My LifeTravel

7 Lessons I’ve Learned from Traveling to 14 Countries in 2015

Luvvie BVI

In Tortola, British Virgin Islands in June 2015

This year has been unlike any for me for so many reasons but one of those is that I traveled like I never have before. I didn’t start the year imagining that I’d visit 14 countries, but that’s was one of the beautiful surprises of 2015.

For me, travel is important for many reasons, and I’m passionate about it because of the lessons that come from it. Seeing the world is more than about collecting passport stamps. For me, it is about stepping out of my bubble and my comfort zone. It humbles me to get reminded about how little I know, and it expands my mind because I soak up so much while on my jaunts. I pay more attention, and come back home appreciating my space.

In 2015, I set foot in: Dominican Republic, Kenya, British Virgin Islands, Morocco, Turkey, Spain, England, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Qatar, Mexico, Egypt, Barbados, Haiti.

Here’s some of the lessons I am walking away with:

7 Lessons I Learned from Traveling to 14 Countries in 2015

7 Lessons 14 countries

Home is everywhere.

No matter where I go, I find home around the corner. It could be as I walk down a street in Istanbul, Turkey and smelling food from my favorite restaurant back home.

Or sitting at a cafe in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and seeing someone who looks like someone I know.

Or going to a mall in Bangkok, Thailand and seeing my favorite stores.

It could be as we turn the corner in Alexandria, Egypt and I’m reminded of Lake Shore Drive. Happened in Qatar too.

Luvvie in Doha, Qatar

I also felt Lake Shore Drive fever in Doha, Qatar

Or being in Tortola, British Virgin Islands and hearing music that reminds me of AfroBeats.

These moments ground me and make me feel connected to everything. No matter how faraway from Chicago that I am, there is familiarity and I hold on to it. Home is everywhere, no matter if you are a 12-hour plane ride away from your bed.

You are but a tiny dot in this giant universe.

Sometimes, we take ourselves too seriously. We might err and think the world revolves around us, our whims and our wants. If you’re ever in that space, travel can bring you down a notch. Whatever brilliance you think you possess is tiny and almost inconsequential as you stand by a pyramid that was constructed to be a calendar (that is still accurate today), with 365 steps, and placed so that when the sun hits it at the right time, the light looks like a serpent is coming down the steps. This happens on March 21, every year at 4:45pm.

I traveled to Mexico with Up in the Air Life Inc in October and we visited Chichen-Itza, one of the seven wonders of the world. It was completed in 900 AD and it took 300 years (10 generations). That pyramid not only tells time accurately, but it echoes your own claps back to you, and makes it sound like a bird. It’s SO COOL.

Luvvie at Chichen Itza

In front of Chichen Itza. It was so hot that I came out my shirt.

Mayans were savants and the things they considered to construct these buildings are out of this world. Our tour guide said “you write knowledge in sand and someone can kick it away. You put it in books and someone can burn it. You construct it into your buildings and it stays even after you’re gone.” I was like WELP.

So as you stand next to that, you cannot take yourself too serious. Perspective can be priceless.

Food everywhere else is more delicious.

Some people buy keychains as their travel souvenirs. Me? I drink Fanta. I like to taste how orange Fanta differs in the places I visit. At this point, I can say with all confidence that the Fanta we drink in the United States is sub-par to other orange Fantas. Part of that is that real sugar is used in the drink everywhere else and here, we get high fructose corn syrup. The taste is so much more refreshing everywhere else.

Similarly, eating abroad is a delight for me. The fruits are better and the juices are unfuckwitable. When I was in Thailand, I had freshly-squeezed orange juice and watermelon juice for breakfast every day. It’s hard to describe the difference of juice here and there but it is tasteable. Also, Morocco is known for its orange juice and I gulped down multiple glasses for breakfast there too.

This meal I had in Thailand cost me a whopping $1.25.

This meal I had in Thailand cost me a whopping $1.25.

Seafood out of the country? Listen. FRESHER THAN SPRING RAIN. The moral of this story is: the quality of American food is a cheat. We are being cheated out of meals as experiences.

The entire world is not unsafe.

A couple of weeks ago, the United States issued a global terror alert and told citizens to be careful when they travel abroad. I had to laugh because as the government is doing that, Black people are being shot down by cops in the streets. We’re facing more danger walking down street than from traveling. We’re supposed to be afraid from terrorism when we leave the country. You’re telling us to be scared of enemies that are faraway, 6 hour plane rides away. What about the neighbors we have who hate us and are being propped up and given positive reinforcement that they can harm us without consequence?

Every time I’m traveling somewhere out of the country, folks tell me to “be safe.” Countries I’ve been to this year where people told me I’d feel unsafe: Mexico, Morocco, Haiti, UAE, Egypt. I was fine in all of them.

Even in the backstreets of Alexandria, Egypt, I felt relatively safe.

Even in the backstreets of Alexandria, Egypt, I felt relatively safe.

Of course, some places are safer than others but there isn’t a boogieman lurking at every corner waiting to get you when you leave the United States. People are actively not traveling the world because they feel like a bomb is going to drop on their head in those places at any moment. Most places in the world are not that acutely unsafe. Most places in the world are not Syria. Do not let these warnings keep you in your bubbles.

Related:

Solo travel is scary but necessary.

I travel for work domestically a lot, so I’m used to being in hotel rooms by myself. However, this year, I decided to vacation by myself a couple of times. My first ever solo vacation was for my 30th birthday, and it was January 2015. I went to the Dominican Republic for 3 days. All I had booked was my hotel and flight. Nothing else. I figured I’d find something to do, and I was also prepared to do nothing but spend 3 days by my resort pool.

What I ended up doing was a lot of sitting by myself, writing, reading and just enjoying silence. I also went zip-lining in the forests outside of Punta Cana. On the night of my 30th birthday itself, I sat under the stars with my journal and wrote a vision statement for myself, for 5 years in the future. In that moment, I was perfectly content and I was happy where I was doing exactly what I was doing. I traveled back home feeling refreshed, recharged and ready to work.

I booked a weeklong trip to Dubai for September 2015 with one of my girlfriends. Two weeks before our trip, she had to pull out and I wondered if I should cancel too. One of my friends was like “why don’t you make it an Eat Pray Love type trip? Go to Thailand too!” And that’s exactly what I did. I landed in Dubai, spent 2 really good days there, and then flew 8 hours away to spend 3.5 days in Thailand.

What people imagine solo travel is like. Me in the desert outside of Dubai.

What people imagine solo travel is like. In the desert outside of Dubai.

It was exactly what I needed. I explored Bangkok by myself, got massages twice, visited the Temples of the Buddha and again, enjoyed silence.

At no times during my solo trips did I feel unsafe. With anything, you stay vigilant about your surroundings, you don’t walk in deserted areas by yourself at night, and you keep your belongings with you or in a safe deposit box.

Solo travel does scare some people because they do not know how to be by themselves. But waking up and knowing you get to do whatever the hell you want to do that day is freeing. Also, you might go alone but you don’t have to be by yourself the entire time. You can strike up conversations with the person next to you and make a friend. You can do group activities and meet people that way. Solo travel is not isolating unless you isolate yourself from others.

Luvvie in Thailand

In Thailand at the Temple of the Great Buddhas

DO IT! At least once.

Packing light is a skill you need to learn.

I am a former packrat, having learned my packrat ways from my Mom, who is still an active packrat. I think I need to have everything in my suitcase because: options. 1 week trip? Of course I need 10 pairs of shoes, 15 pairs of pants and 20 tops. I need this giant suitcase. NEED.

Yeah, no. Taking a huge suitcase on every trip is a hassle and it is never a convenience. I am now Team Carryon, unless I’m on a trip that is longer than 10 days. Why? Because checking in your luggage, especially when you travel internationally is a risk. If you show up at your destination and your suitcase doesn’t make the flight, what do you do for two days? Sure, you can have extra clothes in a carryon but all the things you insisted you needed are delayed.

When we landed in Marrakesh and had to drag our luggage through the maze of the media before we reached our hotel, me and my girl E had backpacks and our carryons. If we had huge suitcases, I might have just given up the ghost and slept in an alley.

My luggage for 7-day trip to Morocco and Spain. It fit 4 pairs of shoes, by the way.

My luggage for 7-day trip to Morocco and Spain. It fit 4 pairs of shoes, by the way.

Also, it feels good to land somewhere after a day of travel and not have to wait by baggage claim. It really does. You get off the plane and keep on rolling to your destination.

When I travel now, I have certain pieces of clothing and shoes that come with me on every trip. I always pack a pair of Sperry Topsider boat shoes (all leather, light, easy to wear/pack, and good for all weather). I pack a denim long-sleeve because it goes with anything I want to wear and if I get cold, I throw it on. I take a pashmina to use on the plane for it if gets cold and I wrap myself in it. These come with me EVERYWHERE. So they’re part of my arsenal. Makes packing easier.

Being outside your comfort zone gets more comfortable.

The more your travel, the more you get used to being in strange places. That might sound weird but it makes sense to me. When you go to places you’ve never been, you stop being so freaked out by change. It isn’t as jarring to look around and know you might need Google Maps to find your hotel because you are definitely lost.

It makes you a bit more ready to face fears, and it makes you just a tad bit more brave.

Like my girl, Demetria Lucas D’oyley says: SEE SOME WORLD. Get out and explore. Use those passports.

Riding ATVs (quad bikes) in the countryside outside of Marrakesh, Morocco with Demetria, Christina and Eartha.

Riding ATVs (quad bikes) in the countryside outside of Marrakesh, Morocco with Demetria, Christina and Eartha.

If you don’t currently have people to travel with, roll with folks like Up in the Air Life, which coordinates group trips. You might go by yourself but by the time the trip ends, you would have made new friends (and travel buddies). For 2016, they have trips to the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Colombia, Egypt, Mexico and Croatia. So if you wanna travel but don’t wanna choose your own adventure, they got you covered. All you gotta do is show up and have a good time because everything has been arranged for you. One of my friends, Claire Bear, is behind the company and I’m so proud of what she’s built.

I look forward to doing more world exploring in 2016. I just got pages added to my passport (because I was down to 5) so I’m ready for more adventures. Solo, with bae, with my girls. I’m just down for jaunting. So keep up with me by following my @Luvvie account on Instagram. I use #TravelLuvv hashtag to track my trips.

Places that are high on my list that I haven’t visited yet: Italy, Greece, Japan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Australia, Brazil.

Found dope art on a wall in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Found dope art on a wall in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

I’ll be back with more posts on travel in the new year on how I make it happen. And yes, I still owe that part 2 of the guide to traveling to Morocco. Also check out Oneika the Traveller’s blog. She’s a wealth of information.

Feel free to comment with any travel questions you want me to answer. I might answer them in a future post.

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20 Comments

  1. December 28, 2015 at 5:59 pm

    Awesome reflections! So glad I found your blog!

  2. Stephanie
    December 28, 2015 at 6:43 pm

    Thank you for this! My daughter and I are planning a trip to Morocco due in part to you sharing your experiences there.

  3. December 28, 2015 at 7:08 pm

    Love this. What a year. My New Year’s Resolution is to get a Passport and start seeing the world. Already planning for a Naija Christmas with my husband’s family, but I hope to travel a few other places before then too. Thanks for the inspiration!

  4. Brendadc
    December 28, 2015 at 7:10 pm

    Good read! I did solo trips to Jamaica and Martinique this year. It is nice to get up and do what you want, when you want! And the sugar mention is so real!

  5. December 28, 2015 at 7:12 pm

    This is true: “the quality of American food is a cheat. We are being cheated out of meals as experiences.”
    Food tastes so much better outside of the states and does less harm to the body.

  6. December 28, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    This was perfect and the reminder I needed! Thanks!

  7. Joy n' L.A.
    December 28, 2015 at 9:04 pm

    Bahamas, St. Thomas, Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, Haiti (again), Belize, Tuscany, Rome, and Kauai (in the good ‘ol U.S. of A.) …all on my 2016 itinerary.

  8. Trasco
    December 29, 2015 at 1:24 am

    I had wanted to go to Paris for my 40th bday in the spring, but was feeling like I wanted to back out because of the recent bombings. You’re blog post is making me rethink….

    • Trasco
      December 29, 2015 at 1:28 am

      Your blog post…

  9. December 29, 2015 at 4:42 am

    Great article and some really great lessons you learned. I mostly travel solo and I love it. You did quite a lot this year and I’m looking forward to reading about your 2016 adventures 🙂

  10. SIPort
    December 29, 2015 at 8:09 am

    Thank you for these reflections. I would love to travel like this. Can’t wait to see where you go in 2016.

  11. Chiqui
    December 29, 2015 at 10:56 am

    I learned the same lessons at 30 when I had to go solo to Hawaii when my best friend got pregnant and had to back out on our b-day trip. I had THE best time of my life thanks to some friends I met who noticed I was solo and hung out with me. I vowed to take a birthday trip overseas every year and I missed the last few years ’cause you know LIFE happened. BUTTTT I’m already planning to go to Australia again in 2016 and then to other places on my list. I tell people all the time travelling is not as expensive and scary as you think with some pre-planning and a healthy sense of adventure. Can’t wait to see where else you get to go in 2016.

  12. Sabah Z
    December 29, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    Great read! As a woman of color, I could relate to your perspective more than other articles like this, so thank you. I agree with most of the lessons listed-with different details of course. And if I we’re to add to this list–having traveled to 25+ countries, many of the trips before 25 years old and solo, and several for weeks at a time or longer– I would mention the incredible experience of connecting with others from completely different walks of life. I learn SO much from other people. Talk about life lessons- There’s wisdom in the oddest places and when you least expect it.
    Another, rather major thing missing from this list in my opinion, is the immense beauty of this planet…No matter where you are on it, when you are surrounded by nature, and still or observant enough to appreciate its perfect design, it’s impossible to take yourself and your woes of life too seriously. Being with the natural elements fosters inner peace and is renewing and therapeutic. We humans need that now more than ever.
    I’m lucky enough to have had countless memories in places I never thought someone like me would be. Whether it’s different oceans and coastlines, in the bush or plains, amongst ancient trees, in the desert, on mountain lookout points, watching sunrises& sunsets, or moving along various bodies of water – photos could never do any of these sites justice but they are forever imprinted into my mind’s memory bank…and I’m grateful.
    Bon Voyage!

  13. December 29, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    Loved this piece! I did a solo trip to Sydney, Australia this year!

  14. Kai C.
    December 30, 2015 at 2:00 pm

    I agree with everything you’ve said in this article, from the carry on to traveling solo. Even if I go to Applebee’s and sit at the bar alone, someone always winds up talking to me. Always, whether I want them to or not. The one thing you didn’t touch on and that I struggle with is financing the travel. If anyone can offer any advice, tips, hacks etc on that it would very appreciated!

  15. Dee
    January 6, 2016 at 7:49 am

    Luvvie, any chance that we can get a Travels with Luvvie book from you at some point in the future?

    There is most definitely a gap in the market that you could help to fill. I’ve travelled solo to a number of countries, including the Dominican Republic and the U.S.; you clearly have much witty, practical wisdom to share that is being noted, here.

    P.S. Ethiopia is on my must visit list, too!

  16. Erica
    January 7, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    Thanks for mentioning the Sperry topsiders! I know I need some good walking shoes for trips and I can surely invest in a pair of those for the future! Thanks for your insights on solo travel, as well. That is a goal of mine too. Keep the posts coming!!

  17. January 10, 2016 at 6:28 am

    Great read and being an international traveler also I agree with you on all points (I’m not a fanta drinker though, partially because as you so well put, the natural juices are “unfuckwitable”). One thing not mentioned though is the language differences. I think it can often be another dissuasion for many people but from my experiences with this, being in another place where the main language is not English helps with learning whatever the main language is; much more/faster than any class would in my opinion. Happy travels is 2016.

  18. Sunrise
    June 28, 2016 at 10:23 pm

    I didn’t know that head wraps didn’t have to be worn in Egypt.

  19. Candice
    July 18, 2016 at 4:44 pm

    Speaking of food tasting better outside the US, I went to Rome, Italy for my birthday and took a cooking class with a chef. When I tell you that was the best food ever!!! We made our own pasta and it only took seconds to cook because it was so incredibly fresh. I was super amazed at how orange the yolk of the fresh eggs were.

    I used airbnb for my accomodations (which was only $400 for 6 nights) and that definitely made me feel more like I lived there. I did a tasting tour of the neighborhood restaurants and knew all the best spots to eat for my stay. Traveling is the best and everyone should do it as much as possible. Next, I’m heading to Turks & Caicos with bae.