My first backpacking trip was to Australia. I remember arriving late at night (around 2am) and struggling to work the lock properly in order to open my hostel room door. I eventually woke all my roomates from rattling at the door. After apologizing, I settled into the empty bunk bed, realized I had no blanket (you had to get them at reception which was not open) so I curled myself into a tight ball squishing as much of my body as I could under my beach towel. I snuggled in and squeezed my purse, passport, and all other important documents and items I had with me for fear that some crazy psycho would come in the room and steal them while I was asleep. As it turns out, for much of my one-year trip around Australia, my purse and cell phone, camera, and journal were always present with me in my bed when I went to sleep. Not that this protected my stuff any better, but I was more comfortable in my delusions.
My first few days in Australia were the toughest. I spent a lot of time sitting at the beach by myself and writing in my journal. I can distinctly remember the feelings of sheer panic when I realized that I was completely alone in a foregin country, and I did not know a soul. I remember thinking that I could drop off the face of the earth, and no one would know. I felt even more flustered when I thought about my friends from back home. I was never alone back home, I always had friends to do hang out with But here, well I felt like such a loser, and wondered how I would make friends now. I remember crying a bit and feeling so completely outside my comfort zone.
That evening, I went back to my hostel room, and my two girl German roomates asked what I was doing for dinner? When I said I did not have any plans, at once they said "Well come with us for dinner! We are going for some drinks after too, it will be fun!" I remember thinking, 'Wait a minute, I have barely even talked to these girls, and they are already inviting me to hang out with them???!!!! This would never happen at home, people just arn't this nice.'
I did go out with the girls that night, and I met so many other backpackers, and made so many friends! I had so much fun. I soon realized that the backpacking community was the friendlist most welcoming environment. All the backpackers had at least one common goal, and that was to meet others. All it simply took were a few quick questions, "what is your name?, where are you from?, do you want to have a game of pool? and you were instantly friends.
Before I knew it, the backpacking life, the one that scared me so much in the beginning, was now the most comfortable life I knew. I think backpacking for the first time is never easy but it is one of the most soul-enriching and enlightening experiences you can have. Pushing yourself past your comfort zone allows you grow in ways YOU never throught possible.