Jul 22, 2016
Tina Erdmann is a photographer and introvert at heart. Traveling alone first started for Tina when she moved to Colorado at a young age and began venturing out into the local area, meeting new people. This slowly opened a door for her, so she began traveling further and further away from her home state and began to explore more of the United States on her own. Eventually, she made her first international solo trip in 2008 when she was in her mid-30s.
Tina says her photography has become an excellent ice breaker for foreigners and traveling alone has really helped her come out of her introverted shell. She is no longer afraid of walking up to strangers and talking with them. Traveling alone gives you time for self-discovery and to answer some much needed questions about yourself. People might see you as selfish for deciding to take space for yourself, but honestly, selfishness isn't a bad thing! You end up becoming a much more giving person when you practice self-care.
Key Insights:
*Where was Tina in her life when she decided to travel alone?
*When Tina started traveling by herself, she ended up meeting a ton of new people.
*Tina was at a major transition in her life emotionally when she started to travel alone.
*After working up to it, Tina took her first international solo trip in 2008 when she was in her mid-30s.
*Tina will go up to people now and just strike up a conversation with absolute strangers.
*When you travel alone, you're also much more approachable to other people.
*Tina's camera is a great ice breaker for many people.
*When you're in a group, you tend not to meet as many locals as you'd like.
*What are some of Tina's adventures? She goes solo to East Africa a lot.
*Tina loves traveling by herself because she can decide where she wants to go next on her own terms.
*It's expensive to climb Kilimanjaro solo. Tina went solo, but she joined a group to do that particular activity.
*The people you find on your solo trip enhance your experience tenfold.
*What did Tina's husband think of her traveling alone? He had two years to process her trip before she actually did it.
*Tina says her husband has been well aware of her solo travel trips since the beginning of their marriage.
*Tina prefers traveling alone, but she does see the benefits of leveraging group activities in foreign countries.
*How does an introvert travel with extroverts?
*What kind of lessons has Tina learned while traveling alone? First and foremost, trust yourself.
*When you travel by yourself, you end up rediscovering and seeing things from a new set of eyes.
*It's okay to be selfish and to give yourself that space to be alone.
*Selfish isn't a negative or a bad word!
*Where was Tina's business when she decided to travel alone?
*Tina's business, Suitcase Shots, allows for her to bring people together.
*Tina's business partner will pick you up from the Tanzania airport, take you on a safari and a 6 hour hike up Kilimanjaro (not on the same day).
*Stay tuned, Tina's next adventure plans to take groups of people to Paris.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Jennifer@TransformviaTravel.com
Connect with Tina:
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