Tag: travel

Blog #18

Featured ruth misoriLeave a comment

The Waiting Game

October 13, 2025 by Ruth Misori

Months before being accepted into the NACLAP program and also receiving a placement, I went ahead and decided to start the visa process by gathering the required information that would be needed to be submitted with my visa application. So, I started with the longest process, which was the FBI background check. It takes the longest and the turnaround could take 6-12 weeks, or in some cases, months. So, I did that in March as the validity of the background check would last for only six months. I already graduated at this point and had my physical degree, so I just needed to make a copy of it, as well as making a copy of my passport. Once that was completed in advance, I just had to wait for my acceptance letter (May), as well as a school placement (mid-July) before I could mail in my application to the BLS Houston. Lastly, I had to get a signed medical certificate stating that I’m in great physical health and don’t have any transmittable diseases which could hinder me from participating in this program.

Shortly after I was accepted into the NACLAP program, I was able to join a WhatsApp group chat specifically for first-year participants, as well as a group chat for people also being placed in Valencia. There were so many helpful group chats that I could join, such as housing, which gives us information on how to look for an apartment once we arrived, or even people who are looking for roommates, a group chat for events that you could join so you could meet other people, and so many more. I was thankful to have access to these resources because I was able to get in touch with and even meet a few girls in Spain from this group chat. I was in contact with two of the girls who were also applying for their visas and we gave each other updates constantly, so it was helpful. Once I received my placement letter (my carta), I went ahead and got my passport photos for my visa (not my passport since I already have one) and renewed my driver’s license, in addition to getting the star Id so I could make a copy of it and get it notarized as proof of residence in my state.

In order to apply to the BLS Houston location, you have to be a resident of any of these states: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, or Texas. I had the option of applying via mail or in person, so I chose the mailing option because of work obligations. In mid-July when I received my carta, I could finally send in my application because I had all of the necessary documents needed to get my visa, so I mailed it to BLS Houston. I had the tracking number, so I was able to see where my package was with UPS, and since I chose the 2-day shipping option, I thought it would be delivered within that time frame in Houston. However, two days passed and my package wasn’t delivered in Houston. It was still in Tennessee after being reaching their facility a day after being sent there. more days went by, and I saw that it was still stuck in Tennessee, so I contacted UPS, but it was unfortunately it was a robotic message, so I didn’t receive much help. By this time, ten days had passed, and I no longer suspected that it was delayed, I suspected it was lost. Annoyed, I decided to go to a local UPS store in person to get any information regarding my package.

Once I arrived and showed them my tracking number, they told me that UPS is not related to the UPS store shipping, so I would have to contact them about my package or with BLS Houston (since they printed my shipping label). I went back to my car and called BLS Houston to inquire the whereabouts of my package and they were very vague and told me to go to UPS store to gather information. I responded that the UPS store sent me to BLS. BLS Houston was very unhelpful, so I after I hung up, I went back inside the UPS store to let them know that they led me back to them. They told me that if I were to ship my package with them, then they could give me a tracking number and see where the package was going, but because it was with UPS specifically, they unfortunately couldn’t help me. So basically, I didn’t initiate the shipment with the UPS store, so they cannot see the tracking progress of the package because they don’t have any access to it. Only UPS does.

I then asked the woman at the desk if delayed shipments past ten days are normal. Sympathetic, she responded, “Usually, when packages are delayed in a facility for more than ten days, it’s either damaged or lost. I’m so sorry.” My eyes widened. You mean to tell me that my package is lost? Tears welled in my eyes as I walked back to my car to go home. During the entire drive home, I wailed and sobbed uncontrollably. I worked so hard to gather my documents to make sure that everything was sent in promptly and correctly, and now that’s all going down the drain because it’s lost! All my hard work down the toilet! I was devastated. If my package truly was lost, then I would have to restart the process all over again, such as applying for a new passport, as well as taking new passport photos. Then, I would have to get another signed medical certificate, as well as getting the FBI check re-done again, which could take up to 12 weeks. I didn’t have 12 weeks! The program will have started! I was even more concerned because the deadline for submitting your visa applications was on July 31st. I’d also have to make another money order of $227, since they don’t accept cash or credit card information.

Once I got home, my mother suggested that I reach out to my school and explain my situation and to wait for their response. I did that and the following morning, I received an email from them. They told me that it was okay and have given me permission to arrive at a later date, as long as I continue to keep in contact with them regarding information about my visa. Later that day, I decided to file a claim on my missing package on the UPS website and received a confirmation email that my claim was being reviewed. A few days later, UPS emails me to inform me that my package in Tennessee has been dispatched and has left their facility. I sighed in relief. Thank God it wasn’t lost! Otherwise, I would’ve had to re-do everything. I then track my package on their website using the same number used in the past, and sure enough, it has left the Tennessee facility and was making its way to Houston. I then tell my parents and email my school to update them about my package. Now it’s just a waiting game.

Two days later, my package finally made its way to the BLS Houston facility for my visa application to finally be processed. Now the hardest part is over, and all I need to do now is wait for my visa to arrive. Back in May after receiving my acceptance letter, I went ahead and booked a one-way flight to Valencia for September 19th, the day after my birthday. I made sure the ticket was flexible, and I used some of my travel credits to book this ticket with American Airlines. I didn’t want to wait until after I received my visa to book my flight because I was afraid it would be very expensive, so I just booked a flexible ticket instead just in case I have to rebook it. I checked the group chat for Valencia to see others’ updates on their visas, and some of them had a quick turnaround, such as 2-4 weeks. Then there were others who got theirs within 4-6 weeks, or other applicants who received their visas the following day after applying in person. Typically, if you applied in person, then there was a better chance that you would quickly receive yours very soon compared to others who’ve applied via mail. I didn’t panic at this point because I was just grateful that my package actually wasn’t lost and had finally reached the Houston facility to be processed. In addition, I figured the wait would take at least 6 weeks, so at that point, I was still calm.

However, towards the end of the 6th week, I slowly became anxious and wondered if they needed any additional information so I could finally get my visa. I was still working as a waitress at my job until I had my visa in hand, then I would quit and prepare for my upcoming move to Spain. Although, I hadn’t received my visa yet and I was already at week 7. Many other people in the group chat had already received theirs, including applicants who had applied after me the same way via mail. It was frustrating. I called BLS Houston’s office to inquire the status of my visa, and they told me that it was still processing. I asked if I needed to send any other required documents and they said no. So, as an attempt to keep myself busy while waiting for my visa, I decided to pick up as many waitressing shifts as possible and working as many as 6 days a week. It was exhausting. By then I had grown to completely hate serving. It’s draining physically, mentally, and on very slow days, even financially. By now it was already 6 months since I was promoted as a server and towards the end of it, I absolutely grew to loathe it. I encountered rude guests, lazy coworkers (not all of them, obviously) and horrific management. If it wasn’t entitled guests I was dealing with, then it was dealing with rude managers. And if it wasn’t rude managers, then it was lazy coworkers who didn’t keep up with their side work or were even bothered to run their own food. The more I worked at that awful restaurant, the more irritable I became and anxious, especially since I hadn’t received my visa yet.

However, I will say that because of my recent experience as hostess and waitress, my desire to return to school to get my master’s has come back to me at full force. There were so many nights that I worked doubles and had made a lot of money by the end of the night to show for it, but I had to hustle non-stop. Then there were other nights that I still hustled but didn’t have much money to show for it. I was tired of the daily gamble of my income, and more specifically tired of my income depending upon the mercy of strangers. No thanks. It was in that moment of waiting tables that I realized that my parents were right regarding the importance of grad school and establishing a career. Of course, I don’t have to return to school, and I could do something else, such as join the military or get a real estate license or even learn trades. However, I have no interest whatsoever in joining the military, I don’t care about getting a real estate license, and with my experience of carrying heavy trays as a waitress, I definitely don’t want to learn trades and potentially wreck my body even more. So, that leaves me with the only option of establishing my career, which is going to grad school. I initially didn’t want to attend grad school at all because of how exhausted I was when I graduated. But once I kept working odd, minimal wage jobs at various restaurants, and then of course hosting and waitressing at my most recent job, it slowly destroyed me, and I eventually had a change of heart. Plastering a fake smile on my face while working for 6-8 hours straight on my feet and carrying heavy trays almost daily was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I didn’t want this to become the state of the rest of my life. I wanted something more fulfilling and different. A career with benefits and one that I enjoy. One that doesn’t damage my body long-term and one with an income that doesn’t fluctuate daily. One with healthcare and one with stability.

My saving grace from this life epiphany is the fact that I’m still relatively young. Meaning I can bounce back from this predicament and still have enough time to establish a career and still make a difference into earning towards my retirement once I’m older. I’m glad to have learned this lesson now while I’m still young and in my twenties, and I will definitely say that experience is the best teacher. Once I finish a year of living abroad, attending grad school is the next thing that is on my agenda, and if I’m fortunate enough and work hard, then hopefully God will bless me to never have to encounter waiting tables ever again. Anyway, back to my visa update. My birthday was around the corner, which also meant that the date of my flight was also approaching, so time was quickly running out. I called the BLS office several times and received the same answer: that it’s still processing. I personally found that response rather unhelpful because there were other applicants who’ve applied after me that have their visas, which was unbelievably frustrating. They finally did reach out to me to tell me that I needed to modify one of my documents, which was the health insurance. I was annoyed because why did they wait until the last minute to tell me this, when I could’ve resolved this in advance? I then modified it and sent it to their email to be processed. Now I was losing hope and wondered if it might get rejected because of how long it’s taking to process compared to others. There have been a few applicants who have had their visas rejected, so I was a bit nervous that mine might be too. The week of my birthday arrives and still no visa in hand. I wasn’t too keen about celebrating my birthday because I suspected that my visa wouldn’t come by then, or even at all.

However, a few days before my birthday, a sweet bartender from my job surprised me at work with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a birthday card and a cute cake. She absolutely made my day and made me realize how important it is to live in the moment. I tried to focus on making lasting memories with the people I love by spending some time with them before I leave. I also decided not to make this visa chaos the main focus of my day and try to do other stuff to occupy my time, such as work. Unfortunately, I was absolutely at my wits end with my serving job and the chaos of it all that I ended up quitting. I bid my favorite coworkers goodbye and take a photo with one of them outside before I headed to my car to go home. September 18th arrives and I haven’t received my visa, so I cancelled my flight for the following day. However, I focused on having a great birthday and hung out with my friends and family. The next week approaches and by now it’s week 9. I decided that if my visa gets rejected, then I would just focus on preparing my documents for grad school and move on with my life and just go back to Spain on holiday instead. On Monday I went out to a Chinese buffet to take my mind off of things when I receive an email from BLS Houston that my passport has been dispatched. I texted some of the girls from the group chats and they told me that it’s a good sign that it’s been approved.

I couldn’t believe it. After 9 weeks, my passport was finally being dispatched to me. Once it was Wednesday after noon, I received the package and opened it, and sure enough, my visa was approved, and my passport had a stamp. I squealed with excitement. “I finally got my visa!” I ran to my younger sister’s room and yelled outside her door. “I finally have my visa! woohoo!” “Oh, congrats,” she responded. She sounded happy but a bit groggy, so I likely woke her up from her nap. I then texted my parents, friends and other relatives that my visa has finally been approved. I then emailed my school to inform them that my visa was approved and that I won’t have to worry about arriving to the school at a later date. Now it was official. I was all packed and I finally have my visa, so all I needed to do was Google port my number and rebook my flight for this same week on Saturday, the 27th. Saturday approached and it was finally time for me to embark my new adventure to Spain. I was stoked yet a bit nervous as I bid my relatives goodbye. I did one final wave before I went through security and was awaiting my new life beyond the Atlantic Ocean.

Blog #17

Featured ruth misoriLeave a comment

Beyond The Atlantic

October 13, 2025 by Ruth Misori

Hey everyone, good news! I finally accomplished my life-long dream of moving abroad! This journey that it took to get me there was long and crazy. But nonetheless, I am finally here! I’m incredibly thankful to God for leading me, for the support from my family and friends, and also for receiving words of encouragement from strangers. My decision to move abroad took a lot of time, effort and planning, and for a while, I was uncertain that the opportunity to live abroad was actually going to happen at all. I was both nervous, yet excited. It was mostly the latter. However, once realization hit me that at 24-years old, now that I’m moving to another country (and another continent), I will officially be on my own, and it was a bit daunting. Anyway, let me start from the very beginning so I can take you back to where it all happened.

Flashback to May 2024 shortly after I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I was preparing my documents so I could go to China to teach English in August. I had done a year of preparation in terms of researching the best cities to move to, which age groups suits my preferences, and of course, getting the required certifications needed to be eligible to teach English abroad (a 120-hour English teaching certification & a bachelor’s degree in any field). Teaching English in China appealed to me the most because of the earning and saving potential, especially as a recent college grad who was in a bit of student debt. A lot of college grads have gone to China to teach English as a way to pay of their student loans and even save up for grad school when they return to their respective home countries. Another reason I wanted to teach in China was because of their country’s natural beauty. I was in awe of their mountains, rivers and various green spaces that I know I would enjoy viewing in person, in addition to having access to a ton of fun hobbies that comes along with being outdoors, especially in the bigger cities. And of course, traveling. I could go from one Chinese city to another by train, plane, or even by car if the destination was close enough to drive to. Even better, I could travel to other parts of Asia, like Japan, Vietnam, Thailand or Cambodia. I’d have access to all of those countries at my fingertips from China.

Lastly, I wanted to teach English in China because I truly valued the subject. I love the language, reading and writing, so it was only natural for me to want to teach the subject. While my degree wasn’t in education nor in teaching, I did have some prior experience tutoring students with their English grammar and reading, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Therefore, I thought to myself, why not kill two birds with one stone by going abroad to teach a subject you enjoy while paying of your minimal student loans? I figured this would be the perfect scenario, especially since I wasn’t too keen on the idea of attending grad school right away (or at all, initially). So, in late 2023, I took an online course with a reputable British company to complete my 120-hour TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification and was working very hard at my job to save up for the move until I graduated with my degree in May. I also did a long job search, since that was the main thing that I needed before I could hop on a plane across the world (and a work visa, of course).

The job search for English teaching positions was very difficult for me because even though I started in March as recommended, I still had trouble landing offers because some schools preferred teachers who were already physically in the country, had a teaching license, had at least two years of experience (the area & school varies) and the most shocking, were white. The last reason sounds very harsh, but it is an unfortunate reality in some areas because of the false misconception that some schools in China believe that only white teachers are native English speakers. Therefore, if first-time applicants have blonde hair, blue eyes or pale skin, then their chances of landing a teaching position are much higher compared to darker applicants or individuals of color. Some schools that you are applying to require a photo and/or a brief introduction video of yourself upon sending your application so they can assess your appearance and voice. Most schools prefer English teachers from these native countries: The U.S, U.K, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland. If you are not from these following countries, then your chances of landing a position are even more difficult compared to other applicants from those countries.

So, while I didn’t have issues landing offers because of my nationality being that I’m American, I still had issues dealing prejudiced and racist companies that overlooked my experience and qualifications because of their misconceptions regarding my skin. For example, whenever I would send in applications without a photo or introduction video, I would get relatively quick responses within a day or two of applying. They would tell me that my resume and qualifications are decent and that they’re interested in scheduling an online interview. Then, they would ask for a photo or an intro video before they proceed, and it would go downhill from there afterwards. I would send in my professional photo along with my video explaining my qualifications and why I would like to teach in China, in addition to telling them ways I plan on implementing teaching styles for the students. Days later? Nothing. No response. A week later I would reach out to them and asked if they received my photo and video. Still nothing. I shrug and say to myself that it’s time to move on and apply to another school. So, I’d apply to one, which then turned into two, three, four, five, then all of the sudden, I was applying to multiple schools on EChinesecities a day. It was exhausting and unbelievably discouraging. To clarify, it was discouraging in the sense that schools were overlooking my qualifications due to my skin color, not my actual skin color itself. In fact, I love being black and I would never do anything to change that! My skin is beautiful and there are many other beautiful shades of black people that I admire, and I will never stop being proud of that!

Despite the awful job hunt for an English position in China, I kept persevering and applying because prior to doing so, I was informed about the racism that I could face and was already aware of the discrimination that black teachers face both during the job hunt or during their time in China. Some stories ranged from microaggressions to outright horrifying. Yet, I still decided to continue applying. Why? Because despite the racial factors of the application process, I also saw that there were black teachers who enjoyed their time in China, so I figured, why couldn’t I be one of those happy teachers abroad? I also really wanted to travel all across Asia, and I didn’t want discrimination to get in my way of pursuing that. So, I worked very diligently to meet the qualifications to teach English by getting a TEFL certification as well as getting my bachelor’s. I also took my tutoring job seriously and updated my resume to make sure that it was decent and professional. And I also made sure that my introduction video was clear, concise, and easy to understand. Looking back now on this experience, it was a blessing in disguise because those prejudiced schools rejecting me was God’s protection, and also an indication that I wouldn’t want to work for a bunch of bigots, anyway. So, it was good from the start that they were telling me who they were as opposed to me finding out the hard way after arriving in the country with less safety nets.

Months after I kept applying, I did eventually land two interviews with two schools and were able to move a little further. Only, here’s the problem: they were both sketchy. The first school offered me a position, but told me that I would be on my own regarding the visa process, and since I did prior research, I automatically knew that it was a red flag as employers are supposed to apply for the work visa on their employees’ behalf so they can be their sponsors upon them entering the country. The second school was in the capital and offered an extremely low salary, which was also a red flag because it was considered unlivable even by their city’s standards. If I were to accept that job, then I would have to come with a large amount of savings, otherwise I would struggle to pay rent or live paycheck to paycheck. Obviously, that was something I didn’t want, so I declined both offers and continued with the application process. As months went by, it was getting closer to August, and I still haven’t secured a legitimate teaching job. I was growing discouraged. Flash forward to the summer of 2024, I went to Dallas to complete my brief internship and was even able to get a week off for the 4th of July. So, I went to San Francisco on holiday, which took my mind off the crazy job hunt.

Once my summer internship in Dallas ended, it was late July, and I slowly realized that my idea of going to China that year wasn’t happening. So, still eager to move out of the country, I applied to a master’s program in Greece related to teaching English as a foreign language, as an attempt to both improve my chances of being accepted by a reputable school in China by winter (they have fall & winter intakes) as well as gaining the experience of living in another country, like I’d always wanted. I applied to the school late, so I didn’t qualify for scholarships, and unfortunately FAFSA doesn’t cover my specific program, which meant that I was on my own financially. While I had worked and saved up as much as I could, it wasn’t nearly enough to cover the costs of tuition or other living expenses, such as room & board. Then of course, my student visa that I’d have to apply for. Feeling defeated, I withdrew my application to the master’s program in Greece. I returned back to my hometown and looked for basically any job that I could find, but the future felt bleak. By then it was already August, which meant that schools have already started in China, and it was too late to secure a job there, and it was definitely too late to apply to other grad schools here. So, I was left with only one option, and that was to work in my hometown. Shortly after a week of applying for jobs, I found one as a hostess at a local Tex-Mex restaurant.

By then, I was very discouraged and depressed because I felt that I was supposed to by teaching and traveling in China and all over Asia, but instead, I was working for minimum wage in my hometown at a place I didn’t even like. This was a humbling experience, I felt even worse because I had already told many people about my plans to teach in China during the fall of 2024, so when it didn’t happen, I felt defeated and like a failure. Obviously, I’m not a failure, and could still use this experience to pivot to the next stage of my life, but in the moment, it felt overwhelmingly difficult to grasp that mentality. Especially because I would go on social media and see others attending their dream programs at grad school, moving across the country, or even abroad, or just starting their lives. While I’m still here in my hometown, working a job I don’t like for $12 an hour at a Mexican restaurant. I’ve cried many times during my bathroom breaks and often pondered if this is where I’ll end up for the rest of my life. The thought of such was excruciating. Once a little time passed by and I was no longer going through the crazy job search, I felt a little better, and after my birthday in September, I researched different English teaching programs that I could apply for in other countries aside from China, and the NACLAP program in Spain popped up on Google. I clicked on it and viewed their program’s outline and qualifications, which were less intense than China. They provided a monthly stipend and only require that you have a bachelor’s degree or at least be a sophomore at the time of the application.

I reached out to my Spanish professor from college to ask for her input of this program, and she responded that it is a great opportunity that a few of her students have enjoyed in the past. I then took that as a green light to think about applying to Spain for this program next year. I thought about it long and hard, and also looked at other international English teaching programs, like JET (Japan), but I was leaning heavily towards the program in Spain. For starters, I had already been to Spain to study abroad briefly, and I loved my experience, and also because it was less intense than process of trying to secure a job in China. In fact, the NACLAP program’s website had so many resources regarding how to apply to their program, how to apply for a visa, and tips for getting settled into Spain after arrival. A few months after thinking about this program, I decided to apply to NACLAP and reached out to that same professor for a letter of recommendation, which she gladly agreed. I then reached out to my old supervisor from my tutoring job for a letter of recommendation as well, and he gladly agreed. Things were finally looking up, and all I needed to do was send in my application, a copy of my degree, and two letters of recommendation. Fast-forward to May, I was accepted into the program and by July, I received my teaching placement. I was stoked because it was in my first choice (Valencia), so I was able to actually envision the idea of living in Valencia. By now, I was already promoted from being a hostess to a waitress, which increased my income by 70%. So, this meant that in the meanwhile, until I receive my visa to Spain, I can work and save a ton of money before I leave in mid-September so I can get settled in before school starts on October 1st.

Blog #16

Featured ruth misori1 Comment

Traveling during layovers

July 26, 2025 by Ruth Misori

Earlier this month, I decided to go on a brief trip to Dallas to visit some relatives whom I knew that I wouldn’t be able to see for a while. Initially, I had previously booked another trip to San Francisco during that time since I loved it there so much the first time I’d visited. However, one of my relatives suggested that I come by briefly to visit her in case I don’t get another opportunity to do so in the future. I thought about her suggestion and decided to take it into consideration since I adore her dearly and wanted to spend as much time with her and my other relatives as possible. While I understood that I’d be missing out on a fantastic trip to San Francisco and Yosemite, it’s always something that I can always come back to at another time. However, the time that you spend with the people that you love is limited and short. I’d learned that lesson from my late uncle’s demise, so I wanted to take the opportunity to prioritize quality time with my relatives as much as possible.

Once I realized that going to Dallas to spend time with my relatives instead of going back to San Francisco on holiday was a no-brainer, I immediately cancelled my flight and hotel arrangements in San Francisco. Thankfully, once I cancelled my flights, I automatically received travel credits that goes towards any future trips that I book domestically. Luckily for me, it was enough for a roundtrip to Dallas and from my hometown. My roundtrip however had a 4-hour layover in DC on the way home. Despite weather delays and cancellations occurring across the nation, I was fortunate enough not to be directly impacted and was able to arrive in Dallas smoothly and quickly as intended on July 1st, and I would leave on the 4th of this month.

As you can imagine, those four days went by very quickly and I was set to return home on July the 4th. I had to get up early around 6, so I could leave for the airport and depart on time for my flight to DC. After a tearful goodbye with my favorite relative, I was off to the airport. My flight to DC landed around noon, and I had four hours to spare before my final flight to my hometown takes off. Initially, I was reluctant to leave the airport to briefly go sight-seeing because I didn’t want to risk missing out on any important announcements regarding my flight or even potentially missing it all together. However, I also wasn’t particularly keen on the idea of mindlessly scrolling on my phone while waiting for the time to pass by until my flight departs, either. So, as my plane was descending, I glanced through the window and thought to myself, ‘It’s a nice, sunny day. Just go now otherwise you’ll change your mind.’

Once the plane landed at DCA and passengers were able to exit, I went to the nearest metro and bought a day-pass card then immediately went to L’Enfant plaza, where the hop-on-hop-off bus tours starts. This was the first place I went to the last time that I was in DC to purchase and start the bus tour throughout the city. When I arrived, I noticed that there weren’t any tour busses and figured that maybe they were running late due to the holidays. I decided to wait 15 more minutes before going into the International spy museum to ask anyone for information regarding bus tours. Unfortunately, no one knew any information about it, so I went back outside and asked a security guard nearby. He suggested that I contact their website’s number for more info regarding their hours of operation, which I did, but it went to voicemail several times.

I decided to wait an additional 20 minutes before finally going back to the metro to go to the nearest stop at the White House. Once I arrived at the White House, I noticed that there were a lot of security guards and police cars everywhere, and barricade fences surrounding major tourist areas. I then quickly realized that there were no bus tours operating because of the barricade fences and police cars blocking major roads, so I walked to the Monument after I finished taking photos at the White House. I was annoyed because had I known that the bus tours weren’t going to operate on the 4th of July, I would’ve just stayed at the airport, since that was my sole reason for wanting to leave and go sight-seeing in the first place. After all, I had enjoyed the previous bus tour I’d took in DC back in 2023, so I was certain that I’d equally enjoy my time taking another bus tour on the 4th of July. Unfortunately, their website didn’t mention that they wouldn’t be operating for the holidays, nor did they leave a voicemail explaining any closures.

After I took pictures of the Monument and the National Museum of African American history, I decided that I was ready to go back to the airport to prepare for my flight home. By now I was hot, sweaty and exhausted from the excessive walking in the city and at the airport from my previous flight. While I had taken a cold water bottle with me, it was now too warm and gross to drink, and my body was no match for this goddamn heat. The closer I got to a metro, the more exhausted I became and felt beads of sweat run down my back and by this point, my shirt felt damp. I didn’t want to return to the airport drenched in sweat, so I went to the nearest souvenir shop outside and bought a new shirt. I then went to Starbucks to change into my new shirt and cool down for a few minutes before headed back to the airport.

As I was on my way to the airport, I glanced at my phone and noticed that I only had an hour before my flight departs. To my horror, I looked at Google maps to track how long before I arrive at the airport and it said 45 minutes. I looked at the time again, then the name of the airport (Dulles), and quickly realized that I was going to the wrong airport. Luckily, I received an email from American Airlines that my flight was being delayed by 30 minutes, which gave me more time to find the correct airport. I got off at the next stop and asked a couple nearby for directions to DCA. Their instructions were a bit confusing, but I tried my best to navigate them as I got on and off various stops on the metro lines. Time was passing by very quickly and unfortunately the metro lines confused me even further and realized that I was going around in circles, so I asked the security guards for help as a last resort. I grew frustrated by the minute and realized that if I continue to take the metro, then I’ll keep get lost over and over again. The bottom line was that if I don’t get off the metro now, then I’ll risk missing my flight. I quickly decided to leave the metro to take an uber instead by going to the nearest hotel to book a ride.

The first driver that was assigned to pick me up was 5 minutes away, so I sighed of relief. 5 minutes went by but there was no sign of my driver. I briefly panicked and texted my mother that I might end up missing my flight and that I’ll have to rebook another one home. After the text was sent, I immediately received a new notification that a new driver was assigned to me and was 2 minutes away. I furrowed by eyebrows in confusion and hoped that the new driver would arrive quickly so I can leave for the airport. Thankfully my new assigned driver arrived in 2 minutes as planned, and I gave him the address to my terminal at DCA. I continued to glance at my phone, hoping for another delay so I could make it to the airport in time and saw that I only had 6 minutes before boarding. My eyes widened as I realized that I likely wouldn’t even make it pass security in time before boarding at my gate. My driver started to slow down and told me that it might not be possible to get me to the airport because some of the roads were blocked. By now I was exasperated and snapped. “You need to find another way to get me to the airport! Please find another route,” I shouted. “Ok,” he responded.

The driver found another route to take, and I eventually arrived at the airport. By now, the notifications said that passengers were able to board. I dashed to the security which was luckily a short queue, and I was out within less than 2 minutes. I looked at my terminal and gate number, which was located all the way on the other side of the airport. I rolled my eyes as I dashed once again to get to my terminal and gate number. As I was running on and off (I was bloody exhausted), I kept thinking to myself that this was pointless because I was already late and there’s absolutely no way that I’ll make it in time for my flight, so I should just arrive at my gate to rebook the next available flight instead of wasting my time. Once I arrived at my terminal and gate number, I asked the desk attendant if my flight was still boarding. He got my information then informed me that I was at the wrong gate. I sighed out of exhaustion and glanced at my phone to check the gate, which thankfully happened to be right next to the one I was standing at.

I then quickly run to the correct gate and ask the desk attendant if my flight is still boarding. She chuckled at me and told me that no one has boarded yet. I then glimpse at the time displaying my flight’s departure and noticed that it was delayed again by 5 minutes. So that meant that I was actually on time, and I wouldn’t miss my flight back home. What a bloody relief! I quickly went to the nearest shop to buy some water and snacks since I was starving and hadn’t eaten anything since that morning of my flight. Eventually, the 5 minutes went by, and I was able to board, and my plane took off. I didn’t have any neighboring passengers on my row, so I had more space to myself, which was nice. However, there was a lot of turbulence and, I was very frightened. As my plane finally landed, I thought to myself that this something that I will never do again, and if I have 5 hours or less, then I’m staying at the airport. Lesson learned. If it wasn’t for those delays, I would’ve had the trip from hell trying to spend more money rebooking a flight back home or even a hotel stay if there weren’t any available ones that day. Even if I have a 6-hour layover, I try to find other ways to occupy my time at the airport by reading, browsing lounges, eating or even walking aimlessly within my terminal.

Even though 6 hours seems like a long time, it goes by very quickly, and it’s best to stay at the airport for any future announcements regarding delays, gate changes or cancellations. While I’m glad I got to visit the White House and Monument again and take pictures, it wasn’t worth the hassle trying to sprint back to the airport and getting lost in the process. I don’t have any regrets as I believe that if I didn’t take this chance to go sight-seeing, then I would’ve had what ifs, but this was definitely one hell of a day trying to rush to the airport so I don’t miss my flight. So, I guess experience is sometimes the best teacher, but I will never do this in such a short timeframe again. However, what I would do in the future regarding long layovers (at least 7+ hours), I would determine how long the routes to and from the airport are to see if it’s even worth leaving at all or staying grounded where I am. If I decide that it’s worth leaving, then I’ll make sure to take an uber or taxi back and forth to avoid confusion or delays, and I’d only visit one place then return to the airport with at least 3 hours left to spare.

So yeah, that was my experience of being in 3 different cities in one day on the 4th of July, and it was crazy. I’m glad I made it back home on the same day in one piece, but man, I was tired! Hopefully I’ll have more crazy adventures to tell you about, but until next time, peace out and safe travels.

Blog #13

Featured ruth misoriLeave a comment

The Trip that I didn’t like

June 23, 2024 by Ruth Misori

While traveling is typically a fun adventure for me and I usually enjoy my time, there were trips that I took in the past that I didn’t like or enjoy, which is sometimes a normal downside of traveling. This also applies to everyone else who frequently travels, and the reasons why they may not like their trips can vary differently from the weather to the foods, to the atmosphere to the vibes of people. Other reasons can be due to clashes of different traveling styles when traveling with people or in groups. Then there’s others who may not like their trip because the location was overwhelming or boring, or simply because they felt out of place. I will say that regardless of the reason why anyone didn’t like a specific trip that they took are still valid, and I also want to remind you that what you may like, may not be for others because everyone goes at their own pace and has certain expectations for their trips. This also goes for the other way around in case everyone around you is enjoying a specific trip and you’re thinking to yourself that it wasn’t your cup of tea- and that’s okay! So, to each their own!

Last year during Labor Day weekend, I made the awful mistake of booking a day trip from D.C to New York City. I booked it because I wasn’t from the east coast and figured that since I’m going to be traveling to D.C for a few days, then I may as well take the initiative of visiting NYC for the first time that coming Sunday. I will say that I did technically plan this trip ahead of time since I already booked the flights and the Amtrak tickets a couple of months back (so, it wasn’t on a whim, y’all), and did ask one of my mother’s friends if she would be willing to take me sightseeing upon my arrival to Manhattan (which she gladly accepted). However, due to my poor planning (and false hope that I could see most of NYC in only a day), we we’re both strapped for time, and I was ultimately disappointed. I distinctively remembered how my mother’s friend and I rushed through several bus stops, after several unsuccessful attempts of hailing taxis to quickly get back to the train station with only 5 minutes left to spare before I returned to D.C, and I was so devastated. I didn’t even have time to get any souvenirs and I was overall miserable.

I woke up very early the day of my trip to NYC after sightseeing in D.C the day before, and I admittedly didn’t get enough rest, and had to leave for the Union Station at 4-something in the morning so my train can leave for NYC at 5 and arrive at 8. I had booked a return ticket for 3pm because I was traveling solo and didn’t feel too comfortable being in NYC after sunset or navigating public transit at night since I wasn’t staying, so I understood that I only have a solid 6 1/2 hours of sightseeing with my mom’s friend and honestly, the last hour was spent trying to quickly get back to Penn Station so that I don’t miss my train ride. I will say that the only highlight of NYC was reuniting with my mom’s friend, whom I haven’t seen in a long time, and her taking me out to a delicious pizza joint in Brooklyn (Juliana’s Pizza, I believe), where I had a mini reunion with a margherita pizza (pictured above).

I planned this short trip because I had recently did something similar when I booked a weekend trip to London during my time in Spain, and despite only being there for two days, I was still able to do and see so much of England and assumed that the same thing would apply to NYC, even if it was for a day. Big mistake! I completely messed up by not booking at least a three-day trip to NYC when I would have the ability to stay longer and go sight-seeing with my mom’s friend and actually seeing the main pinpoints of the city, like Central Park, or attending a Broadway show, or really diving into the boroughs that make NYC so worth visiting! Both my mother’s friend and I were robbed of those opportunities due to my poor planning for a day trip with less than 7 hours, and the only places that I got to visit were Time’s Square (which everyone apparently hates) and the Brooklyn bridge through the ferry rides.

So, I can definitely say that I didn’t truly visit NYC, or at least visit NYC the way that I wanted to, and this bad trip left a sour taste in my mouth and set a negative tone for the rest of my trip in D.C, and I was still very bitter about it a few months afterwards. I was very salty towards NYC because I barely saw it! I remember feeling so grumpy (and sleep deprived) on the train back to D.C, that a passenger next to me sensed this and actually got up and moved to another available spot! I feel bad about that to this day, but maybe it was for the best because they were allowing me to be alone to process my emotions, and I respect that, but I still feel bad. The worst part of the trip was the fact that we were approached by bus tour guides offering discounts to take bus tours and we declined because I figured that since my mom’s friend was already from NYC, then she knows the city like the back of her hand, and that we could equally see as much in 5 hours on foot. I regret saying no because that would’ve at least given us an opportunity to see a lot more since we have the option of getting off at certain stops (it was a hop-off-hop-on bus), then getting back on to see other spots in less than 5 hours without feeling too exhausted, and I loved taking bus tours in other cities previously. So, that’s definitely my biggest regret while being in NYC.

Now that many months have passed, and I know better, I can plan better because that trip was not it! My desire to visit NYC has even returned and I can’t wait to take a proper trip with my mom’s friend and see all of the sights that she originally had in stored for me, and more! So, one day I look forward to returning and actually seeing most parts of NYC because this time, it’ll be planned better. Now a tip that I give to you regarding day trips is to make sure that you have at least 7-8 hours at your destination, not including transit time, otherwise it will be a waste of time and money. I will say that day trips overall are fun, and I have taken many of them in the past prior to this NYC trip, but the locations I visited were usually 1-2 hours away, which gave me the opportunity to stay longer and sightsee for at least 10 hours before I felt satisfied to leave. So, if you’re thinking about planning a day trip and it doesn’t last for more than 8 hours at your destination, then it isn’t worth it.

The purpose of planning day trips is to be strategic without having the burden of planning a traditionally longer trip while enjoying the convenience of a weekend trip. You first need to find out if the day trip that you want to take is feasible in the first place. Then if you feel that it is, then you’ll need to figure out what type of transport is needed to get to your location (bus, car, train, plane) and how long it takes to travel both ways, and if the costs of taking public transit is manageable (if booking for a holiday, then at least make sure tickets are booked 2-3 months in advance since they’re likely going to sell out). Now as for activities and excursions, try to go ahead and book them two weeks in advance instead of booking them upfront (unless there’s better deals in person) on their personal websites or through excursion apps, like GetYourGuide or Viator. Those apps are usually decently priced and have a variety of options of things to do in case you haven’t planned anything yet. They even have bus tours which I took in the past in D.C and London. Or, if you don’t want to plan anything online, then the best way to travel on day trips is to visit friends who will take you sightseeing since they’re already familiar with the location and can help you avoid tourist traps or scams, and it makes traveling with people you already know a ton of fun.

While I don’t enjoy my trip to NYC, it doesn’t mean that I can’t plan again and try to revisit, because now that I know that I can’t see NYC in a day, I can take the opportunity to plan in the future so that I can see my mom’s friend and explore most of NYC and really enjoy my time. So, if you’re planning a day trip to a popular place like NYC or Philly or even Paris (from another European city, of course), make sure that you spend a lot of time there for more than 7 hours and make sure that the trip is doable because you don’t want to waste your time and money like I did. However, I don’t regret this experience because while they’re not all going to be roses and peaches, it does somewhat make a great story, even though I was mad at the time. So now I can move forward with better execution and planning- and hopefully more time, lol.

Blog #12

Featured ruth misori1 Comment

Traveling as A Woman

March 31, 2024 by Ruth Misori

The many times in which I have encountered women and have informed them of my plans to travel, their responses are always encouraging and positive. In fact, most women (especially older) will admit that they wish they could travel if they hadn’t settled down or jokingly advise me to continue traveling as much as I can while I’m still young or before I have children. I usually nod in agreement and while I understand that they’re being playful, they’re also being serious at the same time. It’s like their unspoken way of saying,” You have been granted more opportunities as a woman than I have ever seen in my lifetime.” I mean, it’s true because when I look back at the history of previous generations of women, it is very clear that their opportunities to become independent or develop hobbies for themselves were very limited. Obviously, they could forget about traveling! Of course, this wasn’t coming from a malicious point of view, it was just the reality of older women who grew up in that time. Actually, I view that statement as their way of saying, “Atta, girl!” because while they did not receive the same opportunities as I do today, they’re still rooting for me and other young women who do travel.

Solo traveling in general has especially been beneficial for me as I feel more liberated to express my creativity and discover future interests that I wouldn’t otherwise have if I hadn’t gone on my own adventures. Traveling itself is a gift for me because it’s a reminder that I am actually living out the life that only my grandmothers can imagine or the one that my mother often ponders. Being able to travel has been very difficult from women in the 1800’s and 1900’s, and women weren’t even allowed to open up their own bank accounts without their spouse’s signatures until 1974 (In the United States). I mean, that was only 50 years ago, so that’s not too long ago! I can’t even imagine how long it took before women were allowed to have their own passports because that’s absolutely crazy!

The blood, sweat, and tears that countless generations of women had to endure so that young women like me could have numerous amounts of opportunities is very inspiring because my grandmother’s generation of women had to walk so that my mother’s generation of women could run. And my mother’s generation of women had to run so that my generation of women can fly. And you best believe that I will bloody soar like an eagle! I never want to take the opportunities of traveling for granted, and I hope any woman who travels doesn’t either because we are living proof that when we set out minds to do things, we can thrive.

I distinctly remembered when the first time that I travelled across the pond at 17 was the moment when I realized that I wanted to live abroad. I was definitely scared at first before I entered the plane, but once I actually arrived in the UK and thoroughly enjoyed my experience was when I began thinking that I could make this dream of living abroad one day a reality, and it was a beautiful epiphany. Because of that experience alone, I have decided that I will have more faith in myself for the moment when I do decide to finally pull the trigger and move abroad one day to navigate life. I’m aware that while living abroad is much different from visiting, I do believe that this future endeavor will challenge me in ways that I’ve never experienced, change my outlook on life as well as for a lot of women’s and I can’t wait for that day when I finally get to live abroad.