I recently read a great article on one of my favourite travel magazines, Brave New Traveler. In her article “In Defense of the Introverted Traveler”, the author Christine Garvin admits to needing some serious alone time but at the same time being slightly envious of the benefits extroversion brings.
This article struck a chord with me.
Many people assume that I am an extrovert. I am loud and funny, and make friends very easily. In some ways, I certainly have extroverted tendencies.
But there’s a bit of a loner half-heartedly hidden in this sociable person, and in many ways I am an introvert, especially while traveling.
Today was a glorious day. I arrived in Morelia, a town I had a strong hunch I would love. I walked around town, just bursting with joy that I had found a place so lovely and filled with great energy. I got a snack, and sat down to eat and watch young Mexican hippies play djembes and awkwardly attempt to dance the African way. I stared at the Cathedral, marveling at the undertones of pink in its stone walls. I sat down for some quesadillas in a little roadside stand. I knew that I already loved this place.
I must have spoken at most 20 words to anyone all day.
The problem is, I’m afraid I can only really “feel” a place when I’m by myself. The feeling of being alone in a strange place – that delicious sense of loneliness mixed with wonder – is the way I get to know somewhere.
When I’m with other travelers, I’m not as touched by my surroundings.
Case in point: last week I went traveling with two great guys I met in my CELTA course. These friends make me laugh a lot, and I’m looking forward to hanging out with them again in the future. We had a good time, and my camera is filled with silly photos of memorable moments. It was a good week.
Truth be told, though, that after five days of traveling with these buddies, I was ready for time by myself. I had been to Queretaro with them, but yet I didn’t feel like I had gotten to know the place at all. Selfishly, I remembered why I usually travel alone: it’s so much easier to make decisions only for yourself.
I need to find a balance between my extroversion and introversion. I need to learn to travel better with other people, especially since I am getting to the point of my life where finding a partner would be nice, and he sure as hell better want to travel with me. I need to know how to get to know a place while having fun with people by my side. But I can’t – and I won’t – give up completely my strong desire to be alonen some times, and create memories that are entirely private.
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