Let’s be real. Travel seems more and more daunting with each passing day. Even the locations that appear “safe” are being attacked, and it’s left the world feeling a bit unsettled. Innocent bystanders, in seemingly innocent places have been injured or killed for reasons that seem senseless to many of us.
Many of us are told that we shouldn't travel somewhere. I bet you hear that all the time! As a solo female traveler, I've often heard “you shouldn’t go there”, or "you couldn’t possibly think of travelling to XYZ”. The sentiment is always the same. You shouldn’t go because you can’t be sure that you’ll be safe. I’m sure it’s for my well-being, or to ensure I won’t be hurt, but the idea that a) I can't handle myself or b) there are places that should be avoided because of certain situations (within reason, I do admit). Most of the time they have an image conjured up in their mind that is half made up from the media and what it portrays to the world.
I was raised to be independent, strong, and able to make my own decisions.
That decision is to not let someone choose my life path or dictate my choices out of fear.
As hard as it must have been for my family to let me go (at the rip young age of 20) and live in a foreign country, half-way around the world, they still let me do it. They knew that the benefits well outweighed the risks. And there were risks. I was very lucky, but there were opportunities where I could have been hurt or worse…I think back to the time I was walking home from the bar in France to my apartment. I lived on the opposite side of the small town, about a 10-minute walk from everyone else. Intoxicated, I remember being stopped by a car of 4 or 5 men. They stopped the car directly in my path, and all got out of the car. I looked around, and the streets were empty and quiet. They spoke to me in French, and so I did the only thing I could think of – I spoke in English, ignoring their rude comments and pretending I didn’t understand. They seemed to lose interest in me, thankfully, and I was allowed to pass after what felt like an incredibly long amount of time. Who knows what could have happened, and I was thankful that I escaped that situation with nothing more than an awful feeling.
My point in telling this story and relating back to the news is that anyone at any time, near or far, at home or far away can run into a difficult situation. The world isn’t a perfect place, but if we stay away and avoid our fears, we let them take over and become the best of us.
The greatest thing about travel is facing fears, putting yourself in new and sometimes uncomfortable situations and allowing yourself to experience new things (and new people!). Travel, and evading ignorance is a way to prevent hate and promote tolerance amongst all. No matter what, no matter how scary the world seems, the best thing for us to do is acknowledge our fear, but open up our hearts and embrace everyone and the cultures that aren’t the same as ours.
Let’s not let fear dictate our lives, how we live them, and where we go.
Have you ever been told not to travel? Is there anywhere you wouldn't let anyone tell you not to go to?