#to get a visa for her study abroad trip. my parents were like 'escort her to and from the embassy and then back on the train

[supercantaloupe]

i wish i had a good excuse to just like go and spend 2-3 days in another city across the country

[wanderlust1998young-girl]

Collect moments, not things

In 2016, I was given an opportunity to fly from my home country (Brunei Darussalam) to United Kingdom. My sister bought me an airfare ticket to UK as a gift for my excellence grade in my O’ Level Results in 2015.

You know what? Let me tell you about the interesting facts;

New kind of feeling & experience by travelling alone

It was my first time to be in a “long-haul flight” to United Kingdom (UK) without my parents or I could say without being escort by an adult people.

The flight transited to Dubai and I had a layover for about 45 mins, this is most probably to refuel the airplane gas. Yeah you are right! it doesn’t take that long. Then, the flight continued it’s journey to the UK. I was really excited but at the same time felt so nervous because of going to a different country all by myself.

One of the few concern that I had was the “immigration counter” this is because they would ask plenty of questions, for instance, before I entered to the UK, the most common types of questions would be ask by the immigration officer are like:

How many days are you staying here? (if staying for more than one month – visa required)

With who you will be staying?

Where will you be staying?

Come on! Even though it’s just a simple question but just hearing “immigration section” people would feel so TERRIFIED!!!!

Although I had all this concerns and worries, experiencing the whole process and exploring everything independently like doing the check in at the counter, going to the airplane, and sat next to total strangers was for me just like another new level of experience, which I suggest that everyone need to experience it at least once in their lifetime for example “according to a recent article solo female traveler grew by more than 50% between year 2016 and 2017”(Nesbitt & Waugh,2019). Trust me, it will become your best memory as it shows you how much you have grown up and become independent! From this trip, I learnt to appreciate what my parents have done for me since I was born until now. It is not an easy job when you have to do everything by yourself.

         2.    UNDER AGE

At that time, I was still a 17 years old girl – so it was like a big achievement to me. HAHAHA

AND!! THANK GOD, before I left Brunei, my family seek for assistance at the Brunei International Airport to escorted me throughout my journey from the Brunei >>> Dubai >>> UK  to assist me during the immigration process for instance from the “website of the Alaska Air, it stated that to those who travelling independently to the different country that still under age 18, they are required to provide a consent letter that written by their parents” (Alaska Air, 2019). That’s why I mentioned “Half way independent traveler” because there were also people guided me during that time. So, yeah the person who escorted me would wait for me at the main entrance of the airplane and labelled me as YP!! YP means Young Person. I wanted to portrays about the fact of travelling solo was a ‘’huge” experience to me, even though I received an assistance.

Here’s the picture of two young ladies that helped me throughout my journey at Dubai & UK:

               3.    FINALLY AFTER 1 YEAR!!!!

This main purpose of this excursion was to visit my sister, Niza – (yeap that’s her name people!) who was in the UK studying at that time at Lancaster University. Though, she picked me up at the airport, but I managed to go through the whole journey from Brunei >>> Dubai >>> Heathrow all alone just by myself.  

At that time, I haven’t seen my sister for a while! Because she did not come home to Brunei for a year.  Therefore, I went to visit her and had a wonderful long break with my lovely sister!

That is why my topic is “Half way being an independent traveler” because some of the things I did it by myself and some of it I got help from the airport people. Even though people will see this as a “small things” but to me it was a “enormous achievement” that I ever done. Why? Because this agenda happened when I was just 17!!!

I was/am really thankful and appreciate for those moments because I was brave enough to encounter that challenges, if I wasn’t brave enough, I would not be able to experience it. It is adding up to my “sweet memories” and yet it is the moment that makes it different and made who I am now. I learn to be more autonomous and it is really useful for my future as for now I’m living alone since I currently studying abroad. So, people I just want everyone to enjoy every moment because it won’t come back other time. So, if you get the opportunity, go and grab it! and it will create something new that you never feel before! That’s why “collect moments, not things” to me are very strong and deep meaning, in which by collecting moments that could captured by yourself & feel it by yourself was/is one of the best memory you could have.

Alright people! That will be my end of blog about this topic! I hope you will try it before you reach 18 but if you are already 18+, it’s okay! It’s never too late. “Now or never” hehehe. I just want you to enjoy the moment and feel the different of traveling individualistically. From there, you will appreciate more things even just the “small things”

With this I enclosed with this quotes;

Paulo Coelho says: “Travel is not about money, it’s about courage” &

“Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.”

Sincerely,

Amalina Jainal

References:

 Nesbitt, T. & Waugh, J. (2019). Solo Travel Statistics and Data: 2018-2019. Solo Traveler. Retrieved from https://solotravelerworld.com/about/solo-travel-statistics-data/  

Alaska Airlines (2019). Travelling with Infants and Children. Alaska. Retrieved from https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/policies/children-traveling-internationally