While I had planned this to be a SOLO trip, I am not going to lie and say that I wasn’t afraid of going to a completely new place alone. I secretly wanted the company of a travel companion, but not so much the commitment that came with it since it’s not always easy being with someone for extended periods of time. Savannah was the first stop and solo experience going somewhere and not knowing anyone at all. Atlanta was different for me. My best friend came and visited me on the same day I had arrived. He ended up staying for about a week but during that time we both stayed in our first hostel. My friend is probably one of the most outgoing people I know so he can easily connect and converse with others. It helped make it easier to build a better connection with fellow hostel guests. I built a particular connection with Winnie. She’s an international student from Congo and we seemed to hit it off with our conversations and humor.
As my stay in Atlanta was coming to an end, I informed her of my travel plans and the fact that I would be in DC in a couple of weeks. I told her that she was welcome to come with me. She was having some issues with her documents and needed to go to the embassy in Washington D.C.. So…last minute she said yes and let me tell you, I’m so glad she did! We had our ups and downs but she accompanied me through North Carolina, Virginia, and D.C.. I was relieved to have company on my trip. Our shared adventures included Biltmore in NC, a quaint hostel in remote Virginia, the National Mall, and a lot of guy talk accompanied by wine nights. There were a few notable instances during our times together, but let’s save that for another day. All in all, I loved her as my temporary travel companion and we spent almost a month on the road. The best part is that I gained a good friend.
When you have the opportunity to make connections with people, find someone you vibe with, and who knows…they just may be the travel companion you’ve wanted.