GLOBAL GIRL GANG

The Exhilaration of Travel

Travel, in its most profound essence, is a dance between anticipation and discovery, a rhythm that stirs the soul and elevates the human spirit. The exhilaration it offers is not merely rooted in the geographical movement from one place to another; rather, it lies in the transformative experiences, the encounters with the unfamiliar, and the connections forged across cultures, landscapes, and hearts. To travel is to awaken—both to the world outside and to the self within. [1]

So many of our Gang are seasoned Solo World travelers, while others are working up the courage to take that first step into the unknown. Taking that initial leap into the field of possibilities is a thrill none of us will forget. This story is about my first Solo (ish) travel experiences.

Although I loved to travel, I had not been able to do much of it during my first marriage. We were married for 20 years and were focused on creating a home and paying for all those expenses involved in raising children. We were able to travel to Mexico a few times and take the kids to Hawaii, as well as several camping vacations. International travel was just not in the budget for many years.

My very first experience of “solo” travel occurred in 1996. I was married at the time. My daughter’s 8^th grade class was offered the opportunity to travel to Washington DC, New York City and Philadelphia and they needed adult chaperones to accompany the kids. I was thrilled to be chosen as a volunteer chaperone. We lived in California, and I was 36 years old. Until this point, I had always travelled with either my parents or my husband.

My daughter and I eagerly prepared for our trip. There were about 25 students going and I was assigned 3 girls to chaperone for the 7-day adventure. What a thrill it was to get on that plane without my parents or my husband. I felt a newfound freedom. Travelling with a group of 8^th graders and several other adults, elevated my courage. I may have benefited more from this trip than even my 13-yr old daughter did.

This was my first visit to the Capital. We explored all the National Monuments in DC, which were impressive. I felt emotional many times and especially while walking through the Vietnam Memorial. What exceptional tributes these Monuments are to the men and women who sacrificed for our freedom.

I am a Paralegal, by profession, so I was very interested in visiting the Supreme Court. A highlight for me was going to the cafeteria at the Supreme Court and seeing the place cards on the various tables assigned to the Supreme Court Justices. Yes, I am a nerd at heart. I still want to return to see the Court in session. It's the pomp and circumstance that gives me goosebumps.

I had been to Philadelphia with my family before. I enjoyed our historical tours and seeing the Liberty bell with the kids. It was an incident that occurred at the hotel that stands out. At the time it was very chaotic but looking back it is hilarious. When we meet, on a trip together, I hope you will remind me to tell you this story.

Then we were in NEW YORK CITY! This was my first time here and the atmosphere was Electric! We were all very excited to be here. Early in the morning we boarded the ferry to Ellis Island. I had heard that you could find records of family while visiting. I asked one of the Rangers for help and she was amazing. Knowing that we had limited time on this tour she rushed me up a staircase to a research room filled with computers. She asked me questions about my family history and to my amazement she found a record of one of my Relatives coming to the USA though Ellis Island from Wales. A printed copy of the record was provided to me.

Oh, how we loved New York City. After our tour of Ellis Island we relaxed for a while before taking the kids to see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. The audience was so enthusiastic that I now understood why Broadway New York is the best place in the world to see Live Theater. I am eager to return one day just to go to the Plays. If anyone is interested in organizing this type of Triple G trip, please let me know.