This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Hofstra chapter.
For many, leaving everyone and everything you know behind to travel the world is nothing more than a dream. For others, jet-setting across the world with your significant other is at the top of their bucket lists. For the Shoestring Trekkers, they’ve combined both of these dreams to leave everything behind and travel the world as a couple. Anthony Forlizzi and BreadaPotts, two recent college grads, packed their bags and booked one-way tickets to Bangkok, Thailand to follow their dreams. To document their journey, they’ve created a blog theshoestringtrekkers.com, to share with friends and family back home.
The Shoestring Trekkers have continued their journey backpacking across the world! While they are embarking on a trip of a lifetime, I was curious as if they’ve have, or are anticipating any difficulties along the way. In this segment, we discussed a few of those.
Do you find it difficult traveling with your significant other?
Anthony: No not really. It is different compared to some of my first backpacking trips when I was traveling with my best friend, but its a good kind of different. I’m older and I’m not as much of a partier as I used to be, and I wasn’t really a big one to begin with. We do our own thing and it’s nice. We party if we want and if we don’t we have each other. We’ve also met other couples and other people along the way, not everyone is out getting bombed every night. It is also nice for the budget being together, especially in Asia. Hostels aren’t nearly as popular here as they are in Europe. Much of Thailand is guesthouses, so we can split the cost of a private room rather than stay in a dorm room. Most of the time it ends up being the same price if not cheaper staying in a private than a dorm room, and given the choice I’ll always stay in a private. I mean, who chooses to stay in a dorm when a private is cheaper?
Breada: Honestly, not at all. There are difficult times of course, but there are difficult times back home too. We’ve been together for a long time and we’ve traveled together a decent bit so we know how to work with each other. I know when he’s getting grumpy because he’s hungry, and he knows when I need a nap. A big part of it is trying to remember not to get snippy with each other, and then also remembering that if you are getting snippy with each other it’s most likely due to an outside factor. Sometimes I have to be positive when he’s overtired and check my fatigue at the door and sometimes he has to do the same for me. We also don’t bicker and we enjoy each other’s company. Plain and simple we’re on this big adventure together and we both have the same goal…neither one of us would ever want to ruin that for the other. It also helps that we have a really good time together, and nothing embarrasses us anymore.
While you may be having the time of your life abroad, how do you feel about missing friends and family back home?
Anthony: Of course I miss them. I try to keep in touch with people as much as possible, but the time difference makes it difficult. Right now I’m 11 hours ahead of all my friends and family, so when I’m waking up they’re going to sleep and vice versa. I try to convince my friends and family to come and meet us, and while I think some will, most of them don’t enjoy traveling like I do.
Breada: This is the hardest thing for me. I touched on this earlier, but I’ll say it again, I love my friends and family and I have an amazing support system so being away from them is hard. I’m sad to be missing out on the big things that will be happening in people’s lives over the next year, but I know they’re happy for me and proud of me for what I’m doing.
How difficult was it to pack? Is there anything that you’d wish you brought?
Anthony: I spent a lot of time planning what I was going to pack. To be honest, a lot of the clothing I brought with me I wouldn’t normally wear back home. Most of it was packed with function in mind over style. I packed things that were light and breathable and I could wash and dry fast. I had to leave a lot of my everyday clothes behind and as much as that sucked, I’m pretty happy with everything I’ve brought. I did over pack a little, and I’ll get rid of some things along the way, but I’ll try to get as much use out of everything before I do that. It’s not what I wish I brought, it’s more what I wish I didn’t bring. Toiletries for one. Just about everything I brought I could buy at a 7-11 here for cheaper than what I paid back home, and for the same product. Also, everywhere except for 1 place so far has provided shampoo and body wash, so I have barely cracked into my supply. It’s just extra weight in my pack I don’t need right now. Unless you have very specific needs for toiletries, I’d say just bring a toiletries bag and leave it empty. The only thing I’m happy I brought as far as those go is sunscreen. It is wicked expensive here, often double or triple the prices back home, and most of them contain whitening agents to make your skin fairer. I came here to get nice tan not to get lighter!
Breada: Packing has been the hardest part of this trip so far! I read countless blog posts about what to pack and countless others about what not to pack. I knew going in I was going to pack too much, but I couldn’t help myself. I wish I didn’t pack as much as I did, and I really haven’t worn much, but I’m hoping once the heat breaks a little and the rainy season sets in that will change. I do wish I had packed more lightweight dresses. Right now I only have two, and they’re just the most comfortable item of clothing to wear in this heat. Other than that I just wish I’d packed less.
What do you miss most about being away from home?
Anthony: In no particular order: good pizza, buffalo sauce, and my bed.
Breada: Cheese, wine, carbs, and my bed…in no particular order.
What do you think will be the most difficult aspect of the trip?
Anthony: Keeping to a budget. Because things are so cheap where we’re traveling, we’re a little faster and loose about spending than we should be. For example, there was a restaurant I really wanted to go to recently. It was one of the fanciest places on the island we’re on currently (Koh Lanta) The food looked amazing. Very fancy. We could have eaten like kings and queens for about $100 total when the same meal would be $300+ back home. It’s a great deal by western standards, but that’s more than 100% of our daily budget just on one meal, not counting breakfast, lunch, a place to stay, and anything else that day. We’re on a long-term trip, not a vacation. We have to remember that part of the reason why we chose some of the countries we did is because of how far our money can go and use that to our advantage. Overall though I’d say we’ve done pretty well so far.
Breada: For me the most difficult aspect is definitely going to be what I’m missing while we’re traveling. Two of my very good friends are getting married while we’re gone and I do get very sad when I think about the fact that I’m going to miss such an important moment in their lives. I know this is once in a lifetime opportunity and it will be worth it, but it’s still hard to not feel bad for missing their weddings. For the record they’re both totally understanding and incredibly excited for us, and have never made me feel guilty…which kind of makes it harder, haha. It will also be difficult to be away from my family and friends. I’ve lived far away from my parents and sister for almost ten years now so I’m used to not seeing them, but it never gets easier. I miss them all the time, but they’ve been nothing but encouraging throughout this entire process. I don’t love that I’ll potentially miss my friends start families or others get engaged, or that I don’t get to Anthony’s sisters graduate, and that I won’t see any of my cousins for what feels like forever, but with time it will get easier. I would never be able to do something like this without the amazing support system I have, but the fact that they are so amazing is what makes leaving them so hard!