explore south america: solo travel

“Never did the world make a queen of a girl who hides in houses and dreams without traveling.”― Roman Payne

In one week from today, I am taking a leap of faith and will be flying to Ecuador on a one way ticket for months of solo travel. Though not specifically South America, but I’ve been thinking about long term traveling probably since I graduated college. I graduated from college over 6 years ago, and it took me until now to actually take the jump.

I have spent all those years with the thought in the back of my head, but it wasn’t until I was in Thailand this past March and met a guy traveling around Southeast Asia. He asked what I did for a living and as I had already heard about his travels, I said “I’m a civil engineer, however I kept thinking about traveling around South America for a few months.” Um, what! I had never said that out loud before… and to be honest, I didn’t even fully realize how much I had been thinking about it, or that I wanted to travel to South America.

I think I had been scared for all these years for various reasons, and there is always a sensible reason to stay where you are― the significant other, friends, job, money. The list goes on and on, and there are a million and a half ways to convince yourself that it is not the right time― in a couple years when I’m more settled in my career, next year when I’ve saved up more money, in a few months when I’ve found someone to go with. The reasons are bountiful, however if you keep making excuses, before you know it, you will have run out of time. No matter when you decide to long term solo travel, it is never going to not be scary!

There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.” ― Hugh Laurie

It’s hard to leave DC, and these next months in South America means leaving security and my comfort zone behind. But in return, I am setting out on a great adventure!