My body buzzed with equal parts nerves and excitement as I sat on a 15-hour flight from Toronto to New Delhi.
destination
Asia
I was 20 years old, traveling solo for the first time, and going to live with a host family I’d never met before for seven weeks. Was I crazy?
The trip started off rocky, with a delayed first flight causing me to miss my connection. A million doubts ran through my mind about what else could go wrong – “Will my host family like me? Will I like them? Is India safe for a Black woman traveling solo? How difficult will the language barrier be?”
As nervous as I was, this trip made my parents far more anxious, questioning why I’d want to travel so far away by myself. To me, the answer started in college, where my Indian friends and roommate invited me into their homes and temples, sharing their culture and never letting me leave without a full stomach. I doubt any of them expected my curiosity to go as far as finding a summer internship with a healthcare NGO in New Delhi, but what can I say – I’m full of surprises!
Landing in India felt like entering another world. From the moment I stepped outside of the airport, the mix of unfamiliar smells, intense humidity, and constant noise was unlike anything I’d experienced before. I quickly fell in love with this country, which my host dad always described as “organized chaos.” From the rich blend of spices and colorful culture to the constant sounds of vehicles and the smells of street food, India was a sensory overload in the best way.
New Delhi may have been the most chaotic city I could’ve chosen for my first international solo trip, but it helped shape me into the confident traveler I am today. The girl who cried after missing her flight now navigates airports around the world with ease. The girl who worried if her host family would like her still keeps in touch with them on WhatsApp nine years later. The girl whose parents were nervous about her going away for the summer is still nervous – but they now look forward to picture updates in our “Bri Bri’s Fan Club” group chat. It’s humbling and rewarding to reflect on how much I’ve grown as a person and a world traveler since that first of several solo trips around this continent.
Asia has taught me how to travel boldly – and I hope my adventures here encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and embrace both chaos and calm.
adventures in
Asia
