Two of our lovely writers spent the summer travelling by themselves to different parts of the world, and they decided to share their experiences with you, our amazing readers. Read on to hear how Lucy got on in America and how Rachel coped with the Asian heat, and maybe become inspired to start saving up for your own personal adventure!
LUCY
This summer I had the pleasure of working at a children’s summer camp in Maryland, U.S.A. for three months. I had expected great things after hearing stories from a few friends who did the same thing at various camps around America, but I didn’t realise just how amazing my experience would be. Yes it was hot, yes the days were long, and yes I accumulated around three thousand mosquito bites, but the people I met and the things I learned made all the stress pale in comparison! Who knew that when I came back to Scotland in September I could say I had tried water skiing, wakeboarding, and was a fully trained and qualified lifeguard?! My friends and family chuckled slightly when I revealed my new achievements, as they all knew I was never the most confident swimmer (rather, I could barely keep myself afloat), but now I think it’s safe to say I might just be the next Rebecca Adlington! Okay… maybe not.
The friends I made when I was at camp are friends that will stay with me for a lifetime, and having the opportunity to work with so many children from all different walks of life was such a rewarding experience. I wouldn’t change this summer for the world, and if you’re struggling for things to do next summer I would thoroughly recommend spending it working at a summer camp. If nothing else, you’ll get a superb tan!
RACHEL
A few months ago I packed my backpack and jetted off to Cambodia for six weeks. Looking back now it was one of the greatest experiences of my life where I met some incredible people. Of course, this is what I had hoped for! But when I was sitting at the airport, there was that dreaded fear and the urge to turn round and go back to the comfort of my own home, but not going back was the best decision I could have made. Yes it’s scary travelling alone- not knowing what the destination will be like; the people you’ll meet; the culture shock; and as a pale Scottish girl, THE HEAT- but you soon realise that everyone is in the same position as you are so it’s really easy to make friends (and the extremely cheap alcohol in South- East Asia helps with this too).
Overall, travelling alone is a rewarding experience. You get to know new cultures and explore places you might never have dreamed of seeing in your life. It takes a bit of guts to go at it alone, but as you can see our two writers absolutely loved their adventures! So pack your bags and get going – the world is your oyster! HCXO <3