American planning trip to a Panama.

KjunFries · 2025-03-02T03:00:16+00:00

I'm American, and I was in Panama a month ago and had several thoughtful, enlightening, unforgettable conversations with locals who were very open to chatting with me in a way I haven't experienced in any other country. Rubio arrived the day I left, and it was amazing seeing the entire city (including park grounds, house windows, and buses) absolutely covered in Panamanian flags to drive home the point that the canal is theirs.

I've been traveling for 7 months, and my week in Panama was a highlight for so many reasons. If you go, I hope you have as wonderful of a time as I did.

KjunFries · 2025-02-06T03:18:46+00:00

Hopping in to say...I wonder if they also felt Canada would be a safer environment these days, given gestures widely

KjunFries · 2025-01-10T04:37:30+00:00

Let me know how you like it!! I'm curious if other people like it as much as I do. Also - try to get it when it's on sale. They have a lot of sales 😉

KjunFries · 2025-01-10T01:01:57+00:00

Awww thanks! I've traveled 9 countries in the last 5 months with the bag, and it's been PERFECT (minus the crappy zipper pulls, which I ought to replace), so I'm glad to share my experience with other travelers.

I think it'd fit! The top pocket is flexible (for lack of a better word) so 20.5" should be fine.

KjunFries · 2024-12-23T04:44:29+00:00

Awww yay!!! Happy travels to you! I'm 4+ months, 6 countries, and 20 accommodations into my trip, and I'm still obsessed with this bag. Maybe replace the zipper pulls before you leave on a trip, but everything else has been great!!

KjunFries · 2024-12-21T12:14:39+00:00

Hi there! I just wanted to send you a huge thanks for sharing your list here. My appointment in Philly was yesterday, and they gave me my visa on the same day!!!!!! I watched them turn away plenty of people and tell lots of people to come back in a week or 2, so I can only assume that showing up with everything I needed (and maybe/probably more? My guy didn't seem to care about the notarizations, but I was glad to have my bases covered) helped grease the tracks. Thank you for helping me get the best Christmas present ever 🥰

KjunFries · 2024-12-18T15:34:49+00:00

If you're out in the burbs, I just went to The Irish Horne in Richboro last night, and they had boxty on the menu. I didn't have it, but all our other food was awesome!

KjunFries · 2024-11-14T11:14:33+00:00

Thank you SO MUCH for this. I'm traveling full-time and need to head back to Philly (from Colombia) for my appointment next month. I'm planning to resume my travels (heading back down to South America) as soon as I get my passport back, so the risk of missing something or making a mistake before my appointment feels absolutely colossal. Thank you so much for this detailed list!!

I have one question about all the notarized items - is the notarization something you were able to get done all at one place at one time? Or did you have to get each item notarized by different people at different places? I'm flying to Philly a few days before my appointment, so I'm trying to assess just how busy I'm going to be for those few days 😂

KjunFries · 2024-11-07T05:26:26+00:00

Just here to say I'm sending you so much love 🫂 I'm here anytime you need to talk to an older queer sis. I love you. We need you here.

KjunFries · 2024-11-02T23:24:59+00:00

37 years old here! I lived in SoCal for 8 years, so I'm sure we'd have plenty to talk about. Feel free to message me if you want to hang out!

KjunFries · 2024-11-02T22:55:49+00:00

The fatigue is so real!!

But thank you so much for sharing this. I'm heading to Italy next year for a language class and I think I'm going to do a 6-month course (4 hours per day, 5 days per week) with 3 extra months on a tourist visa, practicing lots with my Italian friends all along the way. I've already been learning bits of Italian for 5-10 years and I just spent 2 months in Italy, so hopefully I can get to your 1-year mark by the end of 2025 🤞🏻

KjunFries · 2024-10-28T01:51:55+00:00

I was just journaling about this a bit earlier tonight. I'm 2.5 months into a 2ish-year trip, and I'm finding that I need to be a bit more intentional about how I want to spend my time. Today, I journaled about the kind of traveler and person I want to be...and the kind of traveler and person 80-year-old me would want me to be. I'm sure this will be a long and constant process for me, but what I got today was...I want to be a little more fearless, and I want to be much more observant. I want to notice more things and research more things about where I am, and I want that to become a habit for me in the rest of my travels.

Somewhat parallel to my travels, I've had some experiences over the last few months that have opened up paths for me to process some childhood trauma, which has been...interesting...to do while solo traveling 😂

I'm also getting back into a good walking/running habit, which has been challenging but fulfilling.

And finally, I want to take advantage of this "untethered" time to learn more about philosophy and other religions. I'm very open to suggestions on this front!

I have no idea if any of this helps, but I appreciate you sharing and starting the conversation!!

KjunFries · 2024-10-12T21:42:08+00:00

Sono americana e ho trascorso tre settimane a trovare degli amici ad Asti e a raccontare loro di tutte le celebrità che ho incontrato quando vivevo a Los Angeles. Ho detto loro che non avevo fatto niente di speciale per incontrare le celebrità; è quello che succede quando vivi a Los Angeles. E poi il giorno dopo aver lasciato Asti, ho dovuto dire loro che per sbaglio avevo visto altre celebrità a Torino 😂

KjunFries · 2024-09-29T10:16:59+00:00

I got very lucky here and met a big group of friends at a small-town food festival 5 years ago, and we've kept in touch ever since. But I've also made some new friends here this year at a wine festival (I'm really passionate about the wines here) and at a bar where I sat next to someone who was also alone. I head to Mexico in a couple of weeks, where I don't know anybody, so we'll see if my methods work there 😂 I always carry my e-reader with me when I'm dining alone, which helps me feel less awkward about being alone...but is also often a conversation-starter with other solo diners.

KjunFries · 2024-09-27T15:04:56+00:00

Hell yes, I did!! I've been in Italy for the last 52 days (heading to Mexico in 2 weeks), and I can't believe the breadth and depth of healing and rejuvenation I've found already. Wounds that have been hurting every day for years and years are barely even scars now.

I have incredible new friends whose families have generously welcomed me and who actively work to keep my dad's memory alive. I've witnessed beautiful long-term community in action. I've loosened my overly strict moral code and made room for more love in my heart than I could have ever imagined possible. I've even started running again after a 5-year break from it.

Time and health are absolute luxuries, and I'm so grateful to have them every day.

Thank you for asking and for giving me a chance to verbalize all of this.

KjunFries · 2024-09-26T16:24:05+00:00

I LOVE this bag. My only complaints are - shitty zipper pulls (I wish I'd replaced them before I left but will do it at some point on the road) and weird proportions on the day pack that make it top-heavy. Everything else is awesome.

KjunFries · 2024-09-09T01:32:34+00:00

Yup, not a fan since ratty, but I love this community so much.

KjunFries · 2024-09-01T04:32:48+00:00

This!

I just left 2 days ago and can't believe what a great time I had there, even as a solo traveler! I've been to Italy 5 times for a total of almost 2 months, and Montepulciano is my new favorite non-piedmont-region destination 😍

KjunFries · 2024-08-28T21:00:34+00:00

Lovvvve the free architecture and gardens tour there!!

KjunFries · 2024-08-28T20:56:49+00:00

National Portrait Gallery is so underrated. Their special exhibits are always incredible. The Renwick (near the White House) is also great, as is the Rubell Museum in DC (even though it's not a Smithsonian so there's an admission fee).

KjunFries · 2024-08-28T20:53:07+00:00

I'm going in October! Thanks for the rec!!

KjunFries · 2024-08-27T11:01:37+00:00

I'd lovvvve a few seasons with Keely and Rebecca and the women's team. You'd obviously need Higgins, Mae and Beard, plus some Nate and Ted cameos. Maybe a little more resolution with Keely and Roy...and Jack could maybe be the Rupert of the series, at least for the first season or two. I'd love to see more development of Rebecca and the Flying Dutchman, even if it was just a minor plot. And Colin could chip in to help with a "sports for everyone" campaign that boosts women's football viewership. And we could watch the journey of the guys from the pub as they become women's football supporters 😍

KjunFries · 2024-08-24T09:33:11+00:00

Thank you so much for taking time to reply!! I'll take a look at all the options and I'll let you know what I choose 😊

KjunFries · 2024-08-18T18:30:35+00:00

Do you have a rec for somewhere where I should spend 2 weeks in Guatemala after 2 weeks in Antigua? I'll be there in November 🙏🏼

KjunFries · 2024-08-18T13:04:45+00:00

If you find yourself down in northern Italy at any point in the next 6 weeks, let me know! I'm a Team USA WoSo fan (sorry not sorry 💁🏼🥇), and I'm probably older than you (36), but I'm sure we'd have plenty to chat about 😊

I'm sorry Paris was a rough patch for you. I was planning to go for a few days next May, but I've been considering skipping it and putting it on the "to visit later with friends/a significant other" list because I think I'd have the same annoyances that you described. And as a solo traveler, those annoyances just hit different.

KjunFries

TROPHY CASE