For those of you who have never left the comfort of your own country, never fear. Fish is here! I'm hoping to make your decision to travel internationally a little less daunting. If you have yet to make travel plans, hopefully you will be inspired to do so after reading this article.
Like many Americans, I too was a travel virgin before making the voyage to Egypt. Sure, I'd been to many places around the United States, but I'd never had the opportunity to go abroad. At least that's what I told myself. In truth, I was always too scared. I'm not a huge fan of flying or sitting still for 14 hours at a time. How could I make it across the world when I couldn't drive into another state without having to stop and stretch my legs? I realized that these things are trivial. Excuses, excuses, excuses. I flirted with the idea of traveling for weeks. Finally, I decided to prove something to myself. I secured my flight one month in advance and never looked back.
Preparation
Choose a place that you've always dreamed of going to. It doesn't matter if the language is different. You can find English speakers everywhere. In fact, I recommend settling on a place that is very different from your own country. It makes for a better experience. You will be completely immersed in a whole new world. It is truly life changing.
Be an adult. Pay all your bills ahead of time. Find a suitable sitter for your home, pets, plants, or whatever. Clean everything before you leave. The last thing you want is to come off an international flight to a dirty home.
Research the places you want to see while you're there. Plan to do a lot. You may not get to see everything in one trip, but you'll never be bored if you've overpacked your agenda.
Make sure all your electronics are charged and updated. I know that seems like a given, but you'd be surprised.
Relax! This is very important. I was extremely stressed before my trip. I wish I had taken a moment to calm myself and enjoy the full experience. This is your first trip outside your country. It's a major milestone that some people never get to achieve. Be grateful for the opportunity and smile. You are about to open up a whole new part of yourself. There's nothing more thrilling.
Stay tuned for more travel tips and my own personal experiences in Egypt.
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