At twenty years old, I'm a pretty independent woman. One has to be if they're going to travel around the world. But I'd be lying if I said that my mom and dad don't help me; in reality, my parents helped me plan my trip to Australia down to the last little detail. I would be lost without their guidance and help, especially on a trip as enormous as this one.
Even though my parents have been beyond fabulous with travel advice and help, I went to Darwin without it. I found and booked my flights, my tour, and my accommodation by myself. I figured out my own way to and from the airport, and how to kill time while I was waiting for my tour to begin (with some suggestions from a friend familiar with the area). I explored a new city on my own.
It might seem silly, but I'm incredibly proud of myself. I did something a lot of young women my age wouldn't be comfortable with. This weekend I discovered two things: the beauty of Litchfield National Park and my independence. This weekend, as fast as it went, was perfect, even if I was alone.
It's worth mentioning that the people in my tour group were fascinating. It was a really diverse group, made up of Australians, a few Germans, two French, a Canadian, a Czech, and an American (me). We compared cultures and learned new things about one another. That experience in and of itself made this trip worth all of the time and money spent preparing for it. I was grilled with questions about American football ("can you please explain the rules? And why do they wear so much padding?") and Chicago-style pizza. Coming to Australia has opened my eyes to the hundreds of other cultures besides my own. I now realize how culturally sheltered I was at home, but, thankfully, I've since gained an appreciation for the the variety of people and cultures our world has to offer.
Thanks for continuing to follow my journey, lovely readers!