Let's Go, Jane!

I’m headed off to Puerto Rico this morning for some much needed R&R. In the last two weeks I had to write two papers, do a presentation, and take a midterm exam, and I am looking forward to a week-long break from school. I also had a difficult week at my internship for reasons I won’t go into too much. Let’s just say I failed to follow a protocol, and while no one was harmed, it resulted in a number of meetings and a corrective action plan. It was a serious learning experience, for sure. Top that off with one kid struggling in college and it’s been a hell of a month. I am ready for some sunshine!

As it turns out, Carey will not be joining me in Puerto Rico so it will just be me, by myself, for five days on the island. I’m a little intimidated at the idea of traveling alone. Aside from that road trip to D.C. at Christmas time I really haven’t traveled by myself before. So this is me, baby-stepping my way into solo travel. My cell phone works in Puerto Rico, they use U.S. dollars, and they have Uber. I even speak some Spanish from my many years of classroom instruction. This feels like a manageable place to start when it comes to flexing my solo travel muscle.

I look forward to the freedom of setting a schedule based solely on my own interests and desires. If I want to stay in, I will. If I want to go out, off I go. I don’t need to convince anyone that hiking in the rain forest is a good idea, or that swimming in a bioluminescent bay is worth the trek. I can eat on my own schedule. While I absolutely love traveling with Carey, I’m excited to try this alone.

I have read a bunch of posts about tips for female solo travelers. I won’t go out late at night by myself and will stay in public places. This trip will definitely push me out of my comfort zone, in a good way. I look forward to learning more about myself in the process.

There will be lots of time for introspection and self care. I will endeavor to meet locals and other tourists, even though it’s hard for me to talk to strangers. Worst case, I’ll just sit at the bar and read a book. The budget is completely up to me. If anything goes sideways I’ll have to rely on my own problem solving skills. I feel like this trip will really boost my sense of independence. 

This feels like a perfect reset after a stressful couple weeks. And I expect that Puerto Rico will feel familiar enough to be comfortable, but new enough to still feel like a grand adventure. I’m leaning into this challenge, and I look forward to coming back to you next week with new-found confidence and some great stories to share!