So you want the truth?
FIRST Confession: I still get nervous before a big trip.
It just happens, even though I travel all the time. I’ve been travelling since I was a kid, I’ve been a solo traveler for 7 years, and a nomad for 6 years – and I still get anxious sometimes, but mostly for a big trip. What’s a big trip? It’s when I’m travelling longterm – for at least 3 months. And it feels even bigger whenever I haven’t been to that country before. I usually don’t get hyped up about a trip until the day before, and that’s when the nervousness creeps in.
Why does it happen?
Well, I could blame it on the hor-hor-hor-hor-hor hormones (sang to the tune of Jamie Foxx’s “Blame It”). Because honestly sometimes the emotions are just there. And it’s natural. Traveling solo isn’t easy and when you’re experiencing a new place – even though you’re a serial traveler – you still don’t know what to expect. I hate Murphy’s Law!
Being fearless as a solo traveler at The Great Wall of China!
How do I get over the anxiety?
I prioritise. I ensure I have the most important things prepared for the trip. If I am prepared, then I know I didn’t forget anything major – and that everything will be fine! Here’s a list of my mental checklist and questions I ask myself:
Visa – Do I know the country’s visa regulations and do I need to apply in advance?
Passport – Do I have enough passport pages left and do I have at least 6 months left until expiration (needed for some countries)?
Country Entrance Restrictions – Did I check my citizenship requirements (tourist length of stay, vaccinations, etc.) and travel advisories for the country I’m visiting? Do I need an outbound flight ticket to show during airport check-in?
Baggage – Did I pack as light as possible to make sure my baggage isn’t overweight?
Money – Do I know the country’s currency? Did I research exchange rates?
Bank Cards – Did I contact my bank and let them know I’ll be using my card in a different country?
Maps – Did I download any offline maps in case I don’t have access to internet?
SIM card – Did I research the cost and whether I will decide to buy one at the airport or city?
Hotel/Hostel – Did I note the hotel address and/or print the confirmation email?
Transportation – Did I research the most cost-effective way to get from the airport to my hotel? Can I save money by buying a transport pass?
Weather – Did I check the weather to ensure I have the proper clothing or gear?
Apps – Did I download any apps that will help me on my trip?
These are the aspects I research before a trip. The most important things are my passport, visa, and money. I also like to make sure that I know where I’ll be staying and how I will get around. What if I’m going on a multiple-country trip? For longterm travel, I ensure I at least have my passport and visas on track. Other than that, I can figure out directions, accommodation, and the specifics as I go along – because it would be tedious to do that for a 12-country trip (although detailed planning is possible)!
I also change my way of thinking.
I tell myself: “You’ve done this so many times before. If you’ve done it already, you can do it again.” Sometimes you just have to remind yourself that you can do anything, really.
Do I get nervous on every trip?
Nope. It’s mostly when I’ll be gone for a really long time and when it’s to a country I have no idea about, or I’m afraid about how welcoming the locals will be. After all, I’m a solo traveler! The last country I was nervous to visit was mainland China. Even though I was living in Hong Kong at the time, the mainland is completely different and I was afraid of the language barrier. Luckily, I was prepared and also became BFF’s with Google Translate.
What’s my happy ending?
The best part is that no matter if I had an anxious feeling the night before, my persona completely changes once I leave the door of my house. It’s like magic – I lose all my fear. I’m just ready to get the hell out of there (wherever I am) and kick butt aka conquer the world! And it’s the best feeling everrr. I remember waiting for the elevator of my flat in Hong Kong, heading to the airport to mainland China. I remember looking at my reflection on the elevator thinking – I’m badass. Hehe. As cliché as it may sound, sometimes you just have to tell yourself: I’ve got this!