‘When you’re traveling with someone else, you share each discovery, but when you are alone, you have to carry each experience with you like a secret, something you have to write on your heart, because there’s no other way to preserve it.” – Shauna Niequist

My family bought me all these books to help prepare for my first solo trip out of the country.

As a child once I was given permission to leave our block, all my great solo adventures were only as far as my bike would take me. Even then a trip across the Ambassador bridge to Windsor, Canada involved a friend or two.

Today I think I am finally ready to fly solo. Sometimes you can never be sure until you try.

My bags have been packed, edited and re-packed by my sister Margaret using this bundling method illustrated in this Lonely Planet guide for “How to Pack For Any Trip”.

I have decided to travel light and avoid checking any luggage. On “in-country” car trips, I have always overpacked. Taking items that I regret having to carry, because I never use them.

Carry on Bag and Back Pack

This isn’t a Cheryl Strayed “Wild” type of trip. I’m not leaving my husband, or plan to be where I will need to survive totally alone challenged by outdoor elements and physical endurance.  She chose to carry a heavy load I am choosing to travel light. Hoping to bring back more than I take.

This is an opportunity to live, breathe and truly taste a culture I have loved since my father’s introduction to it. The bonus is I will be able to observe, absorb and create in clay, while I am a visiting artist at the Lviv National Academy of Arts .

Also new to me is living alone. All my university experience has been as commuter.  This will only be for 2 1/2 months, however, but I think long enough for me to learn something.

The journey begins tonight. Stay tuned.