I used to think travel was just about seeing new places, collecting passport stamps, and pretending my TSA PreCheck membership was a personality trait. But somewhere between mispronouncing “croissant” in Paris and sprinting through JFK because I insisted I could “definitely make a 45-minute layover,” I realized traveling is really about discovering yourself. Yeah, I know that sounds like something off a coffee shop chalkboard, but hear me out. Venturing out of my comfort zone—whether it’s exploring cities that don’t have mumbo sauce or navigating communication without Google Translate—has taught me more about who I am than any book, class, or late-night episode of Jeopardy! ever could.

So if you’re curious about what travel can teach you (beyond the fact that airport sandwiches are overpriced), let me share a few truths I’ve picked up along the way.

1. I’m Way More Flexible Than I Thought (But Not in the Yoga Sense)

Anyone who knows me knows I like a plan. I’m the guy with color-coded itineraries and calendar invites for brunch. But travel has a way of turning your best-laid plans into punchlines. Like that time I landed in Kingston, ready to indulge in a week of sunshine and ackee, only to find out the car rental agency “lost” my reservation. No car, no problem—just a casual six-mile trek to the villa while hauling a suitcase that apparently thought it was auditioning for a World’s Heaviest Deadlift competition.

Or the time in Rome when a labor strike shut down all public transportation, and I ended up paying a Vespa driver more euros than I’d like to admit to get across the city. Did I look like a badly dressed James Bond villain hanging onto the back for dear life? Absolutely. But it worked. The universe loves to remind us that travel is less about control and more about adaptability. Now, when life throws me curveballs—like mismatched baggage fees or awkward first dates—I’ve got the flexibility to roll with it. No itinerary, no meltdown.

Travel takeaway: Plans are just suggestions. Learning to adapt makes the journey smoother (and way more entertaining).

2. Food Is My Love Language

Listen, if you’ve never fallen in love over a perfectly grilled jerk chicken leg from a roadside stand in Negril, you haven’t truly lived. One of my favorite parts of travel is learning that food is the ultimate unifier. It doesn’t matter if you speak the language, understand the culture, or know the local currency exchange rate (because let’s be real, converting euros to dollars while hangry is a losing battle). A shared meal can dissolve all those barriers.

I’ve learned to savor differences: the way flavors reflect storytelling, the care that goes into every dish, and the pride people have in their cuisine. Whether it’s a street vendor in Bangkok or my aunt’s backyard barbecue back in D.C., food has taught me to stay present, to listen, and to appreciate the warmth that comes with breaking bread—or a plate of oxtail.

Travel takeaway: Embrace every opportunity to try local dishes—even if it means gnawing on something you can’t quite identify. Who knows? That bowl of unrecognizable stew might become your new favorite comfort food (or at least a fascinating story of intestinal fortitude).

3. It’s Okay to Stand Out (Especially When You Can’t Help It)

If you’ve ever been the only person in a room—or on a beach—who clearly isn’t a local, you know how awkward it feels. The long stares, the occasional pointing, the random street vendors shouting “Hey my brother!” because apparently Black guys abroad are one big fraternity. At first, this kind of attention made me want to shrink into the background, but traveling helped me see things differently.

Being different can feel isolating, but it’s also an opportunity. A chance to represent yourself, your roots, your culture. I’m a walking, talking combination of old DC go-go beats and my parents’ Kingston reggae rhythms—and I’ve learned to hold my head high about it. That same confidence translates back home, too, whether I’m introducing myself at an event or diving into romantic connections that actually honor my whole self.

Travel takeaway: Own who you are. Instead of shrinking from the spotlight, step into it. That glow looks good on you.

4. Romance Is Everywhere (Even If It’s Not Romantic)

A candlelit dinner in Paris is great, but honestly? Some of the most romantic moments I’ve experienced while traveling had nothing to do with relationships—and everything to do with connection. Sitting around a bonfire in Montego Bay, swapping life stories with strangers turned friends. Watching an elderly couple slow dance at a plaza in Havana as onlookers clapped and cheered. Carrying bag after bag of mangoes for my cousin in St. Elizabeth (okay, maybe “romantic” isn’t the right word for that last one, but mangoes are love, don’t fight me).

These small, seemingly random experiences have reminded me that a lot of the magic in life happens in the in-between—those casual, unplanned moments that make your heart feel full without you even realizing it.

Travel takeaway: Romance isn’t just candles and rose petals. It’s in the everyday connections that make your world feel just a little brighter. Stay open to those moments.

5. There’s No Growth Without Discomfort

Let’s talk about the elephant in the airport: traveling isn’t always sunshine and curated Instagram aesthetics. Sometimes it’s missed trains, overcrowded hostels, and that absolutely chaotic moment when your carry-on gets “randomly selected for additional screening”—even though you just saw Karen walk through TSA with a water bottle the size of Texas.

But those rough patches are what make travel real. Growth happens when you lean into discomfort rather than run from it. When you strip out the curated filters and let yourself feel genuinely challenged. That sense of achievement when you navigate Tokyo’s rail system solo or attempt paddleboarding despite an irrational fear of fish? That’s what sticks with you.

Relationships work the same way—whether they’re romantic, platonic, or the one you’re building with yourself. Learning to embrace challenges, instead of fearing them, teaches resilience. And honestly, nothing beats the feeling of realizing you can thrive under pressure—even if that pressure involves a slightly aggressive customs agent and a suitcase that still won’t close.

Travel takeaway: Embrace the chaos. Discomfort is just growth dressed in a particularly annoying travel outfit.

6. Home Is a Feeling, Not a Place

Growing up in D.C., “home” always meant the smell of curry goat simmering on Sundays, the sound of my mom humming Beres Hammond tunes, and the lively chaos of siblings fighting over who got the biggest piece of fried plantain. But traveling taught me that home isn’t confined to one zip code—or one experience. Home can be a sandy beach on the coast of Trinidad, where my grandmother used to live. It can be a cup of coffee in a Lisbon café after wandering the city all morning. Sometimes, home is really just the people you’re with—or the person you’re becoming.

Realizing that has made me more intentional in my relationships—and more willing to open myself up to new connections, even when I’m not sure where they’ll lead.

Travel takeaway: The more you explore, the more you realize that home isn’t something you have to find. You carry it within you.

Conclusion

Travel has taught me that life, much like navigating an unfamiliar airport, is a mix of trial, error, and the occasional overpriced snack. Along the way, I’ve learned to embrace the unplanned, appreciate the uncomfortable, and savor the connections (and cuisines) that turn strangers into friends.

You don’t have to fly across the world to discover who you are, but if you ever get the chance—even if it means a few detours and an overpacked suitcase—take it. You might find out you’re stronger, braver, and hungrier (pun intended) than you ever realized.

And if nothing else, at least you’ll have one hell of a story to tell.