My name is Chelsea. I’m 22 and a recent college graduate. I grew up in Arizona and moved to Orange County four years ago for school. I’ve been lucky enough to have traveled to interesting places both in high school and college. I lived in France, backpacked through Europe, traveled to South Africa, and studied in Costa Rica. Each one of these adventures kept reinforcing the same thought for me – I have to see more. Every year I thought about what I could do next, but my indecisiveness kept preventing me from picking just one place. The perfect solution? Spend a year going everywhere I can. Granted, a year isn’t nearly long enough considering all the places I want to see, but it is a good start. I have a vague itinerary with no concrete plans, just some money saved up and the incredible urge to see as many places and meet as many people as I can.
This is not really a travel advice blog, since I have not established my “backpacker cred” yet, but I’m also trying to avoid a published version of a diary. Tell me if I’m crossing that line! I hope to at least give a little insight into what it is like to be a young, female, solo traveler out on the road for an extended period of time. Or it will just be a place for my family to check in and make sure I’m still alive. Either way, I’m excited to share some of my adventures, missteps, and experiences.
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” -Henry Miller
I hope the adventures and experiences are many and amazing–and the missteps few and minor!
I know you are having a great time – Just remember that you are missed and loved.
I know you are having a great time – Just know you are missed and loved
Hi Chelsea,Your folks gave me your travel site- It is already fun to hear about your adventures. Your pictures are amazing. The pictures from Hawaii made me remeber to tell my son that he is never to take my picture in a swim suit. We look forward to seeing you at Christmas between the two parts of your trip. Back at home we are busy arguing about health care and if school children should be allowed to listen to the president’s speech. It is a crazy country!! I am glad I have your parents as good liberal friends.
Joy
Hi Chelsea, your dad gave me your travel-site, and I’ve been following along with you. Your writing, and your pictures/videos are really well done and fun to read. Makes me want to do the same thing; ain’t likely though. Be careful, have fun, and keep up the travel blog. BTW, it was a pleasure for Mandy and me to get together with you and Meredith and Ma and Pa Bond in Maui last August. Bruce
Em Hi Chelsea… I am glad that you love my country. Em forgot to tell you visit you blog cuz my friend post your blog address on his blog..he said “Let see what foreign blogger talk about Cambodia”. By the way I am Rhino.
Hi Chelsea. Good luck on your trip and this blog. Maybe we’ll bump into each other on our ways RTW!
Lauren
Chelsea-
I found your blog as I was doing research about ELI. I am interested in using them to get an internship, but have heard some negative things. You mentioned the organization didn’t seem to know that you would be arriving, for example? Would you be willing to offer me an opinion or advice about your experience booking an internship through a middleman?
Specifically, I am nervous about going to a foreign country and having a volunteer coordinator who is not *really* obligated to help me. Aside from the initial bumps in the road, how has your experience been? I would really appreciate any feedback that you could be so kind to find the time to give me.
You can email me personally at the address provided. Thanks!