A Day’s Journey

Zimbabwe — July 2022

The friends you make traveling are different. Novel experiences have a way of turning strangers into lifelong friends. They become your temporary family and support system. Friendships in life constantly evolve over time. And I like to think of the “friendship funnel,” that comes with age- aka how we get more “choosey” with the friends we make as we age. The friends you make in grade school are likely people who are in your sports teams or classes, and are people who can elevate your social status. The more friends, the merrier, because of “popularity.” In your late teens, possibly into university, you choose friends with similar passions and interests, such as those on the same field of study. They don’t necessarily elevate your social status, but they are the people you begin to navigate adulthood with. After university, you begin to get real specific on who you spend your time with. Life is busy and becomes structured routines. You begin to think about the people you surround yourself with. Who leaves you feeling light and happy versus who leaves you feeling drained?

Lifelong friends – could still be those same friends from grade school or college- are the friends who make you feel happy and that you’ve chosen to grow with. It’s no wonder that travel friendships are so strong. Traveling puts a person through an immense period of personal growth and development. Meaning that the people you intentionally make time to meet and get to know while traveling are the people you believe will help you grow. You all experience highs and lows together on the road, and your new tribe are the people you get to dissect the days events with. Some experiences while traveling leave you breathless and speechless, and only a small group of newly formed friends can understand what those moments meant to you.

Your tribe are the people you instantly connect and resonate with. When you’re home and in your normal routines, you probably already have friends and/or a tribe. It is weird as an adult now pondering “how do I make friends?” But I’ve found that even for introverts like myself, it’s easier than it seems. It’s exactly as stated above- they are the people that I meet with whom I instantly connect and resonate with. Knowing who you are and what you want helps- in fact it attracts people of similar mindset, values, and goals.

Speaking of tribes- the continent of Africa has 1.3 billion people, with most belonging to one of the 3,000+ tribes. A tribe in this context means a community of people who share the same culture and dialect, and are linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties. I was lucky to experience Zulu, San, Himba, and Maasai tribes- to name a few- while traveling in Africa. Even luckier though- I found my own tribe! While I took part in a combination of 6 different overland tours in my 63 days, my tribe did evolve a bit. Most notably, I had a close friend group for three weeks Capetown to Victoria Falls. I remember parting from them in Zimbabwe and feeling heartbroken! We shared such incredible experiences and were inseparable for three weeks, that they really felt like family. ( We even got tatted together!) But when one (lando) door closes, another one opens! My new tent-mate became my closest confidant in Zimbabwe and beyond. A fellow introvert who taught me what it means to show up for myself, make space for myself, recognize emotional intelligence in others, and be more assertive while maintaining my values. She made my last five weeks of the journey memorable in how much I was able to grow in some areas personally and plant the seeds in other areas that I wish to grow.

Life is what you make it and who you make it with. Choose your tribe wisely! People will add energy to your life whether it be positive or negative, so be selective for those who add value and happiness!