Travel Tip: Don't be afraid to get away from the group

When I went to Germany with my school, my best friend was in the group – my best friend that was so close to me, we were basically sisters. And by that I meant we occasionally fought like sisters. We were so comfortable with each other we weren’t afraid to entirely be ourselves, to speak whatever what was on our minds. We spent at least a few hours a day together. But, on our 10-day-long school trip together, we spent every waking hour of every day together. We were still fairly young – we still craved the approval and constant company of our peers.  Sure, we were surrounded by other friends, but if I was one place, she was there, and vice versa. And for the first few days, this was great. And then it was annoying. We were friends, so of course we still loved each other, but we also got really pissed off. It was best friend overload.

Human beings occasionally crave space. And we weren’t getting any alone time… at all. We were constantly with each other and the group. We had to share hotel rooms, bus seats, meal times. Privacy wasn’t only rare – it was unheard of. So, jetlagged and cranky, we were practically tripping over each other. And this led, slowly, to increased levels of sassiness on both of our parts. Thankfully, we were able to realize that we just needed a break from constant company. We spread out, roomed with other people. We occasionally explored towns or cities alone, or with a much smaller, different group. We expanded our boundaries, and we felt like we could breathe again. Our friendship (and our sanity!) was preserved.

Not only was my trip much improved, but I also learned a lesson from this experience that can be applied to both travel and real life. And that lesson is: it’s ok to do your own thing. Actually, it’s encouraged. Sure, we are social beings. But constant socialization, especially when you’re rushed, stressed, or tired from travel, can lead to trivial fights. So don’t be afraid to step away from a larger group or your family and explore (either cities or life J) on your own or with a few new people – you’ll get some much needed alone time and you might even have a mini adventure that you can share with your friends later on when you get a chance to catch up! After you step out on your own for an hour or two, the company of your friends will be more valued and enjoyable.  

(all pictures are my own!)