June 25, 2019 by CASSANDRA JOHNSON
I quickly realized it was time to get back to just depending on me as I was preparing to travel from the Peruvian city of Arequipa to Cusco, Peru.
Although I was going to miss having a temporary travel partner, this was going to be a good change. Self-reliance had been my typical method to and from my South American destinations, though my clear intentions were to consistently meet up with people.
It was especially important that I get back to solo traveling – because that allowed me the freedom to diligently follow the paths that I found dear. This synced with my call to community and volunteering. It has also added to the solo travel tips I have to share with you (can’t forget those along with my random thoughts and experiences).
There was more that made me realize how important it was for me to get back to solo destination travel. I realized it was also rather easy to develop codependency (both lightweight and not so lightweight). I took note when my travel friend had asked another adventurer if she was traveling alone. His question held the awe of already sensing the answer, and I quickly needed to remind myself that, hey, I too, had begun like her. (Naturally, like us, she was making friends along the way). I reminded myself that this is also how I would continue to the next spot and much later to the Bolivian cities of La Paz, Sucre and Cochabamba. It’s sometimes too easy to dismiss your own journey. (literally and figuratively). Don’t let others help you do it either, even when it’s not their intention.
Naturally (biologically), we do depend on others to survive and participate properly in life, but a good amount of self-reliance is important as well. An international travel partner can provide a good buddy system. You can look out for one another’s safety, and literally share the load of convenient travel gear you need like insect repellent and sunscreen. You can provide each other with moral support and crafty suggestions.
It was simply that I needed to rediscover my own gumption. I needed a reminder of how self-assured, friendly, outgoing and diligent I could be in a foreign country and so, although I had enjoyed his company, I found that my preference was much more in line with the comradery that came with forming bonds in the local and volunteering community. This would be followed by challenging myself to do more. (Of course, this is not to say that socializing and appreciating my surroundings was ever overlooked. Additionally, this mostly just describes my persona during those South American traveling days. I like to think of the modern me as a better more well-rounded travel companion).
As far as volunteer goals went in Cusco, I was planning to connect to a specific organization that had captured my heart, one that I had already imagined assisting with in some way. Unfortunately, once I did get to this point, I didn’t have the benefit of connecting with its very long-time volunteers. This was the complete opposite of the group I consider to be pretty much kinfolk – my fellow Pisco Sin Fronteras volunteers. I found this to be a complete change to the grittiness and beauty that mutually linked me to them, but due to that very bond, however, I could easily understand how this group had underwent a similar experience in Cusco.
Their clique was really just about six people, but it was intriguingly tight. I respected that. I became a lot closer to the newly arrived volunteers and this is not to say that the several of us, newbies, did not connect on some level with the veterans. We just laughingly noticed that there was a barrier we would not be crossing. Only certain circumstances showcased their concern such as a physical attraction to one of us or noting that we were about to traverse into some physically dangerous situations. Never mind our group fundraising activities, nights out dancing, laughing or chatting. Bonding was fleeting and I’m actually glad nothing can compare to what I experienced in Pisco.
I purposely don’t mention the name of the organization in Cusco, though its mission is equally as outstanding as the ones held by PSF and Proyecto Horizonte. (I can include special details if you are especially interested and inbox me here. I’m certain a lot has changed since my time there. I can share what I know.)
Pausing for a moment, before I go deeper into my volunteer stint in Cusco, I will throw out an overview of my initial days in this breezy, coldish part of Peru (I was there during rainy season). My main plans included Machu Picchu, sites like Sacred Valley, cathedrals, museums, ruins and more. I would need to strategically structure my time before traveling into the more, not so safe area of Cusco where I would be volunteering as a teacher to underserved children. I think I did a pretty decent job of managing the time I had. Still I wished for more and I’ve thought about living there for a few months each year.
Mapping out a decent bus ride from Arequipa was the first step. I was set with a nice bus company (word-of-mouth reviews are gold), and having found a properly reviewed hostel on hostel.com, I was even more set. I must include, however, that while I was happy with the overall hostel amenities that included cleanliness and hot water, I was a bit put off by its risky location. There was a significant stretch from the Plaza de Armas (the main square) to my dwelling and this also just happened to mean it was in a less safe area. I was always reassured to see the tall guard standing stoic at the end of my street (and it didn’t hurt that he was also handsome) but it would have been even more comforting if there was another guard or two located along the way.
This brings to mind some suggestions that I feel were beneficial to me and as I plan to put together a more comprehensive list, I will share them here. My initial advice, to an especially solo person, would be to always move with a purpose – even when you are just a little bit acclimated to your surroundings. I think doing that to the best of my ability while remaining cordial and open was key. Even if my purpose was leisurely and given to the spontaneous track, I think it served me well to walk steadily, not too slow, and as if I had a clear place to be. A genuine friendliness with local people, exhibiting respect and having humility seemed to create good vibes as well.
You find there are a considerable number of people who freely offer information and advice. You can compare notes from your encounters and unpack the lot of it for yourself. Amicable relationships with people from the area sometimes even translate into them looking after you in a familial way, but like anywhere in the world, being alone and a novice can also open you up to individuals that would never have your best interest in mind. Overall, politeness and greetings go a long way in the right circumstances. After all, you are in a place in which you most likely want to be immersed. The rule remains however to always be alert and don’t ever talk yourself out of your instincts.
My unease with my hostel location did eventually settle my decision to find another place within a few days. The local owner of the hostel, that I was leaving, was very engaging. He had daily inquired about my travel and was taken with my previous and future plans. (He was surprised that I had been staying in Pisco and not the capital of Lima, prior to this). I just did not have the heart to tell him that I was going to stay in another location for a few days, before my next volunteer gig. He assumed I was going there straight away. As a host, he was great, and his place was great, and I couldn’t offend him with just that one amenity he could not offer. That would be feeling more secure.
I found a really nice place near La Plaza de las Armas and it was more like a hotel than a hostel. I was easily comfortable venturing out on nearby city tours, visiting historic sites and viewing everyday tourist attractions. The biggest trip I would take was my mini trek to Machu Picchu.
Upcoming: Adventures and Misadventures reaching my first Wonder of the World
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