Traveling abroad without speaking the local language as a nervous beginner felt like voluntarily throwing myself into the deep end of a pool I had no business being near. My palms were sweating before I even boarded the plane. But I did it anyway, multiple times now, and I’m still alive to talk about it. … Read more
Figuring out how to handle travel anxiety when flying alone for the first time nearly broke me before I ever left the ground. My hands were shaking at the self-check-in kiosk. My stomach felt like it was staging a full revolt. I almost turned around three separate times before I even reached security. But I … Read more
Traveling internationally without checked luggage for minimalist long term travelers sounds extreme until you actually try it. I stood at a baggage carousel in Bangkok three years ago, watching suitcase after suitcase roll past that wasn’t mine. Two hours later, the airline confirmed my bag was in Frankfurt. That was the last time I ever … Read more
If you’ve ever wondered why does jet lag get worse after age forty on long flights, I can tell you it’s not your imagination. I flew from New York to Tokyo at 32 and felt fine by dinner. Last year, at 44, the same route knocked me sideways for five full days. My sleep was … Read more
