Expect the Unexpected

When you plan a trip, don't expect everything to go as planned...

Too often, travelers fail to create contingency plans. When things go wrong, they go through mental breakdowns without knowing how to manage.

You can't always rely on others to help you when you are alone.
Your mother isn't always there to do your laundry and loan you a couple of dollars when you have nothing.
You have to understand that to survive on your own, you have to plan on your own.

Before you walk out the door. Double-check that you have everything in line.
  Think of the worst thing that could happen. 
        But do not fear it.

Over a decade ago, I packed for my first solo adventure to europe. A seven month trip where I spent days searching finding the cheapest plane tickets meticulously packing everything that I needed. When I finally landed, I found out my main bag, had been lost in transit leaving me in Germany with nothing but a hoodie.

All the time I spent preparing meant nothing. I was at the whim of the airport. I filed a complaint with the airline and was ready to burn money to buy at least two weeks’ new clothes.

Usually, people would be lost in a new country by themselves—no official place of residence and no way to contact anyone.

Luckily I planned ahead and had the most important thing abroad, A Cell phone.