At 50, my solo trip to Finland began while still incomplete🍊
I had always wanted to write down and preserve the feelings I had when I took a solo trip to Finland at the age of 50.
I had no experience with Instagram or blogs, and a month and a half ago, I just jumped into the world of note without really knowing what I was doing.
Writing became a daily routine, and it gradually became fun.
Even if not many people read it, I wanted to write down and keep my Finland travelogue for myself, like a precious diary.
I am glad that a place like note exists.
When I look back as I get older, I will definitely remember this trip,
and I will think from the bottom of my heart, 'I'm glad I gathered the courage to go.'
It became that valuable of an experience for me.
* * *
I am still a beginner, but
I thought the hurdle for taking the first step toward a solo trip was high.
My friends around me often say things like,
'Aren't you lonely traveling alone?'
'Aren't you scared?'
'I could never do that.'
Here,
from the moment I decided to take a solo trip
until the end of the journey,
the anxiety I felt before actually going,
the inner conflict and decisions,
and my mindset,
I would like to write about those things.
A solo trip abroad that I vaguely longed for
I'll go someday when I've saved up enough money~
It's impossible if you can't speak English, right...
Even though I had the desire to go,
I just lined up excuses and decided nothing,
just thinking 'someday, someday.'
I also felt some kind of guilt, I don't know what it was,
about leaving my family behind to go alone.
But when I turned 50, I became conscious of my age again.
I've already lived more than half my life~
If I stay like this, it will just end as a dream...
I'm going after all. I don't want to have any regrets.
Mom, I'm going away for a bit,
I'll leave the rest to you. (laughs)
I finally started moving in earnest.
My situation before departure was like this
○ I can't speak English fluently.
○ I'm shaky with smartphone operations.
○ I have no sense of direction.
○ I have underlying health issues and no stamina.
○ There is no one I can rely on.
○ I can't run away if I get attacked.😱
You might think it's crazy that I decided to go given all this. (laughs)
Everything isn't in a perfect state, but
for now...
for now, I want to take that first step.
Anxiety and the desire to go.
This was the biggest conflict.
While worrying about various things,
I realized that if I know my own incomplete parts, I can prepare to compensate for them.
(In my case, that was translation apps and map apps.)
Doing some research beforehand is important, of course, but
moving while exploring—
maybe that's a good way to proceed as well.
Until I clicked the reservation button
First, the money issue.
I set a feasible budget,
kept the duration short while considering my physical stamina,
and compared hotels and flights across various websites.
I chose a direct flight to reduce physical strain.
I picked a hotel in the city center to avoid getting lost.
While keeping my priorities in mind,
I looked for ways to save money elsewhere.
Next, English.
If I waited until my English conversation skills were perfect...
Hmm, I would never be able to go in my entire life 😂
I will keep studying English conversation as much as I can, but at the same time, I will prepare to use multiple translation apps effectively.
Thinking too much about this and that just makes me anxious, so once I've made a rough plan, I'll just go for it!
...Yes,
click, booking complete 😆
A solo trip full of firsts
○ Buying tickets.
○ Riding buses and trams.
○ Ordering coffee at a cafe.
○ Staying in a hotel alone.
○ Asking for directions.
Each one is a small action,
something I could do normally if I were in Japan.
But when it's abroad, the hurdle gets higher, doesn't it?
I feel like a child
doing their first errand...
It's definitely not smooth,
and while there is confusion and failure,
when I succeed at even a small thing,
there is a sense of satisfaction in thinking, "I managed to do it!"
Gradually, clearing these missions starts to feel good.
And I find myself wanting to taste that small sense of accomplishment that awaits after this precarious, heart-pounding experience.
Me after finishing the trip
This trip was the start of my solo activities.
Being free on my own,
without having to be considerate of anyone,
and being able to move exactly as I decided,
felt very comfortable.
My solo activities range from overseas travel to visiting local baths.
Some are modest activities,
but I'm satisfied with them for my own sake.
I would like to write about my solo activities from time to time.
Thank you for reading until the end!
#Finland
#SoloTravel
#50s
#SoloActivities
#ChildcareWorker
#Psychology