The purpose of this article is about how to prepare yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spirituality to go on your first solo trip. During your solo trip, you will be subjected to all aspects of financial, safety, and other risks. The more risks you will take, the better you will adopt later when you soon land your job with stable career opportunities (Zeilinger, 2013). On the other side, your parents are concerned about the safety and where are you going. Parents are still taking care of you and us, and if you have any concerns about anything, they will help and care for us. Similarly, if you well-planned your trip to a safer travel place for the first time, your parents will likely to let you go, and they cannot guarantee you to go on a solo trip alone. It depends on circumstances based on 3 questions:
- Who is going with?
- When are you going?
- Where are you going?
Example: Some parents are reluctance you to go on a solo trip to China because of the language barrier. In contrast, they cannot restrict you to travel places safely such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, NYC, and Philadelphia.
Your parents will help you with your trip planning, just like you plan your college career. They are accommodating in teaching and guiding your lessons so you can become a lifelong learner. For instance, my parents asked me how to get around, and I don’t know how to get around in Honolulu, so I research the website via google “public transportation in Honolulu.” On the website, I know public transportation that runs in Honolulu, TheBus, which is comprehensive public transportation to get almost anywhere except certain places like the volcanic islands or places that are inaccessible to TheBus. I will have to drive to get there. Nevertheless, my parents finally realized that I successfully planned my trip includes, “How to get around Honolulu.” Now, I learned how to get there by public transportation, and all I have to do is research.
Rule 1: The more research, the actual trip will be a better trip itinerary, and you will have a low-stress level when you are away. It is essential to do your research just like when you do your homework.
Solo Travel Requirements:
- Be at least 21 years of age*
- Be responsible for your independence/actions (See below)
*We believe some travelers aged 18-20 might be a little concern because travelers have often inexperienced when traveling abroad solo, so we generally advised to go with a group or someone. We also believe that young travelers have less experienced and less prepared to travel overseas efficiently and effectively.
We have zero tolerance for any kinds of discrimination based on gender, social class, ethnicity, age, disabilities, and other segregation. We have equal opportunities.
Scenario:
On September 10, 2017, at Lancaster County, PA, Daniel T. Law told me the story of a Japanese girl visited Tel Aviv, Israel solo, went to a souvenir shop. He discussed the mistakes she had made such as “…she did not wear her ring and told them she is traveling alone.”
Daniel T. Law once visited Israel with his wife, visited the souvenir shop, where travelers can purchase the items to share and to bring home to share memories when it happened.
The shopkeeper did not know if a Japanese girl was traveling on her own by saying “where is your family or your boyfriend?”
She then responded undoubtedly, “I am traveling alone.” Big mistake!!! Why?
Sounded like it is not a great idea to responded to locals, right? They can nag you, gets you unwanted attention, or worse, start cursing and teasing at you. In an extreme case, they can bully you. Instead, the response should be, “I am waiting for my husband” or “My friends are traveling together.”
How to protect yourself from this happened again in the future:
- Lie to keep you safe from sorry and to defend yourself.
- Married, single, widowed, or not, male or female, always wear a fake wedding ring and to carry a “fictitious husband photo.” whether on your phone or on your photo.
Rule 2: Always, wear your [real or fake, whatever] wedding rings with you.
Rule 3: Lie. Never say things to someone (e.g., store owners, strangers) that “I travel alone.” Say something like “I am waiting for my friends to pick me up” or similar to dissuading yourself into bad situations.
I finally reward myself to travel the world if I moved back to Philadelphia to start schooling.
When I moved back to Philadelphia to start formal schooling, my parents convinced me that “traveling to Hawaii solo is fun, but the only concern was the safety.” During the time, I spend some time to talk to my parents about things I want to see and learn, “The Hawaiian Culture.” Then they told me I should wait until next summer to travel because they want our kids to go to college to embrace better future and to secure butter jobs. Likewise, on September 2013, I started to research places I want to see and want to do there. On the: website: https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/oahu/regions/honolulu, I brainstorm places that are accessible to public transportation (I looked at the local city bus website). The name of the public transportation in Honolulu is TheBus. TheBus is comprehensive public transportation in the Hawaiian State, which is part of the United States of America. It is the 50th state in America, which officially incorporated on Aug 21, 1959.
Between October and November 2013, I talked to my parents about my first solo trip. My father was concerned but not overprotective like the helicopter parents. My mom finally joined a discussion about the decisions about the planning my Hawaiian trip. They are remarkably assurance about the situation, claiming that “going out on a solo trip is not safe.” I know most parents are concerned about the safety. This is normal events. Surprisingly, if I change my attitude and take my responsibilities on my own like paying phone bills, paying taxes, and so on (e.g., financial aid), my parents changed their point of view. Still, they do not guarantee me to go on a solo trip, and I waited until times come up. 1 month later, their point of view changed that I finally convince my parents to go on my first solo trip. I emotionally calm myself down before making any decisions. Without accepting their point of view, my parents sometimes won’t let me travel solo because they thought of myself as “immature,” and behaviors need to change.
Rule 4: Be mature and thanks to your parents for the negotiation. The more mature you are, the better your parents will let you go on your solo trip but only to safer places. Research required and obtain evidence to reach conclusion.
It is beneficial to thoroughly research places carefully so your parents can help you with travel expenses no matter if you are going out with your friends, solo, or romantic. They do not force you to stop planning my trip because it wastes your time and energy because if you budget your time and commitment, things will go well.
Rule 5: Be patient. It does not happen overnight. It takes time. Practice until you master the safety and cultural concepts. You will learn better from now on.
In or around Thanksgiving week, I just complete the planning of my actual journey that I want to see. Still, my parents were still concerned about the preparation of the event, so I planned out a 6-day trip including hotel. After I caught up with both my CCP’s tuition bill and the financial aid, I showed my trip itinerary to my parents, and after dinner, I spend about 25 minutes with my family about my actual trip, and they asked me some questions. My father asked doubtfully.
Dad: Why do you want to travel to Hawaii? You knew you have school in January.
Me: I knew my school starts in 2 months. I have not been on a trip to Hawaii. Although I am an independent me and can do any of the tasks on my own, I am showing my responsibilities that I could prove of.
Mom: Okay, so I am a bit concerned about your safety. You just planned your trip to Honolulu successfully, is that correct?
Me: Yes! Everything is planned out. Not only my future trip but my school comes first. I am also taking care of my financial aid and student loans, and I talked to my Church friends that students loans are good debts to build good credits. I successfully applied for a student loan so I can take out the money I needed for books and supplies.
Dad: I see. I had not done this before because I had not applied for student loans back then when I was in my first year of college. I have a difficult time with financial hardship to pay my tuition because I was living in public housing, so student loans did not apply.
Me: Oh no! That is not fair. Student loans are now available to everyone including students who live in public housing facilities. So I took care of everything since I will be twenty-three soon. I also ask a question at the Bursar Office at CCP to follow up on Tuition and agree to pay for any remaining tuition, which includes grants and loans, so I only applied to Unsubsidized loans because these loans have low interests. Technically, if my loans remain outstanding, I won’t be paid unless I am working. My church friends told me I don’t have to repay if I don’t have a job and if I am working. I definitively have to pay back loans monthly with a small percentage of interest.
Dad: Wow, sounds like you learned about loans and interests. Did you talk to your church friends about which student loans have the lowest interests?
Me: They told me student loans is good debt because the student doesn’t pay anything unless I am working to repay its debts. Iris and Meimei told me the lowest interest student loans is Unsubsidized loans, and I research the website. It is only like 4%.
Dad: Wow, sounded like you learned a new lesson. Great Job! Now, you are a very independent girl who is taking care of everything. We are very proud of you.
Me: Thank you so much.
Just then the conversation is over, I felt pleased and confidence when I talked to my parents to show my responsibilities. It shows that being a responsible person will help in relieve your parents’ travel barriers and reward themselves. By rewarding themselves, the person can learn new skills, which is critical in their lives.
Rule 6: Be open to your g-d’s view if you are religious and talk to your parents about the successful plans you achieve. Never give up.
Rule 7: Always, talk to your parents about the trip plan. They will be likely to help and guide you with a right kind of trip itinerary.
We prayed for my 5-day Hawaiian trip after I bought my airline tickets.
Lesson Learned: If you show your responsibility and stick to your schedules and time management, your parents will likely to let you travel on your own.
Warning: Solo Trips is NOT for everyone so do not assume to ask anyone who doesn’t like to travel alone. Do not compare to other people. Be yourself and enjoy your interests and hobbies.
References
Zeilinger, J. (2013, August 13). 7 Reasons Why Risk-Taking Leads To Success. Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/13/seven-reasons-why-risk-taking-leads-to-success_n_3749425.html
I-Powers Travel - Tips, Tricks, and Stories 