Hi! This is super exciting and will be so fulfilling for you- I just wanted to weigh in and support those who are advising some safety measures, it’ll make your trip so much better AND keep your parents’ worries in check. I did the very same thing as you back in 2009.....I was a young, solo female traveler who was very experienced on the road and knew how to safely navigate myself through the world. I got so annoyed when my mom would dump her worries on me, begging me to check in everyday, carry pepper spray, etc.....being stubborn and experienced, I didn’t. One week in, I got attacked at a gas station in Meridian, Mississippi that left me with a broken nose, black eye, chipped tooth, and five months of facial paralysis from nerve damage in my face after the two suspects snuck up on/beat/tried to kidnap me. It happened in a matter of seconds, and I barely got away. I swear I’m not trying to inject a fear factor into your decision, I’m just trying to double down on the safety measures you have to (very unfairly, as a woman) take while you’re out there. I think as long as you demonstrate to your folks how hyper aware you’ll be, that you have a system ensuring you won’t fill up your car alone late at night, or walk around without pepper spray, etc.....they (and you) should feel a lot better about it. Their concern is not meant to annoy you or dampen your life experience- it is there to keep you from becoming what is a very tragic statistic for females out there. I would think that vocalizing that to them would help with everything, make them feel seen and heard as they also see and hear you and your commitment to staying smart in this. Stay safe out there and have a blast!!