I mentioned in a previous post that I’ve been working on a few different travel articles. The first of these, Solace in Scotland, has been published in the October edition of UVic’s TORCH Magazine. I want to take a moment to explain where the essay came from and why I wrote what I did.
I feel that far too often, we romanticize the good parts of travel and fail to give voice to the challenges. We’re led to believe it’s all gorgeous sunsets, crumbling ruins, unforgettable friendships and life-changing experiences. Not many people are prepared to accept that there are downsides: Loneliness, alienation, frustration, loss.
I was not expecting to tell this story. I was not expecting this to be my story. And yet, the more I tried to write about my life and experiences in Scotland, the more I felt it needed to be told.
This essay is an honest assessment of what I experienced. It honours the fact that the journey doesn’t always go the way you want it to — but that you’ll end up exactly where you need to be.
That being said, I didn’t want to be completely negative, because I did experience some amazing things on my travels. I wanted to infuse my essay with a spirit of hope, determination and optimism. And I think solo travel is something everyone should experience for themselves. If nothing else, it builds character.
The City of Edinburgh was my friend and ally during these tough times. I will be writing much more about this city in the future, but for now, you’ll have to settle for just a taste.
If you got a hard copy of TORCH, flip to the Vox Alumni essay — you’ll find me there. If not, click here to read the article (PDF).
