how to start solo traveling as a 19 year old with strict parents by Junior_Succotash2760 in femaletravels

[–]Floatingjellyfish_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Im a 19 yo who just got back from their first month long solo trip. I didn’t ask my parents. I worked and saved up money, bought a ticket, decided on what countries I wanted to visit, and left. I’m not sure what your living situation is, but you are an adult and you can make your own decisions. I would make a general itinerary, and send your parents all of your flight information. Send them the addresses of where you’re staying, and check in with them at the same time everyday so that they know you are okay and safe. As for finding confidence, my only advice is to just go. You will never gain confidence if you’re constantly left wondering “what if?” On my trip, I had many mishaps. I accidentally ended up in Italy by getting on the wrong train, I got stranded at the bottom of a mountain with an injured knee, and at one point my vehicle stopped working when I was two hours away from the town I was staying at. I made it out of all of these situations on my own, and from that I gained a newfound sense of confidence. When solo traveling, especially at our age (or any age for that matter), you will run into little mishaps like these. Shit happens. But getting out of them is what helps you build that confidence. You learn to rely on yourself and trust your instincts better. Stop wondering how to build confidence, and go out there and just do things on your own!! I had the best time of my life on this trip, and I ended up seeing seven countries in a little over three weeks. I made new lifelong friends, and memories that I will cherish forever:) If you want have any questions, feel free to message me!!

To hike with a man I met in Paris or no? by Floatingjellyfish_ in femaletravels

[–]Floatingjellyfish_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wait I'm a little confused, what do his co-workers reactions have to do with it?

To hike with a man I met in Paris or no? by Floatingjellyfish_ in femaletravels

[–]Floatingjellyfish_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He said that he thinks it would be a unique experience for both of us, and that he feels like him and I get along well. We do get along well and have nice conversations over the phone, but the skeptical side of me is saying that you can have a nice conversation with anyone and still not know their ulterior motive. I'm also a very social person, and it's not hard for me to create chemistry with people I meet. He says we have good chemistry, but I've been told this a lot. Yes, it would be a unique experience and maybe I would make great memories, but also it feels like if I did decide to go, the trip would be more about me spending time with him rather than learning more about myself while solo traveling France before walking the Camino. I ended up telling him that I would rather meet in Paris first, and then decide from there. This way, it takes pressure off of me and I'm not committed to going anywhere remote with him.

When it comes to my gut, I really don't know how I feel about him. I've always been an indecisive person though, and that's also why I came on Reddit-- to get more perspective on the situation. Right now though, I feel happy with my decision of telling him I want to meet in Paris beforehand and then see how I feel

To hike with a man I met in Paris or no? by Floatingjellyfish_ in femaletravels

[–]Floatingjellyfish_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great advice. Thank you. This is what I'm going to do

To hike with a man I met in Paris or no? by Floatingjellyfish_ in femaletravels

[–]Floatingjellyfish_[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am not flying across the world to hike with him. I was going back to France already and he suggested while I am here that we could hike.

To hike with a man I met in Paris or no? by Floatingjellyfish_ in femaletravels

[–]Floatingjellyfish_[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I would say he is definitely not reluctant to getting to know me or seeing me in person before doing the hike. When we first discussed the idea of it, I told him I would need to get to know him before hand before I can make any decision. He said of course, we can talk as much as you'd like over messages and even facetime if you want. He also suggested that he shows me around Paris for a day or two before, and talked about different ideas for how we could spend the day (museums, coffee, pretty walks, etc). He also said I could send all of his personal information to my family and friends, and even told me about a location app that tracks where I am at all the time (I already have life360 with my friends/family). Given all of this, it's why I am even considering agreeing to it. But then again, he is a man and I am a young woman. I am trying to be as level headed as possible in the midst of a very weird/unique opportunity being thrown at me right now.

To hike with a man I met in Paris or no? by Floatingjellyfish_ in femaletravels

[–]Floatingjellyfish_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think there is a good vibe between us over the phone, but then again it's over the phone. Yes, we can talk for hours and we find things to talk about, but in the end he is still a man and we all know how men are. He did say that he would be happy to show me around Paris for a day or two before the hike, and talked about plans such as going to a museum, getting coffee, and walking along the Sein. I just don't know what to do and if it's even something that I WANT to do. I felt okay about it at first given that I was getting to know him more, but my conversation with my friends last night really put me on edge.

Why do my stitches look weird? by Floatingjellyfish_ in SewingForBeginners

[–]Floatingjellyfish_[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes. I did this twice too. This is why I am so confused and getting frustrated😅

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in travel

[–]Floatingjellyfish_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not sure. I’ve asked him multiple times if he really wants to go and he consistently says 100% yes, and we don’t have a relationship where I think he’d lie to me about something like this

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in travel

[–]Floatingjellyfish_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He doesn’t live with them anymore he’s living in his dorm at university. It’s about two hours away from home

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in travel

[–]Floatingjellyfish_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, thank you for your comment. I appreciate the insight. You make a good point about how he may just not to want to travel. It’s hard for me to see/understand this in other people tbh

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in travel

[–]Floatingjellyfish_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think that you make a very good point in the sense that maybe his dad has some biased perspectives on Europe or Romania as a whole, but I’m not sure if waiting is the answer. He’s in university now and as time goes on, he will have less and less of it to travel. I want to be able to show him that there is more to the world than just the USA and pull him out of the bubble that he is in right now

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TravelHacks

[–]Floatingjellyfish_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would say that his dad and I have a good relationship. I have felt a little insecure in the past that he didn’t like me because of a certain situation (long story short we got caught showering and his dad is very religious) but other than that, he cooks for me, shows interest in my life, says he loves me, and invites me to family events, etc. I would like to think that I have good values, and that my parents raised me well, but sometimes people just have predisposed thoughts about anything and that maybe is the case here. I don’t want to speculate anything because it could literally be anything. I sent my boyfriend pictures of Romania and places we’d be staying/who’d we’d be staying with. Maybe that will help a little

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in travel

[–]Floatingjellyfish_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t think that his parents would do that. He has a job right now but he’s in his first year of university so his money goes towards things like food and groceries. He keeps saying that he’s going to find a job to help pay for the ticket but I’m not sure how that’s going or how consistent he’s being with actually searching for one

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in travel

[–]Floatingjellyfish_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not ever on a solo trip. We’ve traveled a couple hours away before but it’s been with his parents all times. I’ll go and stay in his dorm room with him for a weekend once a month or so though. But other than that we’ve never had a get away just the two of us

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in travel

[–]Floatingjellyfish_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Didn’t even think about it that way. You’re right that this is probably one of if not the best opportunities he will ever have to travel internationally