Meet the Nomads – Stephanie of The Travel Chica

Share

Stephanie started a sabbatical last October 2010 and had been travelling ever since. You’ll find a lot of useful information in her blog about various places in Central and South America including budget tips which I find very very helpful.

Another thing that I like about her blog is that Stephanie also shares her insights about living simply. I love reading her post about the things that she packed for her trip, the things that she chose to keep back at home and some of her personal thoughts on the current lifestyle that she’s doing now.

Learn more about Stephanie and visit her blog at The Travel Chica.

Here’s my short interview with Stephanie.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“My first international traveling experience was with my grandma. I was around 14, and she brought me on a church trip to visit their “sister church” in Monterrey, Mexico. We stayed with a family and spent a lot of time doing activities with the son and other church members. It opened my eyes to how people live differently in other countries. I also fell in love with homemade tortilla shells.

I got a taste of international travel then, and my parents often took me on trips in the US and sent me on a trip to Europe with my high school. Once I graduated from college, I knew I wanted to get out and explore the world more.”

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

“Getting robbed the first day of my current travel sabbatical in Quito, Ecuador. A bit of a blow to the ego. But it taught me to be careful and to be aware of my surroundings and the scams common to an area.”

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

“That’s a DIFFICULT question! There are so many that could be the “best” from a specific perspective. I’ll go with the time I went with some locals I met in Panama to a small town in the interior of the country to celebrate Carnaval. I learned and participated in the traditions and saw an entire community celebrate. I was also amazed by how welcoming these friends and their family were to a complete stranger.”

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

“That I have to build the life I want. I made this travel sabbatical happen because I wanted the experience.

In my travels, I have met people with incredible stories, and I realized they did not just get lucky. They worked for it.

I have also started reading blogs (never did that before my travel sabbatical), and I have found a lot of great sites that focus on the type of lifestyle I want and the type of person I want to be. I realize it is important to surround yourself with positive people who support you (even if it is from another part of the world) and remove any negative influences. This is even more important when you are traveling long-term and physically separated from your support network back home.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“I try not to move too quickly. That keeps me from getting tired as quickly. When I sense that I’m hitting the wall, I stop for a while. I did that when I got to Buenos Aires and stayed for several months. It was great to make friends and establish a “normal” life. I have always said that I will come home when my money runs out or when I feel that I want to be home (hopefully it’s the latter that comes first).

I also keep in contact with my family via Skype and email. I send out life updates (you know, the stuff that doesn’t appear on my blog) to close friends as well.”

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

“Anthony Bourdain. I just read his book Kitchen Confidential. I always loved his show No Reservations, but now that I’ve read his book, I think he would be great to travel with. A little crazy, sure. But the man LOVES travel and LOVES food and knows how to combine them.”

Where’s your favourite place in this planet and why”

“El Chalten in Argentina’s Patagonia region is the point of access to the most beautiful area I have ever seen. The mountains, glaciers, and lakes are stunning. Almost all trails are accessible from town, and you can do most hikes in a day, so you can see these gorgeous landscapes without carrying a heavy pack and camping.”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveller?

“Talk to people, both locals and other travelers. You will get your best travel advice this way. You will learn so much and be exposed to different perspectives. The people you meet will most likely be your favourite travel memories.”

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

“I don’t know about silly, but one of the most awkward and amusing things I have done while traveling is go to a Turkish bath in Istanbul. This was my first international trip after college, so I was pretty reserved and had not been exposed to a whole lot. Stripping down, going into a steaming hot room with what seemed like hundreds of naked women, and laying on a huge marble slab waiting for my turn to get a scrub-down by an obese Turkish lady was quite the experience.

It was hard to contain my laughter during the whole process, and I always smile when I think back on that experience. I would definitely do it again and not be nearly as self-conscious.”

What do you think about yourself?

“I am independent, hard-working, loyal, curious, and like to keep life simple and fun. All of those characteristics are probably what led me to quit my job to take this travel sabbatical. I hope I am becoming more patient, open, and creative during this journey.”

“The Travel Chica is where I share my experiences and photography from my current travel sabbatical in Latin America. I write about anything I find interesting, which is a pretty wide range including food, fun events, outdoors adventures, beautiful places, art, music, and the people I meet. Because this is a lifestyle for me, I travel slow and like to discover what the locals enjoy about their town. I also have Travel Tips and Budget information to help people plan their own trips.”-Stephanie

Editor’s Note: All pics are provided by Stephanie.

Next: Michael Schuermann of Easy Hiker. Previously: Maria Alexandra Laborde of Latin Abroad. For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.

Share