna get with the winning team.
I believe in the universal synchronicity of all things. Just the other day no exaggeration, Thursday I was on the train with my friend Pier. She made a remark about people traveling with extremely large suitcases. I responded with a diatribe about my first international trip, and how much I owe my high school Geometry teacher Ms. Burke now Mrs. Schooler my skills as a traveler. I also talked about how I want a travel clothing line, more on that later (just putting it into the atmosphere).
Where and when would be a better time to write about how to travel, why I love to travel, why I am good at travel, etc? Now. @brokeassgirltravel on IG created a post like three hours ago and I feel spurred into action. Win, table it, or draw I need to get this out there.
I began following @brokeassgirltravel because that’s a catchy ass name. Something about it reflects my personal experience. I’ve always lived in or in proximity to project living. Lets start there. Many people wonder how I am able to see the world. What I came to realize is that we do what we want with our money.
In addition to personal funds there are travel scholarships, and opportunities such as this one. If you care about travel then perhaps you don’t care as much about takeout, you’ll learn how to make a bomb ass pot of beans or lentils which are fancy beans. (Maybe I should make a “traveling soon” cookbook.) If you care about travel perhaps you don’t mind sprucing up some shit from Walmart online and pairing it with some Macy’s on sale vs. designer.
I do have credit card bills behind travel. Living my life and seeing the world before, “retirement” is of the utmost importance to me. I can’t trade the people I’ve met that have become extended family nor the life hacks that travel teaches. All of that is a part of me now, I’m wearing it, tags off, no refund no exchange.
I realized at Brixoy that my life wheel was balanced because although, I wasn’t where I wanted to be in all areas, I was maximizing my resources to grow. I wrote about this in the last blog post, about how your life and your spirit can take you farther than your contemporary pocket book can even comprehend. My application to this @brokeassgirltravel’s hiring contest is a testament. I have no clue what the next thirty days or April of next year will bring. Nonetheless, I am going to place my hat in the ring and see how this all pans out.
MY FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRIP
My first international trip was in high school. We had this thing called special session. In the spring of each year, students had two choices, one was to take a trip to increase knowledge of other cultures, or to stay local and contribute community service.
My third year I decided to commit to going on a trip with the then Ms. Burke. I’d seen photos of Greece online, and all over MTV’s Laguna Beach. I remember going to my grandad’s house. He was the only person I knew that may have been able to afford it. I went prepared with a speech about how I would find a job to save up, and ask if he could help me with the other half. I remember presenting it to both him and my grandma while standing. Man if powerpoint was accessible around that time he woulda smooth got hit with a pitch deck. But, I didn’t even have to plead. Midway through my spiel, he said, yea ok, and three days later he showed up at my house with a cashier’s check in the full amount. Won’t the universe do it?
Now onto the passport. I sold my books from the year before to pay for my passport. We went down to the post office in Berkeley, I took my photo, had it expedited, received it about a month before I was ready to go.
ACCLIMATE
Ms. Burke prepared us, oh love, when I say she wasn’t playing. She held an info session after school. She had a bunch of Greek snacks so that when we got there we wouldn’t be so shocked. I remember pita chips and probably hummus. I think we may have even watched a video on Greece. Then onto the suitcase. She said, bring your suitcase to my class for approval. You can only bring one suitcase (the size was the smallest). She said, “if you show up to the airport with an unapproved /larger bag. You will not board the flight.”
PACK LIGHT
I went to target and found a hot pink with black trim suitcase. I think it may have been the first suitcase I owned. It fit the size limitations and would stand out on the luggage turnstyle. That bag couldn’t have been for adults, in hindsight I think it was a kids suitcase. Nonetheless, I named the suitcase big bertha. It was stuffed to the hilt and the zipper had issues before I even checked it. It came out in Greece with tape all around because the zipper had broken somewhere in the process. Got the zipper back on track and it held up over the course of the 8-9 day trip.
Ms Burke/Mrs. Schooler pushed the small suitcase thing because it’s embarrassingly American to tote a bunch of junk overseas. The cars are smaller. Many buildings do not have elevators, they are not required to. If you have more than one bag, or a really heavy bag it’s harder to maneuver and protect yourself from all of the things. I remember we ended up meeting some folks that were participating in the tour from a different state and their luggage was so large that it didn’t fit on their allocated side of the tour bus. Our stuff only amounted to a quarter of the other side so they were lucky to have extra room. We was looking at them like (blink, blink)...
MONEY BELT
She also pushed the money belt which I continue to carry to this day, because you never have to wonder if you have or where you placed your passport, cards, and cash. I will not lie to you sometimes I sleep with my money belt on, just incase I have to transformers roll out. It provides a wonderful hands free option as you travel. When you need cash you excuse yourself to the restroom to remove whatever small amount you need for the next transaction. Or you wear an undershirt and place smaller bills in the smaller front pocket. It was corny until the fanny pack trend reemerged, get you one.
FOOD CHOICES
The other thing that Burke taught me was to try before you turn your nose up at anything. So as a group we all walk into a dining hall where next to each place setting is a small bowl of a thick white substance, a hot dog bun (no hot dog), a boiled egg, and honey. My loud at the time ass was like what is this? She said, “sit down, turn the bowl upside down, turn it right side up, add the honey.” She wanted me to see that it was so thick it wouldn’t move. That was my first time having what yogurt should be, Greek yogurt. Oh my word, heaven couldn’t have come sooner.
So now when I am in another country. The only thing I ask is, “is it pork?” If it's a no its a go. I am primarily vegetarian at home, I also try and eliminate dairy. I make exceptions when I travel because food doesn’t have the same adverse affects abroad. I also realize that I must be culturally sensitive. Some people do not know how to welcome you if you do not eat their kind of food. Here they are presenting you with something it may have taken them longer to get than a trip to a supermarket and you ain’t eating? Oh yea, its going to be a no for them dog. So try different things out of respect. I travel because the food industry in the U.S. is jacked and I love tasting what food should be in other countries.
SIGHTSEEING
I found that I had to hang with the boys or people that I didn’t necessarily hang with at school. Many of the girls I knew and was kinda close to all they wanted to do was “shop” because Europe is, “months ahead in fashion” Gurl, ok, if you say so. I remember being like, see you later. I didn’t come here to shop I came to see the world. I climbed up to the spot where the oracle of delphi was given, ran and if you know me I am not an athlete but I ran the straight away track at the original olympic stadium. Busted my knee and scuffed my coke white vans (back when people used to call them white people skater shoes, before they became cool cool) at the parthenon on the raw marble. All of it was epic.
MANNERS
I happened to be leaving the hotel with a schoolmate that was talking loud shit before she left the hotel with me, not to me, about our tour guide. I think the tour guide was trying to correct her for something. Ms. Burke/Mrs. Schooler overheard and as soon as our feet hit the cobblestone road, she went in. She was telling the girl that she was ungrateful, disrespectful, and that she wouldn’t have it. I didn’t even try to say, I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want no smoke. I saw her later in the town and I think she could tell I was sad. She let me know she knew it wasn’t me. It’s one thing for someone to be mad but when they are disappointed that’s another chapter. That taught me to be appreciative, you can have grievances with people but don’t lose self respect disrespecting others. If you don’t like it, do not return. And also when you can choose who you travel with, be sure to travel with people who give respect no matter the situation.
What I don’t do is being rude to service workers, hoteliers, and anyone while traveling. Even folks at the airport who got attitudes, I turn extra friendly. If I have to separate myself before I return the counter with another question I will do so. Rest and reset. I have a temper when it comes to shit that don’t make any sense. But a wise person once told me, you get more bees with honey than you do shit. So whatever is bitter sweeten it sweets.
TRAVEL & TRANSCENDENCE
I had one of the usual spiritual breakdown/deliverance moments. It may have been the first. I was in this little town where the water was so blue green, there was a fort in the middle, we were staying in what I believe was Naphtali. That place and so many others were majestic. I called my mother on the phone. When she answered I went into hysterics. She didn’t know what to do with my ass. She was like what is going on, what is the problem?! All I could say between the snot, tears and hyperventilation was that no I was ok and it was just so beautiful. I think I began to think of all the people I knew that would never see this kind of place with their own eyes. Never be able to feel this kind of peaceful energy emanate from where I was from. I was liberated and I wanted everyone I knew to experience it with me. I knew it wouldn’t be my last trip in that moment and I also knew that many would never take one.
Gurl, Ms .Burke/Mrs. Schooler heard me from upstairs, came out, gave me a hug, and hung up the phone. Girl somebody had to catch me because my knees was weak. So much power in that trip. I feel the same now but I can control my emotions more in public. But the spirit of travel still decends on me, and I just smile or shed a tear. I don’t do that loud cry like Best Cry Ever on YouTube anymore, I promise.
Whenever I travel I feel as though I have transcended my social location in America. I travel to understand who I am and who I can be beyond this at times externally stigmatized body. I travel to understand other ideas, and ways of life.
PICK ME!
I love travel. @brokeassgirltravel pick me. Although I went to Greece we did not visit Santorini, its still on my bucket list. I ain’t got no, “real” job right now, but that don’t mean I ain’t got nothing to do. I facilitate workshops for women with incarcerated loved ones through Essie Justice Group, I plan programs for the Black Female Project, and I am currently researching with a renowned author and environmentalist. I enjoy creating spaces where people can thrive. Right now is the time for me to step out and step up to my life. My dream is to travel the world documenting the things women do to create transformational healing practices with an emphasis on “us women”, travel, writing, earth/environment, herbalism and visual art.
As far as what you are looking for, I am a people person. I will say that I am an introvert that knows how to turn on extroverted tendencies. I do need to recharge at the end of the day. Being around people does make me feel drained at times so I’ve learned how to love a good visit to the restroom for refuge.
I am a problem solver, on a recent road trip, I locked the keys in the car. My friend was pissed. All I could offer her was that I was calling AAA. I couldn’t cuss her out and talk crazy because I was too far from home lol. In all honesty I am not one for that, I would rather find a solution than to talk down on a situation. Remain calm and call someone to fix it, boo.
Often during complex times people watch my energy and comment, “you were so calm”. I want out so I have to keep a level head. We gotta try and fix it, adding energy to stir the pot, I am not with that. I suppose it’s the blunt, stoic characters in the movies that are really iconic to me. I try to mirror those sentiments.
I do listen, actively I’ve learned how to do that in facilitators training.
I do love a good read no shade, novels, maps, signs, etc. I actually learned how to read using street signs. I am the first person to identify a landmark near where we stay, and to reinforce that to traveling companions or send the info home to the folks that look out for me from home base.
I have traveling experience, I’ve traveled as a minor since the age of seven on local transportation, and traveled both nationally and internationally, solo and with friends as an adult. I have a passport that expires in 8 years. I blog, and I am a photographer putting that into the universe. Acura contacted me a few weeks back to use one of my photos in an ad campaign.
Did I also mention I have coordinated logistics for a number of organizations for over 10 years? I recently broke away from that industry (vote no on spreadsheets) but I still deploy many of the skills in my current social justice work.
COUNTRIES I’VE VISITED
I am going to list the countries and cities I’ve visited, layovers included they count to me.
The list: Greece, Abu Dhabi South Africa, Australia, Fiji, Morocco, and Germany. I live in the U.S. and I’ve visited the following cities: Austin, Tahoe, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, New York, Charlotte, D.C., Baltimore, and Chicago. There are probably a few that slip my mind but for now, thats the gist. I’ve traveled to network, for work, for personal enrichment, to cross things off of my bucket list, and to help others. I love travel, without it I feel lackluster. Without it fuck it take it all. Can I also add that when I hear other folks are traveling without me I love to give advice, and buy them little trinkets that will make the journey easier. Real aunty like.
I think I’ll create a travel favorites post, soon.
Love ya’ll, discovering how to love me. Please go nominate me to be hired by @brokeassgirltravel. The contest ends next Saturday.