Solo Traveler

Welcome to Traveling Rays! The name of my blog was inspired by a fellow world traveler and close friend of mine, Sierra Rhea. You’d have to meet her in person to understand, but she really is a ray of sunshine! She is one of the people in my life that has inspired me to smile, laugh, and dance every day.

I am from small town Columbus, Nebraska! I found my passion for travel through a series of trips. First, I went on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico and the Cayman Island with my mom when I was in 7th grade. Honestly, it was like living ‘Suite Life on Deck’, any 12 year olds dream! Next, I followed in my older sister’s footsteps and embarked on a Spanish class trip to Costa Rica. That is when I really came alive and fell in love with seeing new places, particularly in the natural world. The third and final staple trip that shaped how I travel is all thanks to my older sister, Dani. As a senior in college, she could have spent her spring break going anywhere with friends. Instead, she decided to go on a spur of the moment trip to Puerto Rico with me, a senior in high school at the time! This trip particularly inspired me because even though we put in so little preparation, it was an absolute blast. Figuring things out along the way made it all the more joyful.

Since starting university, I feel so lucky to have had so many opportunities to travel during the summers. The summer after my freshman year I planned a 2.5 week long trip to Bali, Indonesia with some of my friends from high school. Shortly after that trip was planned, my sister and her fiancé invited me to go to Australia with them for 2.5 weeks at the end of the summer. My sister’s now husband Josh asked me why I wouldn’t just stay over in that part of the world and travel on my own in-between the two trips. My response was, “I could do that!?” He talked me through the possibilities and made me believe in myself and that is how I ended up spending 3 weeks in Vietnam and Thailand on my first solo adventure!

As most solo travelers can attest to, it’s addicting, so the following summer I booked a round trip ticket to Madrid for 2 months. I didn’t plan much other than the plane ticket but the wind blew me to Portugal, where I worked in a hostel for 3 weeks, a surf camp in Northern Spain, and 2 weeks in Greece where some of my high school friends came along for the journey!

You would think with all of these trips under my belt I would know what I’m doing by now, but the truth is I’m still figuring it out like everyone else! I am currently at the beginning of a 3 month long study abroad program in Olomouc, Czech Republic with a few of my best friends, Tiffany and Mary! I have created this blog to help me document the journey, thanks for following along!