Taking Off: The Pre-Travel Jitters

There are a lot of reasons why traveling might make you nervous. Maybe you're leaving your home country for the first time. Maybe you're about to embark on your first solo trip ever. Maybe you're traveling to a country that speaks a different language than you. Whatever the reasons may be, you are about to travel, and with the excitement that comes with traveling, you might be feeling a bit of anxiety as well.


At least for me, this is what I've experienced in the past before going on a big trip. In fact, I'm feeling it right now as I'm waiting at the gate to my first flight to Europe. I always experience a lot of anxiety prior to a trip, and I call it the pre-travel jitters. No matter how often I travel, I always find myself dealing with them, and after talking to other friends that travel as well, I've found that I'm not alone. Even the most seasoned of travelers experience a bit of anxiety before a new trip. It's a totally natural response to the unknown. If you are about to travel, and you've been feeling some sort of anxiety about your trip, worry no more! Here's some tips for turning your fear and anxiety into excitement.



1) Don't over think this decision. 

You know you want to travel. You know you want to get out there. So, don't think too much about it. Book that flight you've been looking at. If you've already booked your flight, then just roll with what's to come. Try not to have too many expectations; having expectations brings way too many thoughts and feelings. If you've booked your trip, theres really no turning back, and the only thing that is going to stop you is, well, yourself. Keep your mind open and keep your thoughts clear about the journey ahead.



2). Be Prepared: Money, Medication, and Mindset. 

There is where things can get confusing. You don't want to over think your trip, but you still want to make sure that you're fully prepared for when things go wrong (and nobody ever has a perfect trip, something always goes wrong). Every trip, or at least the ones I've experienced, has a low point where something does not go according to plan. Maybe you get really sick, or maybe someone has gotten a hold of your bag when you were caught off guard and stole your belongings. Whatever the case may be, you want to make sure that you're in the best position for when shit hits the fan.

Money:

Try to save up enough money so that you're comfortable throughout the trip. You don't want money to be a constant worry. Something like that can get in the way of you enjoying yourself. If you go out to a bar or a club, try not to bring all of your bank cards just in case something gets stolen or misplaced. Always have a bit of cash with you, some places don't always accept foreign bank cards.

Medication:

If you are traveling to, say for example, a country in southeast Asia like Thailand or Vietnam, make sure you visit a travel doctor to get the necessary shots or medications before leaving. Trust me, you don't want to get Typhoid while you're traveling. Or at least just make sure you're up to date on any shots or vaccinations you need. It's good to not have to worry about that stuff. If encountered some travelers who had gotten really sick during their stay, and it's never a good story.

Mindset:

Keep your guard up, use your common sense, and don't leave your things lying around. Don't put yourself in a position to be vulnerable. As long as you are aware of your surroundings and belongings, you will be just fine.




3) Pack Lightly


Even if you are traveling for a couple of months, don't go overboard with the packing. Really, just a couple of shirts and pants are fine. Ideally, its great to just bring a backpack with you, and you definitely want to stuff it with extra pairs of socks and undergarments. The rest of the clothes you think you'll need, you probably don't. And the less shit you bring with you, the less shit you have to worry about. Its very simple. If you run out of clothes, you can always buy more while you're traveling.



4) Enjoy yourself

I know all of the thinking and preparation seems overwhelming, but once you get to your destination, you realize that you really didn't have much to worry about after all. Arranging your trip seems stressful and everything leading up to your departure kind of seems like a crazy whirlwind of frantic nerves and anxiety, but actually arriving and beginning your journey is one of the most rewarding things life has to offer. So go with the flow and have fun. That's the whole point, isn't it?

Free falling: My first experience skydiving

For some reason, I've always wanted to jump out of a plane. I've had friends that have done it. I've looked through all of their pictures and videos and always thought to myself: "one day, when the time is right, I'm going to do it. I'm going to jump out of a plane. Just...not right now."

And so naturally, I've backed out of the opportunity twice. To be fair though, I was supposed to go with a group of friends both times, and they all backed out at the last minute. Skydiving is not the type of thing you want to do alone. You want to be able to look at your best friend sitting there next to you, hold their hand, stare at them straight in the eye and know collectively that if something happens to go wrong, at least you both are shit out of luck together.

So I guess it's not really waiting for the right time that's important, it's having the right person to do it with. And of course, I have a crazy, wild, spontaneous, free-spirited friend named Yarden that pushed me to make this jump, pun intended.

It started with an impromptu road trip to Canada. We talked about the possibility of skydiving, which I figured just wouldn't happen. In fact, I didn't really want it to happen. It's like one of those things where the more you think about it, the more uneasy it makes you feel, and then the less you want to do it. So we just agreed that we'd try to find a place on the ride back from Toronto, and I kept the possibility in the back of my mind.

Flash forward to our ride home, and we end up stopping at a skydiving center near Niagra Falls. We're talking to the lady at the reception desk, and she lets us know that yes, even though its 2:00 in the afternoon and they have a lot of people scheduled to jump for the day and it's their last day of the season, they can still fit us in for the next hour.

Fuck.

Some family members of people that jumped earlier in the day walk in as we're handing our cards to the receptionist to pay.

"Are you guys going to jump?" asks one of the ladies.

"Apparently," I say as I get my receipt back. "We've paid already, so I guess we made our choice."

We sit down and watch a short safety video for 10 minutes, but my anxiety is on the rise and focusing on anything is nearly impossible. I feel like this is going to be some kind of a joke and it's not really going to happen. Yarden has jumped twice before, and she tells me how amazing it is, but still, the thought of me jumping out of a plane within the next hour just seems surreal to me.

We're led into this sort of warehouse looking place and get suited up. They give us tips on what we need to do when we're in the air. The instructors tell us that they will tap us on the shoulder during the free fall and we need to spread our arms and legs out like an eagle. They get their go pros ready and start filming us and whatnot.

And it's getting way too real.

We walk outside to the little prop plane. Yarden and I hug before crawling into the little plane, and I think to myself how much I love and hate this crazy chicka at the same time for getting me to do this.

The plane ride itself was surprisingly calm. I think being able to see the beauty of the Niagra falls from the plane window sort of put me in a good mindset. I felt at peace. I'm already in the plane. Whatever happens is going to happen, and I have no choice but to roll with it. I look over at Yarden, and despite the fact that she's done this twice before, she has her eyes closed and her hands together like she's praying. She looks way less calm. I guess this isn't something you get used to?

Anyways, they open the plane door, and she's first to jump. I still feel at peace with the world. My anxiety is at ease, my mind is clear, and then I watch as she and her instructor crawl to the open door. Suddenly everything changes because one second ago she was right next to me and now she's just been sucked out of the plane in a matter of mili seconds. I didn't even see her fall, she literally just disappeared right before my eyes like she was transported into another dimension.

So yeah, if you ever have the choice to jump first, definitely do that.

So now I am no longer at peace, I'm a fucking jittery mess. My palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. There's not vomit yet, but that can change because soon I'll be sucked into another dimension as well. We're already climbing towards the open door, and I feel like this is a really bad dream. This can't be real. Who the fuck would choose to do this?!

I put my foot on the wing of the plane just like my instructor tells me to. He yells in my ear, "You ready?" to which I reply, "NO" but of course by that time he had let go of the plane and we had begun to fall.

And it was so incredible.

I forgot that the instructor was supposed to tap you on the shoulder and then you need to do that spread eagle pose, so instead I just went into the eagle pose which caused us to flip upside down. The first thing I saw was the sky and then I saw the world as I was floating down.

That's what the free fall feels like. It's like you're floating. I know you're moving really fast, but it doesn't feel like it at the time. There's something truly profound about being able to be in the sky with your arms and legs stretched out, and you're looking at the beautiful world around you from a different perspective, and all you can do is laugh and smile because you feel so free. I know it sounds corny, but it's true. It's not like a roller coaster or anything like that where you have something there to hold on to or keep you secure. But at the same time it's not scary or intimidating. It just feels right.

After about 45 seconds the instructor pulls the parachute and we get pulled upwards. My ears begin to hurt and I really can't hear anything, but it doesn't matter because I'm so happy. There's tears in my eyes, and I look at the camera and wave. The instructor gives me the handles of the parachute and lets me steer left and right.

The landing was actually the scariest part, just because even with the parachute, you hit the ground kind of fast. You're supposed to put your legs up so they don't hit the ground, but naturally I never do what I'm supposed to do, so my ankle kind of took some of the impact, which wasn't very pleasant. But there were no injuries, and we both walked out of the skydive center unscathed and full of adrenaline and pure happiness.

So, my consensus is that everyone should try skydiving, at least once. It was probably one of the most uncomfortable and crazy experiences of my life, and yet if I have the chance to do it again, I surely will. I think it's important for people to do it: to get out of their comfort zone, to see the world from a different perspective, and most importantly, to prove to yourself that you can be the bravest person you know.

But definitely go with a friend. Its an experience that deserves to be shared.

Out of the Comfort Zone: Language Barriers

I am a huge advocator for doing things that bring you out of your comfort zone. Whether it's starting a new job, learning a new skill, or just doing something that you normally wouldn't, chances are, if it makes you uncomfortable, it's probably good for you.

Throughout my travels I have been in many situations that have forced me out of my comfort zone, but the one thing that probably stands out the most is traveling to a country where I experienced a language barrier.

It's probably one of the most uncomfortable things ever. Imagine going to a country where you can't understand anyone and they can't understand you. It sounds challenging, and it definitely is at first, but I can't express how important it is to travel to at least one place that speaks a language that you don't speak as well. Here's why:

1). You adapt surprisingly fast

I'm not going to lie, at first it is a bit awkward. But once you're thrown in the fire and you have to interact with people, order food, and read street signs in this new unknown language, you become flooded with new information. And surprisingly, it sticks.

When I was in Peru, I found myself in many situations where the local people tried to make small talk with me. In the beginning, I knew absolutely no Spanish, so I was constantly lost in conversation, and "No entiendo," became the go-to phrase for me. However, after a couple of weeks, I began understanding some of the questions people were asking me. At a restaurant, one of the waiters began talking to me and we ended up talking for more than an hour and playing Jenga. When I couldn't figure out a word in Spanish I would say it in English, and if he understood he would give me the translation. It was honestly a great way to improve my Spanish, and I learned so much in that one conversation. The more you interact with people, the faster you learn.

I'm definitely far from fluent in Spanish, but after a month in Peru I felt confident that I could get around and knew the essentials of the language. If I spent one more month there, I think I could be fluent. It is true that the best way to learn a new language is to go to the country itself.


2). You appreciate everything more.

Once you begin to pick up this new language while visiting a new country, you learn to have a whole new appreciation for the country, the language, and the culture. I often found that because it was difficult to do simple everyday things like order food and talk to a taxi driver, it just felt so rewarding when I could successfully do these things.

And most of the time people will go out of their way to help you if you are seriously struggling. Usually, people are very tolerant and understanding, and it's always nice to find genuine people that are willing to help you.



3). You learn to trust your instincts

When you can't understand what people are saying, it is true that you need to rely a bit on your common sense to get you through certain situations. For example, when I was in Vietnam, I experienced a lot of problems with the language barrier. And because Vietnamese isn't the easiest language to learn, I struggled in a lot of situations, mostly with the taxi drivers.

A lot of taxis in Vietnam are known for scamming tourists, simply because they don't know the language. They increase their taxi meters at a very fast rate, so after a 5 minute drive one of the taxi drivers was asking me to pay nearly $100 for the fare. If I knew Vietnamese, this definitely wouldn't have happened, but because I knew something wasn't quite right, I saw it coming and knew to be more careful for the next time.

Sometimes not knowing the language can make situations very difficult, and the locals will oftentimes try and take advantage of that. So, you always need to have your guard up and watch out for scammers and people who will try and fuck you over because it will happen. But just because you can't understand what people are saying doesn't mean that you can't understand what is happening. You need to rely on your self sometimes, which is a great trait to have, especially traveling solo.


4). It sets you apart from others.

Not many people are usually willing to go to a country where they know there will be some sort of language barrier. The thought is very unsettling for most people, so if you do choose to go to a country that speaks another language, it really sets you apart from other people. It is a brave thing to do, and I think people, especially potential employers, will look at that as something that makes you different from everyone else. It's definitely a conversation starter and a great thing to bring up in job interviews.


Breaking out of your comfort zone is never easy, but it is always rewarding. Actually, that is the best word for me to describe traveling to a country with a language barrier: rewarding. You learn all of these new personal and social skills, and on top of that, learning a new language is always a plus. So don't let the  uncomfortable thought of a language barrier discourage you from traveling, it's all the more reason why you should do it.

Challenge: Quitting Drinking For A Month

It started out as a bet with a friend.

Both of us had gotten into the habit of drinking a few beers after working throughout the week. It was nothing crazy, we'd just have a couple of drinks after our shift and go home, no big deal. Except this was happening maybe about 5 nights out of the week, and if you put the weekends into consideration, we weren't just having a few beers.

He approached me at work. "Let's not drink for a month," He said. "There will be consequences for the first person to cave. There needs to be something at stake, but I can't think of anything yet. Are you in?"

I looked at him, genuinely surprised at his offer. He was often the one encouraging me to have another drink when we were sitting at the bar, so this declaration was truly shocking. And yet, it seemed quite simple. Not drinking for a month? I can do that, easy. He's the one that's going to struggle. I'll be fine.

"Sure, why not," I said smiling. We shook on it. We agreed that the first person to cave had to buy the drinks for the first night on our upcoming trip to Peru, and more importantly, the loser also had to wear a Donald Trump pin for the duration of our trip.

This seemed like a halfhearted silly bet at first, but as the time went on, it proved to be seriously challenging. Of course, there were a lot of positives to this bet.

The first positive is, of course, saving money.

The amount of money I wasted on drinking in the past is astounding. I mean, on a good week, I probably spent around $150-200 a week on drinking or eating out at bars. So when we both decided to quit drinking for the month, I was able to save so much faster than usual. Having that extra cash that was usually used for alcohol gave me the ability to pay my bills on time, and then I had extra money that went straight to my savings. And since I'm traveling soon, this bet proved to be a blessing of sorts.

Secondly, my mental and physical health improved.

After about the third week of not drinking, I had noticed a change in my weight. I had lost about 5 pounds, and on top of that, I felt great. I had all of this random energy that I used to rely on coffee to create for me. I kind of had this pep in my step and walked around with a smile. Gone were the hungover days at work where I dragged myself around, and I looked well-rested and felt positive for a change.

Besides health and money though, there was something more to this bet: the fact that it was actually a challenge. 

For me, the not drinking thing was especially hard because I suffer from social anxiety. Most of the time, I don't feel comfortable around groups of people, and drinking usually helps cope with that. I'm not an alcoholic or anything, but you know, after a few drinks it just gets a lot easier talking to people. But going without drinking was an eye opening challenge because it forced me to socialize and interact with people without having to rely on alcohol. I went out and did things that I would normally do while drinking, like seeing my friend's band play in New York City, but I stayed sober, despite the drunken crowds of people surrounding me. It really was a weird kind of social experiment. 

And trust me, the temptation was real. 

But fighting that temptation is what makes me proud that I saw this challenge through to the very end. Towards the last couple of weeks, it got quite difficult. My co-workers asked me on numerous occasions if I wanted to have a drink after work, because well, that's pretty much the thing to do when you work at a restaurant. And after dealing with all of the bullshit that ridiculous restaurant-goers put you through, plus some bullshit thrown at you by the people you work with, a drink just seems like the perfect relief after a hard night of fending off other people's nasty attitudes and negative energy. 

So, when someone asks, "Hey, are you coming out tonight?" the long pause between sullenly answering "no" to a question I so desperately wanted to embrace kept extending until I nearly caved and said, "Fuck it. Sure. Drinks are on me". Actually, there were a couple times that my friend and I almost caved together; making up excuses as to why we should just ditch this silly bet and have a damn beer. We would look at each other with a sort of desperation. Should we really do this?

And the answer was no.

Despite the anger and frustration that work put me through, despite the temptation of friends and family casually drinking, despite feeling uncomfortable in social situations, I chose not to drink. 

Even though a month isn't that long of a period of time, this small change in my life did have a major impact on my mind, body, and general state of well-being. It's always good to give yourself a challenge to focus on, whether it's quitting something that's bad for you, or exercising more, or reading a book once a month. A small change can make a big difference. And don't get me wrong, drinking is a lot of fun and I believe it is a universal language of some sorts that unites people. But I felt as if I was relying on it too much, and taking this month long abstinence from drinking proved to be rewarding in a number of ways. 

So live up to the challenge. You've got nothing to lose, and a whole lot to gain. 

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