Three Years Living in Africa: 10 Experiences Iโll Never Forget
After three years living in Ghana, these are ten of the most unforgettable travel experiences across Africa that changed how I see the worldโฆ
Three years isn't a lifetime, but it's long enough for a place to change you. When I packed up my apartment in Chicago and moved to Ghana in 2022, I expected a change of scenery, maybe an adventure here and there or at least a good story to come home and tell when I, what I figured would be inevitably, decided to return home.
What I didn't expect was how dramatically my perspective on travel, nature, and life would shift; how the journey would become much more impactful than the destination.
Looking back, these aren't necessarily the "best" places I've visited. They're simply the moments that have stayed with me the most.
Three Years, Ten Experiences That Changed Everything
10. Wechiau Hippo Community Sanctuary, Ghana
Imagine yourself in a dugout canoe with a single paddle, a rushing Volta River in one of the most remote parts of Northern Ghana, and a bloat of hippos staring you down while you hang onto the shoreline branches.
In Ghanaโs Upper West Region, along the border with Burkina Faso, the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary protects a 40-kilometer stretch of the Black Volta River and the surrounding woodlands.
The flooded waters of the Black Volta River, separating Ghana (right) from Burkina Faso (left)
Itโs not easy to reach; we managed to arrive after 3 days of driving endless dirt roads from the Eastern Region, but it was well worth the effort. We had spoken to someone who had visited the week prior, spent hours on the river, and didnโt manage to see a single hippopotamus.
As we entered the small house that doubled as a museum, our guides were excited to tell us they had just concluded a census and knew exactly where to look, so we hopped back in the car, picked up our boat captain at the next village en route to the river bank, and off we went. Within ten minutes of paddling against a heavy current, we found ourselves face to face with these majestic animals, nothing but a wooden canoe between us and turning into their afternoon snack.
It sounds a bit crazy, right? It was, but it was also raw and stripped down; the purest form of seeing these hippos in Ghana in their most wild state.
A bloat of hippos in the flooded Black Volta River, part of the protected Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary in Ghana
9. Lake Kivu, Rwanda
Central Africa had been brewing in my mind. Ever since reading Heart of Darkness in high school, the Congo and its mysteries have been tucked away into my subconscious. The longer I stay in Africa, the more I find myself daydreaming about it.
Traveling to Rwanda was a last-second decision, less than a week between booking the ticket and boarding the plane, so I didnโt have much planned beyond knowing I wanted to at least see the Congo, even if I couldnโt enter. Lake Kivu was the closest I could get.
Mount Nyiragongo, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with Lake Kivu in the foreground
Rwanda is a complex country with a dark history, having endured the 1994 Tutsi genocide. Itโs a tiny nation filled with greenery and rolling hills, but one gets the sense of something โdeeperโ going on, and the truth is, the fallout from the genocide is a major driving force behind the current conflict in Eastern Congo, but I digress.
Lake Kivu straddles Rwanda and the Congo and sits at the base of active volcanoes with tectonic plates nearby. Why is this important? Large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane gas are trapped at the bottom, and scientists believe a volcanic eruption or earthquake may just be enough to shake the water levels and release the toxic gas.
One canโt deny the natural beauty, though. At the time of my visit, both the Rwandan and Congolese Governments were set to reopen the border at Gisenyi. I spent my time staring across Lake Kivu, into the Congo, and listening to stories from my Belgian host about growing up in Bukavu and her experience living in post-genocide Rwanda, and, of course, swimming in Lake Kivu, flanked by conflict to the west and volcanoes to the east.
A boat floats on Lake Kivu at sunset as a storm rolls in, shot looking towards the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Rwanda left me with more questions than answers. A country scarred by its unimaginable history, embroiled in regional conflict, and a lake thatโs one natural event away from disaster - how much can one place endure? Time will tell. In the meantime, Iโll carry the stunning scenery of Lake Kivu with me for a long while.
8. Sรฃo Tomรฉ and Prรญncipe
The second smallest sovereign state in Africa, one of the least visited countries in the world, Sรฃo Tomรฉ and Prรญncipe is less than a two hour flight from Accra and, seemingly, a convenient place to explore for someone living in Ghana.
Although a short flight, Sรฃo Tomรฉ and Prรญncipe isnโt the easiest to visit. The country isnโt on the international banking system, which means credit cards donโt work outside of higher end hotels and most foreign debit cards arenโt accepted at ATMs. That means that a certain level of planning and foresight (neither are a strong suit of mine) are important to ensuring you donโt run out of cash during your stay.
Porto Alegre, a remote village on the southern part of Sรฃo Tomรฉ, is one of the more difficult places to reach on the island
A few torrential rain storms and an overheated rental car later, Sรฃo Tomรฉ treated me to unspoiled nature like Iโve never seen, highlighted by coastal drives, coffee plantations, and the majestic Pico Grande, a volcanic plug that dominates the interior landscape of the country.
Such low tourism numbers also come with poor infrastructure. Roads are often difficult to navigate, especially after rain, power and phone networks frequently cut out, and healthcare is challenging to access. Sรฃo Tomรฉ and Prรญncipe isnโt necessarily a place to vacation, rather a trip to see, experience, and be a part of.
Itโs one of the few places Iโve traveled where I truly felt disconnected from the outside world, where being present was the norm, not the exception.
The island of Sรฃo Tomรฉ is filled with unspoiled nature and landscapes
7. Liwonde National Park, Malawi
Liwonde National Park encompasses 54,000 hectares of land and stretches along the Shire River, making it one of the premier wildlife destinations in Malawi.
By day, the winding dirt roads yielded spectacular sightings: juvenile elephants attempting to assert their dominance, a cheetah digesting a fresh kill, and more.
As the scorching sun started to dip, I, along with the few other guests, clamored onto a boat and headed towards the Shire River.
Out in the open water, we quickly heard grunting, and a hippopotamus surfaced from below. Then another. And another. โBehind usโ, our guide shouted as three more surfaced with a loud noise. โLook ahead,โ another person said as five more appeared in the distance.
Hippos breach the surface of the Shire River inside Liwonde National Park, Malawi
For a period of time, I didnโt know where to look. As we bobbed up and down in the boat, hippos kept coming and going, seemingly nonstop, so much so that I lost count. I later found out that Liwonde National Park is home to an estimated 2,500 of them!
We continued making our way through the traffic, approaching a family of elephants on the riverbank as they cooled themselves in the water with the evening glow perfectly illuminating the scene. Again, a splash of water, a grunt, and an exclamation: โmore hippos, turn aroundโ.
The sun sets along the flooded shores of the Shire River in Liwonde National Park, Malawi
I had come across these majestic, yet volatile animals one other time before this trip, but never in this quantity and certainly not from the confines of a rickety boat with nowhere to go.
As we returned to camp at sunset, all I can remember was the feeling of peace and gratitude, ready for a good nightโs sleep after a full day immersed in nature.
6. Sunrise Whale Watching in Hermanus, South Africa
Ever since whale watching in Kaikoura, New Zealand, I constantly find myself researching whale migration patterns anytime I take a trip thatโs remotely near the coast. As it turns out, August is one of the peak viewing months for Southern Right Whales and the town of Hermanus, South Africa, located less than two hours' drive from Cape Town, is considered to be the whale watching capital of the world.
Too good to be true since I happened to have a month off work in August, right?
My thoughts exactly.
The morning light illuminates the bay in Hermanus, South Africa
Working with a small budget, I opted for the cheapest excursion I could find, which meant waking up at 4 am, bundling up in layers, sleepily making my way to the harbor, boarding a boat in the frigid dark, and heading out to the bay.
Soon enough, the orange glow of the sun warmed the cool South African winter morning as whales played in the waves around us.
Between an unbeatable sunrise scene and several whale sightings, this was one of the highlights of my time spent in South Africa, and an experience I wonโt soon forget.
A whale breaches the water in the morning light in Hermanus, South Africa
5. Nyika National Park, Malawi
A quick internet search labels Nyika National Park as one of the most remote and hardest-to-get-to parts of Malawi.
Located in the Northeast of the country, the park itself spans into neighboring Zambia; however, itโs only accessible from the Malawian side.
Sitting on a plateau that rises to 2,600m, the name โNyikaโ is derived from the phrase โwhere the water comes from.โ
As Malawiโs largest, Nyika National Park is home to herds of zebra and is said (unsubstantiated in recent years), to have the highest density of leopards in Central Africa. From the logistics just to reach the entry gate to the unique and remote landscapes that awaited, I knew it was a must-visit.
The rolling hills of Nyika National Park are often compared to the Scottish Highlands
So, I made my way from Southern Malawi to the north, using any means necessary, from car to moto to public ferry (see MV Ilala below), and finishing with a shared taxi to Mzuzu. Here, I picked up my Toyota Fortuner and set off.
Each time I mentioned โNyikaโ as my destination at the police checkpoints, the officer grinned and said, โcar might not make it, good luck.โ A normal human being might get deterred after the fifth time, but it simply made me more intrigued.
The further I drove, the more the roads narrowed, and I began to question Google Maps. This seemingly endless, single-lane dirt road with no one in sight isnโt the best way to reach the park, right?
Wrong.
Sure enough, after hours of contemplating the repercussions of bursting a tire or overheating the car alone in the middle of nowhere in Malawi, a small cluster of homes appeared and led to the gates of Nyika National Park.
To describe the park as remote is an understatement. So much so that a worker asked to hitch a ride to the campsite; otherwise, he would have to walk the 60km to work and hope that a ride passed by. As it turns out, my new friend was extremely helpful when the car bottomed out and got stuck in the dense mud tracks 30km into the park.
Zebras are one of the most dense animal populations inside Nyika National Park
I finally reached the campsite by nightfall, pitched my tent, dressed in every layer possible (admittedly, as Iโm sure you can tell, I did not extensively research this trip before doing it and was severely underprepared), and settled in as one of three visitors in the entire 1250 square mile park.
The morning sun and campfire was a welcomed warmth to a shivering night. My guide walked me through the rolling hills, spotting herds of zebra along the way, before a solo mountain bike around the campsite in the evening.
Iโm not sure if it was the nature itself or the effort it took to get there, but either way, Nyika National Park is a top thing to do in Malawi, as far as Iโm concerned.
4. Togoโs Akodessawa Voodoo Market
Imagine youโre on the back of a motorbike in Lome, Togo. You arrive at your destination, step onto the sandy road with the afternoon sun beating down, and breathe in.
You nearly gag at the stench, turn a corner, and see an open space; stalls of dead animals line an open space, with a sculpture covered at the center, blackened by sundried blood sacrifices.
Welcome to Togoโs Akodessawa Fetish Market, the largest of its kind in the world.
For West Africans, itโs the one-stop shop for ingredients needed for the Voodoo religion, but for me, it was one of those moments that was a stark reminder of where I was in the world.
Regular blood sacrifices turn the sculpture black from the sunlight
I didnโt quite know what I was getting myself into. The only concepts I had of Voodoo were dolls used as a source of revenge and curses, but, as I learned, the term โBlack Magicโ came with colonial roots. A way to fearmonger and create divide, to justify ongoing occupation of Africa.
Strolling around the market, we encountered everything from monkey tails to puppy heads, snake skin, and more. But what we didnโt find was anything โdarkโ. Instead, Voodoo priests consult with visitors on intrinsic desires, like ensuring safe travels, finding love, or obtaining financial security.
Needless to say, I went into this day with zero expectations, but came away with a deeper, more meaningful understanding and respect of the parts of West African culture that we donโt often learn about.
A dusty stall sells common ingredients for Fetish Priests, just one of many at Akodessawa Festish Market
3. Sani Pass, Lesotho and South Africa
As I planned for a month in South Africa, I kept coming back to the Sani Pass. A 9km stretch of tumultuous road descending from the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho and into South Africa, often described as one of the most thrilling 4x4 roads in the world, itโs commonly touted as the โRoof of Africaโ.
What could possibly go wrong, right?
In this case, a failed 4x4 car rental, an adjusted itinerary, no phone working in Lesotho, and thatโs just the beginning.
When the car rental agency said they couldnโt honor the 4x4 reservation, my brain immediately went to โhow do I make this work?โ I had planned to drive up the pass from South Africa into Lesotho, but surely coming down would be easier.
I took the next few hours to adjust my itinerary, working in reverse, and drove into Lesotho at another order before reaching the pass at the top.
A car carefully navigates the start of the Sani Pass, descending from Lesotho into South Africa
It was a windy morning, so much so that I could barely open the car door and stand up straight. I sat at the Sani Mountain Escape for hours, warming myself with a cup of coffee, watching vehicles struggle up the pass and constantly questioning myself and what I was about to do.
As the afternoon rush of tourists from the South African side entered the pub, it was now or never. I walked across the empty road into the Lesotho immigration shack, stamped my passport, got behind the wheel, and slowly started the solo descent in my Rav4.
Thirteen hairpin turns later, each with a comforting name such as โSuicide Bendโ and โDevilโs Cornerโ, I hit the tar again on the South African side, stamped my passport, thanked my lucky stars for the experience, and carried on my way.
To this day, I still vividly hear the final words from the South African Immigration Officer at the bottom border: โThis is a 4x4, right?โ
โI think so,โ I mumbled, before jumping back in the car and driving off.
A view from the bottom of the pass, in South Africa, and back up towards Lesotho, the โRoof of Africaโ
2. Hiking Ghanaโs Waterfalls
Iโm ashamed to admit that I had been visiting Ghana since 2010 as part of Aya, a non-profit founded on the belief that everyone has the right to quality education. That meant that most of the time in the country was spent on hours-long busses between Accra and Berekum instead of exploring.
When I relocated in 2022, I settled in Ghanaโs Eastern Region and was exposed to the natural beauty.
The Akuapem-Togo mountain range, as seen from Ghana, which makes up part of the border with Togo
Fast forward three years and some of my favorite places to explore are the mountains of the Volta Region, on the border with Togo. Not only will you find Mount Afadjato, Ghanaโs tallest peak, here, but the area is also home to stunning waterfalls and hikes.
Nothing beats an early evening stroll to Wli Waterfalls or a morning hike and swim at Tagbo Falls. Make a weekend of it and unwind at Tagbo Falls Ecolodge, one of the best places for some rest and relaxation.
Tagbo Falls as seen from above in Liati Wote, Ghana
1. MV Ilala Ferry, Lake Malawi
Many people ask โwhy Malawi,โ and, to be honest, I donโt really have an answer. I had a month off from work, a flight credit to use, and Malawi fit the criteria of within budget, filled with nature, and plenty of unknowns. So, my response to this question ends up being โwhy not.โ
One experience that I kept coming back to while researching the country was the MV Ilala.
This historic ferry was built in 1949 in Scotland and has since been ferrying passengers and cargo up and down the shores of Lake Malawi since its launch in 1951. Carrying up to 360 passengers and 100 tons of cargo, the MV Ilala runs the length of the lake, from Monkey Bay up to Chilumba near the Tanzanian border, on a weekly schedule.
Passengers help load both cargo and people into fishing boats below, the only way to get to shore at many ports
I needed a way to connect the southern part of my Malawi itinerary to Nyika National Park, and what better way to do that than spend 40 hours on a ferry, packed to the brim with 300+ new friends?
Skeptical that the email I sent a week in advance was enough to secure a cabin, I arrived in Monkey Bay early in the morning to a throng of people and cargo, waiting in line, and was pleasantly surprised by the ease of the process.
Ticket in hand, I navigated the crowd and boarded, watching from the top deck as passengers loaded everything from mattresses to stoves, and more. Soon enough, we left the port and were on our way.
Many of the ports of call along the route are too shallow for the ferry to dock, so it was a shock to me when we dropped anchor and fishing boats came out to collect people and baggage, a stream of traffic climbing up and down the side of the ship.
At the second stop, one of the MV Ilalaโs official shore boats stalled its engine and was left stranded bobbing up and down in the lakeโs waves, signaling for help from shore. By the time that was solved, the weather had turned, winds picked up, and the captain was afraid of capsizing, so we stayed put off the shores of Senga Bay, effectively delaying our travel by 7+ hours.
The sun sets along Lake Malawi as we dropped anchor and spent the night after winds picked up
After waking the next morning and wondering why it felt like we werenโt moving (in reality, because we werenโt), the captain cleared us to continue.
A fellow traveler and I decided to disembark at Likoma Island to stretch our legs. As the sun set, we made our way back to the port, elbowed our way into one of the wooden shuttle boats that were so deep you had to stand and use each other for support, before making our way back to the ship in the dark.
Iโm convinced that re-boarding is a special skill, having to wait until the waves lift your boat up, grabbing hold of the railings at the right time, and hoisting yourself back onto the ferry with the help of people behind you making sure you donโt fall backwards.
Getting on and off the MV Ilala is often an adventure in itself, climbing from the side of the sip into awaiting fishing boats
On we went, eventually reaching Nkhata Bay at 3 am. I descended below deck to the massive crowd crush trying to disembark, tossed my bags into a waiting boat, and climbed through the dark to reach them. We finally made it to shore after 2+ days traveling Lake Malawi, I pitched my tent in the dead of night, and watched the MV Ilala Ferry pull out of port the next morning from shore.
An experience I wonโt forget anytime soon.
Looking Back
Iโm now on year four of living in West Africa, and although itโs taught me so much, thereโs plenty more to learn and absorb.
This move and these experiences have brought a necessary shift in my perspective, a boost in resilience and adaptability, and, despite the chaos, a level of calmness I never experienced living in the United States.
Thanks for reading, and cheers to whatever adventures may lie ahead in this crazy life of ours.
What are some of your favorite travel stories? Share in the comments below and, until next time, stay safe & happy travels.
Ready to upgrade your camera gear? Hereโs what travels with me on every trip:
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5 common New Year's resolutions and how to accomplish them through travel
Get fit. Learn a new skill. Enjoy life to the fullest. Sound familiar? These are just a few of the many common New Yearโs resolutions that come and go on an annual basis. Sometimes theyโre accomplished, and sometimes they simply fall to the wayside, but there is one thing that can check them all off of the list: travel. Hereโs howโฆ
Donโt blink or youโll miss it, but the new year is upon us and that means itโs time for everyone to sit down, dig deep, and come up with ways in which we can improve and grow during the year ahead.
I donโt know about you, but it feels good to put these resolutions on paper and then not-so-much to try to live and breathe the โnew meโ every day from then on. Things fall to the wayside, morning alarms go ignored, and the inevitable rat race of work returns.
My solution? Travel.
No, itโs not for everyone and yes, it can certainly be uncomfortable at times, but I guarantee that you will be able to accomplish a bulk, if not all, of the resolutions you have set for yourself by committing to explore the world in the upcoming year, whether itโs on the other side of the planet or in your backyard.
Here are 5 common New Yearโs resolutions and how travel can help you to carry out them all!
1. EXERCISE MORE
Skiing in the Alps, walking along the canals of Venice in Italy, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro - it all sounds like exercise to me and if Iโm being honest, far more exciting than walking on a treadmill.
I get it, those are only for a moment in time and work is calling, but letโs be honest: eventually, our brains will become used to the sunrise alarms that beckon our presence at the gym, sleeping through them without a second thought.
What are we supposed to do then? The answer is to change it up!
I bet waking up for a sunrise stroll up Cerro Ancon to look out across the Panama Canal would get the juices flowing. The best part is that it doesnโt even come close to feeling like exercise because itโs a new experience.
I understand that itโs often not possible to travel for extensive periods of time to truly accomplish a sustained exercise goal, but in the very least being active abroad can mix-up your routine and re-ignite that passion to exercise regularly once returning home.
Even if youโre unable to leave the country, try going for a walk through a part of town youโve never been and explore something new. There are plenty of ways to accomplish this New Yearโs resolution through travel!
View from atop Cerro Ancon in Panama City, Panama
2. LEARN SOMETHING NEW
This resolution is as simple or as complicated as youโd like to make it.
One of the reasons why the travel bug will forever be engrained in my DNA is the sense of challenge and accomplishment that comes with gallivanting around the globe.
Whenever I wake up in a foreign country and become engulfed by the fear of the unknown, thereโs only ever one choice: learn something new to make it feel like home. Learn the public transit system. Learn the conversational parts of a local language. Learn how to grocery shop.
No, these arenโt necessarily lifelong skills that Iโm going to take back to the comforts of my house, but I think the adaptability, flexibility, and determination needed to overcome these obstacles can only help to create lasting internal growth.
If something tangible is more your scene, donโt run away. Thereโs still an easy way to learn something new!
Make a concerted effort to enhance your photography skills as you go about your day-to-day life, whip up some homemade pasta under the tutelage of a master chef in Milan, or even kick off your martial arts career by taking a beginner class in Japan.
Quite honestly, this is the easiest New Yearโs resolution to accomplish through travel because of the endless possibilities!
A photo of Seattle, Washington during my first trip with the sole purpose of learning about photography
3. SAVE MONEY
This one seems a bit counterintuitive, and I get it. There are all sorts of costs associated with getting out and seeing the world: flights, insurance, and luggage, just to name a few.
Saving money is geared more towards those embarking on a bit of slow travel in the year ahead and if thatโs you then congrats โ itโs time to pad your walletโฆ destination dependent, of course!
Itโs no secret that the street food in Thailand is dirt cheap or accommodations in Central America are insanely affordable. Once actually on the ground at your destination, youโll start saving on these basic needs and that leaves more leeway to explore and try something new which, conveniently enough, also checks of the New Yearโs resolution we just covered above!
If slow travel isnโt in the cards, that doesnโt necessarily mean youโre out of luck.
Start reflecting on your choices during the weekends or holidays off from work. Exploring the outdoors or even a mini road trip can help to keep costs low while simultaneously taming the nagging travel bug that lives inside all of us, at least for a short while.
Outside of a tank of gas, thereโs minimal spending required which will help to keep more coin in the bank and allow you to plan that adventure abroad youโve been dreaming about.
Sure hiking in your backyard isnโt roaming around New Zealand, but youโll still get plenty of bang for your buck, not to mention the fresh air!
Hiking in Oregon, USA
4. LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST
Itโs important to realize that living life to the fullest looks different for everyone.
For me, some of the most memorable experiences Iโve had, such as chasing the Northern Lights in Finland or getting lost during a hike to find the Choclon Waterfall in Panama, are what have filled me up the most.
They have challenged me, opened my eyes, and, as a result, have left me walking away knowing that Iโm a better person.
Is that the gold standard for everyone else? Absolutely not, but the thing is, how do you know whatโs for you if you donโt try?
Part of living life to the fullest is not only about doing the things we know will fill us, but also putting ourselves in positions to try the things weโre unsure about.
So, hereโs my challenge to you: get out and see the world, but force yourself to experience something new while doing it. It's the only way to truly learn what living life to the fullest means to you!
Finding Choclon Waterfall in Panama was our โlive life to fullestโ moment this year
5. VOLUNTEER MORE
Itโs always a struggle to find time to volunteer in everyday life, isnโt it? Itโs not that youโre a bad person. Itโs just that the one Saturday you have off is for relaxing.
Itโs ok! Thereโs an answer to your problem and itโs a thing called voluntourism.
This new way of traveling has quickly become a booming industry, with thousands of experiences scattered across the globe that include everything from protecting sea turtles in Costa Rica to teaching recreational classes at a local school in Fiji.
You certainly donโt have to volunteer for your entire trip, maybe a day or two here and there, but itโs a great way to connect with the local culture, check this resolution off the list, and feel good about the impact that youโll be leaving behind!
Although voluntourism is on the rise, itโs still important to do adequate research ahead of time as to the reputation of organizations that you consider working with. Itโs sad to think about, but there are people who wonโt hesitate to take advantage of not only the kindness of strangers but even the people who these programs are created to help.
Thatโs not to say donโt do volunteer abroad, just be sure to know who youโre doing it with. There are still plenty of reputable programs that could really use the support!
A volunteer in Ghana with Aya, www.giveaya.org
So, what do you think? Is traveling in your cards for the year ahead? I hope so! Just remember that you donโt have to go far to accomplish these New Yearโs resolutions. Simply get out and go exploreโฆ whatever that means, wherever it takes you, and however you get there!
Stay safe & happy travels, everyone.
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How I Caught The Travel Bug: and 3 reasons why I can't let it go
I vividly remember standing there on the shores of Hopfen, Germany. It was the summer between my junior and senior years of high school and I was captivated by my first taste of international exploration. I didnโt know it at the time - I donโt think I quite knew how to process it all - but that was my first experience with the travel bugโฆ
I vividly remember standing there on the shores of Hopfen, Germany. It was the summer before my senior year of high school and I was captivated by my first taste of international exploration. Although I was there to play soccer, what I remember most are the cows grazing the fields behind our apartments, the majestic Alps rising high above the blue water of the lake, and the quaint town with its endless schnitzel. I didnโt know it at the time - I donโt think I quite knew how to process it all - but that was my first experience with the travel bug.
I should have guessed that something had shifted. Things that were once important to me stopped taking up space in my brain. Whenever my mind would drift, it would take me straight back to that scene, standing there on the shores of the lake. Suddenly the excitement, awe, and desire to see more would keep me at the edge of my seat, working my way through Google Earth, scanning it all to find the next great adventure.
Fast forward to 2009, I was a freshman at Ithaca College. At that point in my life, I had shifted back to a more rigid mindset. Work hard, get good grades, and be successful. I had no intention of studying abroad, but then everything changed.
As I walked down a narrow corridor towards the sub shop on campus, I passed a poster for Semester at Sea. I was 5ft. from where I was going and this small 8x11 piece of paper stopped me in my tracks. I took it off of the bulletin board, sat down on a nearby staircase, and started to read and re-read every single detail. I was completely and utterly entranced as the world passed me by.
The idea of an opportunity like this had utterly captivated me. Once again, everything else I had on my plate was brushed to the side so I could focus on the important thing: doing anything possible to make a semester abroad happen. I spent the entire summer working two jobs, saving as much as possible to go out and see the world.
Have you ever had an experience that's so comfortable that itโs odd? Thatโs what Semester at Sea was.
Iโve never been good at social situations. It gives me anxiety to even think about it; I overanalyze, overthink, and can never come up with something to contribute unless Iโm addressed directly. Even then I fumble over the words.
Why did 19-year old me think it was a good idea to put myself in the middle of the unknown, surrounded by people Iโve never met? Still, to this day, I donโt know have an answer to that question. With that being said, Iโm incredibly glad that I forced myself into it.
Suddenly it was the day of embarkation and as we watched Halifax silently disappear on the horizon of the Atlantic Ocean, I still had no idea what I was doing. The next 110 days were a whirlwind, but I walked away with some of the closest friends Iโll ever have, all because one thing brought us together: travel.
Thatโs a bond of the purest form and one that can never be broken. Weโve all gone our separate ways and havenโt traveled together since, but whenever we catch up we always reminisce about the stories that we created together, all without missing a beat.
After returning to Ithaca for the rest of my sophomore year, I started to understand that the travel bug wasnโt just a phenomenon that people mentioned in passing. It was real. This time it wasnโt going to loosen its grip and to be fair, I didnโt want to let it.
Iโm not sure what the tipping point was, exactly. Maybe it was the sleeper bus in China that dropped us on the side of the highway at 2 am, or climbing Lionshead Peak in South Africa as the sun set over the ocean. It could have been the time in Ghana when our van broke down on a dirt road right in front of the only house in sight and we ended up playing with the family for what felt like hours, far longer than was needed to fix our transportation. Whatever it was, Iโm grateful that it happened.
From that point on Iโve always known that deep down traveling was more than simply buying a plane ticket and snapping some pictures; I had fallen in love with it. The aerial views from a window seat, the taxi rides in the wrong direction, the regular doses of PeptoBismol; all of it.
Donโt get me wrong, I go through the rollercoaster of thinking along the lines of what some might term logical: Get a job, find a stable career, live comfortably, and be happy.
If youโre reading this and think that I need to control my desire to perpetually wander the world, you wouldnโt be the first person to tell me that and Iโd be willing to bet that you wonโt be the last.
To my credit, Iโve tried. The last four years have taken me around the globe to some amazing places for work, but what many donโt realize is that traveling for work and truly traveling are two very different things. It was too comfortable. I couldnโt do it anymore.
So here I sit, writing this blog and hoping that it puts me out of my comfort zone all the while maybe, just maybe, inspiring you to do the same. After all, what better way to expand your borders than by living beyond their walls?
At the end of the day, itโs simple: I canโt stop traveling, I wonโt stop exploring, and hereโs why:
THE CHALLENGE
Dropping myself into a country where I donโt know anyone, a place where I donโt speak a lick of the language or have the slightest idea of how to navigate the city. Thatโs my greatest joy.
Iโm not going to lie to you: itโs difficult. Even scary at times. There are days that I donโt want to leave whatever apartment Iโm temporarily calling home, because those 4 walls are the only protection I have from the unknown.
When I overcome the fear, the concept of comfort expands beyond those same walls and suddenly Iโve overcome the challenges I once faced; Iโve learned a different way of life.
THE DRAMA
Thereโs a reason why so many of us are addicted to reality television: the drama. But what if there was a way to experience it first hand instead of sitting on the couch?
Iโm not talking about the โhe said โ she saidโ BS.
Iโm talking about running through the airport as the gate to your next flight is closing and you hear your name paged throughout the terminal. Your heart starts to beat faster as you feel the endorphins releasing, your forehead starts to perspire and then you realize that itโs out of your hands. Whatโs the universe going to throw at you next? How are you going to deal with it?
If this sounds stressful to you, thatโs because it is! Itโs in those situations that you grow. You learn to cope with wherever you are, whoever you are with, and whatever is happening. A valuable skill to have in life, indeed.
When I think about drama, I canโt help but remember the time that I was sitting on a train in Morocco when it suddenly broke down. Not knowing any of the local dialect, my friends and I struggled to communicate with the woman that shared our compartment. As the train delay dragged on, the closer all of us became, eventually laughing the rest of the way to Marrakesh. A dramatic situation successfully turned into a lifelong memory!
THE PURE JOY
Yes, traveling makes you happy. Thatโs a well-documented fact. Iโm not necessarily referring to the personal joy it brings (although it does bring plenty), but rather the joy you get to witness in every place you go.
When someone youโve only just met on the street invites you into their home, encourages you to sit in their chair while they make themselves comfortable on the ground, and fills your stomach with a seemingly endless supply of food (all the while never asking for as much as a cent in return), it touches you. Witnessing the magnitude of joy and generosity they exude is contagious and you walk away a better person because of it.
So, let me sum it all up for you. My name is Chris and I have the best problem in the world: I love to travel.
What are some of your most memorable travel experiences? Let me know in the comments below and thanks for following along!
As always, stay safe & happy travels.
After three years living in Ghana, these are ten of the most unforgettable travel experiences across Africa that changed how I see the worldโฆ